Individuals who want to enter the counseling field as a licensed professional counselor or licensed marriage and family therapist can complete a two-year master's degree in counseling. This type of degree typically can be found in college departments of psychology, human services or education. Although aspiring licensed marriage and family therapists focus on marital and familial issues, aspiring counselors can choose to concentrate on areas such as rehabilitation, school, substance abuse or career counseling. Master's degree programs in counseling typically last 48 to 60 semester hours.
To get into a master's degree program in counseling, students should have a four-year bachelor's degree with a minimum grade-point average of about 3.0. Schools typically look for students who have a four-year degree in a counseling-related field as well. In addition, students might have to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores as well as Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores, which determine a student's readiness for graduate school. Schools also generally require students to complete a personal essay and submit recommendation letters.
Classes in a master's degree in counseling program cover topics such as mental health drugs, behavior modification strategies, counseling multicultural patients and counseling law/ethics. Students also learn about individual and group counseling techniques as well as abuse assessment and reporting. Other courses involve communication skills, human development and even human sexuality, according to Saint Mary's College of California. In addition, students typically must complete a supervised clinical practicum experience in the school's laboratories, before which they might have to purchase liability insurance. Schools such as Indiana University also require students to complete an internship in an actual school or agency situation.
When looking for master's degree programs in counseling, students should make sure their program of choice is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, or CACREP. Counselors must be licensed in their state after graduating from an accredited master's degree program in counseling, completing two years or 3,000 hours of work experience, and passing a state examination. They then must complete continuing education requirements to renew their license yearly.
In addition, counselors can pursue voluntary certifications through organizations such as the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) or the National Board of Certified Counselors, or NBCC (see Resources). Certification involves passing an exam and can increase an individual's employment opportunities in this field.