The College of New Jersey now offers a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) for Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with plans for nationwide expansion. This program delivers a unique opportunity to build a pipeline of licensed professionals; upskill current employees with job-based training; and attract new hires through a flexible, paid path to a graduate degree.
What Sets This Program Apart and Why It Matters
Our apprenticeship degree model reshapes the workplace into a hands-on training environment, reducing academic load by 30% in favor of paid on-the-job experience. The program offers an affordable pathway with scholarship and wage reimbursement options while directly addressing critical mental health workforce shortages. It prioritizes recruitment from underserved communities, fostering a more diverse and inclusive counseling workforce.
Students are trained for dual licensure: LPC + LCADC. Apprentices begin working right away, gaining valuable experience and earning as they learn.
Timeline
Year One: Foundations and Support
- Work in a non-clinical role while learning online
- Employers help facilitate on-the-job training linked to coursework
Year Two: Transition to Counselor
- Begin clinical work as part of paid job duties
- Practicum and internship hours count toward the 4,500 required hours for LPC licensure
Benefits to Employers
- Retention and recruitment: Offer your staff a valuable career ladder
- Reduced supervision burden: Apprentices accelerate toward licensure
- Minimal disruption: Coursework is flexible, and on-the-job training happens during work hours
- Enhanced care quality: Apprentices bring up-to-date, evidence-based practices into your agency
Veterans
VA education benefits support veterans, service members, and eligible family members by covering costs such as college tuition, helping them choose the right school or training program, and offering career counseling. Find out how to apply for and manage the education and training benefits you’ve earned.