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If you’ve been thinking about becoming a counselor or wondering what a career as a counselor would be like, your first step is to do the research. Research accredited counseling degrees and the many different counseling programs offered by accredited institutions. Degrees are available at the Bachelors, Masters and PhD levels.
For more information about degree levels, please check out our online counseling degrees page. There you can learn more about the degrees that are offered at colleges and universities. For more in-depth degree information, you can check out our degree-specific pages. These pages include bachelors, masters and PhD degree pages.
OnlineCounselingGuide.com serves as a comprehensive resource to finding the best online counseling programs and counseling careers. Our site also includes online counseling services. Let us help you on your journey to starting and unlocking your future.
Online Counseling Programs
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to change careers, getting your degree is the first step to launching your counseling career.
Counseling Careers
Careers That Are
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Discover the many careers available
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counseling degree.
To learn more about the different psychology and counseling careers, check out our counseling careers’ page where we have more information on the following careers:
- Addiction Counseling
- School Counseling
- Mental Health Counseling
- Marriage and Family Counseling
- Forensic Psychology
- Forensic Science
- Christian Counseling
- Rehabilitation Counseling
- Career Counseling
- Sports Psychology
These pages give you an in-depth view of careers within the counseling and psychology fields, including what they do, where they work, growth projection and salary potential.
Online Counseling Schools – Study Options
You can obtain your counseling degree online or in the traditional way. Many people choose to get their degree online because of its convenience and flexibility. The online option allows you to structure your education plan around your schedule. It also allows you to study anytime and anywhere while also working full time. Additionally, online schools may provide a quicker path to obtaining your counseling degree by offering more terms (and more opportunities) in a calendar year. There are many other reasons to choose an online degree including lower program costs and more school options.
Frequently Asked Questions About Counseling Programs and Colleges
Yes. You can earn your counseling or psychology degree completely online.
To qualify to become a licensed counselor, you will need to a minimum of a Master’s degree in counseling.
The kind of counseling careers that usually require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in counseling psychology are careers in addiction counseling, career counseling and life coaching. Having a bachelor’s degree can help you get into a Master’s in Counseling program and prepare you for careers such as a School Counselor and a Mental Health Counselor.
Counseling degrees at the Master’s level typically require between 20-24 courses. Learn more about earning your Masters in Counseling degree.
The average time to complete a Master’s Degree in Counseling can be between 1 1/2 to 2 years. If you’ve already taken graduate courses from another college, you can look into transferring these credits to shorten the time it will take to graduate.
Having a Master’s in Counseling Degree is a requirement to getting your counseling license and may prepare you to become a Mental Health Counselor, Marriage Counselor, School Counselor as well as many other counseling specialities.
A counselor is granted certification from a private organization and is voluntary. A certified counselor must meet all educational and professional experience requirements that the granting organization, such as the National Board of Certified Counselors, puts forth and is usually recognized nationally. By receiving your certification, you can show your clients and employers that you’ve achieved the required level of competency and knowledge needed in your profession as a counselor.
A licensed counselor must also meet all educational and professional experience requirements before sitting for the counselor licensure exam. A counselor license is usually recognized at the state level, compared to the certification which is recognized nationally. This means that you can only practice and offer counseling services in the state where you are licensed. Becoming a licensed counselor also allows you specific title designations such as a Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Mental Health Counselor.