Behavioral Health Professional Pipeline

Undergraduate degree: BS/BA

Program admission requirements: MCAT

Graduate degree: MD/DO

Additional work requirement: Residency

Licensure/Certification requirement: State licensure

Total years of schooling: ~12-14 years

Salary expectation: $215,438 – $268,932

Eligible for SC Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program: Yes

Additional info: 40 hrs required continuing education

Undergraduate degree:

BS/BA

(Psychology or related field)

Program admission requirements:

N/A

Graduate degree:

MS/MEd – OPTIONAL
(Master of Science/Master of Education)

PhD/PsyD*
(Doctor of Philosophy/Doctor of Psychology)

*Must meet all prerequisites for doctoral program if master’s degree not obtained*

Additional work requirement: 

Supervised experience*
*≥ 3,000 hours consisting of: Internship; Field experience; Direct service; Training; Supervisory time

Licensure/Certification requirement: 

National Licensure (EPPP Exam),
Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB)

State Licensure, Psychologist,
South Carolina Labor Licensing Regulation (SCLLR)

Total years of schooling: 

~10-12 years

Salary expectation:

Range: $99,822 – $122,020

Average: $109,800

Eligible for SC Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program: 

yes

Additional info: 

24 hours of continuing education credits per licensure period (2 years)

Undergraduate degree: Any

Program admission requirements: hands-on clinical experience

Graduate degree: Masters degree (physician assistant program)

Additional work requirement: N/A

Licensure/Certification requirement: National Certification, State Licensure-physician assistant

Total years of schooling: ~7-9 years

Salary expectation: $104,420-$125,068

Eligible for SC Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program: yes

Additional info: Must maintain certification through NCCPA every 2 years, which includes 100 CME credits. Also must pass the PANRE Exam every tenth year

Undergraduate degree: BSN, ADN(optional)

Program admission requirements: practical nursing experience

Graduate degree: MSN/DNP

Additional work requirement: N/A

Licensure/Certification requirement: Nat’l Licensure-RN, Nat’l Certification-NP, State Certification-PMHNPBC, State Licensure-APRN

Total years of schooling: ~6-8 years

Salary expectation: $101,390 – $124,420

Eligible for SC Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program: yes

Additional info: 30 contact hours of continuing education (20 of which must be in pharmacotherapeutics relating to specialty). Must also maintain national certification.

All nurse practitioners in South Carolina are required to have a collaborating physician who is licensed by the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners.

Undergraduate degree: ADN/BSN

Program admission requirements: hands-on clinical experience

Graduate degree: N/A

Additional work requirement: N/A

Licensure/Certification requirement: Nat’l licensure-RN, Nat’l Certification-PMHBC

Total years of schooling: ~4-6 years

Salary expectation: $66,200 – $98,487

Eligible for SC Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program: no

Additional info: 30 hours of continuing education for license renewal

Undergraduate degree: Associates Degree or BA/BS

Program admission requirements: ≥ 270 hours of coursework related to core counseling functions, including six (6) hours of training in Ethics and three (3) in HIV/AIDS

Graduate degree: N/A

Additional work requirement: Supervised Work Experience (4,000 hours), Clinical Supervision (150 hours)

*Certification agency notes that Internship or Practicum may be creditable as either experience or education*

Licensure/Certification requirement: National Certification, Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC I)
(Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I Exam),
National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC)

*Must pass the Written and Oral Examinations*

Total years of schooling: ~4-6 years

Salary expectation: $43,024 – $69,809

Eligible for SC Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program: yes

Additional info: 40 hours of continuing education every 2 years, including 6 hours of Ethics

Undergraduate degree: BS/BA

Program admission requirements: N/A

Graduate degree: Practicum (100 hours including 40 hours of direct client service), Internship (600 supervised hours including 240 hours of direct client service), MS/MA/MEd (Counseling)

Additional work requirement: Supervised Field Experience (≥1,500 hours)

Licensure/Certification requirement: National Certification (NCE or NCMHCE Exam), National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), State Licensure, Professional Counselor, South Carolina Labor Licensing Regulation (SCLLR)

Total years of schooling: ~6-8 years

Salary expectation: $53,011 – $70,427

Eligible for SC Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program: yes

Additional info: 40 hours of continuing education per licensure period (2 years)

Undergraduate degree: BS/BA*
(Psychology or related field)
*Completion of all prerequisite courses in therapy, if applicable*

Program admission requirements: Field Experience – OPTIONAL

Graduate degree: MS/MA
(Marriage & Family Therapy or related field)

Additional work requirement: 

Practicum (~60 semester hours)

Direct Supervision over 2 years (≥1,500 hours of clinical experience including 150 hours of face-to-face with supervisor)

Licensure/Certification requirement: 

State Licensure, Marriage & Family Therapy Intern (LMFT/I),
South Carolina Labor Licensing Regulation (SCLLR)

State Licensure, Marriage & Family Therapy,
South Carolina Labor Licensing Regulation (SCLLR)

Total years of schooling: ~6-8 years

Salary expectation: Range: $37,246 – $48,558

Eligible for SC Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program: 

 Yes*
*Must meet certain requirement

Additional info: 40 hours of continuing education per licensure period (2 years)

Undergraduate degree: BS/BA/BSW*
*BSW preferred but not only undergraduate degree option*

Program admission requirements: N/A

Graduate degree: DSW – OPTIONAL
(Doctor of Social Work)

Additional work requirement: 

Field Work (~900 hours)MSW
(Master of Social Work)
Supervised Field Experience (≥3,000 hours over 2-4 years)

Licensure/Certification requirement: 

State Licensure, Master Social Worker,
South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners (SCBSWE)

State Licensure, Independent Social Worker (ASWB Clinical Exam),
South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners (SCBSWE)

Total years of schooling: ~6-8 years

Salary expectation: Range: $69,934 – $84,424

Eligible for SC Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program: 

Yes*
*Must meet certain requirements*

Additional info: 40 hours of continuing education per licensure period (2 years)

Undergraduate degree: BS/BA/BSW*
*BSW preferred but not only undergraduate degree option*

Program admission requirements: Field Work (~900 hours)

Graduate degree: 

MSW
(Master of Social Work)

DSW – OPTIONAL
(Doctor of Social Work)

Additional work requirement: N/A

Licensure/Certification requirement:  State Licensure, Master Social Worker (ASWB Master’s Exam),
South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners (SCBSWE)

Total years of schooling: ~3-5 years

Salary expectation: Range: $53,901 – $67,555

Eligible for SC Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program: 

Yes*
*Must meet certain requirements

Additional info: 40 hours of continuing education per licensure period (2 years)

Undergraduate degree: BS/BA/BSW
(Psychology or related field)

Program admission requirements: N/A

Graduate degree: Master’s Degree – OPTIONAL

Additional work requirement: Field Experience, On-the-job training

Licensure/Certification requirement: Certification, Casework – OPTIONAL

Total years of schooling: ~4 years

Salary expectation: Range: $58,189 – $86,277

Eligible for SC Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program: no

Additional info: 40 hours of continuing education per licensure period (2 years)

Undergraduate degree: BS/BA
(Psychology or related field)

Program admission requirements: Field Experience

Graduate degree: Master’s Degree – OPTIONAL

Additional work requirement: N/A

Licensure/Certification requirement: State Certification, Prevention Specialist,
South Carolina Association of Prevention Professionals and Advocates (SCAPPA)

Total years of schooling: ~4 years

Salary expectation: Range: $66,115 – $95,682

Eligible for SC Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program: no

Additional info: OPTIONAL continuing education units

Undergraduate degree: N/A

*HS Diploma / GED required*

Program admission requirements: 

– Continuous, sustained ≥1 year of Lived Recovery*

– Practical Experience*

*Must be verified by designated professional/individual*

– Successful completion of Peer Support Specialist Certification (46-hour training)

Graduate degree: N/A

Additional work requirement: N/A

Licensure/Certification requirement: N/A

Total years of schooling: ~1-2 years

Salary expectation: Range: $69,618 – $86,172

Eligible for SC Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program: no

Additional info: N/A

Undergraduate degree: BS/BA
(Psychology or related field)

Program admission requirements: N/A

Graduate degree: MS/MA
(Accredited APBA or ABAI program
OR
Degree from qualifying institution (listed in CHEA directory) + completion of 315 hours of behavior analysis coursework)

Additional work requirement: 1,500 hours of concentrated supervised fieldwork*

OR

2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork*

*To be completed within 5 years*

Licensure/Certification requirement: National Certification, Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA®),
Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB)

Total years of schooling: ~6-8 years

Salary expectation: Range: $61,420 – $75,030

Eligible for SC Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program: no

Additional info: Must maintain certification through BCBA every 2 years, which requires a $215 renewal fee & completion of 32 CEU’s during 2-year recertification period

Undergraduate degree: N/A

*HS Diploma / GED required*

Program admission requirements: – 18+ years old
– Pass Criminal Background Check

Graduate degree: N/A

Additional work requirement: 

40-hour training (must be completed in 5 – 180 days),
Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB)

RBT Initial Competency Assessment,
Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB)

Licensure/Certification requirement: RBT Examination,
Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB)

Total years of schooling: <1
(~2-3 months)

Salary expectation: Range: $62,072 -$75,827

Eligible for SC Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program: no

Additional info: 

Must undergo ongoing supervision from a qualified RBT Supervisor and/or RBT Requirements Coordinator

Must adhere to the RBT Ethics Code (2.0) and Self-Reporting Requirements

Must renew certification annually via RBT Renewal Competency Assessment

Undergraduate degree: BS/BA
(Psychology or related field)

Program admission requirements: N/A

Graduate degree: MS / MA / MEd
(School Counseling)

Additional work requirement: N/A

Licensure/Certification requirement: 

Praxis I Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST),
Educational Testing Service (ETS) Praxis

Praxis II: Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) examination,
Educational Testing Service (ETS) Praxis

Praxis II: School Guidance and Counseling examination,
Educational Testing Service (ETS) Praxis

Total years of schooling: ~6-8 years

Salary expectation: Range: $50,240 – $63,310

Eligible for SC Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program: no

Additional info: N/A