Counseling Degrees & Licenses in Connecticut
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“We are at an inflection point both nationally and globally, with many human-made and natural crises either on the horizon or receding in the background. Those who intend to join the field of counseling or any other mental health profession must be ready to address such emerging challenges on individual, communal, and structural levels.”
John Kiweewa, PhD, Associate Professor of Counselor Education, Fairfield University
Professional counselor credentialing requirements in Connecticut are much the same as in other states. The Connecticut State Department of Health grants licenses to applicants who graduated from a program from a regionally accredited college or university with a degree in the discipline.
Most accredited counseling degree programs follow the standards put forth by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP), which accredits master’s and doctoral degree programs in counseling and its specialties in the United States and worldwide. CACREP certifies all counseling specialties, including rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, clinical mental health counseling, marriage and family counseling, and addiction counseling.
CACREP approves addiction counseling programs that require students to take a minimum of 60 semester-credit hours (or 90 quarter-credit hours) of coursework. Accreditation is important for students to consider when choosing a program because it is a key way to be sure that the program and school, in general, meet a broad range of requirements designed to provide a high-quality education that employers can trust.
The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) also provides accreditation for marriage and family therapy programs. COAMFTE-accredited marriage and family counseling programs at the masters, doctoral, and post-graduate training program levels.
In Connecticut, eligible professionals must also successfully complete the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors. Connecticut provides credentials for Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors, Marital and Family Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Professional Counselors.
The need for counselors in Connecticut and in general will grow as a growing population seeks mental health counseling. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) forecasts that careers in community and social service occupations will grow faster than the average for all occupations (3 percent) nationally from 2022 to 2032. About 281,600 openings are projected each year, on average, in these occupations.
The BLS (2024) predicts the job outlook for substance abuse counselors to grow at a very high rate during that same decade (18 percent). Demand for rehabilitation counselors is expected to grow at 2 percent. On the other hand, the job outlook for marriage and family therapists is expected to grow 15 percent. Students pursuing counseling degrees and licenses in Connecticut can find rewarding and stable careers.
Read on for a few of the many schools offering programs for counseling degrees and licenses in Connecticut.
Ask an Expert: John M. Kiweewa, PhD, LMHC
Dr. John Kiweewa is an associate professor of counselor education at Fairfield University. He joined the faculty after more than 12 years as a counselor educator. He is a licensed clinical mental health counselor in New York State. After a BA in philosophy from Makerere University in Uganda, he attended graduate studies at the University of Scranton, where he obtained master’s degrees in theology and community counseling. After briefly working with therapeutic foster care children and families, he went to Syracuse University, where he obtained a PhD in counselor education and supervision and a master’s degree in international relations from the Maxwell School of Citizenship.
Dr. Kiweewa’s multidisciplinary scholarship focuses on group work processes, mental health, and school counseling systems in international global contexts, and the interface of public and mental health. Similarly, he brings an interdisciplinary approach to counselor preparation and clinical practice that engenders culturally and trauma-responsive counseling practices to the developmental needs of diverse populations. His teaching interests include counseling theories and strategies, multicultural issues in counseling, crisis and trauma counseling, group processes and dynamics, clinical internship, group work, and advanced counseling skills.
Counseling Schools.com: What advice would you give to aspiring students in the field of counseling?
Dr. Kiweewa: We are at an inflection point both nationally and globally, with many human-made and natural crises either on the horizon or receding in the background. Those who intend to join the field of counseling or any other mental health profession must be ready to address such emerging challenges on individual, communal, and structural levels.
The field is crying out for a new breed of professionals who are ready to challenge systems of oppression and disempowerment. Such professionals must be ready to re-engage in community and agency work, rather than seeking safety in private practices. More importantly, they must be able to engage individuals around their strengths, rather than seeking to identify and address deficits.
Counseling Schools.com: What drew you to a career in counseling and the program at Fairfield specifically?
Dr. Kiweewa: To me, counseling is a calling rather than a job. I was drawn to the field to work and collaborate with individuals and communities in their efforts to address personal and communal challenges that impede growth and well-being.
I grew up in an era and region devastated by HIV/AIDS and civil unrest, in addition to economic impoverishment. In spite of these struggles, I encountered individuals who maintained hope and never tired of working towards both their own and others’ wellbeing.
The Fairfield University clinical mental health counseling program has a storied history. Many nationally and internationally-known counselor educators (e.g., Janine Bernard, Dick Hackney, Sam Gladding, etc.) have played their part in setting the standards of academic and clinical excellence that continue to be signature components of the program. It was the first program in the state of Connecticut to be accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). We have maintained CACREP accreditation ever since.
More importantly, I found the program’s social justice orientation and focus on wellness very attractive, in addition to a diverse group of faculty. Our program is setting the standards of excellence and continues to develop areas of concentration in substance use and process addictions, gender minority health, spirituality, etc., to meet the varied needs of our students.
Accredited Counseling Degree Programs in Connecticut
Central Connecticut State University
Central Connecticut State University is a public university founded in 1849. CCSU is Connecticut’s oldest publicly funded university. The school’s Counselor Education & Family Therapy Department offers an MS in counselor education with three specializations: clinical professional counseling, school counseling, and student development in higher education. The school also offers an MS in marriage and family therapy.
Within the clinical professional counseling program, students can choose from clinical mental health counseling, clinical rehabilitation counseling, addiction recovery, or gerontology counseling. All tracks prepare graduates for Certified Rehabilitation Counselor certification, licensing as a Professional Counselor, or licensing as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor.
The marriage and family therapy program meets academic and clinical requirements for licensure in Connecticut for marital and family therapists (LMFT) and clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
- Location: New Britain, Connecticut
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); CACREP
- Expected Time to Completion: Clinical professional counseling (60 to 63 credits); school counseling (60 to 63 credits); student development in higher education (42 credits); marriage and family therapy (63 credits), two to three years
Fairfield University is a private, Catholic university. It was founded by the Jesuits in 1942 and is part of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.
The school’s master of arts in clinical mental health counseling fulfills the requirements for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Connecticut.
Upon completing the MFT program, students may apply for associate membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Following additional post-degree clinical experience and supervision, they may apply for clinical membership in this organization and sit for Connecticut’s licensing examination. The 60-credit curriculum includes courses such as introduction to substance and process addictions; introduction to clinical mental health counseling; multicultural issues in counseling; legal and ethical issues in counseling; theories of counseling; diagnosis and treatment across the lifespan; and assessment in counseling.
The university also offers a 60-credit, CACREP-accredited master of arts in school counseling degree that fulfills the requirements for certification as a school counselor in the state of Connecticut. This program’s curriculum includes courses such as introduction to school counseling, introduction to counseling children and adolescents, introduction to substance and process addictions, and advanced school counseling, among others.
Within the MFT program is a master of arts in family studies. This is not a clinical degree but an advanced educational track focusing on early childhood, interpersonal relations, family studies, and human development. It requires 33 credits and doesn’t lead to licensure.
- Location: Fairfield, Connecticut
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); clinical mental health and school counseling programs (CACREP); MFT program (COAMFTE)
- Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, two to three years
Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University is part of Connecticut’s Public State University System. It was founded in 1893. Southern Connecticut’s Department of Counseling and School Psychology prepares clinical mental health counselors, school counselors, and school psychologists to work in Connecticut.
Marriage and family therapy program graduates are eligible for Connecticut licensure and clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
The licensure track master of science in clinical mental health counseling prepares graduates to take the National Counselor Examination, the exam required by the state of Connecticut for licensure as a professional counselor. This examination is also required for national board certification by the National Board of Certified Counselors. This program meets the requirements for Connecticut State Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). This 60-credit program includes courses such as counseling and lifespan development; theories of counseling; research and evaluations in schools in clinical mental health settings; counseling skills & techniques; orientation and ethics in clinical mental health counseling; and diagnosis of psychological disorders.
The MS in school counseling program meets the State of Connecticut Certification (068) as a K-12 School Counselor.
School psychology program graduates are eligible for certification as a school psychologist in Connecticut and the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential offered by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). In Connecticut, certification as a school psychologist requires both a master’s and a sixth-year certificate, both of which are offered through the SCSU school psychology program. The master of science in school psychology is completed first, during which students apply for admission to the sixth-year program.
- Location: New Haven, Connecticut
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); MFT (COAMFTE); CMHC and school counseling (CACREP)
- Expected Time to Completion: Clinical mental health counseling (60 credits), school counseling (60 credits); school psychology (32 credits); marriage and family therapy (60 credits), two to three years
The University of Bridgeport is a private university founded in 1927. It began as the first junior college in Connecticut. The school’s MS degree in clinical mental health counseling prepares graduates to become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) in Connecticut. The 60-credit program includes courses such as helping relationships; counseling theories; clinical skills for mental health counseling; principles of applied research; strategies and techniques of counseling; appraisal procedures for counselors; and addictions and treatment.
In addition to the master’s degree, a certificate of advanced graduate study (CAGS) is offered for those who wish to take specialized courses beyond the master’s and/or complete licensure requirements.
- Location: Bridgeport, Connecticut
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); CACREP
- Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits
The University of Connecticut is a public research university founded in 1881. The primary 4,400-acre campus is in Storrs, Connecticut, approximately a half-hour drive from Hartford and 90 minutes from Boston.
The School’s Department of Educational Psychology offers a counselor education and counseling psychology program. The counselor education program offers a concentration in school counseling, leading to a master of arts degree in educational psychology and a sixth-year certificate in counseling. The school counseling program includes courses such as professional orientation for school counselors; counseling diverse populations; group processes in counseling; counseling theory and practice; appraisal procedures in counseling; critical issues in counseling; and school counseling program development and evaluation.
The Department of Allied Health Sciences under the umbrella of the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources and the Institute for Systems Genomics offers a master’s degree in genetic counseling.
- Location: Storrs, Connecticut
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); Genetic counseling (Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC)); school counseling (CACREP)
- Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, two to three years
The University of Saint Joseph
The University of Saint Joseph is a private Roman Catholic university founded in 1932 by the Sisters of Mercy of Connecticut. The school offers two master’s of arts in counseling-related fields: clinical mental health counseling and school counseling.
Committed to educating counselors who will provide leadership in serving the mental health needs of individuals across the lifespan, the 60-credit clinical mental health counseling program includes courses such as counseling children and adolescents; multicultural counseling; crisis, trauma theory and counseling; mental health diagnosis; substance abuse and dependence; treatment planning and advanced interventions; and human sexuality and counseling interventions.
The school counseling program comprises 60 credits and includes courses such as counseling for postsecondary planning; applied research methods for counselors; psychology of exceptional children; appraisal and its applications in counseling; and leadership in school counseling programs.
- Location: West Hartford, Connecticut
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); CACREP
- Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, two to three years
Western Connecticut State University
Western Connecticut State University is a public university founded in 1903 as a teacher’s college. Graduate programs include a master of science in counselor education degree with both clinical mental health counseling and school counseling options.
The clinical mental health option meets the educational requirements for both the Connecticut Department of Health for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and the New York State Office of the Professions for licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC).
The Western Connecticut State University school counseling option meets all the educational requirements for certification as a school counselor in Connecticut. Candidates seeking New York State certification will require additional coursework that may be taken at WCSU to meet certification requirements.
- Location: Danbury, Connecticut
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); CACREP
- Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, two to three years
University of New Haven’s master of arts program in clinical mental health counseling allows students to study the skills and theories related to substance use, trauma interventions, and mental health and how to apply these theories and skills to connect with individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds. Designed to meet the requirements to become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) in Connecticut, this program provides extensive fieldwork experiences through internships and practicum opportunities. As part of this program, students can supplement their education by pursuing a concentration in community development or forensic mental health.
The program comprises 60 credits, 48 of which involve the core curriculum and the remaining 12 constitute either electives or one of two areas of concentration. The core curriculum includes courses such as career counseling and development; theories of counseling; professional orientation and ethics in counseling; counseling skills and techniques; family therapy; diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders; and addiction and substance abuse counseling.
The community development concentration includes courses such as program evaluation; consultation seminar; organizational behavior; and public policy formulation and implementation. Courses in the forensic mental health concentration include forensic psychology; forensic assessment; forensic treatment models; and mental health law.
Notably, the University of New Haven also offers this program in an online format. It features 700 hours of supervised clinical training, 100 percent online coursework, and two residencies.
- Location: West Haven, Connecticut
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, three years
Sacred Heart University’s Farrington College of Education & Human Development offers an online master of arts program in clinical mental health counseling that prepares students to assist individuals experiencing life stress and presenting problems such as job loss, low self-esteem, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, grief, relationship issues, family violence, eating disorders, and other mental health-related challenges.
Although not accredited by CACREP, the program’s curriculum has been developed with CACREP standards as a foundation. Students in this online program complete two week-long, on-ground residency experiences at the Sacred Heart campus in Fairfield, CT. The program’s 60-credit curriculum includes courses such as introduction to the counseling profession & introduction to ethics; counseling theories; psychopathology, diagnostic systems, & advanced assessment; professional issues, laws, & advanced ethics in clinical mental health; treatment planning & integrative models of care; counseling grief & loss; and consultation & organization administration in counseling.
Sacred Heart University also offers an online 60-credit master of arts program in school counseling. This program also includes in-person residencies that are one week long each. This program features coursework in the introduction to professional issues, laws, & ethics in school counseling; comprehensive school counseling programs, leadership, & advocacy; family-school-community collaboration & consultation; counseling diverse student populations & special education; practicum in school counseling; internship in school counseling; and advanced internship in school counseling.
- Location: Fairfield, CT
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, clinical mental health counseling (two to four years); school counseling (2.5 years)
Albertus Magnus College offers a master of science program in clinical counseling designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure as professional counselors (LPC) in the State of Connecticut. Students in this program choose between two specialty tracks: addiction counseling and mental health counseling.
The clinical mental health counseling program includes coursework in advanced counseling and psychotherapy: cognitive-behavioral methods, couples and family therapy, integrative techniques, addiction and recovery, and an advanced seminar in case conceptualization.
The clinical addiction counseling program includes specialized coursework in drugs & behavior: basic science; drugs & behavior: applications; addiction counseling: core concepts & competencies; addiction counseling: advanced techniques; spiritual issues and religious identity in counseling; clinical assessment of substance use disorders; and treatment planning and evaluation in addiction counseling. Students graduating from this program will be eligible to apply for licensure as alcohol and drug counselors (LADC) in addition to the LPC.
Notably, Albertus Magnus College also offers a CAAHEP-accredited master of arts program in art therapy and counseling, providing graduates with a range of experiential learning opportunities that will help them succeed as individuals or group therapists in various clinical settings. This 60-credit program allows students to meet the educational requirements for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Clinical Licensed Art Therapist (CLAT) in Connecticut as well as national registration and certification as an art therapist (ATR-BC) with the Art Therapy Credentials Board.
- Location: New Haven, CT
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, two to three years
How Much Do Counselors Make in Connecticut?
These numbers represent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from May 2023—the latest data available as of September 2024.
Marriage and Family Therapist Salaries
| United States | Connecticut | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 63,340 | 340 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $68,730 | $72,100 |
| 10th percentile | $39,090 | $41,910 |
| 25th percentile | $45,250 | $51,920 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $58,510 | $59,160 |
| 75th percentile | $78,440 | $102,010 |
| 90th percentile | $104,710 | $113,660 |
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor Salaries
| United States | Connecticut | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 397,880 | 6,960 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $60,080 | $61,100 |
| 10th percentile | $36,700 | $36,850 |
| 25th percentile | $44,600 | $45,420 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $53,710 | |
| 75th percentile | $70,130 | $75,200 |
| 90th percentile | $89,920 | $91,90 |
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor Salaries
| United States | Connecticut | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 327,660 | 3,380 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $66,990 | $70,800 |
| 10th percentile | $40,140 | $36,710 |
| 25th percentile | $48,760 | $49,230 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $61,710 | $65,400 |
| 75th percentile | $78,780 | $87,360 |
| 90th percentile | $100,050 | $106,210 |
Rehabilitation Counselor Salaries
| United States | Connecticut | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 84,750 | 2,480 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $48,430 | $51,910 |
| 10th percentile | $31,390 | $34,740 |
| 25th percentile | $36,440 | $36,830 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $44,040 | $39,460 |
| 75th percentile | $56,610 | $62,050 |
| 90th percentile | $73,710 | $86,780 |
All Other Counselors
| United States | Connecticut | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 35,580 | Data unavailable |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $52,360 | $50,010 |
| 10th percentile | $33,300 | $37,740 |
| 25th percentile | $38,890 | $38,800 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $46,130 | $40,650 |
| 75th percentile | $59,340 | $58,490 |
| 90th percentile | $79,880 | $79,880 |
Counseling Professional Associations & Resources in Connecticut
- Connecticut Counseling Association (CCA)
- Connecticut School Counselor Association (CSCA)
- Connecticut Occupational Therapy Association (ConnOTA)
- Connecticut Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (CTAMFT)
- Connecticut Association for Addiction Professionals (CAAP)
- Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut (BIAC)
- The Connecticut Association for the Treatment of Sex Offenders (CATSO)
- Connecticut Psychological Association (CPA)
- Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies (CCFSA)
- Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV)
- Mental Health Connecticut (MHC)
Mental Health Counseling (LMHC) Licenses in Connecticut: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut State Department of Public Health | Professionals in Connecticut earn a license as a Professional Counselor Associate first, followed by earning a Professional Counselor license. To earn a Professional Counselor Associate license, a candidate must:
To become a licensed Professional Counselor, candidates must meet all the requirements for the associate licensure, as well as:
| Connecticut requires licenses to be renewed annually. Requirements include:
|
School Counseling Licenses in Connecticut
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut State Department of Education |
The Connecticut State Department of Education offers a Special Services Endorsement to school counselors. The initial endorsement requirements are:
To progress from an initial license to a advanced certificate, school counselors must:
|
Teaching certificates in Connecticut may be renewed or upgraded. The initial school counselor endorsement is valid for three years and may be renewed with an application and a $200 fee. A professional certificate is valid for five years. There is no fee to renew and no continuing education requirements. |
Substance Abuse Counseling Licenses in Connecticut
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
Connecticut State Department of Public Health |
The Connecticut State Department of Public Health licenses Alcohol and Drug Counselors (ADC). ADC candidates must:
|
ADC licenses in Connecticut must be renewed annually. The renewal fee is $195. Counselors must complete 20 hours of qualifying continuing education per renewal cycle. |
Rehabilitation Counseling Licenses in Connecticut
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
Rehabilitation counselors in Connecticut must earn a license as a Professional Counselor Associate first, followed by earning a Professional Counselor license. To earn a Professional Counselor Associate license, a candidate must:
To become a licensed Professional Counselor, candidates must meet all the requirements for the associate licensure, as well as:
|
Connecticut requires licenses to be renewed annually. Requirements include:
|
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Licenses in Connecticut
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut State Department of Public Health |
The Connecticut Department of Public Health issues behavior analyst licenses. To qualify, candidates must:
|
Behavior analyst licenses issued in Connecticut expire annually during the licensee’s birth month. Renewals cost $175. While there are no continuing education requirements, behavior analysts are required to maintain their national BCBA certification. |
Marriage and Family Therapy Licenses in Connecticut
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut State Department of Public Health |
The Connecticut State Department of Public Health issues Marital and Family Therapist Associate and Marital and Family Therapist licenses. The requirements for a Marital and Family Therapist Associate license are:
To earn a Marital and Family Therapist license, applicants must meet the requirements for the associate license, as well as:
|
Connecticut requires MFT licenses to be renewed annually. Requirements include:
|
Child (Pediatric) Behavioral Therapy Licenses in Connecticut
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut State Department of Public Health |
Child therapists in Connecticut must earn a license as a Professional Counselor Associate first, followed by earning a Professional Counselor license. To earn a Professional Counselor Associate license, a candidate must:
To become a licensed Professional Counselor, candidates must meet all the requirements for the associate licensure, as well as:
| Connecticut requires licenses to be renewed annually. Requirements include:
|
Vanessa Salvia
WriterVanessa Salvia is an Oregon-based freelance writer and editor with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. As fun as rigorous studies in math and science were, Vanessa took an independent path and developed a prolific career covering lifestyle and healthcare topics for magazines and newspapers, important industries such as concrete construction and building waterproofing, and even hard science. You can get in touch at Sage Media and Marketing.