SMHCA was selected "Chapter of the Year" in 2013, 2014, 2018 by The Florida Mental Health Counselors Association



Save the date, 5.20.23!

Check back, registration will open up soon. 

2023 Spring Symposium: Next Steps – Moving forward as Professional Counselors

When: Saturday, May 20, 2023 9:00 AM, EDT
Where: NATIONAL LOUIS UNIVERSITY 5110 Sunforest Drive, Suite 102 | Tampa | Florida | 33634


The Suncoast Mental Health Counselors Association provides a means for mental health counselors in this district to work towards common goals including, but not limited to: promoting the profession of mental health counseling; increasing the visibility and respect accorded the profession; fostering professional identity and development; providing education and training opportunities to enhance the quality of services provided by members; promoting legislation which recognizes and advances the profession; addressing issues of discrimination and client advocacy; promoting an alliance with other organized mental health professionals with common goals and interests; and generally working for the common good of mental health counselors. 

SMHCA is committed to promotes Mental Health Counseling Services in the highest ethical manner to historically marginalized communities. We are committed to creating a more equitable and inclusive environment that fosters stronger connections and sense of belonging.

A mental health counseling association for students, registered interns and licensed mental health counselors to advance mental health education and to promote professional networking.

  • Monday, February 06, 2023 10:44 PM | Valentino Norton (Administrator)


  • Monday, January 23, 2023 10:10 PM | Valentino Norton (Administrator)

    Click here to be redirected to the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling for CEU requirements before 3.31.23 for licensure renewal information. 

    RCSWI, RMFTI, and RMHCI, there are no continuing education requirements for registered interns.

    Need to create an account to keep track of your CEUs, click here

    First Biennium Renewal:  Practitioners initially licensed and renewing a license for the first time are exempt from completing  continuing education

    Qualified Supervisor Continuing Education (CE) Renewal Requirements

    On November 7, 2016 the Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling amended rule 64B4-6.001(5) regarding continuing education for qualified supervisors (Q.S.). A qualified supervisor who was deemed qualified on or before March 31, 2017 must complete 4 hours of supervisor training continuing education before March 31, 2023. This requirement will reoccur every third biennium. The current biennium is not included in the calculation.

    Biennium 1 = April 1, 2017 – March 31, 2019 [Not required, but if a Q.S. takes the course, it will reset their clock until third biennium.]

    Biennium 2 = April 1, 2019 – March 31, 2021 [Not required, but if a Q.S. takes the course, it will reset their clock until third biennium.]

    Biennium 3 = April 1, 2021 – March 31, 2023 [Required if the Q.S. did not take the course in one of the two previous cycles.]

    A licensee deemed qualified between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2019 is required to complete the 4 hour course by March 31, 2025.

    A licensee deemed qualified between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2021 is required to complete the 4 hour course by March 31, 2027.


  • Tuesday, January 03, 2023 5:13 PM | Valentino Norton (Administrator)

    Counselors, we’ve done it! The Mental Health Access Improvement Act passed in the Senate yesterday and the House today.

    The bill has been sent to President Biden to be signed into law. Counselors will get Medicare privileges. Years of advocacy have paid off.

     The Senate Appropriations Committee published the legislative text for the fiscal year (FY) 2023 omnibus package H.R.2617, titled the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.

    Of note, we’re excited to share the following immediate update:

    Coverage of Marriage and Family Therapist Services and Mental Health Counselor Services Under Part B of the Medicare Program is included. 

    Expanded patient access to tele-mental health services. Recognizing the value and increased use of telehealth, the fiscal year 2023 appropriations legislation kept several of these flexibilities in place.

    The Florida Mental Health Counselors Association applauds Congress for addressing bipartisan, bicameral policies that preserve important tools that allow providers to better serve patients, including extending telehealth flexibilities, and allowing greater access to mental health services to those in the Medicare population.

    If you would like to become involved in FMHCA’s advocacy efforts, please contact the FMHCA legislative committee at anorton@flmhca.org.

    Information made available to SMHCA by Dr. Aaron Norton LMHC, LMFT, MCAP, CRC, CFMHE, CFBA (SMHCA, Legislative Committee Chair)

    To keep track of the bill follow NBCC: 

    https://www.votervoice.net/NBCCGrassroots/bills

    A bill tracker was last updated yesterday 2.2.23

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Suncoast Mental Health Counselors Association

is a 501(c) 6 non-profit organization.

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P.O. Box 2853 Pinellas Park, FL 33780




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