The Resilient Upstate Professional Pipeline Workgroup has compiled all the information regarding educational requirements and pathways, compensation averages, and growth outlook for various careers within the behavioral and mental health landscape.
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
