Registered Interns in Mental Health Professions and Use of Titles

The law’s intent is to protect the public; therefore, it is important that you not use titles on your cards, brochures or any advertisements that may deceive the public.  Your educational credentials are valid in every state; however, license as a mental health professional does not carry across state lines.  If you are a registered intern while you complete license requirements in Florida, you may not hold yourself out as a licensed mental health professional in Florida unless you do in fact have a Florida license.  Your cards, brochures and advertisements may read, “Jane Doe, MSW” or “John Doe, MA”  if you hold a master’s degree but your cards, brochures and advertisements may not say you are licensed or Florida license eligible.

A registered clinical social worker intern shall include the words “registered clinical social worker intern,” a registered marriage and family therapist intern shall include the words “registered marriage and family therapist intern,” and a registered mental health counselor intern shall include the words “registered mental health counselor intern” on all promotional materials, including cards, brochures, stationery, advertisements, and signs naming the registered intern.

You MAY NOT abbreviate the titles in any way.  You therefore may not refer to yourself as a ‘’registered intern”.  You may not abbreviate the title by using letters only and must use the entire title as described above.  Abbreviation of title is only allowed to a LICENSED Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), LICENSED Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT), or LICENSED Mental Health Counselor (LMHC).

It is unlawful and a violation of  Chapter 491 for you to use the following titles or any combination thereof, unless you hold a valid, active license as a clinical social worker issued pursuant to Chapter 491:

1. “Licensed clinical social worker”
2. “Clinical social worker”
3. “Licensed social worker”
4. “Psychiatric social worker”
5. “Psychosocial worker”

It is unlawful and a violation of  Chapter 491 for any person to use the following titles or any combination thereof, unless you hold a valid, active license as a marriage & family therapist issued pursuant to Chapter 491:

1. “Licensed marriage and family therapist”
2. “Marriage and family therapist”
3. “Marriage counselor”
4. “Marriage consultant”
5. “Family therapist”
6. “Family counselor”
7. “Family consultant”

It is unlawful and a violation of  Chapter 491 for any person to use the following titles or any combination thereof, unless you hold a valid, active license as a mental health counselor issued pursuant to Chapter 491:

1. “Licensed mental health counselor”
2. “Mental health counselor”
3. “Mental health therapist”
4. “Mental health consultant”

Any person who violates any provision of this law commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

It falls upon you as the mental health professional to know and uphold the law.  If you do not hold a valid Florida license and you find yourself in the employ of someone who is unaware of the law and wants you to describe yourself as a “family counselor” or use one of the other titles listed above on business cards, you may not do so, will be breaking the law, and could face disciplinary action. ONCE YOU HOLD A VALID, ACTIVE LICENSE YOU MAY THEN USE THE ABOVE TITLES AND ANY DERIVATIVES THEREOF.

For more information, contact the Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling at 850-245-4474 or visit www.floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov.

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