Really NO way to be licensed in California with MHC degree?

[jiji7]

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I recently applied to MHC programs in NYC. I see the possibility of me having to move to California in the next three years. I just came to find out that California would not license me with that degree only degrees in MFT and MSW.

So I would have to start school over again basically if I had to move?

There is no national licensing that would allow me to practice in California?

 

[pingouin]

California seems to do their own thing and they always have. I can't answer anything about MHCs, but I know that for their LCSWs, they do not honor other states' licenses. California has their own written exam separate from what the ASWB regulates in the other 49, and they used to be the only state that also required an oral exam (apparently no longer).

As a general rule, there is no "national license" for anything. I cannot use my state's LCSW to practice independently in a neighboring state. I could, however, apply for licensure in those states and given the appropriate verification/credentialing, they may agree to license me in that state based on the fact that I am actively licensed without restrictions in another state with similar licensure criteria. (For a fee, of course. 😎 ) This is what is referred to as reciprocity.