Remote LCSW & LMFT Jobs in North Carolina
Find work opportunities and resources for remote LCSW & LMFT jobs in North Carolina.
The U.S. faces an ongoing social worker shortage that is expected to hit crisis levels. Studies show that an increase in the need for social work service, especially for older adults, has increased just as the number of social workers in the U.S. decreased. That isn’t the only population vying for social workers’ services. Researchers found that students in North Carolina are traumatized by the pandemic and need social workers’ support to return to school and other daily functions.
Remote master’s level therapists in North Carolina are in high demand by companies delivering teletherapy services. Two common license types at this level are Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Licensed Family and Marriage Therapist (LMFT). Although they each have different paths to licensure, becoming an LCSW or LMFT in North Carolina can open a wealth of opportunities to practice virtual therapy.
Becoming an LCSW or LMFT in North Carolina
How to Become an LCSW in North Carolina
The first step to becoming a licensed clinical social worker in North Carolina is to earn a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) from an accredited four-year college or university. Once prospective remote LCSWs in North Carolina meet the preliminary requirements, you need to pursue the following:
Education and additional coursework: Earn a minimum of a master’s degree in social work (MSW) or related field from a program accredited by an organization recognized by the North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board and that complies with its requirements.
Experience: As a prerequisite to licensure, complete post-MSW supervised clinical hours covering the experience outlined by the North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board. Your experience must include a minimum of 3,000 hours of post-MSW paid clinical employment with an appropriately supervised clinical practice.
Exams: After earning the appropriate master’s degree and meeting the North Carolina clinical experience requirements, you can submit an application for licensure to the North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board. Once approved, you can register to take the national clinical exam administered by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). The 170-question exam covers topics such as assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and interventions. It also covers ethics and values.
Certification: Once licensed in North Carolina and after passing the ASWB exam, you can apply for certification to become a specialized social worker in a number of specialties. These credentials can expand your teletherapy work opportunities.
Fees: North Carolina requires a $145 fee for 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 North Carolina
The first step to becoming a licensed marriage and family therapist in North Carolina 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 North Carolina meet the preliminary requirements, you need to pursue the following:
Education and additional coursework: Earn a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy (MFT) or related field from a program accredited by an organization recognized by the North Carolina Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Board and that complies with its requirements. North Carolina also requires you to complete additional coursework on Theoretical Foundation of Marriage and Family Therapy, Practice of Marriage and Family Therapy, Assessment and Diagnosis, Human Development and Family Relations, Professional Identity and Ethics, and Research in Marriage and Family Therapy. Many organizations offer these courses, including the National Association of Social Workers.
Experience: As a prerequisite to licensure, complete post-MFT supervised clinical hours covering the experience outlined by the North Carolina Marriage and family Therapy Licensure Board. Your transcript must reflect the minimum of 3 practicums comprising 9 semester or 14 quarter credits of face-to-face client contact and clinical supervision with individuals, couples, and families in a clinical setting. In addition, you must complete 1500 hours of clinical experience, under the supervision of an AAMFT approved supervisor (or accepted AAMFT supervisor candidate). Up to 500 clinical hours may be counted from the qualifying degree. Also, 500 of the 1,500 must be relational, with no more than 250 hours each of Assessment and Psycho-Education accepted.
Exams: After earning the appropriate master’s degree and meeting the North Carolina clinical experience requirements, you can submit an application for licensure to the North Carolina Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Board. Once approved, you are eligible to take the Marital and Family Therapy National Exam developed by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB).
Fees: North Carolina requires a $200 fee for LMFT licensure and a $365 fee for the AMFTRB exam.
Requirements for Remote Mental Health Workers (LCSWs & LMFTs) in North Carolina
Once you earn your license as an LCSW or LMFT in North Carolina, you can decide which type of position suits you best whether you live in the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill), Asheville, Charlotte, 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 North Carolina.
Here’s what you should know before applying:
Work-from-home therapist: When you work as a remote therapist, you are expected to perform the same duties as you would if you worked in an office or facility. The main difference is that you can work from anywhere, which allows you to skip any commuting. Plan to conduct virtual sessions with clients using a website, telephone, mobile application, or other virtual media. All therapists can only treat clients in the state in which they are licensed, so a LCSW or LMFT licensed in North Carolina must only accept clients from that state.
Skills of successful remote therapists: Excellent communication skills are vital for all therapists, but especially for those who work remotely. Many therapists hone their skills by working with clients in person before they move to teletherapy. Therapists who work remotely must also become adept at the use of digital therapy tools and testing materials.
Necessary documentation: When applying for remote jobs, be sure to update your resume and provide appropriate documentation showing your education and credentials.
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 North Carolina 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.
How Wheel Works
With Wheel, we make it simple for you to work with as many virtual care companies as you want, giving you the diversity of conditions and treatment areas you would experience in a clinic setting — without the hassle of finding the partners yourself. Plug into our clinical network and we’ll show you how easy it can be.
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With Wheel, we make it simple for you to work with as many virtual care companies as you want, giving you the diversity of conditions and treatment areas you would experience in a clinic setting.
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