Master of Arts
Counseling and Psychology
Equine Assisted Mental Health Concentration

Counseling and Psychology Note on Licensure

The M.A. in Counseling Psychology is designed to allow students to prepare to sit for state licensing exams. Students are required to design their study plans to meet the academic licensure requirements for specific state or provincial licensing boards.  The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools is a regional accreditation body that has accredited the Master of Arts Program at Prescott College since 1991. Because no graduate counseling program can guarantee licensure upon graduation, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate agency in your state or province to determine specific requirements. Although the counseling psychology faculty is familiar with the Arizona State Board of Behavioral Health Examiners requirements for licensure, all students whether living in Arizona or another state are ultimately responsible for researching and incorporating appropriate licensing requirements (in their state) into their study plans.  Please note that some states require applicants for professional licenses to submit to a formal background check including fingerprinting.  Students should take this into consideration when determining future eligibility for licensure.

Equine Assisted Mental Health

Prescott College's pioneering Equine Assisted Mental Health (EAMH) program offers a Master's degree which blends a passion for horses with the skills of counseling and psychology and which prepares students for licensure in their home states. The College's highly qualified faculty assist students to self-design and earn Master's degrees with a concentration in EAMH, all while continuing to live and work in their home communities.

The 75 semester-hour program includes theory and praxis, preparing graduates for licensure as Professional Counselors (LPC) or Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT) in the state of Arizona. Students may adjust the design of their program to meet the certification or licensure requirements of other states and provinces.

Students seeking professional certification as equine professionals through the Equine Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA), North American Handicapped Riding Association (NAHRA), or the Equine Facilitated Mental Health Association (EFMA), can partially meet the requirements of these organizations through the Prescott College program.

Prescott College encourages students to explore the full range of effective, cutting-edge practices developing in the field of EAMH. Associate faculty Paul Smith works with faculty, students, and their activities to encourage integration of best practices as students develop their personal style and mastery.

Practitioners seeking the Master of Arts degree with a concentration in EAMH must possess technical and academic competence in both counseling psychology and horsemanship. Students with strong undergraduate or personal work experience in both areas can complete the program in five semesters of full-time study. Those with less experience in their area should plan on a longer program.

All Master of Arts students attend two colloquia per semester in Prescott, Arizona. The colloquia provide interactive peer learning and dialogue, as well as opportunities for students to present their own ideas and work. This limited-residency program also requires participation in one EAMH Best Practices Seminar each year. These are offered at the college during or in tandem with the colloquia.

Practicum

Counsleing licensure in all states and provinces requires a supervised counseling practicum. In Arizona, this consists of a minimum of 900 hours. To develop and demonstrate applied skills specific to EAMH, Prescott College requires at least 100 hours be completed in a qualified EAMH setting. Depending on the state, students may be able to combine these requirements and fulfill the 900 hours in the same practicum setting. Arizona students will need to complete two separate practica, one for the state (900 hours) and one in an EAMH setting (100 hours).

Recommended Study Plan

Below is a list of required courses for licensure in the state of Arizona. This list is followed by a second set of courses for a concentration in Equine Assisted Mental Health. Some states allow imbedding of specialized EAMH material into licensure courses. It is the student’s responsibility to research if that is the case in his or her state. The state of Arizona does not allow imbedding.

Sample Program for a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology incorporating Arizona requirements for LPC licensure and the Concentration in Equine Assisted Mental Health (see httP://www.bbhe.state.az.us/ for specific Arizona state requirements).

Students may incorporate coursework that meets their state or province's licensure requirements. (See http://www.nbcc.org/stateboardmap for specific state requirements.)

Recommended Study Plan for Arizona Licensure & CACREP aligned degree (semester credits)

Complete course syllabi and course descriptions   CP Course Syllabi 07

If the student has already taken some of these courses at the graduate level, he or she is not required to take them again. The student may transfer in up to 15 prior graduate semester credits of the state-required courses. If the course has a different title, it can be reviewed to see if it qualifies as comparable.

Required Courses for the Equine Assisted Mental Health Concentration