An online master’s in counseling psychology is the standard academic pathway to licensure as a professional counselor or therapist, with the flexibility to complete your degree while continuing to work. This guide covers three accredited programs at different price points, what you’ll pay, what the degree qualifies you for, the licensure process, and answers to the questions prospective students ask most.
Author: Blake Huggins, PhD
Expertise: Graduate EducationOnline LearningBusiness AdministrationEditor: Jordan Cosselman
Reviewer: Rebecca Newman, MSW
Expertise: Social WorkPsychologyMental Health- Which Student Are You?
What Counseling Psychology Program Path Matches Your Goals?
Read more - Inside Real Programs
An inside look at actual online programs, exploring their structure, curriculum, costs, admission criteria, and more…
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A clear overview of how much my degree might cost and the factors influencing total expenses…
Read more - Salary/Pay
A look at how much I can expect to earn after graduation...
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An explanation of necessary licenses and certifications, including requirements and steps to achieve them…
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Insightful and guiding answers to common questions prospective students like myself have about earning this degree…
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What Counseling Psychology Program Path Matches Your Goals?
Counseling psychology programs split between practitioner-focused master’s degrees that lead to licensure as a counselor and doctoral programs aimed at research or independent practice. The right one depends on whether you want to see clients soon or build toward a different kind of career altogether. Work through the personas below to figure out which path actually fits you.
Which Counseling Psychology Student Is Most Like You?
The Career Starter
You’ve just finished your bachelor’s degree and want a counseling psychology master’s that keeps a licensed counseling career open to you, not just a research path.
Many counseling psychology master’s programs are structured like clinical mental health counseling programs and can lead to state counselor licensure (LPC or equivalent) if they’re CACREP-accredited or clearly aligned with your state’s requirements — but not all are, so confirm this before enrolling. A hybrid format lets you complete coursework online while the program arranges your required in-person practicum and internship hours.
The Career Changer
You’re moving into counseling psychology from an unrelated field and need a program that doesn’t assume prior psychology coursework.
A program open to students without a psychology background lets your outside experience count for something rather than requiring remedial coursework first. Fully online, CACREP-aligned coursework keeps you on a path toward state counselor licensure while you transition out of your current career, ahead of the in-person practicum hours you’ll need later.
The Promotion Seeker
You’re already working in a counseling-adjacent role and want the license that lets you diagnose and provide therapy independently under a counseling psychology framework.
A licensure-track counseling psychology program ensures your coursework maps to your state licensing board’s requirements for a counselor license, since the title “counseling psychologist” itself is reserved for doctoral-level, separately licensed psychologists. Part-time, hybrid study lets you keep your current job while completing coursework and supervised hours toward your counselor license.
The Working Balancer
You’re balancing a full-time job and family responsibilities and need a counseling psychology program that fits around a schedule that’s already full.
Fully online, part-time coursework lets you study on your own schedule, and a cohort-based structure keeps you moving through the program with built-in peer support. You’ll still need to plan around in-person practicum and internship requirements if you’re pursuing licensure, so confirm how a program schedules those before enrolling.
The Licensure Track Specialist
You want to become a licensed counselor and chose counseling psychology specifically for its stronger grounding in psychological theory and assessment than a general counseling degree.
Confirm your program’s coursework is explicitly aligned with your state’s counselor licensing requirements, since “counseling psychology” at the master’s level is not a protected or standardized title the way “clinical mental health counseling” is under CACREP. Extra coursework in psychological assessment is a genuine differentiator of this track, and it pairs with the same practicum and supervised-hours requirements as other counselor licensure paths.
The Doctoral Bound Scholar
You’re using this master’s as a deliberate step toward an APA-accredited Counseling Psychology PhD, where the actual “counseling psychologist” title and license reside.
Since becoming a licensed “counseling psychologist” requires a doctorate, supervised postdoctoral hours, and the EPPP exam, a thesis-required, research-intensive master’s builds the research portfolio and faculty relationships that strengthen a competitive doctoral application. In-person programs matter most here, since direct research mentorship is what doctoral admissions committees look for.
3 Online/Hybrid Master’s Programs in Counseling Psychology
These three regionally accredited programs are each designed to meet licensure requirements and can be completed online or in hybrid formats. All three require 60 credits — the main differences are cost, format, and program focus.
Eastern University — MA in Counseling Psychology
- Accreditation: MPCAC
- Credits: 60
- Duration: 3 years
- Format: Fully online or hybrid; practicum and internship arranged locally
- Cost: $790/credit; $47,400 total
- Licensure Preparation: Meets Pennsylvania’s LPC requirements; designed to prepare students for LPC licensure
- Concentrations: Trauma Studies or Applied Behavior Analysis (elective)
The curriculum covers human development, psychopathology, and counseling techniques. Supervised practicum and internship experiences are arranged in the student’s local community to fulfill licensure hours.
Admissions requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Minimum 2.8 GPA
- Prerequisite coursework
- Official transcripts
- Resume
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- Personal interview
FIND PROGRAMS NEAR YOU:
Felician University — MA in Counseling Psychology
- Accreditation: MPCAC-aligned curriculum
- Credits: 60
- Duration: 2 or 3 years (full-time or part-time)
- Format: Online or hybrid; interactive online learning environment
- Cost: $925/credit; $55,500 total
- Clinical Hours: 100 practicum hours + 600+ internship hours
- Licensure Preparation: Prepares students for licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
Felician’s program emphasizes contemporary approaches including positive psychology and mindfulness in counseling. The flexible pacing — full-time or part-time — makes it well-suited for working professionals.
Admissions requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree (minimum 3.0 GPA preferred)
- Résumé
- Personal statement
- Two letters of recommendation
- Admissions interview
Golden Gate University — M.A. in Counseling Psychology
- Accreditation: WASC
- Credits: 60 units
- Duration: 2.5–3 years
- Format: Online or hybrid; practicum conducted in-person or via Zoom (300+ hours face-to-face clinical experience)
- Cost: $1,090/credit; $65,400 total — highest cost of the three programs
- Unique Requirement: 50 hours of personal psychotherapy during the program — reflecting a commitment to developing self-aware, reflective practitioners
- Licensure Preparation: Meets California educational requirements for LPCC or LMFT; guidance provided for students seeking licensure in other states
Admissions requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Official transcripts
- Résumé
- Statement of purpose
Expert Insight
Going through 50 hours of personal psychotherapy is a meaningful way to break down some of the stigma surrounding mental health care, by starting with known requirements of all students to address their personal mental health needs. A real strength in a program!
Tuition and Financial Aid for Online Counseling Psychology Master’s Programs
All three programs above require 60 credits, so total cost is determined almost entirely by per-credit rate, ranging from $790 to $1,090/credit. Industry-wide, tuition typically runs $575 to over $2,000 per credit.
Sample Program Costs
| School Name | Credits | Cost/Credit | Total Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern University | 60 | $790 | $47,400 |
| Felician University | 60 | $925 | $55,500 |
| Golden Gate University | 60 | $1,090 | $65,400 |
Cost Factors to Budget For
- Technology and student services fees — added on top of per-credit tuition at most programs
- Practicum and supervision fees — some programs charge separately for clinical placement credits
- Residency travel — programs with required in-person components (like Felician) may require occasional campus visits
- Licensure exam fees — budget for NCE or NCMHCE exam costs after graduation
- Textbooks and course materials — variable but typically several hundred dollars per term
Online programs typically eliminate commuting and relocation costs, which can offset some of the above. Financial aid, scholarships, employer tuition assistance, and payment plans are worth exploring early in your program search.
Counseling Psychology Salary Potential with a Master’s Degree
A master’s in counseling psychology prepares you to support clients through personal, relational, and developmental challenges — with a strength-based, wellness-oriented approach that distinguishes the field from clinical psychology. Graduates work as therapists, counseling center staff, rehabilitation specialists, and organizational consultants across private practice, universities, hospitals, and community health settings. The degree is a strong pathway to LPC licensure and doctoral study.
Counseling psychologists with advanced degrees and licensure are well-compensated relative to other helping professions, particularly in private practice and healthcare settings. Earnings grow with specialization, experience, and the clinical population served.
Use the salary table below to explore clinical and counseling psychologist earnings by state, and get a realistic picture of compensation for counseling psychology careers.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
| Area | Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | $100,580 | $135,200 | $180,960 |
| Alabama | $90,800 | $126,430 | $154,340 |
| Alaska | $124,270 | $165,460 | $170,180 |
| Arizona | $119,010 | $141,880 | $170,170 |
| Arkansas | $77,520 | $85,130 | $111,560 |
| California | $116,000 | $162,360 | $188,050 |
| Colorado | $113,290 | $150,990 | $161,700 |
| Delaware | $113,050 | $129,580 | $147,930 |
| District of Columbia | $107,000 | $132,300 | $324,950 |
| Florida | $85,610 | $146,650 | $259,990 |
| Georgia | $96,060 | $137,420 | $179,850 |
| Hawaii | $117,860 | $138,510 | $141,860 |
| Idaho | $97,790 | $130,940 | $148,930 |
| Illinois | $83,750 | $126,890 | $168,730 |
| Indiana | $84,990 | $101,540 | $129,110 |
| Iowa | $91,690 | $129,970 | $168,660 |
| Kansas | $76,690 | $102,120 | $151,800 |
| Kentucky | $99,140 | $134,800 | $174,820 |
| Louisiana | $71,330 | $81,870 | $121,750 |
| Massachusetts | $115,180 | $159,570 | $216,570 |
| Michigan | $84,730 | $111,050 | $134,980 |
| Minnesota | $107,030 | $131,030 | $163,610 |
| Mississippi | $76,000 | $97,670 | $107,160 |
| Missouri | $99,410 | $122,290 | $141,810 |
| Montana | $68,160 | $107,850 | $143,640 |
| Nebraska | $94,540 | $120,630 | $143,190 |
| Nevada | $102,650 | $123,910 | $150,840 |
| New Hampshire | $64,270 | $129,240 | $194,050 |
| New Jersey | $127,090 | $166,490 | $224,050 |
| New Mexico | $124,800 | $131,470 | $169,520 |
| New York | $114,400 | $135,200 | $204,540 |
| North Carolina | $92,130 | $122,440 | $213,160 |
| North Dakota | $116,130 | $127,360 | $148,320 |
| Ohio | $101,190 | $136,930 | $161,580 |
| Oklahoma | $79,950 | $100,660 | $205,790 |
| Oregon | $134,350 | $151,240 | $163,340 |
| Pennsylvania | $91,870 | $131,360 | $175,410 |
| Rhode Island | $107,490 | $128,530 | $144,700 |
| South Carolina | $92,700 | $105,770 | $131,420 |
| South Dakota | $80,130 | $111,940 | $123,210 |
| Tennessee | $76,820 | $100,180 | $126,930 |
| Texas | $83,660 | $106,510 | $136,360 |
| Utah | $99,170 | $131,390 | $156,000 |
| Vermont | $83,270 | $103,570 | $137,620 |
| Virginia | $86,520 | $110,990 | $176,080 |
| Washington | $115,240 | $145,790 | $179,470 |
| West Virginia | $77,040 | $104,640 | $146,240 |
| Wisconsin | $113,360 | $141,440 | $166,270 |
| Wyoming | $89,890 | $126,150 | $169,270 |
Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm
Data does not reflect school-specific information.
Licensure and Certification for Counseling Psychology Graduates
Earning your master’s is the academic foundation, but licensure requires additional supervised experience and a passing exam score. Here’s what the process typically looks like:
Step-by-Step Path to Counseling Licensure
Step 1: Complete an accredited master’s program. The degree must meet your state’s educational requirements for the license you’re pursuing (LPC, LMHC, LPCC, etc.). Verify this before you enroll.
Step 2: Accumulate supervised post-graduate experience. Most states require 2,000–3,000 supervised hours, completed over approximately 1.5–2 years of full-time work. During this period you’ll typically hold a provisional or associate license.
Step 3: Pass a national licensing exam. Common exams include:
- National Counselor Examination (NCE)
- National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)
Step 4: Complete a background check and formal application. Submit documentation of your education, supervised hours, and exam results to your state’s licensing board.
Step 5: Maintain licensure with continuing education. Most states require 20–30 continuing education hours every two years, plus adherence to the field’s ethical codes.
Optional: The National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential is not required for licensure but can enhance professional credibility and mobility across states.
Important: Licensing titles (LPC, LMHC, LPCC) and specific requirements vary by state. Review your state’s counseling board website early in your program search — especially if you’re enrolling in an online program based in a different state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I become a licensed psychologist with an online master’s in counseling psychology?
No, psychologist licensure requires a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or PsyD). A master’s in counseling psychology prepares you to become a licensed counselor (LPC, LMHC, or equivalent), not a psychologist.
That said, many professionals build long, fulfilling careers as licensed counselors without pursuing a doctorate. And the option to advance to doctoral study later remains open if your goals evolve.
Expert Insight
You may find that practicing as an LPC is where you’d like to spend the majority of your career, rather than embarking on further study. An online master’s and licensure is a great way to start.
Q: Do I need a bachelor’s degree in psychology to get into a counseling psychology master’s program?
No, most programs accept students from a wide range of undergraduate backgrounds. Admissions committees typically prioritize academic ability, communication skills, and genuine interest in the field over a specific undergraduate major.
If your degree isn’t in psychology, you may need to complete prerequisite courses (such as Introduction to Psychology) before starting or during your first term. A strong personal statement and relevant experience — volunteer work, employment, or coursework in adjacent fields — can also help demonstrate readiness.
Q: How do online students handle practicum and internship requirements?
Online programs arrange local placements at approved sites near where you live. You complete supervised clinical work — typically 100 practicum hours and 600+ internship hours — at schools, clinics, or mental health agencies in your community, under a qualified on-site supervisor.
Programs provide support in identifying and approving placements so you gain hands-on experience without relocating. Confirm the extent of placement assistance a program offers before enrolling.
Q: Will an online degree be accepted for licensure in my state?
Yes, if the program is regionally accredited and meets your state’s specific coursework requirements. Licensure boards evaluate the degree’s content and the school’s accreditation, not whether you attended in person.
The critical step: verify your state’s requirements before choosing a program. Some states have specific coursework mandates, and an online program from another state may not automatically satisfy them. Check your state board’s website and confirm directly with the program.
Q: Do online counseling psychology programs require any in-person attendance?
It depends on the program. Some are fully online with no required campus visits; others include brief in-person residencies for clinical skills practice.
Residencies, when required, typically last a few days and focus on hands-on technique practice and peer networking. Many students find them valuable. If travel is a concern, fully online options exist, but always verify a program’s specific requirements before applying.
Top-Rated Online Counseling Psychology Master’s Programs
Ball State University
Best for: career changers
Emporia State University
Best for: working students
Kairos University
Best for: working students
Arizona State University Digital Immersion
Best for: career changers
Texas A&M University-Texarkana
Best for: working students
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Best for: career changers
Southern Adventist University
Best for: advancement-focused students
Texas A&M University-Victoria
Best for: career changers
American International College
Best for: career changers
Fort Hays State University
Best for: working students
