The Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE) Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) credential program speaks to a mental health professional’s commitment to providing quality supervision and to their qualifications to do just that. ACS credential holders have met national professional supervision standards and must meet continuing education requirements to maintain their credential. The ACS promotes the clinical supervisor’s professional identity, visibility, and accountability and encourages professional growth.

Supervision is not only a requirement for licensure; it is a powerful tool for improvement throughout a counselor’s career. Many counselors seek out supervision to enhance their professional abilities. For a counselor supervisor, the ACS shows supervisees that you take pride in your supervision. If you are looking for a supervisor, the ACS can help identify a committed supervisor.

“It is important to demonstrate clinical supervision credentials to your clients and supervisees,” says Callie Marino, NBCC’s Vice President of Credentialing and Quality Assurance. “By showing training, experience, and qualifications in supervision, the ACS helps counselors to further market themselves and grow their business.”

The ACS is a voluntary credential for clinical supervisors who wish to demonstrate their qualifications and dedication. However, 15 states currently suggest the ACS in their counseling regulations. As well as experience and education requirements, ACS applicants must document 45 hours of clinical supervision training, which can come from approved continuing education programs or graduate coursework. There is no examination requirement for the ACS, but applicants must include a professional disclosure statement intended for supervisees.

Many graduates of CACREP-accredited doctoral programs may have completed the educational requirements for eligibility, and a portion of the experiential requirements as part of their doctoral internship. The ACS presented a wonderful and easily accessible opportunity to be recognized for the important training completed by professional counselor supervisors.

The ACS was introduced in 1998 by NBCC as a credential for professional counselor supervisors. The program later moved to CCE to open it up to other mental health professions. There are currently 2,600 active ACS credential holders throughout the United States.

Learn more about the CCE Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) Program.