Counseling Schools and Programs in The United States

Counseling Studies in The United States

Counseling is the professional help given to people facing personal, educational, career or mental health challenges. In the United States it is a regulated profession with several branches: school counseling, career counseling, and clinical mental health counseling, which includes substance abuse and behavioral disorder counseling. Each branch has its own path, but most of them lead through a master's degree and a state credential.

How the degree is organised

The route starts with a bachelor's degree, which EducationUSA states is usually completed in four years of full-time study. The BLS lists common undergraduate fields for counselors as psychology, public policy and social services, and social science. The professional qualification is normally a master's degree, which EducationUSA describes as a two-year degree providing additional specialisation. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that nearly all states require school counselors to hold a master's degree, and that master's programmes in counseling usually include a supervised period of experience such as an internship.

Universities in the list use different names for similar programmes. Long Island University lists a School Counselor MS and a Clinical Mental Health Counseling advanced certificate on the LIU Post pages. Wayne State University's College of Education has Counseling and Counseling Psychology programmes, Temple University's College of Education and Human Development lists Counseling Psychology, Texas Tech University has a department of Educational Psychology, Leadership, & Counseling, and City University of Seattle lists an MA in Counseling.

Accreditation matters in this field. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) states that it accredits over 969 master's and doctoral degree programs in Counseling and its specialised practice areas offered by 483 colleges and universities across the United States. Many licensing boards look at the accreditation of the programme, so check this with the university and the state board before you apply.

Licensing

A degree alone does not allow you to practise. According to the BLS, public school counselors must have a state-issued credential, which is typically obtained with a master's degree in school counseling, a supervised internship or practicum, and a test. All states require mental health counselors to be licensed, and licensure requires a national examination and supervised clinical work under a licensed counselor. Licensing requirements vary by state, so students who plan to work in the United States after graduating should check the licensing board of the state where they will study or work.

Admission, English and visa

EducationUSA states that US universities require an English language proficiency test before admission, and that there are over 1,000 universities in the United States that offer graduate degrees. Funding is mainly through the university: at PhD level, EducationUSA notes that working as a graduate teaching or research assistant in exchange for a tuition waiver and/or a stipend is very common. International students on a degree programme normally hold an F student visa, which requires admission to an institution certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

Where to study counseling in the United States

The 24 schools listed here are in cities from Los Angeles to New York, and no city has more than one of them in the list. They include universities such as San Diego State University, Temple University in Philadelphia, West Virginia University in Morgantown, Hofstra University in Hempstead and New York University, and smaller colleges such as Hesston College in Kansas and Eastern Arizona College. University of Phoenix and Breyer State University appear in the list as online universities. Each school's profile on this site gives its website for the current programmes.

Careers

School counselors work in public and private schools; career counselors and advisors are employed mainly in colleges and universities, but also in career centers and private practice, according to the BLS. The BLS reports a median annual wage of $64,330 for school and career counselors and advisors in May 2025 and projects 3 percent employment growth from 2025 to 2035. For substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors, who work in mental health centers, community health centers and private practice, the median is $59,350 and the projected growth is 18 percent over the same period.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a master's degree to work as a counselor in the United States?

For most roles, yes. The BLS states that school counselors typically need a master's degree in school counseling or a related field, and that mental health counselors typically need a master's degree and an internship. Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors typically need at least a bachelor's degree.

Is a US counseling degree enough to be licensed?

No. Licensure also requires supervised clinical work and an examination, and requirements vary by state, according to the BLS.

What is CACREP?

CACREP is the accrediting body for counseling programmes in the United States. It states that it accredits over 969 master's and doctoral degree programmes at 483 colleges and universities.

Can I study counseling online?

Some of the listed institutions teach online, but City University of Seattle states that its MA in Counseling is not currently offered 100% online. Licensure also needs supervised clinical work, so check how each programme arranges placements.