List of credentials in psychology

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This list is of professional and academic credentials in the field of psychology and allied fields (psychotherapy, counseling and social work). Academic degrees, such as doctorate are available in these fields, but only those specifically for psychological subjects are included.

Degrees

B.A. or B.S. or B.Sc. with a major and/or minor in Counseling Psychology '

M.A. or M.S. or M.Sc. in Counseling Psychology or Clinical Psychology 

Certain related fields of study are available on undergraduate as wels as Post graduate level such as, A Master's degree in Child Development and/or Family Relationships (Dynamics).

DMFT 

Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy

LPsy

Licentiate in Psychology or Psychologist: professional title used in EU and Latin American countries and equivalent of PsyD of the US

PsyD 

Doctor of Psychology. A Doctor of Philosophy degree requires the student to create relevant and helpful research. The PsyD student does not have to do as much research, focusing more on clinicals.

PhD 

Doctor of Philosophy. A Doctor of Philosophy degree in psychology prepares the student to conduct independent research and to provide professional services (consultation, assessment, diagnosis). However, in order to actually practice psychology and use the title "psychologist", individuals must meet their state requirements and obtain a license to practice psychology.

Professional licenses

Main article: Professional licensing

Professional licenses for masters level mental health providers are issued by U.S. state to graduate degree holders and license them to practice psychotherapy, also known as counseling.

Mental health providers must usually hold a license or in some cases a national certification before receiving reimbursement from insurance companies, although insurance companies as well as Medicaid and Medicare heavily favor clinical social workers and discriminate against equally qualified masters level clinicians such as LMHC's and LMFT's, who are not allowed to bill Medicaid/Medicare for the same psychotherapeutic services.

LCSW  

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

LMSW  

Licensed Master Social Worker

ACSW  

Academy of Certified Social Workers

LIS  

Licensed Independent Social Worker

LCS  

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

LICSW 

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker;

REGCLLR  

Registered Counsellor - with Masters Degree determining the Registration Category

LMA  

Licensed Masters Social Work - Advanced Clinical Practitioner

CSW  

Clinical Social Worker

These professional licenses are issued by U.S. state or national certification boards (or in the case of the ACSW, a professional organization, the National Association of Social Workers) to graduate degree holders and license them to practice social work and, usually, nonmedical psychotherapy. Such professionals also hold a graduate degree, often an MSW. Mental health providers must usually hold such a certification before receiving reimbursement from insurance companies.

LMFT 

Licensed Marital and Family Therapist

MFCC 

Marriage, Family and Child Counselor

This license is specifically for family and child counseling and issued by U.S. state boards to graduate degree holders.

LPC  

Licensed Professional Counselor

LCPC 

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (the LPC is a prerequisite for this license)

LPL  

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor

LMHC 

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

CAD  

Chemical Dependency Licensure

DAC  

Drug and Alcohol Counselor

U.S. state licensing boards grant these licenses to practitioners holding a graduate degree with applicable clinical experience.

Other credentials

ARNPP 

Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner

MHN  

Registered nurses who hold master's degree in psychatric-mental health nursing.

BCD  

Board Certified Diplomate. An endorsement by a certifying board that a high level of competence is displayed in a professional subject matter. These can be held by psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers or counselors.

References

• Psychology Today. "The Credentials". Retrieved 2006-01-18.