SAMHSA Announces the National Behavioral Health Workforce Career Navigator

Increasing access to mental health care and the expansion of the behavioral health workforce have long been priorities for NBCC and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). We work toward that goal through various projects and initiatives for the counseling profession such as our administration of the NBCCF Minority Fellowship Program (MFP), funded by SAMHSA.  

Since 2013, the NBCC Foundation has awarded 1,100 MFP fellowships as an investment in the education and mentoring of counseling students. This includes 288 MFP Mental Health Counseling (MFP-MHC) doctoral fellowships, 365 MFP Mental Health Counseling (MFP-MHC) master’s fellowships, and 447 Addictions Counseling (MFP-AC) master’s fellowships. As of January 2024, the total of fellowships awarded was $15,277,000.  

In addition, we work alongside other counseling organizations and mental health disciplines to expand the workforce and bring the best mental health services possible to all clients, particularly the underserved. Our commitment to the Medicare Mental Health Workforce Coalition allowed us to work with other mental health partners to gain Medicare recognition of counselors, which began in 2024. We now have over 50,000 counselors enrolled in the Medicare program to improve access to care for seniors and populations with disabilities.   

In an effort to increase the mental health workforce and promote various career options, SAMSHA has launched a National Behavioral Health Workforce Career Navigator. This comprehensive tool is designed to help those interested in mental health and substance use careers learn about state requirements to enter the field and obtain certification or licensure. Individuals can simply select a state and find information for mental health counselors and an array of other careers such as marriage and family therapy, clinical social work, and psychiatry. The tool also includes information on maintaining licensure and whether continuing education is required for renewal. In addition, the navigator includes descriptions of the each of the behavioral health careers.  

NBCC celebrates this effort to enhance the behavioral health workforce and hopes aspiring mental health professionals will find it useful. It is also helpful to current mental health professionals moving from one state to another. Each career provides links to the state board or organization that administers the credentials for that state, providing vital information in one place. NBCC is not able to verify the information on this site and suggests always checking directly with the licensing/certification organization for the most up-to-date information. In addition, NBCC offers a counseling state licensure board directory for your convenience.