Remote LCSW & LMFT Jobs in Michigan

How To Become a LCSW or LMFT in Michigan

How to Become an LCSW in Michigan

The first step to becoming a licensed clinical social worker in Michigan is to earn a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) from an accredited four-year college or university. Once prospective remote LCSWs in Michigan meet the preliminary requirements, you need to pursue the following:

• Education and additional coursework: You must earn a minimum of a master’s degree in social work (MSW) from an educational program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

• Experience: You must complete 4,000 hours of post-degree supervised social work over a two-year period.

• Exams: After earning the appropriate master’s degree and meeting the Michigan clinical experience requirements, you can register to take the national clinical exam administered by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). The exam features 170 questions, and it covers topics such as assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and interventions. It also covers ethics and values.

• Fees: Michigan requires a $43.20 fee for the LCSW licensure application and a $260 fee for the ASWB clinical exam. Additional fees are required for specialized certification.

How to Become an LMFT in Michigan

The first step to becoming a licensed marriage and family therapist in Michigan is to earn a bachelor’s degree in a topic related to the behavioral sciences from an accredited four-year college or university. Once prospective remote LMFTs in Michigan meet the preliminary requirements, you need to pursue the following:

• Education and additional coursework: You must earn a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy (MFT) or a related field from a program accredited by an organization recognized by the Michigan Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Board and that complies with its requirements. The education must include supervised practicum, with a minimum of 300 hours of direct client contact. You can learn more about the required courses from many organizations including the National Association of Social Workers.

• Experience: Candidates must complete a minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised direct client contact. Five hundred of those hours must be direct client contact hours with families, couples, or parts of a family. One hour of supervision is required for each 5 hours of experience, totaling not less than 200 hours. Also, 100 hours must be individual supervision.

• Exams: After earning the appropriate master’s degree and meeting Michigan’s clinical experience requirements, you can submit an application for licensure to the Michigan Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Board. Once approved, you are eligible to take the Marital and Family Therapy Exam developed by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB).

• Fees: Michigan requires a $91.85 fee for LMFT licensure and a $365 fee for the AMFTRB exam.

Requirements for Remote Mental Health Workers (LCSWs & LMFTs) in Michigan

Once you earn your license as an LCSW or LMFT in Michigan, you can decide which type of position suits you best whether you live in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Lansing, or anywhere else in the state.

If you want to become a remote LCSW or remote LMFT, there are plenty of full-time and part-time virtual work opportunities available in Michigan.

Here’s what you should know before applying:

• Work-from-home therapist: As a remote mental health therapist, you’ll perform the same duties as a therapist working on-site—but you can do your work from anywhere. You’ll work via computer, telephone, and other virtual tools to hold teletherapy sessions with clients. All therapists can only treat clients in the state in which they are licensed, so a LCSW or LMFT licensed in Michigan must only accept clients from that state.

• Skills of successful remote therapists: Remote therapists must be able to communicate effectively via telecommunications. This means you must become familiar with all relevant software, virtual programs, and other tools necessary to conduct virtual mental health therapy .

• Necessary documentation: It’s vital all professional therapists keep their resumes and licenses up to date. Plan to keep them handy so you can supply them if needed.

• Additional training: Telemedicine companies often provide training to educate clinicians on how to use relevant technology and platforms, as well as best practices for good webside manner.

Companies hiring remote LCSWs and LMFTs in Michigan often post open positions on job posting sites like Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn, so this is a great place to start looking for virtual therapy work opportunities.