How to Become a Mental Health Counselor

Most people, at one point or another in their lives, will grapple with their mental health and emotional state. These issues have garnered more attention in recent years due to the challenges faced by the COVID-19 pandemic and related shutdowns. As such, more people have started to speak out and talk about mental health issues. Though this type of counseling overlaps with others, licensed mental health counselors are trained to provide comprehensive, mind-and-body care and therapies to clients struggling with different psychological conditions.

Step 1: Complete a Mental Health Counseling Degree

Many CMHC degrees are available to those interested in a career in mental health counseling, ranging from associate’s degrees to doctorates. The degree level you should work towards depends on the type of job you want.

• Associate's Degree Bachelor's Degree – Those seeking to work in the broader mental health field can start by obtaining a two-year degree in psychology. Area technical or community colleges are most likely to offer these programs, which allow rapid employment upon graduation.

• Bachelor's Degree – Students tend to start with a bachelor's degree in counseling or psychology to start their mental health counseling career path. This four-year foundational degree enables students to gain rudimentary mental health and psychology knowledge.

• Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling – To work as a mental health counselor, a 24-month CMHC master's degree from an accredited school is necessary. Standard graduate-level courses include essential counseling skills, an understanding of psychopathology, multicultural counseling, and human development. Though many colleges offer a master's degree online, most internships must be completed in person. Most programs also require students to complete a final paper.

• Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Counseling – Working counselors who want to keep current or specialize in a new area may complete an online CMHC graduate certificate, which takes about three to six months to finish. Credits earned, however, do not count towards a master's or doctorate.

• Doctorate Degree in Mental Health Counseling – Mental health counselors do not need to earn doctorate in counseling progam; a master's is typically sufficient to practice in the field. Earning a higher-level degree may allow students to study new therapeutic and diagnostic methods. A doctorate, which takes four to five years to finish with clinical experiences, allows a mental health counselor to work in a research or academic capacity.

Step 2: Become Licensed as a Mental Health Counselor

To become a licensed mental health counselor, candidates must receive their master's degree, complete necessary internships, and pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Exam (NCMHCE).

Internship / Practicum Experience

When completing graduate school, students will find it necessary to start working on their supervised practicums/internships. Some states require graduates to complete internships after they graduate before licensure can be awarded. Some universities will assist with placing students in assigned internships, while others require students to complete the process independently. Before obtaining licensure, students must complete up to 2000 to 3000 hours of supervised clinical experiences. Such work typically involves providing mental health services to clients at healthcare facilities, medical centers, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Many internships are compensated through earnings, which can differ from job to job.

Examination

Mental health counseling graduates must hold a license before providing unsupervised mental health treatments or diagnoses to clients. As such, graduates must pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Exam (NCMHCE) or the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) in some states to obtain licensure. Most states require the master's degree to be earned from a school accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

State Requirements

• To become a licensed mental health counselor, a state may require an additional examination. Since the title for this type of counselor can vary by state, graduates are responsible for reviewing and meeting each state's individual exam criteria.

• Most states also require mental health counselors to earn continuing education (CE) credits to keep their licenses current. Each state will have its counselor license requirements.

Step 3: Apply for a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Job

Licensed mental health counselors help individuals diagnosed with psychological conditions improve their functionality. With their education, internships, and licensing work completed, graduates are poised to apply what they've learned by working more independently. Demand for licensed mental health counselors is expected to rise by 20% over the next eight years, according to BLS.

What Careers Can I Pursue With a Mental Health Counseling Degree?

Licensed mental health counselors (LMHC) provide care and diagnose individuals suffering from psychological afflictions.

Licensed mental health counselors use a holistic rather than specialized approach and are trained to examine, diagnose, and provide treatment and therapies to people (individuals, families, and groups) struggling with issues that impact their overall psychological well-being. Though experienced mental health counselors may use a variety of treatment options, most use one based on strength rather than a deficiency model. Through therapy, they help clients gain an understanding of their issues and set out actionable steps to achieve their previously established goals.

Though there is overlap, licensed mental health counselors tend to provide regular treatments to those with diagnosed psychological conditions (anxiety or depression) rather than work with families struggling with personal challenges (divorce or grief). Substance abuse counselors or other licensed professional counselors provide a similar type of mental health care but may work with specific populations.

Where Can I Work With a Mental Health Counseling Degree?

Licensed mental health counselors can work in medical clinics, health care organizations, social services, and government agencies. Others may work in private or group practice. As more counseling is delivered via remote videoconferencing, providing treatments and therapeutics via remote videoconferencing might be a possibility.

Step 4: Learn About Licensed Mental Health Counseling Salaries

The number of years a licensed mental health counselor has been practicing, and the extent of their continuing education will help determine a professional's salary. Whether a counselor works for a government agency or the private sector may also influence how much they earn. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median salary for a mental health counselor as of 2024 (the latest available data) was just under $54,000.