Counseling is a challenging but rewarding career path. Our master’s degree program equips you to support divers clients with clinically informed, compassionate care.
Courses offer scientific and culturally responsive treatment approaches for mental health disorders, addictions, and more.
Tailored to busy adult learners; complete your degree entirely online with support to find in-person internship experiences near you at our New Hampshire campus.
Prepare for your counseling career with guidance from our experienced licensed-clinician faculty members, who bring a combination of in-depth research, clinical practice, and a passion for teaching to your classes.
Every state is different; work with program staff to develop a course of study that covers clinical counseling licensure requirements in most U.S. states as you prepare to be a licensed counselor
Our online mental health counseling master’s degree covers psychology, ethics, counseling techniques, and more. It is designed for working professionals who hold a bachelor’s degree.
*NEC conducts an annual audit of state licensing requirements. Educational requirements, including practicum, internship, and post-degree experience, are regulated by individual states rather than nationally, and state clinical mental health counseling laws and regulations can fluctuate regularly.
While NEC does its best to ensure the accuracy of this disclosure statement, it is recommended that the student contact the licensing board in the state they intend to practice confirming specific state licensing requirements. Here is a link to a directory of counseling licensure boards: https://www.nc-sara.org/resources/professional-licensure
Please note that in addition to educational requirements, ALL states have post-degree requirements for clinical mental health counseling licensure (i.e., accumulation of supervised post-degree clinical hours, state licensing exams, etc.).
As a result of our 2023 annual review of state licensure requirements, NEC has determined the following:
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Determination |
States |
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In the last decade, New England College MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduates have successfully obtained licensure in these states. |
Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. |
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Additionally, New England College has determined that the MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling meets the educational requirements in the following states. |
All of the above states and: Alaska, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, New Mexico, and North Dakota. |
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New England College has not yet determined if the MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling program meets the educational requirements for licensure in these states. |
Arkansas, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. |
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New England College has determined that the MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling program does NOT meet the educational requirements for licensure. |
Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, New York, and North Carolina. |
Students are encouraged to reach out to Dr. Angie McPhee-Smith, DNP, RN, CNE at amcphee-smith@nec.edu with questions.