The letters after a clinician’s name generally tell you three things: the type of training they completed, what New York allows them to do, and whether they currently work under supervision. A few also tell you about extra certifications. They do not tell you how good a fit the person will be for you.
Part of our guide: Getting Started With Mental Health Care
The quick version: MD, DO and PMHNP can prescribe medication. PsyD, PhD, LCSW, LMSW and LMHC cannot in New York, though they can provide therapy within their license. Letters such as LP in “MHC-LP” mean the clinician is still completing training under a supervisor. This guide focuses on New York’s rules; other states differ.
A quick reference
| Letters | Stands for | Core training | Prescribes in NY? |
|---|---|---|---|
| MD / DO | Doctor of Medicine / Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine | Medical school, residency | Yes |
| PMHNP | Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner | RN plus nurse practitioner education | Yes, within specialty |
| PsyD / PhD | Doctor of Psychology / Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate in psychology, supervised experience | No |
| LCSW | Licensed clinical social worker | Master’s in social work, 3 years supervised | No |
| LMSW | Licensed master social worker | Master’s in social work | No |
| LMHC | Licensed mental health counselor | Master’s in counseling, 3,000 supervised hours | No |
| MHC-LP | Mental health counselor, limited permit | Master’s in counseling, gaining hours | No |
Prescribing clinicians
MD and DO
Both are physicians. The American Psychiatric Association says a psychiatrist is a medical doctor (an M.D. or D.O.) who specializes in mental health, trained through medical school and four years of residency. “Board certified” means the psychiatrist took a voluntary exam from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and keeps up with continuing education. Extra board certification in areas such as addiction or child psychiatry reflects further specialty training.
PMHNP, PMHNP-BC and NP
PMHNP means psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. In New York, a nurse practitioner must be a licensed registered nurse and meet education and experience requirements, and psychiatry is one of the certified specialties. The state accepts national certifications, including the PMHNP-BC credential. The “BC” stands for board certified.
Nurse practitioners may diagnose and issue prescriptions, but only within the specialty for which they are certified. A plain “NP” after a name does not by itself tell you the specialty, and a nurse practitioner may work in a role that does not include prescribing, so it is worth asking. A clinician listed as an intern or student is still training under supervision.
Psychologists: PsyD and PhD
A PsyD is a Doctor of Psychology and a PhD is a Doctor of Philosophy. For licensure, New York looks at the program and the person’s experience. A licensed psychologist must have a doctoral degree in psychology from a qualifying program, two years of supervised experience and a passing score on a national exam. Using the title “psychologist” requires licensure, unless otherwise exempt.
Psychologists can provide psychological and neuropsychological testing, psychotherapy, and diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. In New York they are prohibited from prescribing or administering drugs. They are doctors, but they are not medical doctors, which is why “Dr.” alone will not tell you who can prescribe.
Social workers: LCSW, LMSW and “-R”
Many therapists in New York are social workers. Both licenses require a master’s degree in social work, and New York says the major difference is supervision: an LMSW may provide clinical services such as diagnosis and psychotherapy only under supervision, while an LCSW may provide them without supervision. An LCSW needs at least 36 months of post-degree supervised experience and a clinical exam.
You may also see “LCSW-R.” The R is a privilege some clinical social workers earned. New York eliminated the extra three-year requirement for it effective January 1, 2023. A clinician who earned the R keeps the designation, but it is no longer required under the Insurance Law, and the state no longer processes applications for it. So a newer LCSW will not have one.
Counselors and other licensed therapists
LMHC
A licensed mental health counselor holds a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling, completes at least 3,000 supervised clock hours after the degree and passes a national clinical exam.
MHC-LP
MHC-LP usually means a counselor who has finished the degree and holds a state limited permit while gaining supervised hours. New York says the supervisor is responsible for the assessment, evaluation and treatment of each patient. The supervisor must provide an average of one hour per week of in-person supervision, or two hours every other week. It is fair to ask who supervises your therapist and how that works.
LMFT, LCAT and LP
Article 163 of the Education Law also licenses marriage and family therapists (LMFT), creative arts therapists (LCAT) and psychoanalysts (LP). Note that “LP” alone means licensed psychoanalyst, while “-LP” at the end of a title generally means limited permit.
The diagnostic privilege
This one is newer and easy to miss. Since June 24, 2024, New York may issue a privilege, renewed every three years, to qualified mental health counselors, family therapists and psychoanalysts who meet added education and experience requirements. It allows them to diagnose and develop assessment-based treatment plans. Article 163 says a licensee who does this without a privilege may be charged with professional misconduct, although an exception for approved facility and supervised settings runs until June 24, 2027. Without the privilege, the law also says it is outside professional competence for these licensees to treat a serious mental illness on a continuous basis without a physician’s medical evaluation and consultation. The law’s definition is broad: schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, panic disorder, OCD, ADHD and autism. If one of these applies to you, you can ask whether your clinician holds the privilege and how they handle diagnosis and medical input.
Why these titles carry weight
New York treats these titles as protected. The state says that using the title “Licensed Clinical Social Worker” or the designation “LCSW” requires licensure, unless otherwise exempt, and similar language appears for counselors and psychologists. So when you see one of these sets of letters on a New York clinician’s profile, you can confirm it.
Other letters you may see
Many clinicians list certificates in a method or specialty, such as a training credential for ADHD or trauma work. These can show real extra study, but they are generally granted by private organizations and do not replace a state license. A method such as CBT or EMDR is likewise an approach a clinician uses, not a license. When you see unfamiliar letters, ask what they mean and who issued them.
How to check a license yourself
- Ask the clinician for their exact license type and name as licensed.
- Use the New York State Education Department’s Office of the Professions verification search to look up the license and whether registration is current.
- For a physician, also look up board certification with the relevant board if that matters to you.
- For telehealth, ask whether the clinician is licensed where you will be during the session.
What the letters will not tell you
A credential sets a floor. It says little about whether someone has treated your condition, how they work or whether you feel comfortable with them. After confirming the license, these questions usually tell you more:
- How many people with this concern have you worked with?
- What does treatment with you usually look like?
- Who do you work with when a patient needs medication, testing or a higher level of care?
- Are you supervised? If so, how does that affect care?
For how these credentials translate into roles, see psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist or nurse practitioner: who does what. Our article on choosing the right therapist in New York covers fit.
Meeting our clinicians
Each clinician’s credentials and focus areas are listed on Mind Body Seven’s team page. If you are comparing therapy options, our psychotherapy page is a good next stop.
FAQs
Is a PsyD a real doctor?
Yes, it is a doctoral degree, and psychologists with a doctorate are often addressed as “Dr.” It is not a medical degree, so in New York a PsyD does not prescribe medication.
Does a higher degree mean better therapy?
Not necessarily. Licenses reflect training and legal scope, while the fit between you and your therapist and their experience with your concern also matter a great deal.
Do credentials affect insurance reimbursement?
They can. Plans may reimburse different license types at different amounts, or set rules about which ones they cover. Ask your insurer before your first session, using the clinician’s exact license type.
Why does my therapist have a supervisor?
Clinicians gaining hours toward a license, such as an LMSW or limited permit holder, generally work under a licensed supervisor. Your information is shared with that supervisor as part of your care. It is fine to ask how that works.
