Types of Counseling Certifications

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Programs Currently Accepting Applicants

Walden University : MS in School Counseling (CACREP Accredited, five specializations to choose from)

Walden University : MS Dual Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling (CACREP Accredited, six specializations to choose from)

Walden University : MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CACREP Accredited, six specializations to choose from)

Liberty University : MA: Addiction Counseling (100% online, 8-week courses)

Grand Canyon University : Master's Degree in Counseling (Affordable Program with No Out of State Tuition)

Capella University : PsyD in School Psychology (CAEP accredited; Capella University is HLC accredited)

Liberty University : MSW: Social Work (100% online, 8-week courses)

Liberty University : MED: School Counseling (Online with required intensives)

Liberty University : MA: Marriage and Family Therapy (Online with required intensives)

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What Is Counseling?

According to the American Counseling Association (ACA), “Professional counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals.”

The organization goes on to clarify that professional counselors help their clients develop and execute strategies to overcome obstacles or to achieve personal growth. More specifically, the role of the counselor may involve:

Counseling is a collaborative field, not only because counselors often work closely with other psychiatric health professionals (particularly when a clinical diagnosis or pharmaceutical intervention is required), but also because counselors work in conjunction with their clients to identify problems, solutions, and goals.

Consider a Featured Online Counseling Program

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School and Program Information	Online Program? Entry Requirements	Course Information
Walden University MS in School Counseling CACREP Accredited	✔ Online GRE scores not required	School counselors help students overcome obstacles and shape successful futures. Walden’s online MS in School Counseling program will give you a solid foundation in school counseling theories, approaches, and best practices while enabling you to gain hands-on experience. Learn More
Walden University MS Dual Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling CACREP Accredited	✔ Online GRE scores not required	The counseling field is in need of qualified, compassionate professionals like you to meet the demand for services. In Walden's clinical mental health counseling and school counseling dual degree program, you’ll gain the insights and hands-on training to positively impact the lives of children, adults, and families. Learn More
Walden University MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling CACREP Accredited	✔ Online GRE scores not required	Mental health counselors play a valuable role in helping people cope with life’s challenges. Walden’s online MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program can help you become the competent, compassionate counselor you know you can be. Learn More
Liberty University MA: Addiction Counseling SACSCOC	✔ Online 100% online, 8-week courses	Our graduate degree in addiction counseling is designed to fulfill or exceed the requirements for many national and state board organizations. Online and on campus. Training Champions for Christ since 1971. Learn More
Grand Canyon University Master's Degree in Counseling HLC and NASAC Accredited	✔ 100% Online Over 14 Specializations Available	Affordable with No Out of State Tuition Learn More
Capella University PsyD in School Psychology	✔ Online No GRE or GMAT. Master's and minimum 3.0 GPA	Deepen your understanding of human behavior and advance your skills to help others with a degree in clinical psychology. Capella offers PsyD programs to help you develop leadership skills for your career. No GRE required. Learn More
Liberty University MSW: Social Work SACSCOC	✔ Online 100% online, 8-week courses	This program offers a general cognate and an individual and family clinical cognate. No matter which option you choose, you’ll receive advanced generalist training in social policy, research, and practice — as well as the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in your field. Online and on campus. Training Champions for Christ since 1971. Learn More
Liberty University MED: School Counseling CACREP Accredited	✔ Online Online with required intensives	Liberty University’s CACREP-accredited Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling can help equip you to work as a school counselor in Christian, public, and private schools. Online and on campus. Training Champions for Christ since 1971. Learn More
Liberty University MA: Marriage and Family Therapy SACSCOC	✔ Online Online with required intensives	A Liberty University marriage and family therapy master’s program online can prepare you to help individuals, couples, and families find healing through counseling. Online and on campus. Training Champions for Christ since 1971. Learn More

*Sponsored Counseling Programs

Do Counselors Have to Be Certified?

Every U.S. state, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, has established standards for counseling certification. While specific requirements vary by state, the intention is always the same: Counseling certification is an important way to protect public health and ensure that clients only seek mental health services from reputable professionals who’ve been properly trained and assessed. Each state has its own board that oversees the licensing process and that also manages any ethical complaints made with regard to practicing counselors.

Exemption From Certification Requirements

Counselors may be exempt from certification requirements in a few select instances. These may include the following:

What Are the Types of Counseling Certifications?

As you weigh your options within the counseling profession, you should be aware of a few primary types of counseling certifications. Each of these certifications will allow you to play a direct role in helping clients identify and achieve goals, manage the effects of mental illness, and optimize mental health. However, these certifications can vary greatly in the types of clients you get to work with, the types of issues you address, and more.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

If you choose to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), you’ll first receive extensive training in how to identify and diagnose different mental health disorders, as well as behavioral disorders. Your training will also equip you to develop plans for treating and preventing these disorders.

Social workers who have the LCSW designation have far greater clinical training than other professional social workers, enabling them to not only counsel but also potentially diagnose.

When you become an LCSW, you’ll have the opportunity to provide treatment for individuals, families, or even groups. Counselors with the LCSW designation typically have the goal of helping their patients improve their mental health as well as their social function.

Becoming an LCSW requires you to obtain a master’s or doctorate in social work, and then complete an internship, gain supervised clinical hours, and pass a licensing exam.

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Another option is to become a counselor who focuses specifically on assisting clients who have mental health disorders. Licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs) receive extensive education in the clinical assessment and treatment of mental health disorders, as well as in providing psychotherapy.

The specific job description of an LMHC may include the following:

As an LMHC, you may choose to focus your practice on individuals or couples, on adult patients, on children, or all of the above. In addition to helping clients navigate the effects of mental illness, you may help them address everyday life issues, which can include professional anxiety, relational dysfunction, and grief.

The requirements for becoming an LMHC include earning a master’s degree in counseling or a related field, as well as completing a minimum of two years of supervised clinical practice. You’ll also need to pass a state licensing examination.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

If you’re passionate about helping your clients manage healthy relationships, you may consider becoming a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT). In this role, you’ll focus your practice on resolving relational, marriage, or family issues, often due to underlying mental health problems.

LMFTs receive rigorous education in identifying and addressing different kinds of mental illness. However, LMFT training also includes an intense focus on interpersonal and family dynamics.

The LMFT’s role is to understand how so many individual or personal issues can be understood in the context of family or social structures and to acknowledge the ways in which an individual problem may impact a marriage or other important relationships. As a counselor in this field, you may work with your clients individually and as families or couples, providing solutions for identifying, resolving, and preventing cyclical problems or repetitive patterns of damaging behavior.

To become a counselor with this certification, you’ll need a master’s-level education, supervised clinical hours, and a passing score on your state’s licensing exam. Specific guidelines can vary by state.

Compared with other types of counselors, LMFTs are known for offering relatively short-term and cost-effective solutions, making these counselors especially popular among patients.

Substance Abuse Counseling Certifications

Some mental health professionals work with clients who are dealing with addiction issues, particularly problems with substance use. If this is something that you’re passionate about, you should know about a couple of substance abuse counseling certifications.

The two options are to become a licensed alcohol and drug counselor (LADC) or a certified alcohol and drug counselor (CADC). Both certifications will allow you to work in inpatient rehabilitation centers and other care facilities, where you can help clients develop and implement strategies for controlling the symptoms of their addiction.

An LADC can practice and make diagnoses independently. A CADC must practice under the supervision of an LADC and can help implement treatments, but may not make formal diagnoses.

In either case, you’ll need to earn a master’s-level counseling degree from an accredited program, and then work a certain number of supervised clinical hours. (The specific number can vary by state.) Becoming an LADC typically requires a higher level of education and a greater level of clinical experience — though again, this varies by state.

Career Counseling Certifications

You may decide that although you’re interested in a counseling-related profession, you’re not as passionate about working in mental health care. A good alternative is to pursue career counseling certifications in which your role will be to help clients navigate educational and career decisions, as opposed to issues pertaining to their mental well-being.

The most widely recognized certification in this field is the Certified Career Counselor (CCC) designation. In this role, you’ll spend time talking with clients, getting to know their objectives, their strengths, and their personal limitations. Based on your assessment, you’ll suggest career paths or develop strategies to help them obtain their professional objectives.

To obtain this certification, you’ll need a master’s degree or higher in a field related to counseling. You’ll also need to get a certain number of hours of supervised experience and/or complete a training course that the National Career Development Center (NCDC) administers.

Clinical Psychologist

Clinical psychologists are mental health professionals who’ve obtained a doctoral-level degree. It’s important to note that clinical psychologists aren’t the same as psychiatrists; the former involves a doctorate and the latter involves a medical degree. As such, psychiatrists can prescribe medication, while clinical psychologists can’t.

What then can a clinical psychologist do? Clinical psychologists are well trained in diagnosing, assessing, treating, and preventing mental health conditions, as well as in guiding clients to make important life changes that can improve their mental well-being. Clinical psychologists have an especially advanced level of education that may help them obtain more prestigious roles, including positions as mental health educators or practice leaders.

Psychiatrist

Among the different types of counseling certifications, becoming a psychiatrist takes the longest. Because this is a medical degree, becoming a psychiatrist requires you to complete an undergraduate degree, complete a full medical school degree, and hone your skills in a residency program. Many psychiatrists go on to complete fellowships, which allow them to further develop their mental health knowledge. Medical licensure is also required for psychiatrists to practice.

Due to this more advanced level of education, psychiatrists can provide clinical interventions that other types of counselors can’t, including prescribing medications. If you become a psychiatrist, your role will likely focus on managing different psychotropic medication treatments. You may also refer patients to other counselors, allowing them to work on their basic life skills and coping strategies in addition to pharmaceutical intervention.

Grief Counseling Certification

Another option to consider is a grief counseling certification. This designation shows that you’re specially trained to help clients navigate loss and bereavement.

Typically, you’ll earn this credential in addition to your other counseling certifications. In fact, there are many different vocations in which it might make sense to become a certified grief counselor. Some examples are:

Indeed, because death is such an inescapable fact of life, anyone who works in the counseling profession may benefit from gaining this added level of certification. To do so, you’ll need to complete an educational course in grief counseling. Many courses are available online, most notably from the American Academy of Grief Counseling (AAGC).

School Counselor

Another career path indirectly related to mental health is school counselor. In this profession, you’ll work in a public or private school setting counseling students through major academic decisions (including postgraduation plans) while also aiding in the development of social skills.

School counselors may also analyze data to help students identify and address behavioral issues or academic performance issues. Examples can include poor attendance or chronic tardiness. The specific role of the school counselor varies with the age of the students.

Becoming a school counselor requires a master’s degree in psychology or counseling (some school systems may prefer counseling). Different states have different systems for licensure, certification, or endorsement. Usually, these systems require a master’s degree and a certain number of hours of internship or practicum experience.

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Walden University - MS in School Counseling (CACREP Accredited)

Walden University - MS Dual Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling (CACREP Accredited)

Walden University - MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CACREP Accredited)

Liberty University - MA: Addiction Counseling (SACSCOC Accredited)

Grand Canyon University - Master's Degree in Counseling (NASAC Accredited)

Capella University - PsyD in School Psychology (Capella University is HLC Accredited)

Liberty University - MSW: Social Work (SACSCOC Accredited)

Liberty University - MED: School Counseling (CACREP and NCATE through CAEP Accredited)

Liberty University - MA: Marriage and Family Therapy (SACSCOC Accredited)