Employment/Job Counselor Licensing Information

Counseling -- All guidance teachers and school counselors should be certified to counsel at the grade levels of their counseling assignment with the Department of Education; (517) 373-3310.

Marriage and family Counselors should be registered with the Department of Labor & Economic Growth, Board of Marriage Counselors; (517) 335-0918.

Insurance Counselors (anyone engaged in the business of auditing or abstracting policies of insurance or annuities or giving advice with respect to the benefits promised should be licensed with the Office of Financial and Insurance Services; (517) 373-0234.

Substance Abuse Counselors are required to be licensed/certified with the Certified Substance Abuse Services. They will assist in setting up a counseling program; telephone number (517) 241-1970. Also, call the Michigan Certified Board for Addiction Professionals for a "Certified Addiction Counselor Manual" at a price of $25.00. Telephone number (517) 347-0891.

Any counselors not licensed under another law should be licensed with the Department of Labor & Economic Growth at (517) 335-0918.

Training Programs -- Anyone providing training programs intended to prepare individuals for a type of job (i.e.., truck driving school, nanny school, bartender school) should be licensed as a vocational school with the Department of Education, Proprietary School Unit; (517) 373-6774.

No license is required for instructors but they must be approved by the Department of Education. This is usually accomplished by supplying the Department with personnel qualification forms. Persons with 2 years or more experience or a degree in the appropriate field are generally approved.

Those providing non-vocational training (i.e.., management skills, stress reduction) are not required to be licensed by the state. However, the Department of Education may allow these companies to "to be licensed" with the Department in the future. Call (517) 373-6774 for further information.

Revised: 4/2005