I have a few questions related to professional identity, role, training, etc. that it may be prudent to answer should these discussions move forward.
If QMHP's were licensed, what does that mean? How does it change their job responsibilities, the necessity for supervision, etc.?
What would the exact requirements be for a QMHP to be licensed? Would it be similar to other professional licenses where you would need an MS degree, supervised practice, and to pass an exam? Would the minimum be a BS degree?
Fundamentally, what is the professional role of a QMHP and how is it different from other licensed professionals?
I could see an avenue where people with MS degrees that are related but do not count for LPC would have an opportunity then for licensure -- however, I would like to see a clear distinction developed between what someone with a QMHP license does professionally vs. an LPC/LCSW/LMFT.
Alternatively, providing services as a QMHP is often a pathway for counseling MS students who are getting the training to become professional counselors, so they can provide services and get experience and training. However, they are in a clinical training MS program and obtaining the skills necessary for LPC/LMFT/LCSW licensure.
Furthermore, would the requirements to become a QMHP need to change to become more stringent? If you are allowing licensure, perhaps the pathways in which someone can take to become a QMHP need to tighten to provide further regulations about learning and practice experiences that would support the professional development of someone with a QMHP. Part of what makes a QMHP accessible is that people can get into the field under supervision and start career or change to a new career path offering direct services. If a QMHP became a path toward licensure, would that make it necessary to further restrict the accessibility of obtaining a QMHP because it would require certain background knowledge, training, and skills?
Is it possible that the scope of what QMHP's do now just needs to shift, rather than adopting an entire licensure avenue? There are comments posted about QMHP's not being able to do some behavioral interventions. Is it possible that this can be adapted to provide a slightly larger scope of interventions without changing the licensing structure?
