Integrated Behavioral Health FAQ

The course work for this program fulfills the education and internship requirements for three Minnesota licenses:

• The Minnesota Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor (MNLADC)
• The Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
• The Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)

Graduates of IBH are eligible to sit for the National Counselor Certification, a national exam required in many states (including Minnesota) for counselor licensure, and the ICRC or NAADAC exams, required in Minnesota for the MNLADC. 

In addition to the MNLADC, a graduate of the IBH program can apply to the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (BBHT) to have their credentials evaluated to become an LPC (need 2,000 hours of post-degree supervised clinical experience). LPCs practice professional counseling in Minnesota under an approved clinical supervisor.

LPCs with 4,000 hours (approximately two years) of appropriate post-degree supervised clinical experience can then apply to the MNBBHT to become an LPCC. An LPCC is licensed to engage in the independent practice of professional counseling in Minnesota. This degree program fulfills the 60-credit educational requirement for the LPCC.

For detailed information on the LADC, LPC, and LPCC licensing requirements, visit the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (MNBBHT) website.

It depends on your personal and professional goals. The ADDC is the best option if you are seeking to work as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, or if you already have an affiliated license and want to become dually licensed.

Apply to the IBH program if you want to prepare for the Minnesota Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (MNLADC) license and the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) license.

Here are some details to help you decide which program best meets your goals.

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

• Basic license in clinical mental health counseling
• Requires 48 credits in graduate-level counseling
• If you later decide to pursue the LPCC, you will need to take additional courses to satisfy the remaining 12 credits required for the license
• 2,000 hours of post-degree supervision required (approx. one year)
• Exam
• Many clinical mental health practitioners obtain the LPC on the way to the LPCC
• Can not work as an independent clinical counselor because you will need to be supervised
• LPC salary is comparable to someone with the MNLADC

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)

• Advanced license in clinical mental health counseling
• Requires 60 graduate credits in graduate-level counseling
• 4,000 hours of post-degree supervision required (approx. two years)
• Exam
• Can work as an independent clinical counselor because you will not need to be supervised
• Equal to the LICSW and LMFT

We offer a variety of learning formats including face-to-face, online, and hybrid (some face-to-face and some online class sessions). However, at this time it is not possible to complete the program fully online.

Yes, IBH is a master’s degree program, and therefore admitted students are eligible for federal financial aid.

Admitted students may be allowed to transfer up to 10 credits of previous graduate-level coursework. See Transferring Credits section under Admission Requirements.

While we can identify non-UMN coursework that meets our program requirements, the MNBBHT ultimately reviews and determines coursework that meets licensing requirements. Contact the MNBBHT to discuss your specific situation.

You must apply and be admitted to the IBH program to take IBH designator courses. To determine which courses you might need for the LPCC, contact the MN Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (BBHT). For detailed information on the MNLADC and LPCC licensing requirements, visit the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (MNBBHT) website.

Once you have determined which courses you need, we encourage you to contact enrollment advisor Steve Wicks ([email protected]) around next steps, which may include an application to the program and transfer credit review upon admission.

It will depend on the coursework you’ve already completed and the gaps identified by the MNBBHT.

Not directly, no. Many students are hired by their internship site when they have completed the internship and obtained the required license. In addition, the program receives notices of positions and  posts these opportunities for admitted students. 

Potential career paths for IBH graduates include private practice, private contractor/consultant for multiple treatment programs/clinics, a clinician within a hospital, and teaching faculty or adjunct faculty for community colleges and/or bachelor’s and some master’s programs.

Each state has its own education and credentialing requirements for counselors. You should check the licensing requirements for the state you are considering.

The number of credits you take should be based on your work demands, family, and other commitments, as well as the difficulty of the coursework. If you wish to graduate in approximately 3 years, you should plan to take 9 credits (3 classes) per term, but you can take fewer credits based on your individual needs. At the graduate level, full-time status is 6 or more credits. The University of Minnesota’s policy on expected graduate student academic work per credit is that it will exceed 3 hours per credit per week.

Yes, you can work with clients in recovery. However, please be aware admitted students must be free of problematic substance use as defined in Minnesota Statutes 245G for at least two years immediately preceding SUD service delivery, per Minnesota DHS. This service delivery may include courses in clinics/hospitals or internships.

CCAPS Graduate Education programs do not provide living stipends, research assistantships, or teaching assistantships as might be expected in a typical PhD program.

• US based students: CCAPS offers modest financial need-based scholarships to eligible students, and a limited number of merit-based scholarships. However, in most cases students work while going to school in order to cover living expenses and pay tuition out of pocket, including health insurance. 
• International students: Are not eligible for federal financial aid or CCAPS scholarships and must show financial evidence showing that they can cover tuition, living expenses, and the Student Health Benefit plan health insurance during their period of study. To learn more about planning for these expenses, visit Plan Your Expenses or make an appointment with International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).

We mostly think of financial assistance during our time in school. But did you know there are programs that may provide assistance with paying your loans after school?

The Health Services and Resource Administration’s National Health Service Corps offers potential loan repayment assistance for those employed in specific jobs. These jobs include Substance Use Counselors working for an approved NHSC SUD site, or any rural, NHSC approved SUD site. This means students graduating from the Master of Professional Studies in Addictions Counseling or Master of Professional Studies in Integrated Behavioral Health program may be eligible to apply for loan repayment assistance through the HSRA.

Visit the HSRA website for more information.

Disclaimer: The College of Continuing and Professional Studies does not endorse this program, nor does the College receive financial compensation for students who qualify. This information is strictly educational in nature.