Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (professional counselor) · Rhode Island · regulated by RI Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists (RI Department of Health) · medium confidence
| Pre-license credential | Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate |
|---|---|
| Supervised experience | minimum of two (2) years of relevant postgraduate experience, including at least two thousand (2,000) hours of direct client contact |
| Direct client contact | 2,000 hours of direct client contact |
| Supervision | 100 hours of post-degree supervised case work over a two-year period |
| Minimum time | 2 years |
| Exams | NCMHCE (NBCC) |
Supervision
- How much: 100 hours of post-degree supervised case work over a two-year period
- Who may supervise: Board-approved: LCMHC, psychiatrist, psychologist, LMFT or LICSW licensed ≥5 yrs, plus graduate supervision course, NBCC supervisor credential, or ≥2 yrs supervising clinical staff
When hours count and what to keep
- Before your degree: Regulation says post-degree; the RIDOH application says hours 'are to be accrued after 60 credits are completed'
- Paperwork: Statement(s) of Supervised Practice (in application) plus supervisor's resume
Can you be supervised remotely in Rhode Island?
Mostly, with some limits. What shapes this: video status not stated.
- Video supervision: Statute and 216-RICR-40-05-11 set no supervision modality for post-degree hours (100 h over 2 years with a board-recognised approved supervisor). The rule defines "Individual (face-to-face) supervision" (a term used for student trainees), so video eligibility is not stated either way.
- Supervisor licensed in Rhode Island? not required (application checklist provides for verification of the supervisor's out-of-state license); supervisor must meet RI "approved supervisor" criteria
- Supervisor credential: "Approved supervisor" criteria: LCMHC, psychiatrist, psychologist, LMFT or LICSW licensed ≥5 yrs with 5 yrs clinical experience plus a graduate supervision course, NBCC supervisor credential, or 2 yrs supervising clinical staff; no separate supervisor application found — the supervisor attests on the Statement of Supervised Practice.
The client’s location decides which state’s rules apply. This is not legal advice; confirm with the board before building a program. Compare every state on the remote-supervision map.
Recent and pending changes
Part 216-RICR-40-05-11 last amended eff 05/15/2023
Where the rules are unclear
Rhode Island’s own documents disagree or are silent on these points. Ask the board if they affect you:
- Statute § 5-63.2-9(a)(2)(i) and rule § 11.3.3(A)(2) require the 2,000 direct hours 'subsequent to being awarded' the graduate degree, but the RIDOH application says hours 'are to be accrued after 60 credits are completed' (rule § 11.3.2(A)(1)(c) also ties the start to 60 credits). Do post-60-credit, pre-degree hours count? (Current application uses 'after 60 credits'.)
- Does post-degree supervision by live video count toward the 100 supervised case-work hours?
- Is the "Individual (face-to-face) supervision" definition intended to govern post-degree supervision?
In the board’s own words
“minimum of two (2) years of relevant postgraduate experience, including at least two thousand (2,000) hours of direct client contact” — 216-RICR-40-05-11 §11.3.3(A)(2)✓ matched in the source
“minimum of one hundred (100) hours of post-degree supervised case work spread over a two-year (2) period” — 216-RICR-40-05-11 §11.3.3(A)(3)✓ matched in the source
“These hours are to be accrued after 60 credits are completed.” — RIDOH Mental Health Counselor application instructions✓ matched in the source
“or is a graduate accumulating the experience required for any licensure under this chapter; provided, that the graduate or student is designated by a title” — R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-63.2-12(b)(2)✓ matched in the source
“subsequent to being awarded a master’s degree, certificate of advanced graduate study, or doctorate” — R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-63.2-9(a)(2)(i)✓ matched in the source
““Individual (face-to-face) supervision” means a tutorial relationship between a member of the mental health counseling profession and a student trainee.” — 216-RICR-40-05-11 § 11.1 definitions✓ matched in the source
“Verification of Supervisor’s OOS Lic.” — RIDOH application, office checklist✓ matched in the source
“was recognized by the board as an approved supervisor” — 216-RICR-40-05-11 § 11.3.3(A)(3)✓ matched in the source
Other licenses in Rhode Island
- LMFT (marriage and family therapist)
- LICSW (clinical social worker)
- Psychologist
- All Rhode Island licenses · every state
Sources
- 216-RICR-40-05-11 (Licensing Clinical Mental Health Counselors and MFTs), §§ 11.3.2, 11.3.3(A)-(B), 11.3.10(C)
- RIDOH Mental Health Counselor license application (instructions pp. 1-2; Statement of Supervised Practice form)
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-63.2-12(b)(2) (exemptions)
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-63.2-9(a)(2)
- 216-RICR-40-05-11 official Final Regulation PDF (active rule, eff. May 2023), read in full
Checked against RI Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists (RI Department of Health)’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.