Remote LCSW & LMFT Jobs in Rhode Island

How To Become an LCSW or LMFT in Rhode Island

How to Become an LCSW in Rhode Island

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

• Education and additional coursework: You must earn a master’s degree in social work (MSW) or a doctorate in social work (DSW).

• Experience: No field experience required.

• Exams: Those who want to apply for an LCSW license must pass 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.

• Fees: Rhode Island requires a $70 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 Rhode Island

Those who want to apply for a license to practice as a marriage and family therapist in Rhode Island must first 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 Rhode Island meet the preliminary requirements, you need to pursue the following:

• Education: Candidates must earn a master's or doctoral degree. A regionally accredited program in marriage and family therapy, or a related subject with equivalent coursework, must grant the degree. Your education must include at least 12 semester credit hours of supervised practicum, and one year of a supervised internship consisting of 20 hours per week.

• Experience: You must complete two years of post-degree work experience. That time must include 2,000 hours of direct client contact and direct supervision totaling 100 hours over two years as an MFT.

• Exams: Candidates must successfully pass the Marital and Family Therapy Exam developed by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB).

• Fees: Rhode Island requires a $130 fee for LMFT licensure and a $365 fee for the AMFTRB exam.

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

Once you earn your license as an LCSW or LMFT in Rhode Island, you can decide which type of position suits you best whether you live in Providence, Warwick, Newport, or another part of 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 Rhode Island.

Here’s what you should know before applying:

• Work-from-home therapist: As a remote mental health therapist, you’ll do most of your work from home, but you can be employed by any healthcare facility or provider in the state. You will conduct virtual mental health therapy sessions with clients using a website, telephone, mobile application, or other virtual media. Therapists with Rhode Island licenses can only treat clients in the state.

• Skills of successful remote therapists: Therapists who work remotely must be technically savvy so they can effectively communicate with clients through virtual platforms. Also, many remote therapists first hone their communication skills with in-person client sessions before moving to teletherapy.

• Necessary documentation: It’s important for remote social workers and therapists to continually update their resumes and professional documentation.

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

Companies hiring remote LCSWs and LMFTs in Rhode Island 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.