I highly encourage folks to check out licensure requirements for LCSW, and LPCs in other states-to include MD and DC. VA has extremely rigorous requirements. Residents typically pay for supervision as well; making it an expensive investment as well as a time consuming one. Many residents work other jobs while working to obtain licensure because the sites they work at do not pay a livable wage. 

According to white paper completed by Motivo Health—57% of graduates never even complete the licensure process! Which means the massive crisis we are facing with the shortage in clinicians is starting as soon students leave grad school. “https://motivohealth.com/whitepaper-the-57-percent-who-never-attain-licensure/?utm_campaign=0323-whitepaper&utm_source=website&utm_medium=banner

My own journey toward licensure has taken many years longer than my graduate school peers because the counseling jobs I needed to work to get hours did not pay enough for me to live in Northern VA as a single person. I’ve been working full time in my daytime career unrelated to counseling and then part time as a therapist to get my hours—it’s exhausting and expensive and time  consuming! This is the reality for many of us who do not have family to support us or live in dual income homes. 

I think this would be a welcome change to people who really are passionate about this field but have been challenged by the financial burden of getting toward licensure.