To become a Crisis Consultant, you must meet the criteria established by the American Institute of Health Professionals (AIHCP) and apply for certification. The minimum educational requirement is a coursework that includes at least 257 hours of instruction or study with an approved institution. Once certified, you will need to recertify every three years. Good interpersonal and communication skills are essential.
Your location will determine the requirements you need to meet to become a Crisis Consultant. If you live in the US, you must meet the criteria established by the American Institute of Health Professionals (AIHCP) and apply for certification. Minimum educational requirements vary from state to state, but experts recommend earning a master’s in counseling before becoming certified. Once certified, you will need to recertify every three years in order to continue practicing as a crisis consultant.
The minimum educational requirement to become a crisis counselor is a coursework that includes at least 257 hours of instruction or study with an approved institution. The AIHCP maintains a list of approved courses, but will consider each application individually. The course must have been completed no more than five years prior to applying for certification, and you will be asked to provide proof of completion. Courses, retreats and distance study at universities or colleges are all listed as acceptable as long as the subject is related to counseling or human services.
Another prerequisite for becoming a crisis counselor is that you must be a registered nurse, licensed social worker, health professional, or registered counselor or psychologist. Registered ministers and clergy, law enforcement or those working in emergency services can also apply. You can also apply if you have a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field. You may not need a degree to earn certification, but it’s best to check the requirements of the state you reside in.
Once certified, you will need to apply for recertification every three years. The AIHCP requires a minimum of 50 hours of continuous study over the three-year period to qualify for recertification. For the various requirements and fees involved, you should contact the AIHCP.
If you want to become a crisis counselor, you should also consider whether this profession would be a good fit for you. Working in this field means dealing with people who have been through traumatic events on a daily basis, and you will need good interpersonal and communication skills to help them. You must remain calm in stressful situations and handle these tensions well. Most importantly, a crisis counselor must be a good listener and be able to assess the level of assistance needed in each individual case.
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