Your Guide to Child Counseling Certificates at University of Arkansas

Mental health workforce shortages in Arkansas are pressuring districts and community agencies to compete for clinicians, and child-focused roles are among the hardest to fill. At the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, the main entry points are CACREP-accredited counseling master's programs in clinical mental health counseling and school counseling. A standalone graduate child counseling certificate is not currently listed, so students build child-focused expertise within those programs.

The practical questions are admissions sequencing, residency-based tuition, and how each track aligns with Arkansas's 3,000-hour supervised LPC requirement or the state's K-12 school counselor credential. For many students comparing counseling schools, the choice comes down to whether a school building or a clinical setting is the intended long-term practice site.

Child Counseling Pathways at the University of Arkansas

Some students arrive at the University of Arkansas looking for a standalone child counseling certificate. Others prefer to build a child-focused specialty within one of the Arkansas counseling programs at the master's level. For now, the documented path is the second one: there is no graduate certificate titled Child Counseling or Child and Adolescent Counseling in Counselor Education at the University of Arkansas.

No Standalone Child Counseling Certificate

The College of Education and Health Professions does list graduate certificates in Applied Behavior Analysis, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Advanced School-Based Speech-Language Pathology, Special Education Transition Services, and K-12 Online Teaching.¹ None of these is described as a child counseling credential. If you specifically want a certificate with "child counseling" in the title, it is not currently offered through the counseling program.

Child-Focused Tracks Inside the M.S. in Counseling

The M.S. in Counseling is a 60-credit program with four catalog concentrations: Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling, and Addiction Counseling. Program pages and handbooks commonly emphasize the first three, so confirm current concentration availability before applying.

Two concentrations offer the clearest child counseling relevance: - Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Students who plan to work with children as child counselors must take CNED 6133 Introduction to Play. The concentration requires 24 emphasis credits, 100 clock hours of clinical experience, and a 600-hour internship. - School Counseling: The sequence includes CNED 6333 Introduction to Play Therapy and CNED 6093 Counseling Children and Adolescents through Play, along with P-12 practicum and internship experiences. Requirements also include 24 emphasis credits, 100 clinical hours, and a 600-hour internship.

Rehabilitation Counseling and Addiction Counseling are available but do not carry the same named child-focused course sequence.

Delivery Format and In-Person Clinicals

The M.S. in Counseling is described as an on-campus program. Because the child-focused pathways require approved clinical placements and in-person practicum or internship experiences, the clinical components are not fully online. The university does not currently advertise a fully online or hybrid child counseling certificate; students who need flexible delivery should verify current class formats directly with the program.

CACREP Accreditation and Program Quality

CACREP accreditation is a program-level quality review in counselor education. It does not accredit an entire university; it evaluates specific degree tracks against national standards for curriculum, clinical training, and faculty qualifications. At the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, several counseling programs carry this credential, but the status is not identical across all tracks.

Current CACREP-Accredited Programs

Three University of Arkansas counseling programs, including a counseling doctoral program, are currently listed as CACREP-accredited through March 31, 2029:

• School Counseling M.S.
• Clinical Mental Health Counseling M.S.
• Counselor Education and Supervision Ph.D.

These dates reflect current directory listings, so the exact renewal cycle may shift before 2029.

Rehabilitation Counseling Status

The Rehabilitation Counseling M.S. has a different status. CACREP lists it as previously accredited, with accreditation ending May 14, 2022. The university catalog still describes it among CACREP-accredited programs, so prospective students should confirm current status directly with the program before relying on that credential for licensure or transfer. For any counseling track not currently listed as CACREP-accredited, applicants should plan around Arkansas Board of Examiners requirements and may need to provide additional documentation if they later pursue licensure in a state that recognizes CACREP.

Why CACREP Matters for Arkansas Licensure and Exams

Arkansas LPC licensure is governed by the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling and does not require CACREP accreditation as a legal condition. Graduates from non-CACREP programs can still pursue state licensure if they meet the board's coursework and supervised experience requirements. However, CACREP alignment can simplify the path. Because the curriculum meets national standards, graduates often face fewer documentation questions when applying for the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), and they may have an easier time when seeking licensure in other states. For school counseling, the University of Arkansas School Counseling track aligns with Arkansas educator preparation expectations, but CACREP alone is not the licensing standard. School counseling accreditation can also involve educator preparation pathways such as CAEP, but the University of Arkansas School Counseling M.S. currently holds CACREP accreditation.

Admissions Requirements and Application Deadlines

Applying to the University of Arkansas counseling program requires sequencing two separate applications, assembling the right materials, and preparing for an on-campus interview before a fixed deadline.

Coordinating Two Applications

Admission to the M.S. in Counseling requires two separate applications: one to the University of Arkansas Graduate School and one to the Counselor Education program. Complete the Graduate School portion first, since the counseling faculty review sits on top of that university-level admission. The program does not publish a separate minimum by emphasis; the baseline is a cumulative 3.0 GPA across all undergraduate and previous graduate work.

Required Application Materials

• Transcripts: Two official transcripts from every college or university attended.
• Letters of recommendation: Three letters from former instructors, employers, or community professionals, due by the counseling application deadline.
• Writing materials: A writing sample and a personal statement or statement of purpose, prepared according to program guidelines.
• Graduate application forms: The university-level application and any required background information.
• Interview: An on-campus faculty interview after the deadline, with applicants typically contacted about one to two weeks before the interview date.

A dedicated resume or CV is not called out separately in the most recent Counselor Education checklist, but confirm the current Graduate School form for any additional background fields before submitting.

Testing and Prerequisites

GRE scores are optional for the M.S. in Counseling. No minimum GRE threshold is published where scores are submitted. Earlier catalog language described a GRE or Miller Analogies requirement, but the more recent program checklist and website treat testing as optional. The program does not list specific undergraduate prerequisite courses for admission; program-level course prerequisites apply after admission rather than as entry barriers.

Deadlines and Interview Timing

The two primary deadlines are January 15 for fall admission and September 15 for spring admission. Summer start dates are not clearly documented in the materials reviewed, and no 2026-specific waivers or alternate deadlines were published. Because the counseling master's group interview occurs after the deadline and applicants are contacted about one to two weeks before, submit all requested items early rather than on the final day. For readers specifically interested in child counseling, the counseling program's published admission materials do not list a distinct graduate certificate in counseling for child counseling; child-focused interests are generally pursued through an M.S. counseling emphasis, so verify certificate availability directly with the Counselor Education office.

Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid Options

How much does a counseling master's at the University of Arkansas actually cost, and what kind of aid can bring that number down? The answer depends on residency, delivery format, and which college or program sets the rate, because counseling is not listed separately in university tuition tables.

Per-Credit Costs and Mandatory Fees

For 2025-2026, the catalog lists standard graduate tuition at $473.47 per credit for Arkansas residents and $1,287.74 per credit for nonresidents. When mandatory fees are included, cost-of-attendance modeling for 2026-2027 shows about $559.18 per credit for residents and $1,373.45 for nonresidents, which implies an average fee around $85.75 per credit.¹ These are university-level figures; counseling-specific differentials are not published. Online graduate sections have separate rates: $459.68 per credit for in-state students and $1,250.24 for out-of-state students (Fall 2025).² Online fees vary by program, and examples such as a $50 distance technology fee are not counseling-specific, so it is worth taking time to evaluate online counseling degree programs.

Estimated Total Cost

Based on a typical 60-credit master's schedule, in-state students might estimate roughly $33,550 to $33,553 including fees, while out-of-state students could estimate $82,407 to $82,409.¹ The university lists annual graduate resident tuition at $11,364 and fees at $2,058, with a loan fee of $168.¹ Because counseling credit requirements and online eligibility are not confirmed in these sources, treat these totals as planning estimates for the cost of counseling degree rather than exact program charges.

Assistantships and Aid

Graduate assistantships, scholarships, and federal aid are the main offsets for counseling graduate school funding. Health, Human Performance, and Recreation assistantships have listed stipend ranges of $15,915 to $19,096 for 2025,³ and Higher Education assistantships are often $800 to $1,100 per month.⁴ Some assistantships include tuition waivers, but appointments are tied to work expectations and credit hours. University doctoral fellowships of $12,000 or $22,000 per year appear in graduate school materials³, but counseling is typically a master's program, so doctoral awards may not apply. Contact the counseling program directly to confirm what funding is currently available for your cohort.

Career Outcomes and Arkansas Licensure for Child Counselors

School counseling and clinical mental health counseling offer two distinct child-focused routes for child counselors: one leads to K-12 school settings and the other to clinical or community treatment. Each path has a different Arkansas credentialing process, so comparing the outcomes and licensure steps side by side helps clarify what UArk prepares you for.

University-Reported Outcomes

For 2024-25, the University of Arkansas clinical mental health counseling program reports a 100 percent first-time licensure pass rate and 100 percent in-field employment among 19 graduates, with a 99 percent completion rate. The school counseling program reports 100 percent pass and 100 percent in-field employment among 3 graduates. These are strong placement signals, but the school counseling cohort is very small, so the rate should be read with caution. UArk does not publish graduate salary data, so current Arkansas BLS medians for school and mental health counselors remain the better reference for wage expectations. Statewide employment in these occupations tends to track school enrollment and healthcare demand, but this profile does not include a specific growth projection or salary figure.

Arkansas LPC Licensure for Child Counselors

The licensed professional counselor (LPC) route requires a master's degree with at least 60 semester hours in counseling or a related field. A CACREP-accredited program like UArk's satisfies that educational requirement and reduces the documentation burden with the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling, since the curriculum is already recognized as meeting core content standards.

Supervised experience totals 3,000 client contact hours with 175 supervision hours. Level 1 involves 500 direct hours with no indirect hours and a 1:10 supervision ratio. Level 2 adds 2,500 client contact hours, up to 800 indirect hours, and a 1:20 ratio. This generally takes at least three years under a Licensed Associate Counselor. Required exams are the NCE and the Arkansas Jurisprudence Exam. The application to ABEC includes transcripts, exam scores, and supervision agreements.

School Counseling Licensure

Arkansas school counseling is a separate credential handled by the state's Department of Education rather than ABEC in the sources reviewed. UArk reports 100 percent pass and in-field employment for its school counseling graduates, but the gathered material details the Praxis Professional School Counselor (5421) exam yet does not detail internship hour or application requirements. Students should confirm current Department of Education rules before applying. CACREP accreditation can support curriculum review, but direct recognition for the school counseling credential is not documented here.

Arkansas Child Counseling Licensure Path

Questions to Ask Yourself

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Frequently Asked Questions

These FAQs cover the main practical questions students ask about University of Arkansas counseling programs, including admission, online delivery, CACREP accreditation, tuition, and child counseling credentials. Use the answers as a starting point and always verify deadlines and fees with the program office.

What are the admission requirements for University of Arkansas counseling programs?

Admission requirements vary by degree. For the MS in Counseling, applicants submit separate applications to the Graduate School and the Counselor Education program, hold a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, provide three letters of recommendation, and complete a writing sample or purpose statement. The GRE is optional, and an interview is required after initial review. Fall applications are due January 15 and spring applications are due September 15. The PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision commonly requires a completed master's degree in counseling or an equivalent, a cumulative graduate GPA of at least 3.5, GRE scores, approximately one year of post-master's counseling experience, a 30-minute video, and an on-campus interview. Published PhD deadlines include November 15 for fall, September 15 for spring, and January 15 for summer or fall.

Does the University of Arkansas offer online counseling programs?

Current University of Arkansas counseling materials emphasize on-campus components, including interviews, mock counseling sessions, and counseling rooms. The university does not clearly describe the MS in Counseling or PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision as fully online or hybrid programs. If you need a fully online CACREP-accredited option in Arkansas, review accredited online master's in mental health counseling programs, check CACREP's directory, and compare other Arkansas institutions, because some Arkansas programs are 100% online.

What CACREP-accredited counseling programs are available in Arkansas?

Arkansas has CACREP-accredited counseling programs, and some are available fully online. Programs commonly referenced in Arkansas include the MA in Counseling at UA Little Rock, which offers four tracks, and the School Counseling program at the University of Central Arkansas. Accreditation status can change, so confirm each program's current status through the CACREP directory before applying.

How much is tuition for the University of Arkansas counseling program?

Published University of Arkansas counseling program admission pages and checklists do not currently list tuition and fees for the MS or PhD programs. The most reliable way to estimate cost is to review the University of Arkansas Graduate School tuition and fees page or ask the program office for current per-credit rates and estimated total program cost as part of your questions to ask before enrolling in a counseling program.

Does the University of Arkansas have a child counseling certificate?

Current University of Arkansas counselor education materials list the MS in Counseling and the PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, but do not list a separate child counseling certificate. Child and adolescent training may be available through coursework, practicum placements, or specialization options within the degree programs. Contact the Counselor Education program directly to confirm whether a child counseling certificate is currently offered.