Capella University : Master's and PhD in Counseling (CACREP Accreditation. Master's and PhD options avaialble. )
Northwestern University : Online MA in Counseling (CACREP Accredited)
NYU Steinhardt : Online MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness (MPCAC accredited, GRE not required)
Pepperdine University : Master’s Clinical Psychology (Licensed Professional Counselor) (No GRE required) NYU Steinhardt : Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance: School and Bilingual School Counseling (Accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) under the Masters in Counseling Accreditation Committee (MCAC) standards.)
Our Lady of the Lake University : Online Master of Arts in Counseling (No entrance exam required to apply)
University of West Alabama : Online Counseling and Psychology Degrees (100% Online. Bachelor's and Master's programs available.)
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology : M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Online Programs. CACREP Accredited.)
Lamar University : Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (100% Online, Affordable Tuition, Study on Your Time)Why consider a Master's in Counseling? The Master's in Counseling can be structured to include the components that you choose to best fit your future career. As you can read in the following sections, there are numerous specialized areas that you can choose from when you begin your program - all leading to different types of careers in the field.
Making the decision to pursue the Master's in Counseling can provide you with the most opportunity in comparison to lower level degree programs. If helping people is your goal in the field of counseling, pursuits of the master's program may be your best option for future success.
Consider a Featured Online Counseling Program
| School and Program Information | Online Program? Entry Requirements |
Course Information |
|---|---|---|
| Capella University
Master's and PhD in Counseling
 CACREP Accredited |
✔ Online
GRE Not Required |
Choose from Addictions, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Human Behavior. Marriage and Family Therapy, or School Counseling specialties Learn More |
| Northwestern University
Online MA in Counseling
CACREP Accredited |
✔ Online
GRE Not Required Bachelor's Required |
Prepare to pursue licensure in as few as 18 months Learn MoreFull-time, part-time, and accelerated track options available |
| NYU Steinhardt
Online MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness
 MPCAC Accredited |
✔ Online
GRE not required; Bachelor’s degree and minimum 2.5 GPA required |
As few as 21 months to complete Learn More |
| Pepperdine University
Master’s Clinical Psychology (Licensed Professional Counselor)
|
✔ Online
No GRE Required Bachelor's Degree Required |
Bachelor's holders can prepare to become a licensed professional counselor online. With no GRE scores required to apply, the 24 month online MA in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine allows you to advance your career and be a catalyst of change. Learn More |
| NYU Steinhardt
Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance: School and Bilingual School Counseling
MPCAC Accredited |
✔ Online
Bachelor's required. GRE scores are not required. |
Prepare to become a school counselor with NYU Steinhardt’s online master’s in Counseling and Guidance program. The online MA degree gives you the knowledge and skills to pursue certification and employment in pre-K–12 schools nationwide in as few as 18 mos. Bachelor’s required: Learn more. GRE scores are not required. Learn More |
| Our Lady of the Lake University
Online Master of Arts in Counseling
|
✔ Online
No GRE required. |
Help students navigate the emotional terrain of getting an education, empower people of all ages to overcome mental health hurdles, or support someone recovering from drug addiction as they obtain or maintain a job, with the Master of Arts in Counseling from OLLU. Learn More |
| University of West Alabama
Online Counseling and Psychology Degrees
|
✔ Online
Multiple online counseling degree options |
Programs in experimental psychology, clinical mental health counseling, family counseling Learn More |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
CACREP Accredited |
✔ Online
Bachelor's Degree Required. |
This online CMHC program prepares students for a career offering mental health services in a variety of settings; helping diverse clients through issues such as depression, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, stress, relationship difficulties, and suicidal impulses. Learn More |
| Lamar University
Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
SACSCOC Accredited |
✔ Online
No GRE Required Minimum 3.25 Undergrad GPA |
This online degree program prepares you with knowledge, training and practical experience to guide persons coping with substance abuse, marriage, family, career and other emotional issues through difficulties by giving them tools and techniques to manage their lives and decisions. Learn More |
*Sponsored Counseling Programs
Online CACREP Accredited programs | Online MPCAC Accredited programs
Steps to Getting a Master's in Counseling
Before you choose your university and degree program, you may need to complete a few steps to ensure that you have covered all requirements for future licensing. Each state has different expectations, making it extremely important to explore what is required for the career that you desire.
1. A Bachelors of Counseling (or similar)
Beginning at the onset of your college experience, you should choose a bachelor's program that complements future learning in counseling. Most students choose either the Bachelor's in Counseling or Bachelor's in Psychology, since both programs can provide foundational knowledge that can be utilized throughout their careers.
The bachelor's program can take around 4 years to complete. If you have the capacity during this learning process, you should consider seeking out entry-level positions related to counseling services or mental health. This type of experience can be beneficial to add to your resume after graduate-level programs.
2. A Masters of Counseling
Once you have completed your bachelor's program, you should seek out graduate programs that best suit your career path. If you are interested in working with people that are experiencing negative symptoms of mental illness or disorder, a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling might be a great option for you.
Regardless of which specialized area you choose to focus on, you should pick a degree program that has received accreditation from the CACREP. This organization accredits reliable degree programs that can lead you into licensure after completion.
3. CACREP Accreditation
Master's programs accredited by the CACREP can be found on-campus and online, so your needs should designate which option you choose. Once you are enrolled, you should be prepared to complete independent research projects, in-person experiences, and practice with assessments and treatment planning along the way.
Your program can take anywhere from 2-3 years to complete. During the last semesters of your experience, you may be required to identify a supervision resource to carry out after your program has been completed. Your 2 year supervision period is a requirement of licensure and can help you learn more about applying your skills in the field.
Capella University - Master's and PhD in Counseling (CACREP Accredited)
Northwestern University - Online MA in Counseling (CACREP Accredited)
NYU Steinhardt - Online MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness (MPCAC Accredited)
Pepperdine University - Master’s Clinical Psychology (Licensed Professional Counselor)
Our Lady of the Lake University - Online Master of Arts in Counseling (SACSCOC Accredited)
University of West Alabama - Online Counseling and Psychology Degrees (SACSCC Accredited)
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology - M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Lamar University - Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (SACSCOC Accredited)
4. Specify a Program Area
One of the most intriguing facts about choosing counseling as your degree field is that it can include specializations in several different specialty fields. Some of the most common degree programs focus specifically on mental health and treatment, but there may be plenty more options for you to choose from for your career.
Counseling as a discipline can focus on providing clients with support during their normal lives or when aversive factors interfere with normal functioning. During school years, children can be subjected to changes in their development, social pressure, and stresses associated with making educational decisions at different points of their experience.
School Counseling
School Counseling is a sector of counseling that can put you in touch with school-aged children in need of guidance and life counseling. This specialization can be found at numerous universities across the U.S. and can help you align your learning experience and supervision requirements from start to finish.
Gerontological or Adult Counseling
Age-related counseling specialties can also be beneficial for upcoming students with the desire to influence particular groups during their career. Gerontological Counseling, Youth Counseling, and Adult Counseling are all areas in which you can specialize at the master’s level.
Substance Abuse Counseling and Rehabilitation Counseling
If you have a mission related to helping people work through specific struggles within their lives, you might be a great candidate for programs focusing in Substance Abuse Counseling, Grief Counseling, or even Rehabilitative Counseling. These specializations can put you in touch with clients that are in need of positive support, strength building, and progression through life’s most challenging circumstances.
Counseling Careers
Top 10 Careers with a Masters in Counseling
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling
A large number of new licensed counselors seek out careers in clinical mental health. In this field, professionals can work with clients that have been diagnosed with mental illnesses or disorders, and even assist clients that have been observed to have disrupted behavior symptoms. In this field, you can work for mental health organizations or even in hospitals across the U.S. - Mental Health Counseling
Mental Health Counselors can work with clients in community settings, providing support and guidance through past life experiences, trauma, and even the everyday stresses of life. Clients for counselors in this field may be incredibly diverse, making it necessary for counselors to have knowledge of various developmental stages and related treatment methods. - School Counseling
If you are intrigued with how counseling can contribute to the overall success of different specialized areas, school counseling may be a great specialization for you to consider for your degree program. As a licensed counselor in this area, you can work with school age children as they address their struggles in personal, educational, and developmental areas of their lives. - Youth and Adolescent Counseling
Counselors with a mission to provide guidance to specific age groups can be valuable resources in the field of counseling. Youth and Adolescent Counselors can work with children from ages 5 through their teenage years. You can work with children as they progress through some of life’s most complex developmental stages, assist with working through traumatic events, and help clients set goals for success in their futures. - Marriage and Family Counseling
Upcoming professionals that have an interest in providing support to couples and family groups could pursue a career as a Marriage and Family Counselor. These professional specialize in helping people address strengths and weaknesses within their relationship, establish better foundations for communication, and working through issues that have caused strain. In this field, you can work for mental health organizations or in private practice. - Rehabilitative Counseling
Rehabilitative Counselors take on a slightly different approach to helping their clients lives normal and happy lives. In this field, you can work with people that have disabilities or impairments that require them to learn or re-learn new skills for living normal lives. As a counselor in this area, you can assist adults with learning independent skills in the home, assist clients with working through the frustration of losing access to skills, and develop treatment plans for your clients to achieve these goals within certain time frames. - Career Counseling
Once you have established yourself in a career in Career Counseling, you can help others identify their own strengths and abilities for finding careers that are fitting for them. You can work for career training centers, mental health organizations, or in private practice with this type of degree certification. During your daily work, you might conduct personality tests, skills assessments, or questionnaires to assist you in developing career plans for your clients. - Addiction Counseling
Counselors can often help their clients work through unhealthy thoughts and habits that can impede their ability to live normal lifestyles. Addicting Counseling involves working with individuals and groups to identify root causes for seeking out substances, alternative paths for behavior, and support systems to help along the way. Addiction counselors may work for rehabilitation centers, in hospitals, or even private organizations. - Gerontological Counseling
Gerontological Counseling is a specialized field that focuses on providing mental health services to the aging population. In this field, you might work with individuals that are working through grief, feelings of despair due to illness and degeneration, or even those that are living in retirement homes or in hospice services. As part of your career in this field, you may also work with families with aging relatives as their care for their loved ones. - Grief Counseling
Counselors working in grief specialties can help people that have experience a recent loss of a loved one, received diagnosis of a dangerous disease or illness, or with individuals that have experienced loss in different parts of their lives. If you pursue a career in this type of counseling, you could potentially work for mental health services providing a wide range of specialties or in private practice.
