Counseling Degree & Career Guide

Yes. Counseling degrees are a natural career path for people aspiring to a helping profession. A master's in counseling provides the core coursework and field experience counselors need to prepare for licensure. Students may also earn a bachelor's degree to gain work experience on the path toward a master's in counseling or qualify for entry-level social work or community leadership positions.

Aspiring counselors can also explore their desired area of specialization through a counseling degree.

Most bachelor's or master's in counseling take four or two years to complete. But some online programs offer faster completion times. While state licensing requirements vary, most states require counselors to complete 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience over 18 months and a counseling degree.

By contrast, counselors can earn a graduate degree and become eligible for licensure in as few as three years. A doctorate in psychology, which qualifies psychologists for clinical practice, takes 5-6 years to complete.

Students earning a bachelor of counseling degree can become assistants to counselors or social workers. Or, they can pursue health education, addiction prevention, or social services jobs. They may work with other physicians as mental health case managers.

A bachelor's in counseling can also lead to health educator, correctional treatment specialist, or social service manager jobs. Some states require only a bachelor's degree for select types of counselors specializing in addiction or career guidance.

Most states require a master's degree to earn state licensure as a mental health counselor. A master's in counseling provides the academic and field experience necessary to practice counseling in various specializations.

While some states require only a bachelor's degree for select counseling specializations, master's in counseling degree-holders enjoy broader job opportunities and higher salary potential. Additionally, master's in counseling graduates qualify for optional national certification through the National Board for Certified Counselors.

Though counselor salaries vary depending on education, experience, and specialization, the BLS reports a median annual wage of $48,520 for addiction counselors in 2021.

Of these types of counselors, marriage and family therapists and school and career counselors earned higher salaries of $49,880 and $60,510, respectively, in 2021. The government and state, local, and private hospitals are among the highest-paying employers of counselors nationwide.