How to Become a Counselor in 4 Steps

Explore the differences between counseling and therapy, examine the steps you need to take to earn licensure, and gain valuable tips to guide you on your counseling career journey.

Counseling is one of the most fulfilling jobs a person can do. As a licensed mental health counselor, you would support the emotional needs of struggling individuals in a variety of settings. Depending on your specialty and area of interest, you might work at a school, hospital, nonprofit organization, or in your own private practice.

Get Information on Our Bachelor of Science in Counseling and Community Psychology Here.

A Career in Counseling

Not only do counselors play a vital role in uplifting their communities, but they’re also seeing strong projected job growth. If you want a career that’s both rewarding and sustainable, it’s hard to find a better one than counseling.

Take a look at what the Bureau of Labor Statistics has to say:

• Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counseling ¹ is expected to grow 19% by 2033, with a median salary of $53,710 per year.
• School and Career Counseling ² is expected to grow 4%, with a median annual salary of $61,710.

In addition to job security, you’ll enjoy the purpose of serving individuals who are seeking help. Indeed, there are many rewarding aspects to being a licensed mental health counselor. Let’s explore what counselors do and examine the steps you need to take to become one.

What Are a Counselor’s Responsibilities?

Whether someone is dealing with anxiety, addiction, or any other social-emotional need, counselors are trained in the best ways to develop an appropriate treatment plan.

As a licensed mental health counselor, you would play an essential role in helping your clients heal from their struggles and supporting them in their personal growth. Depending on your specialty, you could work with individuals, couples, families, or all of the above.

If you think this sounds like the job description of a therapist, that’s understandable. There can be a good deal of overlap between their roles and duties.

What Is the Difference Between a Counselor and a Therapist?

In a broad sense, counselors and therapists serve the same purpose: they both support the emotional healing of their clients. However, these two jobs are not quite interchangeable. What distinguishes them is the type of training they receive, their approach to client wellness, and (in general) the duration and scope of the work.

Counseling	Therapy
Used to overcome specific, short-term problems (i.e., substance abuse recovery, relationship difficulties, or career unfulfillment)	Used for long-term growth and healing (i.e., dealing with depression, trauma, or other chronic mental health concerns)
Emphasis on practical advice	Emphasis on deeper psychological treatment
Requires master’s/licensure in counseling	Requires master’s/licensure in therapy

Keep in mind that counseling and therapy are complex fields, so the distinctions can get a bit muddied. The requirements also vary by state. If you’d like to learn more about the differences between the two, Everyday Health ³ provides an in-depth analysis.

Either way, whether your goal is to become a counselor or therapist, it’s essential to find a bachelor’s program that lays the groundwork for the skills you’ll need. The BS in Counseling and Community Psychology and the BA in Psychology from NMSU Global Campus do just that.

In both of these 100% online degree programs, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from expert faculty as you gain the skills you need to thrive as a mental health care professional.

How Do I Become a Licensed Counselor?

Because of the advanced, specialized skills you need to have, there are several important steps to take on your path to becoming a counselor. We’ll break down each step more thoroughly in a moment, but in general, this is what the process looks like:

• Step 1: Earn a relevant bachelor’s degree
• Step 2: Graduate from an accredited master’s program
• Step 3: Complete 2,000-3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience
• Step 4: Pass your licensing exam(s)

After that, you may need to fulfill other state-specific licensing requirements. You’ll also have to maintain licensure by taking additional classes, renewing your license, or adhering to other state rules.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Counselor?

Typically, becoming a licensed counselor takes 7-9 years. This is factoring in 4 years to earn a bachelor’s degree, 2-3 years to earn a master’s, and 1-2 years to complete clinical experiences. You’ll also need at least a few months to study for your licensing exam and fulfill other state requirements.

We acknowledge that all of this might seem overwhelming. Not to worry, though — we’re here to help. As we explore each step of the licensing process, we’ll give you some actionable tips to achieve your goal in the most efficient way.

Step 1: Earn a Relevant Bachelor’s Degree

Your first step to becoming a counselor is earning a bachelor’s degree. Specifically, you should complete an undergraduate program that gives you the skills you need to thrive in a counseling master’s program.

With a Bachelor of Science in Counseling and Community Psychology from NMSU Global Campus, you’ll be ready to work as a mental health paraprofessional, behavioral health technician, or rehabilitation counselor. Under the supervision of licensed professionals, you’ll explore the most effective strategies for improving the mental health of those who are struggling.

With our Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, you’ll be on track for a variety of counseling, psychiatry, education, and social work jobs. This dynamic degree program gives you essential problem-solving skills, interpersonal communication tactics, and a deep understanding of human thought and behavior.

Both of these 100% online degree programs set you up for the required master’s degree in counseling — in a flexible format and at an affordable price.

TIP:  If your main concern is launching your career as quickly as possible, NMSU Global Campus offers a generous Credit for Prior Learning policy. What that means is you can cut back on the number of classes you need to take if you have relevant work, life, or education experience.

Step 2: Graduate from an Accredited Master’s Program

Once you’ve earned your bachelor’s degree, the next step is grad school. This is the time you get to choose your specialty. While schools have different requirements and degree titles, you’ll likely pursue one of the following concentrations:

• Clinical Mental Health Counseling: This concentration prepares you for clinical work. With this master’s degree, you would learn how to work in a hospital, community center, or other clinical environment to diagnose and treat mental health conditions.
• School Counseling: This concentration teaches you how to work with students, especially in a K-12 setting. That means gaining expertise in mental health counseling, as well as child development and educational psychology.
• Marriage and Family Therapy: This concentration teaches you how to improve communication and resolve conflicts between spouses or family members.

While these three specializations are the most common, they aren’t the only ones. Do some research on what programs are available if you’d like to take a more unique path. For instance, you may be inspired by the fields of art therapy, religious counseling, or rehabilitation counseling (for individuals with disabilities).

Often, universities offer a general master’s degree in counseling as well. Provided that you pass the necessary licensure exam, it’s possible to pursue one of the above career tracks with one of these general graduate degrees.

No matter what direction you choose, make sure your graduate program is accredited by CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs). CACREP is an objective, third-party organization that determines the quality of a university’s graduate programs for counseling. By finding a CACREP-accredited master’s program, you’ll ensure that you’re getting the preparation you need for licensure.

TIP: Some universities offer accelerated master’s programs in counseling. If you want to earn your degree quickly (and you’re equipped to handle a large workload), you might want to pursue this option.

Step 3: Complete Your Supervised Clinical Experience

According to the American Counseling Association, ⁴ you should complete between 2,000 and 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience. While different states have different rules, you’ll need to complete the required number of hours within a certain timeframe. You can’t, for instance, spend a decade accumulating your 2,000 hours.

It’s also important to keep in mind that these hours typically need to be completed post-grad. In other words, your university likely won’t facilitate this clinical experience, though it never hurts to ask a professor or administrator if they have any leads.

How Do I Find a Clinical Supervisor?

If the thought of finding a clinical supervisor stresses you out, don’t worry. Because it’s such a common practice, there are plenty of resources to help you out:

• Online platforms are the easiest way to find a clinical supervisor. Websites like SupervisionDirectory offer search engines to find approved supervisors in your area. Psychology Today has one as well, though it’s a bit less user-friendly. When you do a search, make sure to have “Clinical Supervision and Licensed Supervisors” checked as one of your filters. 
• State licensing boards can help put you in touch with clinical supervisors. For instance, you can schedule an appointment with the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department, either in person or as a phone call.
• Conferences are a great way to network with professionals in the counseling field. Try Googling conferences in your area, or keep an eye on the event page of the American Counseling Association.

TIP: In addition to your post-grad clinical experience, you’ll also have practicum requirements and internship opportunities while you’re completing your master’s program. If you plan ahead, you can use these experiences to make connections. It will save you time if you don’t have to search for a clinical supervisor after you graduate.

Step 4: Pass Your Licensing Exam(s)

When you’ve earned your degrees and completed your clinical experience, it’s time to take your licensing exam. Once again, you should check with your state to ensure you’re taking the right one. However, the most common test to take is the National Counselor Examination (NCE).

NCE Key Facts

The National Counselor Examination is administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors, and it’s widely used for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) across many states. This is what you can expect from it:

• Format: The NCE technically has 200 multiple-choice questions, but 40 of those are just to gather statistical information and are not part of your score.
• Content Areas: The test covers eight content areas, which are ethical practice, diversity, human growth, career development, helping relationships, group work, testing, and program evaluation. 
• Duration: You’re allotted 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete the test.
• Scoring: Each state determines the passing score (and decisions can vary), so there’s no clear-cut answer on how many questions you need to get right. NCEExamPrep offers an explanation of the complex scoring practices.

For more information, check out the National Counselor Examination’s official content outline.

NCMHCE Key Facts

Another common exam is the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). It’s often required for licensure as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC).

You’ll likely take this test if you want a specialized license that includes diagnosing and treating mental health disorders. It differs from the NME in a few key ways:

• Format: There are 10 clinical case simulations that test your decision-making skills.
• Content Focus: The test covers six content areas, which are professional ethics, diagnosis, areas of clinical focus, treatment planning, interventions, and core counseling attributes. 
• Duration: You’re allotted 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete the test.
• Scoring: Once again, there isn’t a clear answer. Check out the handbook by the National Board for Certified Counselors for an explanation on scoring (and for more information about all of the above).

You may need to pass one or both of these exams (or a different exam), depending on your career goals and your state’s requirements.

TIP: Take a practice exam to make sure you’re ready. There are plenty of options you can choose from. For instance, you can find study guides from the NBCC.

What Skills Do I Need to Be an Effective Counselor?

Finally, it’s important to note that there’s more to counseling than gaining licensure. We’ve explored the logistical steps you need to take to pursue this career, but earning degrees and passing tests isn’t enough. To truly thrive in this profession, you need to communicate effectively, demonstrate empathy, listen actively, and employ problem-solving skills.

At NMSU Global Campus, we understand the complex nature of the counseling field. If you want to elevate your interpersonal communication skills, deepen your understanding of the human mind, and pave the way for a successful career in mental health care, consider pursuing one of our 100% online degree programs. Whether you choose our bachelor’s program in psychology or counseling and community psychology, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from renowned, expert faculty from the comfort of your home.

Not only do these accredited, affordable programs set you up to thrive in a counseling-related graduate program, they also offer plenty of job opportunities that you can pursue with just a bachelor’s degree. From education to healthcare to social work, the career options are there for you if you aren’t interested in grad school.

That said, if being a licensed mental health counselor is your dream, don’t let the time and licensure requirements dissuade you. You have your calling, and NMSU Global Campus is here to help you launch your dream career. It’s time to begin your journey. Take the first step and apply for free today.

Why Choose NMSU Global Campus?

As a Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accredited institution, NMSU Global Campus is ready to support you at every step of your online learning journey.

Our commitment to cutting-edge technologies and teaching methodologies ensures a dynamic and relevant education, preparing you for success. You’ll also join a supportive network of students and mentors worldwide who share your drive and determination to develop your talents.

Explore our 70+ programs, connect with our dedicated faculty and advisors, and discover the transformative power of online education.

References

1. “Occupational Outlook Handbook: Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last updated 29 August 2024.

2. “Occupational Outlook Handbook: School and Career Counselors and Advisors.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 29 August 2024.

3. Heyl, Julia C. “What Is the Difference Between Counseling and Therapy?” Everyday Health, 27 August 2024.

4. “Licensure Requirements: Clinical Experience.” American Counseling Association, last updated 2024.