Counseling and Mental Health Professions Department
Rehabilitation Counseling in Mental Health Program
On July 12, 2024, the New York State Department of Education approved the Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling in Mental Health (RCMH) degree for the designation of diagnostic privilege (MHC-D). Current students and alumni of the program who can demonstrate successful completion of the curricular requirements approved for this designation within their academic transcript will be eligible for pursuing diagnostic privilege.
The chart on page 2 details the coursework satisfying each of the four content areas required for preparation for this designation. These courses will be used by the University to complete Part D of the NYS Mental Health Practitioner Form 2D, Certification of Education for Diagnostic Privilege. Applicants should complete Section I of the application then follow the detailed instructions in the “Application Instructions” section below before forwarding a signed copy for processing and completion by the Registrar’s Office.
Graduating from Hofstra University’s Rehabilitation Counseling Programs does not automatically guarantee you have completed all the educational requirements for diagnostic privilege; this is dependent upon your date of entry or graduation from the program. If you are uncertain, you should request an unofficial transcript from the University to make a personal assessment. Below you will find guidance on who may or may not satisfy the course requirements based on the chart below.
- Meets all the academic requirements: Alumni who began their RCMH degree program (MSEd or MS) at Hofstra in Fall 2006 and after
- Likely meets the requirements: Graduates of the Advanced Certificate in Rehabilitation Counseling in Mental Health program since 2008 who also received their Master of Science/Master of Science in Education in Rehabilitation Counseling at Hofstra University
- Needs to seek consultation from degree-granting school on approved courses: Those who completed the Advanced Certificate in RCMH program at Hofstra after receiving a master’s degree from another university. Hofstra will only be able to verify courses taken that satisfy Part C of Section II of the application.
Coursework to Satisfy NYS Diagnostic Privilege | ||
|---|---|---|
Content Area | Approved Courses | Notes |
| A. diagnosis and assessment-based treatment planning in the specific mental health profession | REHB 232: Medical Aspects of Disabilities REHB 241: Case Management and Quality Assurance in Rehabilitation Counseling CMHP 246: Integrative Assessment in Counseling | Prior to academic year 2021-22, REHB 231: Techniques and Theories in Rehabilitation contained the content for REHB 241; use this course to satisfy this content. CRSR 246 and REHB 242 will both be accepted as equivalent courses to CMHP 246. |
| B. assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis using accepted classification systems in the specific mental health profession | COUN 261: Understanding Psychopathology in Counseling | |
| C. developing and implementing assessment-based treatment plans in the specific mental health profession | REHB 234: Internship in Rehabilitation Counseling I REHB 235: Internship in Rehabilitation Counseling II | |
| D. clinical mental health counseling interventions with diverse populations | REHB 231: Cultural Humility, Social Justice, and Intersectionality in Counseling REHB 236: Practicum in Rehabilitation Counseling | Prior to academic year 2021-22, REHB 231: Techniques and Theories in Rehabilitation contained the content for this new REHB 231 course. |
Alumni interested in the diagnostic privilege designation for New York State may find the directions on how to apply at the website below. Under Application Materials, click the link for Mental Health Practitioners Diagnostic Privilege. You will be taken to another site with all the application forms, including 2D, Certification of Education for Diagnostic Privilege.
To ensure proper processing of Form 2D by the Counseling and Mental Health Professions Department and the Registrar’s Office, please follow the detailed instructions below. Failure to do so will result in a returned application and/or a delay in its processing.
Application Instructions
- Access the website for application for Mental Health Practitioners Diagnostic Privilege from the link above. Complete Section I of Form 2D, Certification of Education for Diagnostic Privilege. Print and sign this form. Do not complete Section II, Part D; this will be completed by the University.
- Request an official copy of your transcript from https://www.parchment.com/u/registration/33227/institution and save a copy of this document as a PDF.
- Send the application and PDF transcript copy to the CMHP Department at (DiagPriv@hofstra.edu). In your email, identify the courses you feel should be listed in Section II, Part D.
Once the department populates Section II, your form will be emailed to the Registrar’s Office (Registrar@hofstra.edu) for final processing and approval (you will be copied on this email). Once finalized, the Registrar will automatically send it to the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions. Please allow up to four weeks upon receipt of your materials for the application to be processed at Hofstra.