Counseling Degrees & Licenses in Idaho
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Pursuing a counseling career in Idaho is likely to prove worthwhile given the current demand for a larger workforce within the state. Issues of both workforce supply and population demand contribute to the pressing need for a highly skilled mental health professional workforce.
In terms of population demand, Idaho has several concerning indicators of mental health that exceed the national average. According to Mental Health America, Idaho recently ranked 48 out of the 50 states and Washington, DC in terms of its access to mental health services.
The severity of the mental health workforce shortage in Idaho cannot be overstated. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare recently declared that 100 percent of Idaho is designated as a “Health Professional Shortage area.” A number of factors contribute to Idaho’s current mental health workforce challenges. These include low wages and a lack of culturally-responsive services, quality training supervision, and targeted recruitment efforts. Other significant factors include inadequate health policy response, limited stakeholder collaboration, and poor state-level data management practices.
Given the circumstances and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, prospective counselors in Idaho will likely find significant opportunities. Read on to discover how to join various counseling careers in Idaho, including detailed information about academic programs and licensing.
Accredited Counseling Degree Programs in Idaho
The Boise State University Department of Counselor Education offers a 60-semester-hour master of arts degree in counseling. Students can choose one of two cognates: addiction counseling or school counseling. In both, students must also complete a 100-hour practicum and a 700-hour internship in a clinical setting.
Those seeking to pursue licensure as addiction counselors within Idaho must complete three requirements: the 60-semester-hour academic program, 1,000 hours of supervised experience, and the National Counselor Examination (NCE).
Those seeking to become certified as a school counselor within Idaho complete 700 hours of field experience; 600 of those must be in a K-12 setting. Completion of the school counseling cognate meets Idaho school counseling certification requirements.
BSU also offers a fully online, full-time, 56-credit master of science degree in genetic counseling (MSGC). The curriculum is designed to train students to develop the practice-based competencies necessary to fulfill the standards espoused by the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC). Students seeking to become a Certified Genetic Counselor (CGC) should consult the ABGC website CGC subpage for more information on this process.
- Location: Boise, ID
- Duration: MA in counseling (60 credits, three years; MSGC (56 credits, 21 months)
- Accreditation: The master’s degree in counseling program is accredited through the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP); the MSGC program is accredited through the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC)
- Tuition: Idaho resident full-time students (11 to 16 credits) pay $8,060 for tuition and fees (2021-22); $24,980 for non-Idaho residents
Idaho State University offers a masters of arts counseling degree (MCoun) with five specialties: clinical mental health counseling, clinical rehabilitation counseling, marriage, couple and family counseling, school counseling, and student affairs counseling.
Program specialties do not differ in the total academic credits required for graduation but rather in the focus of academic coursework and the settings students will be proficient to work in upon graduation.
- Location: Pocatello and Meridian, ID
- Duration: 60 credits (two years)
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Tuition: $4,190, residents (nine credits or more); $12,917 (non-residents)
The Northwest Nazarene University Counselor Education Department offers a 60-credit master of science degree in counseling with three specializations: clinical mental health counseling; marriage, couple and family counselin; and school counseling.
Beyond completion of academic work, graduation from this program requires the completion of 1,000 hours of practicum/internship experience and a satisfactory score on both the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) and the National Counselor Exam (NCE). Students are further required to participate, as clients, in a personal growth experience such as individual or group counseling.
- Location: Nampa or Twin Falls, ID
- Duration: 60 credits; 33 months
- Accreditation: Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Tuition: $550 per credit
The University of Idaho Rehabilitation Counseling and Human Services Program offers a 60-credit master’s of science degree in rehabilitation counseling. Students may complete this program on a full- or part-time basis. However, admission priority is given to full-time student applications. Classes are offered using a variety of delivery methods.
Successful graduates become eligible to take both the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and National Certified Counselor (NCC) examinations. They may also be allowed to sit for the National Counselor Exam (NCE). Those seeking to ultimately become licensed professional counselors are required to successfully complete the NCE.
- Location: Moscow, ID
- Duration: Two years (full-time); four years (part-time)
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Tuition: $4,956 per semester for residents (nine to 20 credits); $549 per credit for residents (one to eight credits); $14,574 per semester for out-of-state students (nine to 20 credits); $1,618 per credit for out-of-state students (one to eight credits)
How Much Do Counselors Earn in Idaho?
These numbers represent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from May 2022—the latest data available as of November 2023.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologist Salaries
| United States | Idaho | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 62,880 | 340 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $102,740 | $82,550 |
| 10th percentile | $42,760 | $42,550 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $90,130 | $64,720 |
| 90th percentile | $168,790 | $165,060 |
Marriage and Family Therapist Salaries
| United States | Idaho | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 62,080 | 180 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $63,300 | $60,280 |
| 10th percentile | $36,840 | $39,630 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $56,570 | $61,000 |
| 90th percentile | $98,700 | $74,970 |
Rehabilitation Counselor Salaries
| United States | Idaho | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 82,420 | 1,010 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $46,020 | $47,800 |
| 10th percentile | $29,120 | $29,140 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $39,990 | $46,860 |
| 90th percentile | $71,270 | $63,440 |
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor Salaries
| United States | Idaho | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 308,000 | 2,040 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $64,200 | $55,570 |
| 10th percentile | $38,280 | $39,420 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $60,140 | $50,690 |
| 90th percentile | $98,530 | $76,840 |
Counseling Professional Associations & Resources in Idaho
- Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses
- Idaho Mental Health Counselors Association
- Idaho Counseling Association
- Idaho Genetic Counselors Licensing Board
- Idaho Association of Marriage and Family Counselors
- The Idaho Association of Community Providers, Inc.
Mental Health Counseling (LMHC) Licenses in Idaho: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho Licensing Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists | Idaho credentials Counselor Interns, Counselors (LPCs), and Clinical Practice Counselors (LCPCs). To be licensed as a Counselor Intern, applicants must:
The requirement for an LPC license are:
Requirements for an LCPC license are:
|
Licenses for LPCs and LCPCs are renewed annually in Idaho. The fee is $120. Counselors are expected to complete 40 continuing education credits every two years, of which no less than six must be in ethics. While counselors are not required to submit continuing education proof, audits are performed to ensure counselors are complying. Counselor Intern licenses are valid for four years and may not be renewed. |
School Counseling Licenses in Idaho
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho State Department of Education (SDE) |
The Idaho State Department of Education (SDE) issues Certificate for Pupil Service Staff with a School Counselor endorsement. The requirements for this certificate and endorsement are:
|
Certificates for Pupil Service Staff issued in Idaho are valid for five years. To renew, school counselors must submit a completed application and pay a $75 free. Counselors must also complete six semester hours of continuing education from accredited institutions. Three of those semesters may be earned through approved professional activities. |
Substance Abuse Counseling Licenses in Idaho
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
Idaho Board of Alcohol/Drug Counselor Certification (IBADCC) | There are a total of seven certifications issued by the Idaho Board of Alcohol/Drug Counselor Certification (IBADCC). The two main certifications for substance abuse counselors are Advanced Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor (ACADC), Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), and Substance Use Disorder Associate (SUDA). To earn the SUDA certification, which is a trainee designation, applicants must:
To earn a CADC certification, applicants must:
ACADC applicants must meet the following requirements:
|
Renewals for IBADCC certifications are due every two years. The fees are $207 for ACADC and CADC and $135 SUDA. SUDAs are required to complete 60 hours of continuing education every renewal period, while ACADCs and CADCs only need to complete 40. For all three certification renewals there must be four hours of face-to-face continuing education in ethics. |
Rehabilitation Counseling Licenses in Idaho
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
Idaho Licensing Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists | Idaho requires rehabilitation counselors to earn either a Professional Counselor (LPC) or Clinical Practice Counselor (LCPC) license. The requirement for an LPC license are:
Requirements for an LCPC license are:
|
Licenses are renewed annually in Idaho. The fee is $120. Counselors are expected to complete 40 continuing education credits every two years, of which no less than six must be in ethics. While counselors are not required to submit continuing education proof, audits are performed to ensure counselors are complying. |
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Licenses in Idaho
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) for national certification |
Currently, there are no state certification or licensing requirements for applied behavior analysts in Idaho. However, holding a BCBA certification can help with employment opportunities or job advancement. |
Marriage and Family Therapy Licenses in Idaho
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho Licensing Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists |
The Idaho Licensing Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists licenses Marriage and Family Therapists and Associate Marriage and Family Therapists. The requirement for an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist license are:
Marriage and Family Therapists must meet the same requirements for an associate license, as well as:
|
Marriage and family therapist licenses are renewed annually in Idaho. The fee is $120. Counselors are expected to complete 40 continuing education credits every two years, of which no less than six must be in ethics. While counselors are not required to submit continuing education proof, audits are performed to ensure counselors are complying. |
Child (Pediatric) Behavioral Therapy Licenses in Idaho
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho Licensing Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists |
Idaho requires child therapists to earn either a Professional Counselor (LPC) or Clinical Practice Counselor (LCPC) license. The requirement for an LPC license are:
Requirements for an LCPC license are:
|
Licenses are renewed annually in Idaho. The fee is $120. Counselors are expected to complete 40 continuing education credits every two years, of which no less than six must be in ethics. While counselors are not required to submit continuing education proof, audits are performed to ensure counselors are complying. |
Bernd Geels
WriterBernd Geels is a Berlin, Germany-based freelance writer and artist. He holds an undergraduate degree in atmospheric science and two graduate degrees. He completed his most recent graduate degree in international environmental studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 2011. He is interested in healthcare, climate change, marine conservation, indigenous science and refugee issues. You can reach him directly at [email protected].