What you’ll learn in this article…
- Texas requires a 60-credit-hour master's degree, a national exam, and 3,000 supervised hours for LPC licensure.
- Lamar University and Texas A&M Commerce rank among the most affordable online counseling programs in the state.
- BLS data shows strong demand for counselors in Texas, driven by population growth and rural provider shortages.
- CACREP-accredited programs streamline the licensure process, though non-CACREP graduates can still qualify with additional documentation.
Texas is adding licensed professional counselors faster than almost any other state, and much of that growth is concentrated in child and adolescent mental health services. Schools, community clinics, and private practices across the state are actively recruiting counselors trained to work with young people navigating trauma, family transitions, and developmental challenges. The 29 programs ranked below represent the most accessible, affordable, and outcome-focused master's options in Texas for 2026, with the majority offering online or hybrid delivery so working professionals can complete their degrees without relocating.
The practical tension for prospective students is balancing cost, format, and licensure alignment. In-state tuition at public universities can run as low as $6,650 per year, while some private programs exceed $15,000. CACREP accreditation simplifies the path to LPC licensure but is not universally required by the state, and schools differ significantly in how they structure clinical placements, child-focused electives, and school counselor certification tracks. Students considering a child counselor degree should pay close attention to whether a program embeds that specialization or requires additional certificate coursework.
Texas currently requires 60 graduate credits, 3,000 hours of supervised practice, and a passing score on the National Counselor Examination to earn an LPC, though legislative proposals circulating in 2026 may adjust supervision requirements for telehealth providers working in rural counties.
Top 10 Master's in Counseling Programs in Texas
To build this ranking, we weighed affordability, student outcomes, and flexibility features such as multiple start dates and part-time pacing. The ten programs below span school counseling degrees built for licensed Texas teachers, CACREP-accredited clinical mental health tracks, and an accredited marriage and family therapy option. Graduation rates shown on each card are institution-wide federal figures, because program-level rates are not published, and the full methodology appears later in this article.
Factors considered
- Affordability and net price
- Online and hybrid availability
- Graduation and retention rates
- Post-graduation earnings and debt
- Accreditation and licensure fit
- Program-level records maintained in house
- Original research on individual programs — cacrep.org
- National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) covering graduation rates, retention rates and student-faculty ratios — nces.ed.gov
- Federal College Scorecard outcomes data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- CACREP accreditation directories — cacrep.org
Texas A & M International University
Built for Texas educators, this school counseling master's expects candidates to hold a valid teaching certificate and have two years of classroom experience. The curriculum covers counseling theories, human growth and development, career counseling, multicultural issues, crisis intervention, group counseling, and addictions, with two practicums adding 160 clock hours. A 16-month completion path with short course terms and multiple start dates makes it practical for working teachers.
- 48 credit hours completed in about 16 months
- Seven-week courses with six start dates per year
- $367 per credit, totaling about $17,616
- Requires valid Texas teaching certificate plus two years of experience
- Two practicums totaling 160 clock hours
- No thesis or capstone required
- Prepares for TExES School Counselor exam
Master of Science in School Counseling — Online
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
A CACREP-accredited counseling M.Ed. with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration anchors this university's graduate offerings, preparing students for LPC-focused careers in clinical settings. The curriculum emphasizes advocacy, multicultural practice, diagnosis, treatment planning, and crisis intervention, and coursework is available across a multi-campus network in the Rio Grande Valley. A related undergraduate addiction studies degree also serves students heading into substance abuse counseling.
- CACREP-accredited counseling master's
- Prepares graduates for LPC licensure
- Covers diagnosis, treatment planning, and crisis intervention
- Up to $1,000 scholarship available
- Emphasis on advocacy and multicultural practice
- Undergraduate pathway in addiction studies
- Prepares addiction counseling specialists
Master of Education in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration — Hybrid
Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies — Online
The University of Texas at El Paso
This school counseling M.Ed. is built around supervised, hands-on training, including practice with real clients in a counseling lab. Small classes, personalized mentoring, and a curriculum aligned with national standards prepare graduates for state licensure exams. Course format options accommodate working professionals, and graduates typically move into elementary, middle, high school, career, or special education counseling roles.
- Small student-to-faculty ratio with tailored mentoring
- Counseling lab with real clients under supervision
- Aligned with comprehensive national school counseling standards
- Graduates pursue K-12, career, or special education counseling roles
- Financial aid options available
School Counseling M.Ed., Master's — Hybrid
North American University
This private university's school counseling master's is a 48-credit, non-thesis program designed for educators who already have at least a year of classroom teaching experience. Coursework moves through individual and group counseling theories, multicultural counseling, legal and ethical issues, career development, and counseling children and adolescents. A built-in practicum and a 2.5 GPA admissions threshold make the degree structured yet accessible for working teachers.
- 48 credit hours with no thesis requirement
- Tuition about $14,880 or $310 per credit
- Practicum experience included
- Coursework includes counseling children and adolescents
- Requires at least one year of classroom teaching experience
- Minimum 2.5 GPA for admission
- Prepares graduates for school counseling roles
Master of Education in School Counseling — Online
Sul Ross State University
Counseling students here can choose between a school counseling concentration and a clinical mental health concentration within the same M.Ed., with the school track carrying a Texas teaching certificate and two years of experience as prerequisites. Department faculty are all licensed professional counselors with more than 130 years of combined graduate teaching experience. The clinical track expands to a 60-credit design for graduates aiming at agency or clinical-director roles.
- 48 credit hours with fall, spring, and summer starts
- All faculty are licensed professional counselors
- Requires Texas teaching certification and two years of experience
- Prepares for Texas school counselor certification
- Graduates work as school counselors or case managers
- 60 credit hour clinical track
- Faculty bring over 130 years of combined teaching experience
- Career paths include clinical director and case manager
Master of Education in Counseling, School Counseling Concentration — Online
Master of Education in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Concentration — Online
University of Houston-Victoria
A professional counseling master's here branches into two accredited specialties: a school counseling track that satisfies Texas certification requirements, and a clinical mental health track for community and agency practice. The school route no longer requires prior teaching experience, an update that widens entry for career changers, and its coursework still counts toward LPC licensure. Practical elements include field placements, internships, and specialty electives such as play therapy.
- CACREP-accredited school counseling track
- Teaching experience no longer required as of September 2023
- Meets Texas school counselor certification requirements
- Coursework applies toward LPC licensure
- Field placement and internship included
- CACREP-accredited clinical mental health track
- 42 core credit hours in counseling curriculum
- Electives include death and dying and play therapy
- Field placement courses provide experience
- Prepares for community agency counseling roles
Professional School Counseling, Master's — Online
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Master's — Online
The University of Texas at San Antonio
The counseling master's here is a 60-credit, CACREP-accredited clinical mental health degree built around licensure preparation. Students complete a portfolio, a practicum, and two clinical internships while studying topics that include trauma, addiction, group and family work, and multicultural counseling. Small cohorts and a social-justice orientation shape the program's professional identity.
- CACREP-accredited 60 credit hour curriculum
- Prepares graduates for LPC licensure
- Portfolio, practicum, and two clinical internships
- Coursework spans trauma, addiction, and multicultural counseling
- Small cohorts with experienced faculty
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling — Hybrid
University of Houston-Clear Lake
This master's program concentrates squarely on Texas school counselor certification, with a 48-credit curriculum and a timeline of about 24 months. Students enter in the summer and can add an optional clinical certificate that begins preparing them for LPC licensure. An entrance exam and letters of recommendation are part of the admissions expectations.
- 48 credit hours completed in about 24 months
- Summer start only
- Prepares for School Counselor State Assessment
- Optional clinical certificate adds LPC licensure prep
- GRE or MAT entrance exam required
- Requires 3.0 GPA and three recommendations
Counseling M.S. with School Counselor Certification, Master's — Hybrid
Texas Woman's University
Two strong counseling pathways make this university distinctive: a marriage and family therapy master's accredited by COAMFTE that satisfies Texas educational requirements for MFT licensure, and a CACREP-accredited school counseling M.Ed. that can be completed in about two years. The MFT track typically runs three years and offers a thesis option, while the school counseling option follows a cohort model with evening classes for working educators. Application requirements stay straightforward, with no GRE needed for the MFT track.
- COAMFTE-accredited program
- Meets Texas educational requirements for MFT licensure
- Most students finish in about three years
- Thesis option available
- No GRE scores required
- No letters of recommendation required
- CACREP-accredited school counseling M.Ed.
- 50 total credit hours
- Cohort-based and completable in two years
- Evening synchronous classes available
- Eligible for Texas school counselor certification
Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy — Hybrid
Master of Education in School Counseling — Online
East Texas A&M University
This institution offers a counseling M.S. with a school counseling concentration and a CACREP-accredited clinical mental health concentration, both using a flexible delivery model across multiple campus locations. The school route's 48-credit structure includes a practicum in local schools and leads toward Texas school counselor certification, while the 60-credit clinical route is designed for LPC licensure. Both tracks avoid a thesis requirement and include mentorship opportunities, making them practical options for Texas practitioners.
- 48 total credit hours
- Prepares for Texas school counselor certification
- Practicum in local schools is built in
- No thesis requirement
- Typical completion in two and a half to three years
- Mentorship opportunities available
- CACREP-accredited 60 credit hour track
- Prepares graduates for LPC licensure
- No thesis required
- Multiple campus locations
Counseling (MS), School Counseling Concentration — Hybrid
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Master's — Hybrid
Tuition, Debt, and ROI: Which Programs Deliver the Best Value?
The table below compares institution-level net price, median graduate debt at completion, median earnings ten years after enrollment, and a simple ROI ratio (earnings divided by debt) for each of our featured programs. Note that net price figures are institution-wide averages and will vary based on your residency status, financial aid package, and program-specific fees. Where available, College Scorecard reports program-level (CIP-specific) earnings, which give a more accurate picture than institution-wide medians. For these programs, program-level earnings data is not yet available, so the earnings column reflects institution-wide figures. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center stands out with the lowest median debt ($12,268) and an ROI ratio above 7.5, while UT Rio Grande Valley and Texas A&M International University also deliver strong value thanks to very low net prices and modest debt loads.
| School | Net Price (Avg.) | Median Graduate Debt | Median Earnings (10 Yr) | ROI Ratio (Earnings / Debt) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Tech University HSC | N/A | $12,268 | $92,348 | 7.53 |
| UT Rio Grande Valley | $4,831 | $12,950 | $49,620 | 3.83 |
| UT Arlington | $13,951 | $17,527 | $63,199 | 3.61 |
| University of Houston, Clear Lake | $15,563 | $17,831 | $59,004 | 3.31 |
| Texas A&M International University | $3,637 | $15,000 | $48,386 | 3.23 |
| UT Permian Basin | $12,723 | $17,750 | $56,073 | 3.16 |
| University of St. Thomas | $19,359 | $19,928 | $59,224 | 2.97 |
| Texas Woman's University | $11,963 | $19,218 | $56,544 | 2.94 |
| UT El Paso | $9,403 | $18,000 | $50,923 | 2.83 |
| UT San Antonio | $10,836 | $20,500 | $57,131 | 2.79 |
Questions to Ask Yourself
Do you see yourself working with children in a school setting, or adults in a clinical practice?
Is flexibility more important to you than in-person practicum networking?
Are you pursuing LPC licensure, or do you need school counselor certification?
Online Vs. On-Campus Counseling Programs in Texas
One of the biggest decisions you will face when choosing a master's in counseling program in Texas is the delivery format. The programs ranked on this page are online or hybrid, but many Texas schools also offer traditional on-campus options. Here is a practical breakdown of how these formats compare across the dimensions that matter most. Keep in mind that salary outcomes in Texas are consistent regardless of program format: for example, the 2024 BLS annual median for mental health counselors in Texas was $67,920 whether the degree was earned online or on campus. Employers generally evaluate licensure credentials, not delivery format.
| Dimension | Online or Hybrid | On-Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | Coursework is asynchronous or offered in evening live sessions, allowing students to maintain jobs or family commitments. Most programs can be completed in 24 to 36 months at a full-time pace. | Fixed class schedules during weekdays or evenings. The same 24 to 36 month timeline applies, but less scheduling freedom for working professionals. |
| Practicum and Clinical Hours | In-person practicum hours are still required for licensure. Students arrange placements at approved sites near their home, coordinated by the program's field placement office. This satisfies the same CACREP clinical-hour requirements as any on-campus track. | Practicum sites are typically arranged through partnerships with local agencies and school districts near the campus. On-campus students may have a slight edge in the number of pre-established site relationships. |
| Peer Networking and Cohort Experience | Virtual cohort models, discussion boards, and video-based group work create community, though in-person connection is limited. Some hybrid programs include weekend residencies that strengthen peer bonds. | Daily face-to-face interaction with classmates, faculty office hours, and campus counseling clinics foster strong professional networks and mentorship opportunities. |
| Typical Cost Differences | Online programs often (though not always) carry lower total costs because they eliminate commuting, relocation, and some campus fees. Several Texas programs offer a flat online tuition rate regardless of residency status. | Tuition may be lower for in-state residents at public universities, but added costs for parking, campus fees, and commuting can narrow the gap. Out-of-state students generally pay significantly more. |
| Credit Requirements | Typically 60 semester credits for CACREP-accredited clinical mental health counseling tracks, matching on-campus requirements exactly. | Typically 60 semester credits for the same CACREP-accredited tracks. Curriculum content and rigor are equivalent. |
| CACREP Accreditation Availability | Multiple CACREP-accredited online and hybrid counseling programs operate in Texas. According to CACREP directory data, online mental health counseling programs in the state slightly outnumber on-campus options. | CACREP-accredited on-campus programs are well established across Texas, with several public and private universities holding long-standing accreditation. |
| Licensure Preparation | Graduates are eligible to pursue LPC licensure in Texas on the same terms as on-campus graduates, provided the program is CACREP-accredited or meets Texas BHEC standards. The common concern that online programs fall short on clinical hours is unfounded: practicum and internship requirements are identical regardless of delivery format. | On-campus graduates follow the same LPC licensure pathway. No format-based advantage exists in the eyes of the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council. |
Child Counseling Specializations and Graduate Certificates in Texas
Texas offers robust pathways for counselors who want to specialize in work with children and adolescents, whether through formal master's degree concentrations, graduate certificates, or carefully curated elective tracks. Understanding the distinction between these options is essential for mapping your training to your career goals.
Master's Concentrations in Child and Adolescent Counseling
Several Texas universities embed child-focused training directly into their CACREP-accredited master's programs. The University of North Texas offers a 60-credit Master of Science in Counseling with an emphasis in Play Therapy, delivered on campus. Sam Houston State University provides a similar 60-credit on-campus Master of Arts in Counseling with a Child/Adolescent/Play Therapy emphasis. Texas Tech University's online 60-credit M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling includes a Play Therapy emphasis, combining flexibility with specialized coursework. Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi offers a 60-credit on-campus M.S. in Professional Counseling with a Child/Adolescent emphasis.
For students seeking fully online options, the University of Texas at San Antonio's 60-credit CACREP-accredited M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is delivered entirely online and allows students to select child-focused electives. University of Houston-Victoria and Texas A&M University-Central Texas also integrate child-focused electives within their 60-credit CACREP-accredited programs, the former online and the latter on campus.
Nationally accredited online programs accessible to Texas residents include Capella University's CACREP-accredited M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a Child and Adolescent Counseling specialization, delivered online with in-person residencies and totaling 90 quarter credits.1
Graduate Certificates: Adding Child Expertise After Your Master's
Graduate certificates serve a distinct purpose: they are not standalone credentials for initial licensure but rather specialized training modules for counselors who already hold a master's degree and want to add child-focused competencies. Typically ranging from 12 to 15 credit hours, these certificates are compact, targeted, and often stackable toward future doctoral work or advanced credentials like Registered Play Therapist (RPT) status. For a broader look at post-master's options across the field, see our guide to graduate certificates in mental health counseling.
The University of North Texas offers a 12-credit Graduate Academic Certificate in Play Therapy, available on campus or in a hybrid format. Texas Tech University provides a 12 to 15-credit Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy, delivered online or hybrid. Sam Houston State University's 12-credit Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy is similarly flexible, with online or hybrid delivery.
These certificates typically include coursework in play therapy techniques, developmental psychopathology, family systems theory, and trauma-informed interventions. Practicum or supervised clinical hours are often embedded, conducted in settings such as elementary schools, pediatric behavioral health clinics, community mental health centers, or private practices specializing in child and family services.
Child Development Programs: A Non-Clinical Alternative
For those interested in child development from an educational or research perspective rather than clinical licensure, Texas Woman's University offers a 31-credit M.S. in Child Development, delivered fully online.2 Tarleton State University provides a 30-credit online M.S. in Child Development and Family Studies.3 These programs do not lead to LPC licensure but prepare graduates for roles in early childhood education, program administration, or applied developmental research. Students drawn to childhood trauma counseling as a clinical career should pursue a CACREP-accredited counseling degree instead.
Choosing Between a Concentration and a Certificate
If you are starting your counseling education and know you want to work with children, a master's program with a built-in child or play therapy concentration is the most efficient path. You will graduate with both the credential required for licensure and specialized training in one integrated program. If you already hold a master's degree in counseling or a related field and want to pivot into child-focused practice, a graduate certificate allows you to add that expertise without repeating foundational coursework. Many certificate programs are designed to align with the training requirements for national play therapy credentials, making them a strategic investment for counselors seeking to differentiate their practice.
Texas by City
Related Articles
How to Become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas
Earning your LPC in Texas is a structured process that typically takes several years beyond your master's degree. The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) oversees licensure and requires specific coursework, a national exam, and extensive supervised practice. While CACREP accreditation is not strictly required by the state, graduating from a CACREP-accredited program ensures your coursework aligns with BHEC requirements in areas like diagnosis and treatment planning and marriage and family counseling, and it simplifies the application review process.
Counseling Specialties and Career Paths in Texas
Texas is in the middle of a genuine workforce expansion in behavioral health, driven by population growth, telehealth policy changes, and a long-standing shortage of mental health providers in rural and underserved areas. Choosing the right specialty is not just an academic decision. It shapes which license you pursue, which employers will hire you, and what your earning trajectory looks like over the first decade of practice.
The Four Main Tracks and Their Licensure Pathways
Most master's programs in Texas cluster around four core specializations, each leading to a distinct credential:
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Leads to the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. This is the broadest licensure, covering individual therapy, group work, and crisis intervention across nearly every practice setting. Students exploring this route can compare best clinical mental health counseling programs nationwide to understand how Texas options stack up.
- School Counseling: Graduates pursue a School Counselor Certificate issued by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) rather than a clinical license. Programs typically require 48 semester hours and, at some schools, prior teaching experience.
- Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT): Leads to the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) credential, regulated by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists. Programs accredited by COAMFTE, such as the one at Texas Woman's University, are specifically designed to meet those requirements.
- Child and Adolescent Counseling: This track most often sits within a Clinical Mental Health or MFT program, with coursework and practicum hours concentrated on younger populations. It leads to the same LPC or LMFT license, not a separate credential, though some graduate certificate options exist for practitioners who want to add this focus area.
What the Wage Data Actually Shows
Salary expectations deserve a realistic framing. According to 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics data for Texas, the median annual wage for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in the state was $52,190.1 The range is wide: the bottom 10 percent earned around $35,370, while the top 10 percent reached $79,440.1 Those figures reflect a broad occupational category that includes entry-level community mental health positions alongside experienced licensed clinicians in private practice.
For school counselors and career advisors, the most recent national BLS data shows a median annual wage of $65,140. That figure is national in scope, not Texas-specific, so individual district salaries will vary based on the Texas public school pay structure and years of experience.
Program-level post-graduation earnings for many Texas counseling programs are not yet available through federal reporting systems, which means readers should treat any program-specific income projections cautiously and ask programs directly about outcomes data for recent graduates.
Nationally, the BLS projects 17 percent job growth for mental health and substance abuse counselors through 2034, a rate well above average.2 Growth for educational and career counselors is projected at a more modest 3.5 percent through the early 2030s. For a broader look at the range of counseling careers available, exploring different practice settings early in your program can help clarify which specialty fits.
High-Demand Settings in Texas
Where counselors work in Texas shapes compensation and day-to-day experience as much as the license itself. Several sectors are actively recruiting:
- Rural community mental health centers in West Texas and the Panhandle face chronic vacancies, and some offer loan repayment incentives through federal shortage-area designations.
- Title I schools across major urban districts and smaller rural systems are expanding counselor-to-student ratios in response to state and federal pressure, creating steady demand for school counseling graduates.
- Pediatric behavioral health settings, including hospital systems and outpatient clinics, seek LPCs and LMFTs with documented child and adolescent training.
- Telehealth platforms expanded dramatically during and after the pandemic, and Texas regulatory changes have made remote counseling more sustainable as a career path, particularly for clinicians serving clients in underserved regions without needing to relocate.
The practical takeaway: your specialty choice, practice setting, and years of supervised experience together determine income far more than any single wage figure. Entering the field with clear expectations about early-career salaries, and a sense of which settings align with your goals, puts you in a much stronger position than relying on median numbers alone.
Most Affordable Online Counseling Master's Programs in Texas
Affordability is a key factor in our rankings, and these six Texas programs stand out for keeping costs low. All offer online or hybrid delivery, making them accessible to working professionals across the state. The chart below pairs each school's average net price with its median graduate debt so you can compare what students actually pay against what they borrow.
How We Ranked These Counseling Programs
Our Data-Driven Approach
We build every ranking on public, verifiable data so you can see where the numbers come from. For this guide we pulled institution-level information from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and program-level earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. We then focused the list by applying two filters that matter most to our readers: affordability and online availability.
What Counts Most in the Scoring
Once we have the candidate pool, programs earn points across several dimensions. Because cost is a top concern, we prioritized affordability metrics such as net price and the share of students receiving institutional aid. Graduation and retention rates also contribute to a program's score, with the important caveat that these are reported at the institutional level, not at the program level. Where College Scorecard provides earnings data for the exact program, we incorporate that as a direct signal of career outcomes. Finally, programs that offer a fully online or hybrid pathway receive an additional boost, reflecting the flexibility many working adults need. If you are exploring broader options, our list of best online master's in counseling programs applies the same methodology nationwide.
Why We're Transparent About Our Process
Many rankings never explain how they chose the schools you see. We believe you deserve better. By laying out exactly which data points we use and why, we help you decide whether our priorities align with your own. This transparency is part of our commitment to Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T). When you know the method behind the list, you can use it as a starting point for your own research rather than taking it at face value.
How You Can Use This Ranking
Think of this list as a curated shortlist, not a final verdict. Weight the factors that are most important to you: perhaps net price matters more than online availability, or maybe a school's degree completion rate is your top signal. Prospective students interested in a specialized track, such as clinical mental health counseling online programs or best MFT programs in Texas, should cross-reference those program-specific rankings with the schools listed here. Every program profiled meets baseline standards for accreditation and state licensure preparation, but your personal fit depends on goals no formula can capture. Use our methodology notes as a lens to evaluate each option critically.
Frequently Asked Questions About Counseling Programs in Texas
Choosing a counseling master's program in Texas involves questions about cost, accreditation, licensure, and specialization options. Below, we answer the most common questions prospective students ask when evaluating their options in 2026.
- What are the best master's in counseling programs in Texas?
- The strongest programs typically hold CACREP accreditation, offer robust clinical practicum experiences, and produce graduates with high licensure pass rates. Texas is home to well-regarded programs at both public and private universities. The best fit depends on your preferred specialization, delivery format, budget, and career goals. Our ranked list on counselingpsychology.org weighs accreditation status, affordability, and graduate outcomes to help you compare.
- How do I become a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in Texas?
- You need a master's degree in counseling or a related field from a regionally accredited institution. After graduating, you must pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). Texas also requires supervised post-graduate clinical experience before granting full LPC status. The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council oversees the process and sets specific hour requirements for supervised practice.
- Are there fully online master's in counseling programs in Texas?
- Yes. Several CACREP-accredited programs are available fully online to Texas residents, though most still require in-person practicum and internship hours completed at an approved site in your area. Online programs follow the same 60-credit curriculum and 700-hour minimum clinical requirement as their on-campus counterparts, so graduates are equally prepared for LPC licensure.
- What is the difference between a graduate certificate and a master's in child counseling?
- A graduate certificate is a shorter credential, typically 12 to 18 credits, designed to add a child or adolescent specialization to an existing master's degree. It does not qualify you for LPC licensure on its own. A full master's in counseling with a child counseling concentration usually requires 60 credits and includes the supervised clinical hours needed for licensure. The certificate works best for already-licensed professionals seeking focused expertise.
- How much does a master's in counseling cost in Texas?
- Costs vary significantly by institution type. Public university programs in Texas generally range from roughly $18,000 to $40,000 in total program cost, while private university programs can run between approximately $40,000 and $80,000. Tuition, fees, and clinical placement expenses all factor in. Online programs at public schools often offer among the most affordable options, especially for in-state residents.
- Which Texas counseling programs offer child or adolescent specializations?
- Several Texas universities offer concentrations or elective tracks in child and adolescent counseling within their master's programs. Some institutions also offer standalone graduate certificates focused on play therapy or child mental health. Availability varies by program, so check each school's current course catalog. Our program profiles on counselingpsychology.org note where child-focused specializations or certificates are offered.
- Does CACREP accreditation matter for Texas LPC licensure?
- Texas does not require CACREP accreditation for LPC licensure as of 2026; regional accreditation of your institution is the baseline requirement. However, CACREP accreditation offers significant practical advantages. It is required for employment at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Tricare, and the Army Substance Abuse Program. It also improves licensure portability if you ever move to another state, since many states give preferential treatment to CACREP graduates.
More Texas Counseling Programs to Consider
Beyond our top 10, Texas offers many other strong counseling programs. Below is a directory of additional schools organized by region, providing a wider view of your options.
DFW Metroplex
- Counseling (MS) (School Counseling)
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Substance Use & Treatment
East Texas
- Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education
- Master of Arts in Professional Counseling (Clinical Mental Health Counseling)
- Master of Education in School Counseling
Greater Houston
- School Counselor Education
- Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy
- Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Grief and Loss Counseling)
- Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Marriage and Family Counseling)
Southeast Texas
- Program Certificate in Mental Health Counseling
- Master of Education in Counseling and Development (Professional School Counseling)
- Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
South Texas
- Master of Science in Counseling & Guidance (School Counseling Certification)
- Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (School Counseling)
- Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Rural Mental Health)
- Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Sandtray Therapy)
- Master of Science in Professional Counseling (Clinical Mental Health Counseling - Hispanic Mental Health Emphasis)
West Texas
- Texas School Counselor Certification
- Master of Education in School Counseling
- Clinical Counseling & Marriage and Family
- Master of School Counseling
- M.A. School Counseling
- School Counseling M.Ed.
- School Counseling M.Ed. + LPC (Licensed Professional Counseling)
