If you intend to become a therapist or a counselor, you have probably wondered, “How long does it take to become a therapist or a counselor?” In short, the answer to this question varies. Depending on how you have progressed in the process of becoming a counselor, you may require a different amount of additional time to achieve your career goals.
To become a licensed counselor, you must hold at least a master’s degree in counseling. Therefore, the length of time it takes to become a counselor depends on your current level of education and experience. If you have already completed an undergraduate degree or undergraduate coursework, it may take you less time to become a counselor. Importantly, the requirements for licensure vary from state to state; therefore, the location in which you intend to practice may also affect how long it takes you to become a counselor.
If you want to better understand the process of becoming a counselor or therapist and learn how long it could take for you to become one, continue reading about the various steps you will need to complete.
What is a Therapist/Counselor?
Therapists and counselors are mental health professionals who help people overcome a variety of struggles and improve their overall mental health. These professionals specialize in various areas, including childhood and adolescent disorders, family dynamics, infancy and early childhood studies, substance use disorders, chemical dependency, addiction and trauma.
Earn a Counseling Degree
Depending on the state where you intend to work, you will most likely need to earn a master’s degree before becoming a counselor and earning a counseling license.
When choosing the best master’s in counseling program for you, it is important to consult the appropriate body in the location where you plan to work. Taking this step helps to ensure that the courses in your program of interest meet the requirements for licensure or certification in the area where you plan to practice as a licensed counselor.
Some graduate counseling degree options include the following:
- Master of Science (MS) in Addiction Counseling
- MS in Christian Counseling of Substance Use and Addictive Disorders
- MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an Emphasis on Childhood and Adolescent Disorders
- MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an Emphasis on Christian Counseling
- MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an Emphasis on Marriage and Family Therapy
- MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an Emphasis on Trauma
Some professionals choose to continue their education and earn a counseling doctoral degree.
Obtaining a Counselor/Therapist License
To become a counselor or therapist, you will need to obtain the appropriate licensure. After you earn your graduate degree, the general process to obtain your license typically includes the following steps, although the process can vary from state to state:
- Acquire Experience: Each state requires counseling candidates to complete a minimum number of hours under the supervision of a counseling professional. Because the required number of hours and the rate at which you complete them can vary, this requirement is among the factors that make the question “How long does it take to become a counselor?” dynamic.
- Complete a Background Check: Individuals who intend to become counselors may have to submit to a background check and complete other paperwork with personal information.
- Pass an Examination: Counselors may be required to take various exams depending on state regulations. For example, to become a counselor in Arizona, you are required to take the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), the National Counselor Examination (NCE), or the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Examination.
After you have completed these steps, you can chose to pursue additional specialties and certifications. It is also important to note that depending on your state, you may be required to complete a certain number of continuing education hours even after you have obtained your counseling license.
If you are interested in pursuing a degree as a counselor, explore Grand Canyon University’s psychology and counseling degree programs. Each program is designed to help you become an effective mental health professional. To learn more about GCU, our online degrees or the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, click on the Request Info button at the top of your screen.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
Updated January 20, 2022 | BestCounselingDegrees.net Staff
Are you ready to find your fit?
Becoming a therapist requires specific educational and licensing components. Our guide provides information on the fastest way to become a counselor or therapist. Candidates can begin the process by earning a bachelor's degree in counseling or psychology.
After earning a bachelor's degree, prospective counselors can advance into a master's program.
To practice as a counselor or therapist, professionals must earn a license in their area of practice. Licensing requirements differ depending on the state, so this guide outlines some common processes and criteria for candidates to qualify.
Read on for information on bachelor's and master's programs in the discipline, including program length, course topics, and credit requirements.
The Differences Between Counseling and Therapy
Psychologist, counselor, and therapist — these three terms are often used interchangeably. For the average client, though, each of these professionals provides much the same service. As professions, however, they can vary widely in requirements and opportunities.
Psychologists, also called psychotherapists, typically hold a doctoral degree. These professionals serve people facing serious mental or emotional challenges, and they often work in tandem with psychiatrists. In some states, psychologists may prescribe medications after completing additional training.
Counselors, sometimes called marriage and family therapists, usually hold a master's degree and help clients with relational, behavioral, and emotional issues.
A counseling degree often takes 2-3 years, while a doctorate in psychology typically takes 5-6 years. Becoming a counselor can fast-track a career in mental health.
Comparing Counselors to Therapists
| Education | Counselors typically hold a master's degree in counseling, marriage and family therapy, pastoral counseling, or a related field. | Psychotherapists usually need a doctorate in psychology or counseling. |
| Qualifications | Most counselors need about 600 hours of supervised practical experience after completing a master's degree. | Psychotherapists often have to complete at least 1,500 hours of supervised work experience in a clinical setting. |
| Licensure | A counselor earns state licensure either as a counselor or as a marriage and family therapist. | A psychotherapist typically earns a license as a psychologist. |
| Service Provision | Counselors often meet with people who have problems with behavior, addiction, relationships, and careers. | Psychotherapists see clients like counselors do, but they often deal with more severe and entrenched mental health issues. |
What Degrees Do You Need to Be a Counselor or Therapist?
The path to becoming a licensed therapist or counselor starts with earning a degree in counseling, psychology, or human services. A counselor usually needs a master's degree, and a psychotherapist typically needs a doctorate.
Some students may want to accelerate their career paths. Aspiring counselors who already hold a bachelor's degree might choose to earn a master's degree and get licensed as a counselor. Prospective students without a degree, however, may want to pursue a bachelor's degree in a related field.
The path to becoming a licensed therapist or counselor starts with earning a degree in counseling, psychology, or human services.
Interested students should carefully consider their career ambitions. Some accelerated counseling degrees lead to licensure, but many do not.
Featured Master's in Counseling Programs
Undergraduate Counseling Degree
Bachelor's programs feature different course offerings, admission requirements, and structures, but learners can expect to encounter some similarities. Degree-seekers typically satisfy their bachelor's requirements within four years of full-time study.
Bachelor's programs typically comprise 120 credits. Coursework includes research methods in psychology, personality and social processes, and scientific reasoning in psychology. Many institutions offer flexible online formats that allow learners to continue working while earning a degree.
A professional who holds a bachelor's degree can pursue entry-level counseling and therapy roles. Completing an undergraduate program also prepares degree-seekers to advance into master's-level education.
Featured Bachelor's in Counseling Programs
Graduate Counseling Degree
Candidates who want to advance their education and expand their career opportunities can pursue master's in counseling programs. At the graduate level, learners typically enroll in concentrations or specializations to align their degrees with their personal interests and career goals. Common specializations include school counseling, marriage and family therapy, plus addictions counseling.
In addition to coursework, master's programs typically feature clinical components to provide degree-seekers with practical training through practicums or internships. Coursework includes theories of counseling and psychotherapy, ethics and legal issues in counseling, and assessment of counseling. Learners typically complete master's programs in about two years of full-time study.
Some schools offer online counseling degrees with accelerated tracks that enable enrollees to take more credits during each semester to graduate sooner. Graduates can then explore licensing opportunities to practice as counselors or therapists working with specific patient populations.
Featured Doctorate in Counseling Programs
Requirements to Become a Licensed Counselor or Therapist
Candidates interested in becoming licensed therapists should explore the licensing requirements in their state. Before they can earn their licenses, each individual must earn a master's degree in counseling, psychology, or therapy.
Licensure usually requires each candidate to satisfy a minimum of 1,500 hours of professional counseling experience under the supervision of a licensed counselor or therapist. Once an applicant meets the educational and experience requirements, they can complete and pass a licensing exam to earn their desired credential.
Specific licensing requirements differ from state to state. Earning a license to practice as a counselor or therapist typically takes about 5-7 years.
Requirements to Become a Certified Counselor or Therapist
Private organizations offer certification while public agencies provide licensure. Certification recognizes that a counseling professional has voluntarily met or exceeded high standards in the industry. Licensure, however, means the professional can legally identify as a counselor, therapist, or psychologist.
A counselor or therapist can hold certification from a variety of international, national, and state boards, depending on their specialty.
Laws for licensure vary from state to state, but certification standards depend on the organization. Aspiring professionals who want to fast track their entry into the field can pursue jobs as nonprofit program managers or entry-level, direct-service social workers.
Quick Career Options for Counselors and Therapists
Typically, psychologists need doctorates, and counselors need master's degrees. Other professionals in mental health fields, however, can get started in entry-level roles with an appropriate undergraduate degree. Consider the options listed below:
Probation officers provide rehabilitation services to people serving sentences on probation or parole. These professionals create and monitor treatment plans for people once they leave jail or prison. Typically, probation and parole officers need a bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a related field rather than a mental health counselor degree.
Required Education: Bachelor's degree | Job Outlook (2019-29): +4% | Median Annual Salary: $55,690
Social and community service managers coordinate and manage programs that promote public welfare. In this role, professionals may identify the need for new programs, improve existing services in a neighborhood, or collect data to assess the effectiveness of current initiatives. Although this profession generally requires a bachelor's degree, it does not demand a counseling degree.
Required Education: Bachelor's degree | Job Outlook (2019-29): +17% | Median Annual Salary: $69,600
Social workers help people solve everyday problems such as finding food or shelter, accessing healthcare, or dealing with an emergency. These professionals may work for a school, hospital, or public agency. Social workers need a master's degree in social work to provide clinical care, but people with an undergraduate degree may offer direct service provision.
Required Education: Bachelor's required; master's degree required for licensure | Job Outlook (2019-29): +13% | Median Annual Salary: $51,760
Addiction counselors specialize in helping people who are dealing with alcoholism or substance abuse. This profession continues to grow rapidly as more people seek help for addiction and more judges weigh counseling over jail time as a solution for addiction. Becoming an addiction counselor usually requires a graduate or undergraduate counseling degree.
Required Education: Bachelor's degree | Job Outlook (2019-29): +25% | Median Annual Salary: $47,660
Recreational therapists direct recreational programs for people with disabilities or those recovering from injuries. This profession requires a bachelor's degree. Recreational therapists often need to hold a certified therapeutic recreation specialist credential. More advanced positions may require certification in a specific technique or area of practice.
Required Education: Bachelor's degree | Job Outlook (2019-29): +8% | Median Annual Salary: $47,710
Frequently Asked Questions
Most mental health professionals need a master's degree to qualify for state licensure. However, some helping professions do not need a counseling degree. For example, addiction counselors, social and community service managers, and entry-level social workers can get jobs with a bachelor's degree.
Becoming a licensed therapist requires earning a master's degree in a field such as marriage and family therapy. Prospective counselors then need to satisfy their state's requirements, including all exams and supervised hours of work.
To become a licensed therapist, students need to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree in a related field. After graduation, aspiring counselors need to complete the remainder of their state's license requirements.
Start by earning a bachelor's and then a master's degree from a school holding accreditation with the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. Graduates can then take the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination.
To get licensed as a psychologist, students need to earn a doctoral degree. While many psychologists earn a Ph.D, a doctor of education (Ed.D.) or a doctor of psychology (Psy.D.) can also serve as the degree needed to be a psychologist.
Online College Resources
Helping you prepare and gain the most out of your educational experience.
Are you ready to do impactful work in your community?
Choose what you’d like to specialize in, and discover which schools offer a counseling degree that can help you make a difference.