Masters in Counseling – What is it?
A Masters in Counseling degree is a graduate level degree that usually takes up to two years to complete. The degree requires anywhere between 40 and 60 credits, depending on your counseling specialty. Earning your Masters in Counseling online is the first step to becoming a licensed counselor. It is also a necessary step if you plan on getting your PhD in Counseling. At the Masters level, you can really dive into and become an expert in your field of interest.
COUNSELING SPECIALTIES
| Clinical Mental Health | Focuses on mental health and wellness. Mental Health Counseling is one of the most popular options |
| Marriage and Family Counseling | Studies marriage and family structures, as well as individuals from infancy through adolescence |
| Addiction Studies | Focuses on addiction and substance abuse and other addictive behaviors |
| School Counseling | Focuses on K-12 school guidance counseling, adolescent behavior and challenges children may face growing up |
| Human Services | Studies human behavior and combines areas of study in psychology, social work, sociology and counseling |
| Pastoral Counseling | Studies biblical based counseling and techniques that can be applied in a house of worship setting |
| Professional Counseling | Combines many areas of counseling including, but not limited to, marriage and family, substance abuse, clinical diagnosis and treatment and group therapy |
As you can see, there are many counseling concentrations to choose from. Once you narrow it down, you can check out which schools offer your counseling program online. Not all schools will offer the specialty you’re interested in. So even if you have your heart set on one school, you should still speak with an enrollment counselor from that college. You can also check out their course offerings since some colleges will offer specialty courses in a variety of counseling subjects.
Admission Requirements
Gaining admission into a Masters in Counseling degree program varies by school. Most online graduate programs require a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, a minimum GPA, GRE scores and letters of recommendation to name a few. Check out our online counseling school’s page which has some of the nation’s top graduate schools and also lists some of the most important factors to consider when choosing an online counseling program. If you’re interested in a masters degree but haven’t started your undergraduate degree, you should first look into either getting your bachelor’s degree in counseling psychology.
Counseling Licensing and Certification
Please be sure to check out your state’s licensing and certification requirements to ensure that the program you choose meets the requirements of the state where you plan to practice. Some schools only provide programs of study that meet eligibility and academic requirements for licensure and/or certification in certain states. For example, a school that is based in Arizona but also offers a Master’s degree in Counseling online may only meet the licensure requirements for the state of Arizona.
Online Masters in Counseling Degree
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School Showcase
- Southern New Hampshire University – MA in Counseling
- Grand Canyon University – MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Liberty University – MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Program Accreditation: What is it and why it’s important for Counselor Education
CACREP
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) grants CACREP accreditation to graduate programs in counseling that have been evaluated and meet the standards set within the counseling profession. CACREP is a recognized counseling training standard. It’s important that the graduate counseling program you choose has this accreditation to ensure that you’re gaining the knowledge and skills needed from both a professional and financial standpoint. Also, only accredited universities are eligible to receive the CACREP accreditation. CACREP accredits the following masters programs in counseling:
- Addiction Counseling
- Career Counseling
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling
- Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
- Rehabilitation Counseling
- School Counseling
- Student Affairs and College Counseling
COAMFTE
The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) is the agency that gives accreditation to qualifying Marriage and Family Therapy graduate programs. This accreditation is given to programs that pass a rigorous evaluation and examination and they must meet certain standards and requirements. Most states require that you receive your graduate degree from an accredited program in order to become a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Similar to the requirement for CACREP accreditation, only accredited institutions can receive this accreditation. You can also find out more about the benefits of this accreditation by going to the COAMFTE website.
OnlineCounselingGuide.com only lists those online Master’s Degree in Counseling programs that have the CACREP accreditation. Be assured that you’re in good hands here and we will be guiding you in the right direction. So not only are you guaranteed to find online universities that are accredited, the programs are accredited as well.
When you earn your graduate degree in counseling online, you may qualify to becoming a licensed counselor. Please be sure to check that your program meets your states licensing requirements.
Search Online Masters in Counseling Programs
- Addictions and Substance Abuse Counseling Programs
- Marriage and Family Therapy Counseling Programs
- Mental Health Counseling Programs
- Pastoral Counseling Programs
- School Counseling Programs
- Sports Counseling Programs