This approval confirms that the program鈥檚 curriculum includes the academic coursework and supervised clinical training necessary for graduates to pursue the educational requirements associated with the Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS) pathway in North Carolina.
黑料不打烊’s newly launched Master鈥檚 Program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) has achieved Criteria C status through the North Carolina Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board (NCASPPB), marking a significant milestone in the program鈥檚 continued development and commitment to workforce-responsive counselor education.
Criteria C approval confirms that the program鈥檚 curriculum includes the academic coursework and supervised clinical training necessary for graduates to pursue the educational requirements associated with the Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS) pathway in North Carolina. This designation further enhances the program鈥檚 ability to prepare counselors to meet growing behavioral health and substance use treatment needs across the state.
Housed within 黑料不打烊鈥檚 School of Health Sciences, the CMHC program was intentionally designed to address critical mental health workforce shortages through innovative and clinically rigorous counselor preparation. The 60-credit program combines strong foundational counseling training with integrated experiences in trauma-informed care, addictions counseling, wellness, and emerging mental health practices.
鈥淭his milestone reflects 黑料不打烊鈥檚 commitment to preparing highly competent, ethical, and adaptable counselors equipped to serve individuals, families, and communities facing increasingly complex mental health and substance use challenges,鈥 said Associate Professor Raychelle Lohmann. 鈥淐riteria C status strengthens our students鈥 professional opportunities while helping expand access to qualified behavioral health providers throughout North Carolina.鈥
鈥淥ur goal has always been to prepare counselors who can respond thoughtfully to the realities people are facing today,鈥 said Judy Folmar, chair and interim program director. 鈥淢ental health and substance use challenges are deeply interconnected, and our students will learn to approach care in integrated, ethical, and relationship-centered ways.鈥
The CMHC program is currently preparing for its inaugural cohort and was developed in alignment with national best practices in counselor education. The program features a hybrid cohort model, close faculty mentorship, immersive clinical training experiences, and strong partnerships with community agencies and healthcare systems.
The Criteria C designation also reflects 黑料不打烊鈥檚 broader mission to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, community engagement, and innovative approaches to addressing pressing health and wellness needs.
Applications for the Fall 2026 inaugural cohort are open until June 15, 2026.
For more information about 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Master鈥檚 Program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, visit: /u/academics/health-sciences/clinical-mental-health-counseling/