Can you become a licensed counselor online?

It’s possible to become a licensed counselor with online degrees. You can complete a bachelor’s degree entirely online, while many master’s programs also offer online or hybrid coursework. However, licensure-track master’s programs require in-person fieldwork. This means you may still be able to complete much of your master’s coursework online, but you should expect to complete supervised clinical training in person.

What types of counselors are in the most demand?

Many counseling specialties are in demand, but mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists are among the fastest-growing. According to the BLS, employment in these fields is projected to grow 18% and 14%, respectively, from 2025-2035. These counselors provide services to a broad spectrum of clients, with an increasing number of people seeking out mental health services. In addition, a growing number of jurisdictions require counseling for offenders with substance use disorders, driving demand for counselors specialized in addiction.

Do you always need a license to be a counselor?

It depends on the type of counseling services you want to provide. Licensure is required to provide mental health counseling or therapy. Some counselors work as coaches or group facilitators and do not require licensure, but these individuals cannot provide therapy. All 50 states require therapists to hold licensure and maintain it through continuing education.

How To Become A Licensed Counselor

Key Takeaways

Licensed counselors are in high demand, with employment projected to grow 18% from 2025-2035 and a median annual salary of $60,320.
Becoming a licensed counselor requires a master's degree and 2,000-4,000 hours of supervised experience, but it does not require a doctorate.
You can typically become a licensed counselor in 7-8 years, with online and hybrid degree options available for part of the education pathway.

One in five U.S. adults, or about 61.5 million people, experiences mental illness each year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Licensed counselors help meet this need by supporting people as they improve their mental health, recover from trauma, and build healthier relationships.

To become a licensed counselor, you'll need to meet your state's education, experience, and licensing requirements. Our step-by-step guide explains what you need to do, how long the process can take, and different career paths to consider.

Counselor Requirements at a Glance

Common Career Paths: Mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, clinical social work, school counseling, and addiction counseling
Degree required: Master's in counseling, school counseling, marriage and family therapy, or social work
Typical experience required: 2,000-4,000 postgraduate hours, varies by specialization and state
Licensure exam: National Counselor Examination, National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination, Marital and Family Therapy National Exam, Clinical Social Work Exam
Typical timeline: 7-8 years

How to Become a Licensed Counselor in Six Steps

Becoming a licensed counselor requires a graduate degree, supervised clinical experience, and state licensure. Along the way, you'll apply broad skills in empathy, communications, ethics, and professional judgment.

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree

Earning a bachelor's degree is the first step toward becoming a licensed counselor and typically requires four years of full-time study. Bachelor's degrees blend general education coursework with specialized coursework focused on your major.Counseling is not commonly offered as an undergraduate major. Instead, aspiring counselors typically pursue a bachelor's in psychology, social work, or human services.

Step 2: Choose Your Counseling Path and Check State Requirements

Choose the type of counseling you want to practice before selecting a graduate program. Mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, clinical social work, and addiction counseling can have different education, licensing, and credentialing requirements.Requirements also vary by state. Research where you plan to practice and identify the license or credential you'll need, along with its education, exam, and supervised experience requirements. Checking these requirements early can help you choose a graduate program that prepares you for your intended career and state licensure.

Step 3: Complete an Accredited Master's Program

Earning a master's degree in your chosen field is the next step. Many schools offer in-person and online graduate programs in fields such as mental health counseling, social work, and marriage and family therapy. They typically take about two years and require about 60 credits.Accreditation requirements vary by counseling path and state. For professional counseling, accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) can help ensure your program meets established educational standards and may streamline the path to licensure in some states. You can complete master's coursework online or in person, but master's in counseling programs and other related programs also require supervised, in-person practicum and internship experiences.

Step 4: Gain Clinical Experience in Counseling

One of the core requirements for mental health counseling licensure is supervised clinical experience. During your master's program, you'll complete supervised practicum and internship experiences that allow you to work directly with clients.After graduation, you'll typically complete additional supervised professional experience before qualifying for independent licensure. Exact requirements vary by state and credential (i.e., LPC, LMFT, LCSW), but often include 2,000-4,000 hours of postgraduate experience. States also set requirements for qualified supervisors and how much direct supervision you must receive.

Step 5: Pass Your Counseling Licensure Exam

You'll need to pass the counseling exam required by your state to become a licensed professional counselor (LPC), licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), or equivalent. Two common national exams are the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). Other national examinations are available for marriage and family therapy and clinical social work.Exam requirements vary by state, so check with your state licensing board to determine which exam you need and when you can take it.

Step 6: Apply for State Counseling Licensure

Applying for state counseling licensure is the final step. Requirements vary by state but commonly include:

An application
Official transcripts
Verification of supervised experience
Exam results
A background check or other state-required materials

Most states require counselors to renew their licenses every 1-2 years. To renew, you typically need to remain in good standing and complete continuing education requirements.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Licensed Counselor?

Becoming a licensed counselor generally takes about 7-8 years, when completing undergraduate and graduate education and supervised experience full time. The timeline may be longer depending on your credential, state requirements, part-time enrollment or employment, exam retakes, and licensing processing times.

Timeline to a Counseling Career
Requirement	Typical Length	Factors Impacting Length
Bachelor's degree	4 years	Part-time attendance can extend the timeline
Master's degree	2 years	Part-time attendance can extend the timeline
Supervised postgraduate period	2 years	Part-time completion can extend the timeline
Exam score processing	4-6 weeks	Exam retakes require a 30-day waiting period
License application processing	30-40 days	Varies by state

What Does a Licensed Counselor Do?

Licensed counselors provide mental health services within the scope allowed by their state and license. They assess clients, develop treatment plans, provide counseling and psychotherapy, and may diagnose mental health conditions, depending on their role. They can also provide crisis intervention and coordinate care with other healthcare professionals.

Where Licensed Counselors Work

Licensed counselors work in diverse settings depending on their license, from hospitals to community agencies. In each setting, they provide various services:

Hospitals and clinics: Crisis intervention, inpatient/outpatient therapy
Schools and universities: Academic, social-emotional, and career guidance
Private practice: Individual, couple, or family therapy
Nonprofits and community agencies: Trauma, addiction, or rehabilitation services

They rely on tools like teletherapy platforms, assessment software, and electronic health records to work effectively. Remote counseling is increasingly viable, especially through HIPAA-compliant telehealth services.

How Much Do Licensed Counselors Make?

Median annual salaries for counseling occupations range from $59,350-$66,940, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Marriage and family therapists earn a median annual salary of $66,940, while school and career counselors earn $64,330.

Your salary can vary based on your counseling specialty, location, employer, and experience. Use our salary calculator to estimate earnings based on your career and location.

The BLS also projects strong job growth for marriage and family therapists and substance use, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors from 2025-2035.

Counseling Career Outlook
Counseling Career	Median Annual Salary (2025)	Projected Growth (2025-2035)
Substance use, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors	$59,350	+18%
Marriage and family therapists	$66,940	+14%
School and career counselors	$64,330	+3%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Counseling License Requirements by State

Counselors must be licensed by the state in which they practice. The license titles, requirements, and licensure process vary by state. For example, some states issue mental health counselor licenses, while others offer a more general professional counselor license. Select your state from the list below to learn more:

Featured

Expert Tip

Researching what it takes to become a counselor is helpful, but hearing from someone who has walked this path and works as a licensed counselor is invaluable. Gina Guddat, a licensed mental health therapist, shares her insights into becoming a counselor and finding a specialty: What is something you wish someone had told you when you were on the path to becoming a counselor?

Gina Guddat

Licensed Mental Health Therapist

"What I wish someone had told me is that you don't have to be married to one specialty. I think that during the years of your internships, you get pigeonholed into working in a specific sector and might have a tendency to stay there. Just because you worked in a hospital psychiatric ward in undergrad or you did an internship in community mental health with single mothers, you don't need to stay there. I am a supervisor now and see my candidates start out in eating disorders and end up in equine therapy, working with horses and clients in private practice. You can break out of what you started with and grow in the psychology field. I started working with women in domestic violence situations, writing safety plans, but now work with couples and marriages."

Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Counselor

You typically need a master's degree in mental health counseling or a related field to become a licensed counselor. Your program must meet your state's education requirements, which may include specific coursework and often a minimum of 60 graduate credits. Many states also require or recognize CACREP-accredited programs for licensure.

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