Mental Health Counselor -Licensed/Registered - (Utilization Review Clinician)
County of NapaThe Napa Valley
Napa County is home to 140,000 residents who share a strong sense of community and a legacy of preserving and protecting our rich agricultural heritage.
Located in the heart of California's preeminent wine region, the Napa Valley is also part of the dynamic San Francisco Bay Metropolitan Area. With its sunny Mediterranean climate and proximity to the mountains and ocean, the Valley offers residents easy access to virtually unlimited shopping, dining, cultural and recreational opportunities.
The Napa Valley's strategic location, natural and cultural resources, history of responsible land use planning and attractive quality of life provide the ideal mix of small town living and big city amenities.Napa County as an Employer
- As an organization, Napa County is dedicated to improving the lives of our citizens and reflecting the best of the community's values: Respect, Accountability, Dedication, Integrity and Innovation. Learn more HERE.
The Position
It’s an exciting time to join Napa County Health and Human Service Agency's (HHSA) Behavioral Health Division. The Mental Health Administration is seeking licensed clinicians (or Unlicensed Registered Associates, depending on qualifications). This role supports Mental Health Counselor (Utilization Review Clinician), focusing on accurate documentation, authorization monitoring, chart reviews, and cross-department coordination. The Mental Health Counselor (Utilization Review Clinician) supports workflow efficiency and ensure compliance with DHCS and state requirements. This position is ideal for clinicians interested in administrative and systems-level work in behavioral health.
Click here to learn more about HHSA's commitment to learning and serving!
This recruitment is being conducted to fill one full-time vacancy. The list established by this recruitment may also be used to fill current and future full-time, part-time, limited term, and extra help vacancies for up to one year. This position may be filled with the Licensed or Unlicensed Registered Associate classification, depending on qualifications.Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Agreed Salary Increases and Winter Time Off:
3.5% COLA increase effective 7/1/2026
32 hours of Winter Time OffPOSITION REQUIREMENTSExperience and Education:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be:
Mental Health Counselor - Register ($48.63 - 57.98 PER HOUR)
Experience:
Two years experience in the provision of mental health counseling services.
Education:
Possession of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in social work, Marriage and Family Counseling, clinical psychology, counseling, or a closely related field and registration by the State of California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners.
License or Certificate:*
Incumbent in this position is expected to operate automotive vehicles in the performance of assigned duties. Due to assignments and hours worked, public transportation may not be an efficient method for traveling to required locations. Individuals appointed will be required to maintain a valid California Driver's License while employed.
Mental Health Counselor - Licensed ($50.36 - 60.16 Per Hour)
Experience:
Two years supervised experience in a mental health setting providing direct services to mentally or emotionally disabled persons, including dual diagnosis and addiction concerns for those assigned to the substance abuse setting.
AND
Education:
Possession of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Marriage and Family Therapy, Social Work, clinical or counseling psychology, or a closely related field.
Required License:
Current license by the State of California Board of Behavioral Science Examiners as either a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), or **Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC); OR Current license by the State of California as a Licensed Psychologist.
Additional License or Certificate:*
Incumbent in this position is expected to operate automotive vehicles in the performance of assigned duties. Due to assignments and hours worked, public transportation may not be an efficient method for traveling to required locations. Individuals appointed will be required to maintain a valid California Driver's License while employed.
**Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) must include the additional training and education to treat couples or families, as required under BPC section 4999.20(a)(3)(A).***Any license, certification, or registration required for this position shall be maintained (i.e. active and in good standing) at all times during employment with Napa County. For continued employment with Napa County, you must maintain such license, certification, or registration to meet the minimum qualifications of this position.
Loss of the required State licensure may result in termination or reassignment.
THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS
This is a continuous recruitment, and applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. This recruitment may close once a sufficient number of qualifying applications have been received.
1. Applications will be received on-line on a continuous basis until the current vacancy is filled.
2. Applications will be reviewed for verification of possession of one of the required licenses and supplemental questions reviewed as they are received until the current vacancy is filled.
3.The most qualified candidates from the scoring of the supplemental questions will be invited for an Oral Panel Interview on a continuous basis until the current vacancy is filled. The most qualified candidates from the oral panel interview will be placed on the eligibility list for up to twelve months.
Human Resources reserves the right to make changes, additions or deletions to the examination dates/processesHuman Resources Department reserves the right to make changes to the recruitment process and schedule at any time.Example of Duties
View the full job description including the example of duties for Mental Health Counselor (Registered) and Mental Health Counselor (Licensed).
Napa County employees automatically become Disaster Service Workers. This means that when Napa County experiences emergencies (earthquake, wildfire, power outage, etc.) you may be asked to pivot from your regular duties to provide critical services to those affected by the emergency (CA Govt Code § 3102).
Benefits
Learn more about the benefits package for this position HERE.
ADA Accommodation
Applicants requiring accommodation during the application and/or selection process pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act should contact County of Napa Human Resources at (707) 253-4303.
Napa County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.