Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degrees and Programs

A mental health counselor works with different individuals, groups, and populations in order to help people improve their mental state and quality of life. Mental health counseling is an umbrella term that covers a variety of educational tracks including family, school, multicultural, mental health, drug addiction, recovery, and more. Aspiring students who wish to work as mental health counselors should have an idea of the counseling track that appeals to them the most and select an online degree program that fits their goals.
Choosing the Right Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Program
An online master’s degree is needed in order to work as a licensed mental health counselor, although it’s possible to find employment with a bachelor’s degree. However, all states require a master’s degree for licensing, as do the tests that are needed to apply for a license.
In order to ensure that the education you receive is accepted by governments and the public alike, you need to attend an online mental health counseling degree program that’s been accredited by an institution that’s been recognized by the Department of Education. The accrediting bodies for mental health counseling degree programs are the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). An online program that’s been accredited by any of these institutions is one that provides you with the education you need to become a successful mental health counselor.
Bachelor's Degree
There is no specific online bachelor’s degree program for becoming a mental health counselor. Students who have the desire to work in the field of mental health counseling have the option to earn their undergraduate in general psychology or a related mental health concentration. Some schools offer a concentration in mental health counseling that consists of classes that cover the area of study and typically require taking 12-15 credit hours.
Master's Degree
Students who earn a bachelor’s in psychology can go on to earn their master’s degree in mental health counseling online. The master’s degree program is designed to focus a student’s education further into a specific area of mental health counseling and position them as a specialist. Completion of the master’s degree enables them to sit for exams and apply for licensing after completing an average of 60 credit hours and 600 hours of clinical work. Graduates may be required to complete 2,000 hours or more of supervised clinical work in order to qualify for licensure.
Graduate Certificate
An online graduate certificate in mental health counseling typically covers a specific area of mental health counseling that a graduate student hasn’t previously studied. The certificate requires anywhere from 12 to 15 credit hours for completion. Earning a graduate certificate broadens the graduate’s range of specialties, allowing them to enter other areas of mental health counseling they weren’t previously qualified for.
Doctorate
Students who have the desire to work at the highest levels of psychology research and treatment can go on to earn their doctorate as a Ph.D. or Psy.D. online. However, there are few degree programs that go directly from earning a mental health counseling degree to the doctorate level. Instead, students can earn their doctorate in specialties that include counselor education and supervision, behavioral health leadership, forensic psychology, school psychology, behavioral health, and more.
What Mental Health Counseling Degree is Right for Me?
Bachelor’s Degree | Master’s Degree | Graduate Cert | Ph.D. or PsyD | |
I am interested in gaining entry-level experience in mental health counseling | x | |||
I want to get started in my mental health counseling career before I pursue more education | x | |||
I want to become a licensed professional counselor | x | |||
I want to pursue or switch to a niche counseling specialty | x | x | ||
I already have a counseling degree and want to gain specialized knowledge | x | x | ||
I want to work in academia, administration, or clinical practice | x |
Mental Health Counseling Degree Program Curriculum
The curriculum for an online degree program in psychology and related mental health fields varies from program to program. The mental health counseling degree program isn’t focused until the master’s degree level. The curriculum for a mental health counseling degree program at the master’s level can include classes such as:
- Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling
- Group Counseling
- Sexuality Counseling
- Psychopathology
- Testing and Appraisal
- Crisis Intervention and Trauma Counseling
The number of credits required for mental health counseling degree programs varies, but generally consists of the following:
Bachelor's Degree: 120 to 130 credits
Master's Degree : 60 credits
Graduate Certificate: 12 to 15 credits
Mental Health Counseling Degree Program Clinical Requirements
The clinical requirements for an online mental health counseling degree program are different at the bachelor’s and master’s degree levels. A bachelor’s degree student may be required to undergo a minimum of 100 hours of supervised clinical work, while a master’s degree student is typically required to complete 600 supervised hours.
The clinical hours requirements for the bachelor’s degree program are dependent on the concentration of the degree program. There are no undergraduate degree programs for mental health counseling, which means students can earn their bachelor’s in general psychology or a related field of mental health studies. Each concentration has its own requirements for the completion of clinical hours.
List of Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs
Looking for an online or campus-based mental health counseling degree program near you? Browse our state-by-state school listings below.
Jump to Your State Listings
Alabama
Auburn University at Montgomery
Montgomery, AL 36117-3596
(334) 244-3000
Huntingdon College
Montgomery, AL 36106-2148
(334) 833-4497
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL 35294-0110
(205) 934-4011
University of West Alabama
Livingston, AL 35470
(205) 652-3400
Arizona
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ 85017
(800) 800-9776
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-4092
(928) 523-9011
Arkansas
Harding University
Searcy, AR 72149-5615
(501) 279-4000
Henderson State University
Arkadelphia, AR 71999-0001
(870) 230-5000
University of Central Arkansas
Conway, AR 72035-0001
(501) 450-5000
California
Alliant International University-San Diego
San Diego, CA 92131
(858) 635-4000
California State University-Fresno
Fresno, CA 93740
(559) 278-4240
City College of San Francisco
- Community Mental Health Online
San Francisco, CA 94112-1898
(415) 239-3000
Colorado
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
(719) 255-3000
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, CO 80217-3364
(303) 556-5600
University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO 80639
(970) 351-1890
Connecticut
Eastern Connecticut State University
Willimantic, CT 06226
(860) 465-5000
Post University
Waterbury, CT 06723
(800) 345-2562
Sacred Heart University
Fairfield, CT 06825-1000
(203) 371-7999
Southern Connecticut State University
New Haven, CT 06515-1355
(203) 392-5200
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT 06269
(860) 486-2000
University of New Haven
West Haven, CT 06516-1916
(203) 932-7000
Florida
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Tallahassee, FL 32307
(850) 599-3000
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL 33431-0991
(561) 297-3000
Florida Gulf Coast University
Fort Myers, FL 33965-6565
(239) 590-1000
Florida International University
Miami, FL 33199
(305) 348-2000
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1037
(850) 644-2525
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
(954) 776-4476
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314-7796
(954) 262-7300
Stetson University
DeLand, FL 32723
(386) 822-7000
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL 32816
(407) 823-2000
University of Florida-Online
Gainesville, FL 32611
(352) 392-1202
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL 33146
(305) 284-2211
University of South Florida
- Infant-Family Mental Health Online
Tampa, FL 33620-9951
(813) 974-2011
Georgia
Augusta University
Augusta, GA 30912
(706) 721-0211
Clark Atlanta University
Atlanta, GA 30314-4391
(404) 880-8000
Emory University
- Public Mental Health Campus
Atlanta, GA 30322
(404) 727-6123
Fort Valley State University
Fort Valley, GA 31030-4313
(478) 825-6315
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, GA 30460-8126
(912) 478-5391
Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA 30303-3083
(404) 413-2000
Mercer University
Macon, GA 31207
(478) 301-2700
South University-Savannah Online
Savannah, GA 31406
(888) 444-3404
Spelman College
Atlanta, GA 30314-4399
(404) 681-3643
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602
(706) 542-3000
University of North Georgia
Dahlonega, GA 30597
(706) 864-1400
University of West Georgia
Carrollton, GA 30118-0001
(678) 839-5000
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA 31698
(229) 333-5800
Hawaii
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Honolulu, HI 96816-1578
(808) 735-4711
Illinois
Bradley University
Peoria, IL 61625-0001
(309) 676-7611
DePaul University
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 362-8000
Governors State University
University Park, IL 60484
(708) 534-5000
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL 60446-2200
(815) 838-0500
Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago, IL 60625-4699
(773) 583-4050
Roosevelt University
Chicago, IL 60605-1394
(312) 341-3500
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Chicago
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 329-6600
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL 61820-5711
(217) 333-1000
Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL 61455
(309) 298-1414
Indiana
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, IN 47809
(812) 237-6311
Indiana University-Bloomington
Bloomington, IN 47405-7000
(812) 855-4848
Indiana University-East
Richmond, IN 47374-1289
(765) 973-8200
Indiana University-Kokomo
Kokomo, IN 46902-9003
(765) 453-2000
Indiana University-South Bend
South Bend, IN 46615-7111
(574) 520-4872
Indiana University-Southeast
New Albany, IN 47150
(812) 941-2333
Purdue University Northwest
Hammond, IN 46323
(219) 989-2400
University of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN 46227-3697
(317) 788-3368
Iowa
Grand View University
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 263-2800
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242-1316
(319) 335-3500
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0005
(319) 273-2311
Waldorf University
Forest City, IA 50436-1713
(641) 585-2450
Kansas
MidAmerica Nazarene University
Olathe, KS 66062-1899
(913) 782-3750
Wichita State University
Wichita, KS 67260-0124
(316) 978-3456
Kentucky
Asbury Theological Seminary
Wilmore, KY 40390-1199
(859) 858-3581
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY 40475-3102
(859) 622-1000
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, KY 41099
(859) 572-5100
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292-0001
(502) 852-5555
University of the Cumberlands
Williamsburg, KY 40769
(606) 549-2200
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1000
(270) 745-0111
Louisiana
Tulane University of Louisiana
- Behavioral Health, MS Campus
New Orleans, LA 70118-5698
(504) 865-5000
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Lafayette, LA 70503
(377) 482-1000
University of Louisiana at Monroe
Monroe, LA 71209-0000
(318) 342-1000
Maine
University of Maine at Augusta
Augusta, ME 04330-9410
(207) 621-3000
Maryland
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD 21218-2688
(410) 516-8000
McDaniel College
Westminster, MD 21157
(410) 848-7000
University of Maryland Global Campus
- Clinical Mental Health Care Campus
Adelphi, MD 20783-8010
(301) 985-7000
Massachusetts
Bay Path University
Longmeadow, MA 01106
(413) 565-1000
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
(617) 552-8000
Lesley University
Cambridge, MA 02138-2790
(617) 868-9600
Regis College
Weston, MA 02493-1571
(781) 768-7000
Suffolk University
Boston, MA 02108-3901
(617) 573-8754
Westfield State University
Westfield, MA 01086-1630
(413) 572-5300
William James College
Newton, MA 02459
(617) 327-6777
Worcester State University
Worcester, MA 01602-2597
(508) 929-8000
Michigan
Davenport University
Grand Rapids, MI 49512-9396
(616) 698-7111
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
(734) 487-1849
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI 48309-4401
(248) 370-2100
Minnesota
Adler Graduate School
Minnetonka, MN 55343
(612) 861-7554
Capella University
Minneapolis, MN 55402-3389
(866) 808-4080
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, MN 56301-4498
(320) 308-0121
Winona State University
Winona, MN 55987-5838
(507) 457-5000
Mississippi
Mississippi College
Clinton, MS 39058
(601) 925-3000
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS 39762
(662) 325-2323
Missouri
Southeast Missouri State University
- Mental Health Counseling Campus
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
(573) 651-2000
University of Missouri-St Louis
Saint Louis, MO 63121-4400
(314) 516-5000
Montana
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT 59717
(406) 994-0211
Montana State University Billings
Billings, MT 59101-0298
(406) 657-2011
The University of Montana
Missoula, MT 59812
(406) 243-0211
Nebraska
Bellevue University
Bellevue, NE 68005-3098
(402) 291-8100
Creighton University
Omaha, NE 68178
(402) 280-2700
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Kearney, NE 68849-1212
(308) 865-8441
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Omaha, NE 68182-0225
(402) 554-2800
Nevada
University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV 89154
(702) 895-3011
New Hampshire
Plymouth State University
Plymouth, NH 03264-1595
(603) 535-5000
New Jersey
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus
Teaneck, NJ 07666
(201) 692-2000
Georgian Court University
Lakewood, NJ 08701-2697
(732) 987-2200
Monmouth University
West Long Branch, NJ 07764-1898
(732) 571-3400
New Jersey City University
Jersey City, NJ 07305
(201) 200-2000
Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648-3099
(609) 896-5000
Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ 08028
(856) 256-4000
New Mexico
New Mexico State University-Main Campus
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001
(575) 646-0111
University of the Southwest
Hobbs, NM 88240
(575) 392-6561
New York
Adelphi University
Garden City, NY 11530-0701
(516) 877-3000
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
New York, NY 10010
(646) 312-1000
CUNY Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY 11210
(718) 951-5000
CUNY City College
New York, NY 10031
(212) 650-7000
CUNY Hunter College
New York, NY 10065
(212) 772-4000
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
New York, NY 10019
(212) 237-8000
CUNY Queens College
- Mental Health Counseling, MS Campus
Queens, NY 11367
(718) 997-5000
College of Staten Island CUNY
Staten Island, NY 10314
(718) 982-2000
Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY 10027
(212) 854-1754
Fordham University
Bronx, NY 10458
(718) 817-1000
Hofstra University
- Mental Health Counseling, MA Campus
Hempstead, NY 11549
(516) 463-6600
Iona College
New Rochelle, NY 10801-1890
(914) 633-2000
Marist College
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
(845) 575-3000
Mercy College
- Mental Health Counseling Campus
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
(800) 637-2969
New York University
New York, NY 10012-1091
(212) 998-1212
SUNY Brockport
Brockport, NY 14420-2919
(585) 395-2361
SUNY College at Old Westbury
Old Westbury, NY 11568-0210
(516) 876-3000
SUNY College at Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh, NY 12901-2681
(518) 564-2000
SUNY at Albany
Albany, NY 12222
(518) 442-3300
St. John's University-New York
Queens, NY 11439
(718) 990-6161
State University of New York at New Paltz
New Paltz, NY 12561-2443
(877) 696-7411
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY 13244
(315) 443-1870
Touro College
New York, NY 10036
(646) 565-6000
University at Buffalo
- Mental Health Counseling, MS Campus
- Mental Health Counseling, AC Online
Buffalo, NY 14260-1660
(716) 645-2000
North Carolina
Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC 27506
(800) 334-4111
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, NC 27411
(336) 334-7500
North Carolina Central University
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 530-6100
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC 27695-7001
(919) 515-2011
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC 28223-0001
(704) 687-2000
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
(336) 334-5000
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Pembroke, NC 28372-1510
(910) 521-6000
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC 27106
(336) 758-5000
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC 28723-9646
(828) 227-7100
North Dakota
University of Mary
Bismarck, ND 58504
(701) 255-7500
Ohio
Ashland University
Ashland, OH 44805
(800) 882-1548
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
Bowling Green, OH 43403
(418) 372-5526
John Carroll University
University Heights, OH 44118-4538
(888) 388-2977
Kent State University at Kent
Kent, OH 44242-0001
(330) 672-3000
Malone University
- Trauma Counseling Online
Canton, OH 44709-3308
(330) 471-8100
Sinclair Community College
Dayton, OH 45402-1460
(937) 512-3000
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0063
(513) 556-6000
University of Dayton
Dayton, OH 45469
(937) 229-1000
University of Toledo
Toledo, OH 43606-3390
(800) 586-5336
Wright State University-Main Campus
Dayton, OH 45435-0001
(937) 775-1000
Xavier University
Cincinnati, OH 45207-1092
(513) 745-3000
Oklahoma
Cameron University
- M.A. in Mental Health Campus
Lawton, OK 73505-6377
(580) 581-2200
University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus
Norman, OK 73019-3072
(405) 325-0311
Oregon
Lewis & Clark College
Portland, OR 97219-7899
(503) 768-7000
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331
(541) 737-0123
Portland State University
- Clinical Mental Health Campus
Portland, OR 97201
(503) 725-3000
Southern Oregon University
Ashland, OR 97520
(541) 552-7672
Pennsylvania
Holy Family University
Philadelphia, PA 19114-2009
(215) 637-7700
Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus
Indiana, PA 15705-1098
(724) 357-2100
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown, PA 19530-0730
(610) 683-4000
Lock Haven University
Lock Haven, PA 17745-2390
(570) 484-2011
Rosemont College
Rosemont, PA 19010-1699
(610) 527-0200
Saint Joseph's University
Philadelphia, PA 19131-1395
(610) 660-1000
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303
(215) 898-5000
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
(412) 624-4141
Villanova University
Villanova, PA 19085-1699
(610) 519-4500
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester, PA 19383
(610) 436-1000
Rhode Island
Rhode Island College
- C.G.S. Advanced Counseling Campus
Providence, RI 02908
(401) 456-8000
Salve Regina University
Newport, RI 02840-4192
(401) 847-6650
South Carolina
South University-Columbia
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 799-9082
University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia, SC 29208
(803) 777-7000
Winthrop University
Rock Hill, SC 29733
(803) 323-2211
South Dakota
South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD 57007-1898
(800) 952-3541
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, SD 57069-2390
(605) 658-6200
Tennessee
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN 37044
(931) 221-7011
Belmont University
Nashville, TN 37212-3757
(615) 460-6000
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN 37614
(423) 439-1000
Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN 37204-3951
(615) 966-1000
Richmont Graduate University
Chattanooga, TN 37404
(423) 226-4574
Tennessee State University
Nashville, TN 37209-1561
(615) 963-5000
Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN 38505-0001
(931) 372-3101
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN 37403-2598
(423) 425-4111
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN 37996
(865) 974-1000
Trevecca Nazarene University
Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 248-1200
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN 38152
(901) 678-2000
Texas
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX 75275-0221
(214) 768-2000
Tarleton State University
Stephenville, TX 76401-0000
(254) 968-9000
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX 76129
(817) 257-7000
The University of Texas Permian Basin
Odessa, TX 79762-0001
(432) 552-2020
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, TX 78539-2999
(956) 665-2011
The University of Texas at El Paso
- Mental Health Counseling Campus
El Paso, TX 79968-0691
(915) 747-5000
The University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, TX 78249-1644
(210) 458-4011
The University of Texas at Tyler
Tyler, TX 75799-6699
(903) 566-7000
University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX 75241
(972) 780-3600
Utah
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9008
(801) 581-7200
Vermont
Northern Vermont University
Johnson, VT 05656-9464
(802) 635-2356
Virginia
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA 24515
(434) 582-2000
Norfolk State University
- Mental Health Counseling Online
Norfolk, VA 23504-8000
(757) 823-8600
Radford University
Radford, VA 24142
(540) 831-5000
Regent University
Virginia Beach, VA 23464
(757) 352-4127
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0131
(540) 231-6994
William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
(757) 221-4000
Washington
Antioch University-Seattle
Seattle, WA 98121-1814
(206) 441-5352
Central Washington University
- Mental Health Counseling Campus
Ellensburg, WA 98926
(509) 963-1111
Eastern Washington University
Cheney, WA 99004-2496
(509) 359-6200
Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA 99258-0001
(800) 986-9585
Seattle University
Seattle, WA 98122-4340
(206) 296-6000
West Virginia
Marshall University
Huntington, WV 25755
(304) 696-3170
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV 26506
(304) 293-0111
Wisconsin
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI 53233
(414) 288-7710
Mount Mary University
Milwaukee, WI 53222-4597
(414) 930-3000
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI 53211
(414) 229-1122
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Kenosha, WI 53144
(262) 595-2345
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Menomonie, WI 54751
(715) 232-1122
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