Counseling Degrees & Licenses in Arizona
Counseling Schools Search
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“We’re definitely trying to graduate professionals who are ready to practice…We value diversity, emotional health, flexibility, lifelong inquiry, and professionalism.”
Jeffrey Thomas, PsyD, Associate Professor of Counseling and the Director of Training, Ottawa University (Surprise, Arizona)
Earning a counseling degree or license for work in Arizona could lead to both a stable career and a satisfying endeavor as you help people needing quality care for mental health disorders. Arizona is the 14th largest state in terms of population, and according to Nations Online, about 32 percent of Arizona’s population is Hispanic (or of Latinx origin). This makes access to culturally sensitive licensed counselors an even bigger priority there.
According to 2023 data from Mental Health America, Arizona is ranked 42nd out of the 50 states on criteria of lower prevalence of mental illness and higher rates of access to care for adults, making it a state of higher prevalence but only moderate access. Arizona is ranked 29th for prevalence and access among its youth. States with rankings 39 to 51 indicate that youth have a higher prevalence of mental illness and lower rates of access to care. Studies show that 42 percent of adults in Arizona experience a mental illness, and 49 percent are experiencing a severe mental illness. The Resources to Recover organization says only 40.3 percent of adults with mental illness in Arizona receive any form of treatment.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) indicates that careers in mental health, behavioral disorders, and substance abuse are expected to grow 19 percent nationally between 2023 and 2033, nearly five times faster than the average for all occupations during the same decade (4 percent).
In Arizona, the Board of Health Examiners oversees professional counselors, substance abuse counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists. Arizona has three levels of counseling licenses: Associate Counselor (LAC), Professional Counselor for an existing LAC (LPC), and Professional Counselor.
Arizona requires that master’s degrees be obtained from programs accredited by CACREP, the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE), the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), or the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission (NASAC).
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs accredits master’s and doctoral degree programs in counseling and its specialties. A CACREP-approved program must consist of 60 semester-credits (or 90 quarter-credits), with a major emphasis in counseling, including 700 hours of practicum with 240 hours of direct client contact.
Read on to explore the schools offering accredited programs for counseling degrees and licenses in Arizona.
Ask An Expert: Stacey L. Carrillo, PhD, NCC
Dr. Stacey Carrillo is associate dean for counseling and related programs at Prescott College in Prescott, Arizona. She has utilized her counseling background in higher education for over 25 years. She has significant experience working at a university career counseling center that served a diverse student population and in a clinical training facility as a counselor and clinical supervisor. She has also worked in human resources management with a focus on training and development, employee relations, and organizational change.
As a faculty member, Dr. Carrillo has helped students explore various social and cultural identities and how these identities affect the therapeutic relationship, as well as helping students understand the intersection between career development and well-being. Her areas of research interest are professional identity development, best practices with online and blended learning formats that enhance student experiences, and counselor self-care.
CounselingSchools.com: What are the core values or philosophies that guide the counseling education curriculum at Prescott College?
Dr. Carrillo: One of them is deeply rooted in Prescott College itself, and that is the values of environmental stewardship and social justice, which are steeped throughout the curriculum in a variety of ways. We do have two core required courses that are related to social justice. The first is the social and cultural diversity course that helps students explore and understand identities of privilege and power and how they interface with more historically marginalized identities.
The second course that we have is one that most CACREP courses actually don’t have, which is a social justice and counseling course. We really want our students to not only understand the concepts of social justice, but also understand what it means to put it into action. And then we also have a social justice concentration, which comprises two additional electives. So I think we have really embraced that value, and it has absolutely influenced our curriculum.
We have postgraduate certificates that are not technically part of the counseling curriculum but about 30 to 40 percent of our students are concurrently enrolled in our counseling program and then either in our adventure-based or nature-based postgraduate certificate or expressive arts postgraduate certificate. The nature-based and adventure-based counseling certificates are extremely popular because we teach students in the counseling program, in particular, how to utilize and the importance of the outdoors and how caring for and utilizing outdoor space in the process of clients gaining greater wellness is really important. I’m really proud of both of those values and how they manifest in our curriculum for our students.
CounselingSchools.com: How does the program at Prescott College keep up with current research and best practices in counseling?
Dr. Carrillo: All of our full-time counseling faculty have part-time practices, so they’re also clinicians for the most part, to varying degrees. They’re actually doing the work while they’re educating future counselors on how to do the work.
They are also really engaged in our professional associations in many different ways, either through leadership positions or presenting at ACA or ACES, which is our Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, or presenting at our regional conferences. Our faculty do hold credentials or certifications in trauma-informed care and others that are becoming more mainstream.
Ask An Expert: Jeffrey A. Thomas, PsyD, NCC
Dr. Jeffrey Thomas is an associate professor of counseling and the director of training at Ottawa University in Surprise, Arizona. He is also the chair of the Department of Counseling & Psychology.
Dr. Thomas is recognized internationally as an expert in the areas of youth firesetting and adult arson. He has consulted with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the National Association of State Fire Marshals to help establish standards of care for mental health interventions with youth firesetters. Through his consulting company, Psychological Fire Rescue, he has worked with numerous fire service and law enforcement agencies throughout the United States and Canada regarding critical incident stress management and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Dr. Thomas was in private practice for more than 12 years. He has also worked in numerous healthcare settings, including hospitals, group homes, and residential treatment centers. He has held positions with the cities of Goodyear and Phoenix fire departments. He also served as interim emergency manager for Goodyear.
Dr. Thomas is the co-author of Responding to Psychological Emergencies: A Field Guide and Case Studies for Emergency Responders: Psychosocial, Ethical, and Leadership Dimensions. He is also a member of and a past president of the Arizona Psychological Association.
CounselingSchools.com: What are some of the core values or philosophies that guide the counseling education curriculum?
Dr. Thomas: We’re definitely trying to graduate professionals who are ready to practice…We value diversity, emotional health, flexibility, lifelong inquiry, and professionalism.
CounselingSchools.com: How does the program at Ottawa University keep up with current research and best practices in counseling?
Dr. Thomas: Our faculty are all licensed professionals, and as such, we’re required to have the appropriate number of continuing education hours every licensing cycle. It’s one of the ways that we keep up. We are organizational members of the Arizona Psychological Association, which is another way that we keep up.
Our program has been reviewed and is approved in Arizona by the Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. It has been reviewed by the Behavioral Sciences Review Board in the state of Kansas, and the Department of Safety and Professional Services in Wisconsin, we are approved by them as well. The master’s of science in addiction counseling and our bachelor of science in addiction counseling are both accredited by NASAC, the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission.
Accredited Counseling Degree Programs in Arizona
Grand Canyon University – College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Grand Canyon University offers online master of science (MS) degrees in clinical mental health counseling with options for emphases in childhood and adolescent disorders, Christian counseling, marriage and family therapy, and trauma recovery.
GCU is a private Christian university and, in 2018, was the Christian school with the largest student enrollment in the world. There are also separate degree programs for a master of science in addiction counseling, an MS in Christian counseling for addiction recovery, an MS in mental health and wellness, and a master of education in school counseling. The courses for the master’s in clinical mental health counseling meet the requirements of the Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) credential, the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential, and the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners.
- Location: Phoenix, Arizona
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); addiction counseling program (National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission (NASAC))
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years; MS in addiction counseling (36 credits); MS in Christian counseling: substance abuse (48 credits); MS in clinical mental health counseling (62 credits)
Northern Arizona University – College of Education
Students in the College of Education at Northern Arizona State can choose from three degree programs: a master of arts in clinical mental health counseling, a master of education in school counseling, and a master of education in student affairs.
The counseling program prepares students to work as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC). This program is offered at three campuses and meets the Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) coursework requirements of the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners and for national counselor certification of the National Board for Certified Counselors. LACs in Arizona can continue their work experience to become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) eligible to work independently.
Completing this degree gives a graduate the potential to transfer the license to other states. The school counseling program is designed to lead to certification as a Standard School Counselor, PreK-12, and licensure as a professional counselor in the state of Arizona.
- Location: Flagstaff, Phoenix, or Tucson, Arizona
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); clinical mental health counseling and school counseling (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)); school counseling program is also accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years; clinical mental health counseling and school counseling (60 credits); student affairs program (48 credits)
Prescott College offers a master of science in counseling degree online. Students can pursue areas of emphasis in human sexuality counseling; marriage, couple, and family counseling; social justice in counseling; or somatic counseling (mind-body centered or holistic therapy). Students also can earn graduate certificates in adventure-based counseling, nature-based counseling, or expressive art therapy.
While the degree program is online, the program also requires an in-person, three-day residency. The residency includes a minimum of four colloquia during their degree program or three colloquia and one of the counseling program’s concentration (or graduate certificate) experiential training events.
The master of arts in education in school counseling program allows students to create a self-directed course of study that encompasses broad themes in education.
- Location: Prescott, Arizona
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); MS in counseling (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP))
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years; 60 credits for counseling, 36 credits for school counseling
The University of Arizona offers a master of arts in counseling program with three emphasis options: clinical mental health counseling; clinical rehabilitation counseling; and school counseling. All programs prepare graduates to become licensed associate counselors. The rehabilitation emphasis prepares students to become certified rehabilitation counselors, and the school counseling program prepares students to become school counselors.
All programs require the completion of 60 credits, specifically 48 core credit hours and 12 credit hours for the selected specialization. Coursework includes classes in counseling theories, multicultural and familial diversity in counseling, counseling skills and techniques, diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders, medical aspects of disability, problems of drug abuse, ethical, legal, and professional issues in counseling, and counseling with couples and families.
- Location: Tucson, Arizona
- Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC); Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years; 60 credits
University of Phoenix – College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
The University of Phoenix, founded in 1976, offers a variety of online degrees. The online master of science in counseling program emphasizes general clinical mental health counseling or marriage, family, and child therapy.
The campus-based master of science program in counseling with an emphasis on clinical mental health counseling offered by the University of Phoenix is accredited by CACREP, though CACREP accredits neither online program.
The curriculum includes courses such as individual and family development across the lifespan; personality theories and counseling models; legal, ethical, and professional issues in counseling; research methods for mental health counselors; psychometrics; individual counseling; multicultural issues in mental health counseling; family, couple, and child counseling; advanced marriage and family therapy; and dependency and addictions.
- Location: Phoenix, Arizona
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP, campus-based)
- Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, 37 months
Arizona State University – College of Integrative Sciences and Arts
Arizona State University offers an MC degree—a master of counseling—that is approved by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. The master of counseling program requires students to choose from either a written thesis or a comprehensive final exam for completion. Preparing students to become licensed professional counselors, the program focuses on multicultural counseling across the lifespan. Graduates learn to promote the health of families, individuals, organizations, and groups in diverse societies. ASU’s master of counseling program also has a school counseling concentration preparing graduates to work with school-aged youth in K-12 settings as school counselors.
The curriculum of this 60-credit program includes courses such as counseling and research data analysis; theories of counseling and psychotherapy; psychological tests; prevention and consultation; lifespan human development; occupations and careers; assessment and diagnosis; group dynamics and counseling; professional issues and ethics; and multicultural counseling.
The school has several more programs related to counseling. These include an on-campus master of science program in genetic counseling, an online or on-campus MS program in addiction psychology, an online MS degree program in forensic psychology, and an online or on-campus MS degree program in psychology.
- Location: Tempe, Arizona
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); approved by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years; MC counseling (60 credits); MS in genetic counseling (71 credits); MS in addiction psychology (45 credits); MS in forensic psychology (33 credits); MS in psychology (36 credits)
Ottawa University offers a master of arts degree in counseling (MAC) in a hybrid format that consists of 39 credits of core courses, 15 concentration/elective credits, and nine field placement experience credits preparing graduates to apply for licensure in their state. Students pursuing this degree will be able to gain deeper knowledge in a specialty area by completing 15 hours in one of three concentration areas: expressive arts therapy; gerocounseling; or the treatment of trauma abuse & deprivation.
This 60- to 63-credit program includes courses on counseling theories, counseling and the helping professions, group counseling and dynamics, professional and ethical issues in counseling, life planning and career development, advanced psychodiagnostic and treatment planning, and an introduction to substance addictions and related disorders.
Notably, Ottawa University also offers an online master of science program in addiction counseling and a master of arts in education program in school counseling.
- Location: Surprise, AZ
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); school counseling (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP))
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years; MAC (60 to 63 credits); MSAC (36 credits); MAE-SC (36 to 48 credits)
How Much Do Counselors Make in Arizona?
These numbers represent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from May 2023—the latest data available as of October 2024.
Marriage and Family Therapist Salaries
| United States | Arizona | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 63,340 | 350 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $68,730 | $56,630 |
| 10th percentile | $39,090 | $43,680 |
| 25th percentile | $45,250 | $49,330 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $58,510 | $49,600 |
| 75th percentile | $78,440 | $62,180 |
| 90th percentile | $104,710 | $67,810 |
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor Salaries
| United States | Arizona | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 397,880 | 8,110 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $60,080 | $60,640 |
| 10th percentile | $36,700 | $35,030 |
| 25th percentile | $44,600 | $45,410 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $53,710 | $58,640 |
| 75th percentile | $70,130 | $74,640 |
| 90th percentile | $89,920 | $82,740 |
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor Salaries
| United States | Arizona | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 327,660 | 6,140 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $66,990 | $58,450 |
| 10th percentile | $40,140 | $42,100 |
| 25th percentile | $48,760 | $48,690 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $61,710 | $52,280 |
| 75th percentile | $78,780 | $63,070 |
| 90th percentile | $100,050 | $77,150 |
Rehabilitation Counselor Salaries
| United States | Arizona | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 84,750 | 1,790 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $48,430 | $43,990 |
| 10th percentile | $31,390 | $33,440 |
| 25th percentile | $36,440 | $37,390 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $44,040 | $42,520 |
| 75th percentile | $56,610 | $48,510 |
| 90th percentile | $73,710 | $57,470 |
All Other Counselors
| United States | Arizona | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 35,580 | 250 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $52,360 | $49,630 |
| 10th percentile | $33,300 | $28,810 |
| 25th percentile | $38,890 | $40,000 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $46,130 | $46,970 |
| 75th percentile | $59,340 | $55,200 |
| 90th percentile | $79,880 | $65,320 |
Counseling Professional Associations & Resources in Arizona
- Arizona School Counselors Association (AzSCA)
- Arizona Counseling Association (AzCA)
- The Arizona Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
- Arizona Association of Addiction Professionals (AAAP)
- Arizona Board for Certification of Addiction Counselors (ABCAC)
- Arizona Psychological Association (AzPA)
- Arizona Occupational Therapy Association (ArizOTA)
- The Arizona State Therapeutic Recreation Association (ASTRA)
- Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (AzBBHE)
- Arizona Council on Compulsive Gambling (ACCG)
- Arizona Psychiatric Society (APS)
- National Alliance on Mental Illness – Southern Arizona (NAMISA)
- The NARBHA Institute
- National Association of Social Workers – Arizona Chapter (NASWAz)
- Mental Health America of Arizona (MHA-AZ)
Mental Health Counseling (LMHC) Licenses in Arizona: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (AZBBHE) | Arizona credentials Licensed Associate Counselors (LACs) and Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). The steps to earn the LAC credential are:
To progress from a LAC to an LPC, candidates must:
| LPCs are required to renew their licenses in Arizona every two years. Requirements include:
|
School Counseling Licenses in Arizona
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Department of Education |
The Arizona Department of Education issues a Standard School Counselor, PreK-12 Certificate. Candidates for this certification must:
Candidates must also meet one of the following four education requirements:
If all requirements are met (except for the practicum or work experience), a temporary three-year license may be issued to correct this deficiency. |
The Standard School Counselor, PreK-12 Certificate issued in Arizona is valid for 12 years. To renew, applicants must submit a completed application, pay a $30 application fee, and demonstrate 15 hours of continuing education completed for each year the certificate was held. |
Substance Abuse Counseling Licenses in Arizona
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
Arizona has three levels of licensure for substance abuse counselors. They are Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor (LISAC), Licensed Associate Substance Abuse (LSAC) Counselor, and Licensed Substance Abuse Technician (LSAT). Requirements for LSAT licensure include:
To earn the LSAC license, candidates must have:
To earn the LISAC license, candidates must meet the above requirements, in addition to having a master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in a program accredited by NASAC or board approved with required coursework. The program must include a 300-hour supervised practicum. |
Renewals of substance abuse counselor licenses in Arizona are required every two years. Requirements to renew include:
|
Rehabilitation Counseling Licenses in Arizona
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
Rehabilitation counselors in Arizona must have credentials as either Licensed Associate Counselors (LACs) and Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). The steps to earn the LAC credential are:
In order to progress from a LAC to an LPC, candidates must:
|
Rehabilitation counselors who are LPCs are required to renew their licenses in Arizona every two years. Requirements include:
|
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Licenses in Arizona
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners |
The Board of Psychologist Examiners is responsible for issuing Behavior Analyst licenses in Arizona. To qualify, candidates must:
|
Behavior Analyst licenses issued in Arizona must be renewed every other year on the last day of the birth month of the licensee. Renewal fees are $500 per biennium. Analysts are required to complete 30 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle. Four of those 30 hours must be in ethics. |
Marriage and Family Therapy Licenses in Arizona
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (AZBHE) |
The Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners issues Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT) and Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licenses. The requirements for an LAMFT license are:
If candidates have not previously taken the exam, the board can issue an authorization to take the exam when the LAMFT application is submitted. To progress from an LAMFT to an LMFT, candidates must:
|
LAMFTs and LMFTs are required to renew their licenses in Arizona every two years. Requirements include:
|
Child (Pediatric) Behavioral Therapy Licenses in Arizona
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (AZBBHE) |
Child therapists in Arizona must have credentials as either Licensed Associate Counselors (LACs) and Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). The steps to earn the LAC credential are:
To progress from a LAC to an LPC, candidates must:
|
Child therapists who are LPCs are required to renew their licenses in Arizona every two years. 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.