What are the TRICARE Rules Regarding Independent Practice:
Licensed Mental Health Counselors in Private Practice
To Answer the question: How does a licensed counselor qualify to provide counseling services under TRICARE serving uniformed service members, retirees and their families?
On December 27, 2011, the Department of Defense released the interim final rule regarding the independent practice of licensed counselors providing services to TRICARE beneficiaries. Briefly, this rule:
- Creates a new category of health professionals authorized to practice independently under TRICARE. These professionals will be known as certified mental health counselors (CMHCs). (NOTE: This is not NBCC's voluntary credential, the certified clinical mental health counselor (CCMHC).)
- Identifies criteria for the identification of CMHCs.
- Establishes a transition period from December 27, 2011, to December 31, 2014.
Additional Details: Licensed counselors who are recognized by the Department of Defense as CMHCs will be allowed to practice autonomously (i.e., without a physician's referral and supervision) and receive third-party reimbursement.
During the transition period from December 27, 2011, to December 31, 2014
- Licensed counselors who do not meet the requirements for the newly established category of CMHC may continue to provide services to TRICARE beneficiaries under the previous requirement of physician referral and supervision. (However, beginning January 1, 2015, the Department of Defense will no longer recognize those counselors who do not meet the criteria of CMHC, even with the referral and supervision of a physician.) The criteria for the CMHC include the following:
- Possession of a state license for independent practice in mental health counseling issued by the jurisdiction in which the individual is practicing. In jurisdictions with two or more licenses allowing for differing scopes of independent practice, the licensed mental health counselor may only practice within the scope of the license he or she possesses.
- Possession of a master's degree or higher from a mental health counseling education and training program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and a passing score on the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) OR Possession of a master's degree or higher from a mental health counseling education and training program that is either CACREP accredited or from a regionally accredited institution, and a passing score on the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE).
- A minimum of two (2) years of post-master's degree supervised mental health counseling practice that includes a minimum of 3,000 hours of supervised clinical practice and 100 hours of face-to-face supervision. Required supervision must be provided by a mental health counselor who is licensed for independent practice in mental health counseling in the jurisdiction in which he or she is practicing and must be conducted in a manner that is consistent with the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) guidelines for supervision. (See webmaster note, below.)
Beginning January 1, 2015
- Only those licensed counselors recognized as CMHCs will be authorized to provide services to TRICARE beneficiaries.
- The criteria for the CMHC change to the following:
- Possession of a state license for independent practice in mental health counseling issued by the jurisdiction in which the individual is practicing. In jurisdictions with two or more licenses allowing for differing scopes of independent practice, the licensed mental health counselor may only practice within the scope of the license he or she possesses. Possession of a master's degree or higher from a mental health counseling education and training program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
- A passing score on the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) or its successor as determined by TRICARE.
- A minimum of two (2) years of post-master's degree supervised mental health counseling practice that includes a minimum of 3,000 hours of supervised clinical practice and 100 hours of face-to-face supervision. Required supervision must be provided by a mental health counselor who is licensed for independent practice in mental health counseling in the jurisdiction in which he or she is practicing and must be conducted in a manner that is consistent with the American Mental Health Counselors Association guidelines for supervision. (See webmaster note, below, at bottom.)
NBCC has created an expedited examination registration form for counselors wishing to take the NCMHCE for the purpose of serving the military. Interested counselors can download and submit the form posted on the NBCC Web site: http://www.nbcc.org/Assets/RegistrationForm/NCMHCERegistrationForm.pdf
NBCC is creating a similar examination registration process for those interested in taking the NCE during the transition period established by the Department of Defense. This application should be available within the month.
Questions regarding registering for an NBCC examination should be directed to examinations@nbcc.org.
NBCC, the American Counseling Association (ACA) and AMHCA have been advocating on behalf of the counseling profession for years. NBCC is pleased with this most recent accomplishment and will continue to advocate for the inclusion of qualified counselors.
What does TRICARE mean? = (It's not an acronym or abbreviation), but refers to Tricare, a health care program of the United States Department of Defense Military Health System, formerly known as the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services, (CHAMPUS). Tricare is government managed health insurance. The various programs cover service members, reservists, dependents, and some retirees, offer many insurance programs for Reserve and Guard members and their families. (www.military.com/benefits/tricare) Counselors interested in becoming a TRICARE provider, should visit the Information for Providers page.
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Webmaster note RE: AMHCA Supervisor Standards
“AMHCA recommends at least 24 continuing education hours or equivalent graduate credit hours of training in the theory and practice of clinical supervision for those Clinical Mental Health Counselors who provide pre-degree or post degree clinical supervision to CMHC students or trainees. AMHCA Recommends that Clinical Supervisors obtain, on the average, at least 3 continuing education hours in supervision per year as part of their overall program of continuing education. Clinical supervisors should meet the following knowledge and skills criteria. Read complete supervisor requirements on pages 7 to 9, in a .pdf file titled, "STANDARDS for the Practice of Clinical Mental Health Counseling."
