Establishing a career in counseling starts with education. It provides both the foundational knowledge and, in many cases, the credentials needed to practice. Although licensure and certification requirements vary by state, many clinical mental health counseling licenses require a master’s degree. Exact degree, coursework, and credentialing requirements depend on the state and the role.

Licensure for counselors, social workers, psychologists, and other mental health professionals is regulated at the state level, so requirements vary from state to state. Many states look to accrediting bodies such as the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) when evaluating the educational preparation of counselors, social workers, and other mental health professionals. Check with your state licensing board for the specific requirements in your state. NBCC also maintains a state licensing board directory to help counselors find this information.

Even if you don’t immediately plan on pursuing licensure or certification in counseling, most clinics, hospitals, and mental health practices seek candidates with a master’s degree to practice counseling.

The program cards/tables featured on this page were last updated in March 2026. For the most current program information, please refer to the official website of the respective school.

According to SAMHSA, more than one in five U.S. adults age 18 or older had a mental illness in the past year in 2024. Counselors and mental health professionals help people who are living with mental health disorders or otherwise experiencing difficulties with life, and the field can be extraordinarily rewarding if you want to make a difference in people’s lives.

In online counseling programs and mental health degree programs, you’ll learn from experienced professionals. Supervised field work is also typically a part of a master’s program in mental health or counseling, which gives you real-world experience. Through classroom and supervised field work, you’ll prepare for working with real clients.

Counseling, psychology, and social work are all mental health fields. Their degree programs may overlap in some areas, but they differ in curriculum, clinical training, program length, and the types of licensure they support.

A counseling degree is designed to prepare students for licensure as counselors in the state where they plan to practice. In most states, professional counselor licensure requires a master’s degree in counseling or a related field, along with practicum, internship, and required graduate coursework, though specific standards vary by state. Some counseling degree pathways may also support eligibility for the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or National Certified Counselor (NCC) certification, depending on the program and the applicant’s education and supervised experience.

Many states use CACREP standards to evaluate counselor education programs, even when they do not require a CACREP-accredited degree. Graduating from a CACREP-accredited program can simplify the licensure review process in many states, while some states specifically require a CACREP-accredited degree for counselor licensure. Students who want to pursue NCC certification should also confirm that their degree meets NBCC’s current eligibility requirements. Learn more about CACREP accreditation.

Master ’s-level counseling programs typically take about two to three years to complete, depending on the program format and enrollment status. Students often study counseling theories, assessment, human development, ethics, and treatment methods, and they usually complete supervised practicum and internship experiences as part of the degree.

Direct counseling pathways

These degree pathways are the most directly aligned with professional counseling practice, though licensure requirements vary by state.

A master’s in counseling is one of the most common degree pathways for those seeking professional counselor licensure. Programs may be offered as a Master of Arts, Master of Science, or similar degree title, but licensure eligibility usually depends more on the program’s curriculum, supervised field experience, and alignment with state requirements than on the degree name itself. Many programs include coursework in counseling theories, ethics, assessment, human development, and treatment methods, along with practicum and internship experiences.

A Master of Education may prepare graduates for school counseling roles or educational settings. These programs are often designed for students pursuing school counselor certification or licensure, though some may also support broader counseling pathways depending on the curriculum and state requirements. Because preparation standards differ by role and state, students should confirm whether a program aligns with the credential they plan to pursue.

A doctorate in counseling or counselor education and supervision is typically designed for advanced practice, leadership, supervision, teaching, or research. In many cases, these programs build on prior master’s-level counselor preparation rather than serving as the standard entry point into counseling practice. Graduates may pursue careers in higher education, clinical supervision, research, or administrative leadership, depending on their training and licensure status.

These degree pathways can also lead to counseling or therapy-related careers, but they typically align with distinct licensure tracks or professional roles.

A master’s in marriage and family therapy (MFT) prepares graduates to work from a relational and systems-based perspective, often with couples, families, and individuals. These programs are commonly used to pursue licensure as a marriage and family therapist, though requirements vary by state. Coursework often focuses on family systems, assessment, diagnosis, ethics, and supervised clinical training.

A Master of Social Work (MSW) is a common pathway into clinical and nonclinical mental health work. Graduates may pursue roles in therapy, case management, community practice, advocacy, or administration, depending on their specialization and licensure status. For those interested in providing psychotherapy independently, additional post-degree supervised experience and state licensure are typically required.

A master’s in rehabilitation counseling prepares graduates to support individuals with disabilities and related vocational, psychosocial, and rehabilitation needs. Depending on the program and the state, this degree may support counselor licensure, rehabilitation counseling certification, or other counseling-related roles. Programs often include coursework in counseling, case management, disability studies, and career development.

A master’s in addiction or substance abuse counseling focuses on the prevention, assessment, and treatment of substance use disorders. These programs may prepare graduates for counseling roles in treatment centers, hospitals, community agencies, or private practice settings, depending on state law and the type of licensure. Because addiction counseling credentials vary widely across states, students should verify how a specific degree aligns with local licensing requirements.

Master’s degrees in psychology may prepare graduates for mental health-related careers, but they do not always serve as direct pathways to counselor licensure.

A master’s in clinical psychology may prepare graduates for certain supervised or support roles in mental health, or for continued doctoral study. However, it is not typically a stand-alone pathway to independent psychologist licensure in the United States, which generally requires a doctoral degree. Students interested in licensure should carefully review both the program design and state board requirements.

A master’s in counseling psychology may provide preparation in human development, counseling theories, assessment, and therapeutic techniques. Depending on the program’s structure and the state where a graduate plans to practice, it may support some counseling-related career paths. Because eligibility for licensure varies, students should confirm whether the degree meets the educational requirements for the credential they want to pursue.

A degree in educational psychology focuses on learning, development, motivation, and assessment in educational settings. These programs may prepare graduates for careers in research, teaching, instructional design, or student support, rather than direct counseling licensure. Career outcomes depend on the degree level and the program’s training emphasis.

A degree in school psychology prepares graduates to support students’ academic, behavioral, and emotional needs in school settings. These programs are generally tied to school-based credentialing or certification pathways rather than counselor licensure. Graduates may work in K–12 schools, educational agencies, or related settings, depending on state requirements and degree level.

These fields overlap with behavioral or helping professions, but they are generally separate from traditional counseling licensure pathways.

A degree in applied behavior analysis focuses on behavior assessment, intervention, and skill development. These programs may prepare graduates for behavior-analytic roles and, in some cases, for certification pathways in behavior analysis, depending on the coursework and supervised experience completed. Although graduates may work in settings that support mental health or developmental needs, applied behavior analysis is a distinct field and should not be treated as the same pathway as counselor licensure.

A degree in behavioral psychology examines how behavior is learned, observed, and changed. Depending on the program, graduates may pursue roles in research, behavioral support, human services, or related applied settings. This is not typically considered a direct or standard pathway to counselor licensure, so students interested in counseling careers should review whether a program aligns with state educational requirements.

Online learning that occurs at a specific time and day is referred to as synchronous learning, in which students in a course are synchronized with one another in terms of attendance and participation. Synchronous learning fosters an engaging virtual classroom, enriched by stimulating discussions, live lectures, and real-time faculty-to-student interaction.

A common reference when discussing online degree programs is the ability to log in from anywhere and complete coursework. Asynchronous learning allows students to log in and view lectures and coursework at their convenience — within the context of deadlines, of course.

For many mental health degrees, an on- or off-site internship and practicum experience is imperative to the application and learning of mental health counseling, psychology, or therapy. When looking for a mental health degree, you may want to consider programs that offer clinical placement support to help you secure an internship close to home that supports your growth.

In online master’s degree programs, live classes may help you feel as if you are in an on-campus classroom. With live classes, you may “meet” your colleagues face-to-face via webcam discussions. This also provides opportunities to practice your counseling or therapeutic skills and to receive direct feedback from classmates.

When preparing future mental health professionals, individualized attention is important for developing skills, understanding bias, and cultivating cultural awareness. When comparing programs, you may want to seek a low student-to-instructor ratio or a small class size to help ensure more one-on-one learning opportunities.

When on campus, student support is often nearby, perhaps in another building. However, for online students, this may not be true — and finding programs that offer student support services may be a deciding factor for enrollment. In your mental health degree program search, you may want to ensure that universities offer flexible hours, online resources, and virtual meeting times for online students.

When you enroll in an online mental health degree program, lectures, coursework, and interactions with cohort members and university staff are virtual. You will be held to the same standards as on-campus students, such as timely submission of coursework, exam completion, and participation.

When it comes time to enroll in field experience or internship courses, which are required in many counseling degree programs, you will need to ensure that you meet requirements for both the university and any applicable state licensure pathway by completing required supervision under an approved site supervisor.

Partially online, hybrid counseling degree programs offer some on-campus courses and experiences that are either mandatory or voluntary as a part of completing your degree. Some hybrid and online counseling programs may require students to attend a residency, where they will meet other online and on-campus students to develop counseling skills, network with peers, and meet university staff.

Some programs offer access to academic advisors who can help you find fieldwork opportunities, and others have mandatory short-length intensive sessions on campus to fulfill your fieldwork requirement.

Information last updated: March 2026