Master’s in Counseling Programs in California: An Overview
By choosing a program that is CACREP accredited, you ensure that you’re enrolling in a program that meets the widely recognized standards of counselors and counseling educators throughout the nation. CACREP accreditation should be one of your requirements for a degree program, since it can set you on track for licensure as a counselor in your field.
Here are a few schools in California with CACREP-accredited counseling programs:- California State University - Fresno: M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling M.S. in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling M.S. in Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling
- California State University Fullerton: M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- California State University Sacramento: M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling
- California State University San Bernardino: M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling
- California State University, Los Angeles: M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling M.S. in School Counseling
- Concordia University Irvine: M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Consider a Featured Online Counseling Program
| School and Program Information | Online Program? Entry Requirements | Course Information |
|---|---|---|
| Pepperdine University Master's in Clinical Psychology | ✔ Online No GRE Required Bachelor's Degree Required | Become a Licensed Professional Counselor Learn MoreComplete in 27 months |
| University of Southern California Online Master of Education (ME) in School Counseling Prepares you for school counseling credential | ✔ Live, online classes No GRE requirement | Bachelor’s degree and minimum 2.5 GPA required Learn More |
| University of Southern California Master of Social Work Accredited by the CSWE | ✔ Campus, Online No GRE Required | Tailor your degree with specializations in mental health, children and families, or social change and innovation. Learn More |
| Pepperdine University Master of Arts in Psychology Open to all undergrad majors | ✔ Online No GRE Required | Earn a Master’s in Psychology Online in 18 Months Learn More |
| Northcentral University MS and PhD Therapy, Psychology and Social Work Programs COAMFTE Accredited | ✔ Online GRE Scores Not Required | Program Specializations include Military Family Therapy, LGBTQ Couple & Family Therapy, General Family Therapy & More Learn More |
| Pepperdine University Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) | ✔ Online No GRE Required | Earn a Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis Learn MoreComplete online in as few as 15 months |
| Northcentral University Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology - Counseling Psychology COAMFTE Accredited | ✔ Online GRE Scores Not Required | Earn a degree in Counseling Psychology, Gerontology, or Substance-Related and Addictive Disorder Learn More |
*Sponsored Counseling Programs
Online CACREP-Accredited Master’s in Counseling Programs in California
Online degrees can offer more flexibility and accessibility than in-person programs. This makes them a good choice for students who have busy lives and prior commitments. There are several counseling master’s programs in California that offer both online convenience and the accreditation required for licensure. There are currently two universities that provide online master’s programs in counseling suitable for upcoming applicants with the drive to become licensed.
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Schools With Campus-Based CACREP Accredited California Counseling Degrees
Below, you will find a list of all of the CACREP-accredited counseling programs in California. Keep scrolling, or jump to all programs, or view online CACREP-accredited counseling programs.
All Accredited Schools with Counseling Degrees in California
View all programs in California below, or jump to all California CACREP-accredited counseling programs.
Snapshot: Online CACREP Accredited Programs
Online CACREP Accredited programs | Online MPCAC Accredited programs
Counselor Responsibilities and Salary
A counselor’s duties may vary from one position to the next, but some of the typical responsibilities include the following.
The average annual income for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in California was $56,860 as of May 2020, according to the BLS. This figure is around $9,000 higher than the national average. The BLS also projects 25% job growth in the field between 2019-2029, which is much faster than the average for all positions. This means there could be many more counseling positions opening up in the future.
Counseling professionals can be found in a variety of different settings, including outpatient mental health centers, hospitals, schools, government facilities, and businesses.
If you are looking for Marriage and Family Therapy programs, go to our guide on MFT programs in California.
Pepperdine University - Master's in Clinical Psychology (ABAI Accredited)
University of Southern California - Master of Social Work (CSWE Accredited) Pepperdine University - Master of Arts in Psychology (ABAI Accredited)
Northcentral University - MS and PhD Therapy, Psychology and Social Work Programs (COAMFTE Accredited) Pepperdine University - Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) (ABAI Accredited) Northcentral University - Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology - Counseling Psychology (COAMFTE Accredited)Counseling Licensure in California
If you wish to pursue licensure as a counselor in California, you should review the requirements set forth by the California Board of Behavioral Services (BBS). Requirements for licensure in the state may include the completion of an accredited counseling degree, 3,000 supervised work hours in a clinical environment, and the completion of multiple exams through the state board. To become licensed, applicants must prove their knowledge not just of clinical practice, but also of local regulations meant to protect doctors and patients. As such, clinical exams and ethics exams may both be required.
These requirements were set forth in an effort to help future counselors become better qualified to provide effective counseling services to the general public.
Licensure and Degree Requirements for Counselors in California
If you are seeking licensure in California, you are required to follow the state’s guidelines that include an accredited degree, passing a licensure exam, and supervised experience. Licensure can be obtained after earning a master’s degree, which is why counseling master’s programs in California are so popular.
California Counseling Licensure: California Counseling Licensing Boards
There are different certification processes based on counseling specializations. Below are some of the credentialing authorities in California for counseling licensure.
Licensure:
- Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
- Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC)
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
- Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT)
Sources:
The California Board of Behavioral Science, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
The California Board of Behavioral Science, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, Find a Program
Forbes, What Does A Mental Health Counselor Do?
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
California Counseling Licensure: California Counseling Licensing Boards
California Counseling Licensure
Board of Behavioral Sciences
1625 North Market Boulevard, Suite S-200
Sacramento, CA 95834
916-574-7830
[email protected]
www.bbs.ca.gov
Licensure:
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
Professional Clinical Counselor Intern (PCCI)
School Counseling Licensure
Commission on Teacher Credentialing
1900 Capital Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 327-1461 (888) 921-2682
[email protected]
www.ctc.ca.gov
School Counselor [PreK-12]
Popular Online Counseling Programs
Pepperdine University 🗹 Online
University of Southern California 🗹 Online 🗗 Masters
University of Southern California 🗹 Online 🗗 Masters
Pepperdine University 🗹 Online
Northcentral University 🗹 Online Courses Start Weekly
Pepperdine University 🗹 Online
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Schools With Campus-Based CACREP Accredited California Counseling Degrees
CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs) is the top accrediting board for counseling programs. Below, you will find a list of all of the CACREP accredited counseling programs in California. Keep scrolling or jump to all programs for all programs or view online CACREP accredited counseling programs.
All Accredited Schools with Counseling Degrees in California
View all programs in California below, or jump to all California CACREP accredited counseling programs.Allan Hancock College Santa Maria
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Alliant International University-San Diego San Diego
- Doctorate - Marriage and Family Therapy
American River College Sacramento
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Butte College Oroville
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
California State University - Fresno Fresno
- M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
- M.S. in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
- M.S. in Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling
California State University Fullerton Fullerton
- M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
California State University Sacramento Sacramento
- M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling
California State University San Bernardino San Bernardino
- M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling
California State University, Los Angeles Los Angeles
- M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling
- M.S. in School Counseling
College of San Mateo San Mateo
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
College of the Desert Palm Desert
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Concordia University Irvine Irvine
- M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Fresno City College Fresno
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Fuller Theological Seminary in California Pasadena
- Doctorate - Marriage and Family Therapy
Glendale Community College Glendale
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Hartnell College Salinas
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
ICDC College Huntington Park
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Imperial Valley College Imperial
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
InterCoast Colleges-Orange Orange
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Lake Tahoe Community College South Lake Tahoe
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Lassen Community College Susanville
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Loma Linda University Loma Linda
- Doctorate - Marriage and Family Therapy
Long Beach City College Long Beach
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Los Angeles City College Los Angeles
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Los Angeles Pierce College Woodland Hills
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Mendocino College Ukiah
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Merced College Merced
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Merritt College Oakland
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Modesto Junior College Modesto
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Mt San Antonio College Walnut
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Mt San Jacinto Community College District San Jacinto
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
National University La Jolla
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Oxnard College Oxnard
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Palo Alto University Palo Alto
- M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- M.A. in Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling
Palomar College San Marcos
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Rio Hondo College Whittier
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Saddleback College Mission Viejo
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
San Diego City College San Diego
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
San Diego State University San Diego
- M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
- M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling
San Francisco State University San Francisco
- M.S. in Career Counseling
- M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- M.S. in College Counseling
- M.S. in College Counseling and Student Affairs
- M.S. in Gerontological Counseling
- M.S. in Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling/Therapy
- M.S. in Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling
- M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling
- M.S. in School Counseling
San Jose City College San Jose
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Saybrook University Pasadena
- M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Sonoma State University Rohnert Park
- M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- M.A. in School Counseling
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Irvine Irvine
- Doctorate - Marriage and Family Therapy
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Westwood Los Angeles
- Doctorate - Marriage and Family Therapy
University of San Diego San Diego
- M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- M.A. in School Counseling
University of Southern California Los Angeles
- Doctorate - Marriage and Family Therapy
West Los Angeles College Culver City
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
William Jessup University Rocklin
- Bachelors - Counseling Psychology
Woodland Community College Woodland
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
Yuba College Marysville
- Associates - Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling
