Counseling Degrees & Licenses in Minnesota
Counseling Schools Search
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Minnesota, like most other states, requires licensure and certification to practice as a counselor. Credentials to practice are awarded to those who have obtained education from an accredited college or university and passed any state or national certification exams. Minnesota licenses two levels of counseling practitioners: Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs).
The Minnesota Health Licensing Board, a division of the state Board of Behavioral and Health Therapy, provides information and resources for licensed alcohol and drug counselors, licensed professional counselors, and licensed professional clinical counselors in Minnesota. The Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy regulates three license types and one temporary permit: a temporary permit for alcohol and drug counseling, the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) license, and two counseling licenses. Minnesota offers license reciprocity in some form or another for 45 states.
Those who pursue a counseling degree and license in Minnesota can be rewarded with a stable career, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that this career field will grow 17 percent nationally from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations (3 percent). The need for counselors, in general, will grow as a growing population seeks mental health counseling. The BLS (2021) predicts the job outlook for substance abuse counselors to grow at an even higher rate during that same decade (18 percent). Demand for rehabilitation counselors is expected to grow 2 percent, and marriage and family therapists, 15 percent.
Read on for a few of the many schools offering programs for counseling degrees and licenses in Minnesota.
Ask An Expert: Taryn Akgul, EdD, LPC, LAC
Dr. Taryn Akgul is an assistant professor and the counseling program coordinator for the College of Education & Human Services at Minnesota State University – Moorhead.
CounselingSchools.com: What drew you to a career in counseling and this program at Minnesota State University specifically?
Dr. Akgul: I was drawn to a career in counseling to help and provide support for clients. I also wanted to advocate for helping professions and the need for mental health services. I was drawn to teach in the program because of the small class sizes, relationships with students, and focus on practice.
CounselingSchools.com: What are some of the core values or philosophies that guide the curriculum in the counseling program at Minnesota State University?
Dr. Akgul: We are heavily focused on building relationships with students, flexibility, practical-based application, and advocacy for mental health services.
Accredited Counseling Degree Programs in Minnesota
Capella University
Capella University is a private university founded in 1993. It delivers most of its education online. The school offers a robust counseling and therapy program with three master of science degrees: clinical mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, and school counseling.
The online school counseling program covers group counseling, theories of counseling with children and adolescents, child and adolescent psychopathology, and counseling for college and career readiness. This master’s degree offers three specializations: general school counseling, addiction treatment and recovery, and child and adolescent counseling. All tracks include 13 core courses, four specialization courses, two residencies, one practicum, and two internships.
The COAMFTE-accredited online master of science program in marriage and family therapy provides students with the skills and knowledge to help couples, families, and individuals improve their relationships. This program includes 16 courses (two of which have residencies) and four quarters of internship. Courses include diversity and social justice in systemic family therapy; the impact of addiction and addictive behavior on family systems; systemic family therapy theory and practice; and systemic and group interventions for grief, loss, and trauma.
The online clinical mental health counseling program requires ten core courses, seven specialization courses, two residencies, a practicum, and two internships. This program covers the practical skills and theories needed by students for assessing and diagnosing mental health disorders, providing evidence-based interventions, and empowering people to live happier and healthier lives.
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); all counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); the school counseling program is also accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP); the MFT program is also accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years; MFT (72 credits); clinical mental health counseling and school counseling 90 credits)
Minnesota State University – Mankato
Minnesota State University was established in 1858 and was designated in Mankato in 1866. The Mankato campus is the second oldest and the second-largest university in the state. The school’s College of Education offers a master of science degree in counseling and student personnel with its two emphasis areas in mental health counseling and professional school counseling. The college also offers a master of science program in college student affairs.
The college student affairs program is designed to prepare students for leadership roles in higher education for various positions, such as academic advising, career services, diversity and inclusion, residence life, and student activities. The curriculum includes courses such as introduction to college student affairs in higher education; administration and finance in student affairs; crisis intervention strategies; research and writing in counseling and student personnel; and counseling in a multicultural society. The program also includes intensive internship and practicum experiences.
The mental health counseling program meets all state licensure requirements. Through supervised experiences and coursework, the program prepares students to serve in a variety of clinical settings, such as mental health centers, business and industry settings, family counseling and community agencies, and career counseling settings. The curriculum includes courses such as appraisal techniques in mental health counseling and family counseling; professional issues in mental health counseling and family counseling; counseling the chemically dependent family; and introduction to mental health counseling.
The professional school counseling program prepares graduate students to serve in K-12 schools. Courses include human development through the family life cycle; mental health in the schools; introduction to professional school counseling; advocacy, leadership, & supervision in school counseling; and comprehensive school counseling.
- Location: Mankato, Minnesota
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP); Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years; College student affairs (36 credits); mental health counseling and professional school counseling (60 credits)
Minnesota State University – Moorhead
Minnesota State University in Moorhead was established in 1888. The school’s on-campus counseling education opportunities include a master of science in counseling degree with an emphasis on addiction counseling, clinical mental health counseling, or school counseling. Only the school counseling and clinical mental health counseling programs have CACREP accreditation.
All of the courses in the counseling programs are offered after 4:30 p.m. and many are offered as a combination of online and face-to-face classroom learning to accommodate working, part-time, and full-time student needs. These programs prepare students to apply for state licensing and national professional counseling certification in Minnesota and North Dakota.
The school also offers an addiction counseling graduate certificate entirely online, with face-to-face options available for some or all classes. The school counseling and professional counseling graduate certificates require students to complete the equivalent of the degree program through transfer courses and courses taken at MSU Moorhead.
- Location: Moorhead, Minnesota
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP); Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
- Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits; two years full-time or up to five years part-time
St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud State University is a public university founded in 1869. Its enrollment in 2020 was approximately 16,000 students. St. Cloud offers several master of science counseling degree options, including two post-graduate degree certificates in addictions and school counseling.
The master of science in college counseling and student development program prepares students for work in a two-year or four-year college or university setting. The clinical mental health counseling program is a cohort-model program that welcomes 18 full-time students each year with a 6-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. Completing the school counseling master’s degree will provide students with the education needed for seeking K-12 licensure as school counselors in Minnesota.
The school’s rehabilitation counseling program boasts a 10-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. This program has online or on-campus options, and students who add 12 additional specialized elective credits can gain the ability to sit for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) credentialing.
A rehabilitation program allows students to choose three available concentration options in vocational rehabilitation, clinical rehabilitation, and addiction rehabilitation. The addiction counseling specialization is one of two training programs with specialized expertise in rehabilitation counseling and addiction in the United States. Students who complete this program will have met the education requirements to sit for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor exam, the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor exam, the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor exam, and the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor exam.
- Location: St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two years; clinical mental health counseling (61 credits); college counseling and student development (36 to 39 credits); school counseling (52 to 58 credits); rehabilitation counseling (60 to 66 credits)
Walden University
Walden University is a for-profit university established in 1970 by two New York teachers. The school specializes in online learning and is the nation’s number one conferrer of master’s degrees. The school offers several counseling degree options, including an MS in school counseling that apart from the general track has four specialization options in addiction counseling; crisis and trauma; marriage, couple, and family counseling; and military families and culture.
The MS in clinical mental health counseling also has a general track and six additional specialization options in addiction counseling; trauma and crisis counseling; marriage, couple, and family counseling; forensic counseling; telehealth counseling, private practice, and supervision; and military families and culture.
Walden University also offers a dual degree in clinical mental health counseling and school counseling which also has a general track along with six specialization options in addiction counseling; trauma and crisis counseling; marriage, couple, and family counseling; forensic counseling; telehealth counseling, private practice, and supervision; and military families and culture.
All degrees require a four-day in-person on-campus residency experience or virtual synchronous sessions. For dedicated full-time students, Walden does have an accelerated track for all specializations available in the school counseling program, which allow students to take three courses per quarter and finish their program in a shorter time frame but with the same curriculum, residencies, and field experience requirements.
- Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP); Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
- Expected Time to Completion: Master’s degree programs (33 to 36 months); dual degrees (48 to 51 months); school counseling (90 credits); clinical mental health counseling (90 to 96 credits); dual degrees (111 credits)
Winona State University
Winona State University is a public university founded as Winona Normal School in 1858. It is the oldest of Minnesota’s colleges, and it was the first “normal school” west of the Mississippi River (a normal school is founded for training teachers).
The school’s counselor education options include master of science degrees in clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, and human services professional (open to students with a non-counseling master’s degree who want to work with students). Upon completing the human services professional degree, graduates may apply for admission to one of the school’s counseling degree programs.
An addiction counseling certificate is available at the Rochester campus. Students who complete the clinical mental health counseling coursework are eligible for licensure as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in Minnesota and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Wisconsin. Completing the school counseling program leads to licensure as a school counselor in Minnesota or Wisconsin.
- Location: Winona, Minnesota
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years; school counseling (60 to 62 credits); clinical mental health counseling (60 credits); human services professional (34 credits)
Adler Graduate School
Adler Graduate School’s master of arts in counseling program prepares graduates to become professional counselors who offer culturally responsive, ethical, trauma-informed, evidence-based, and wellness-oriented therapeutic and preventive mental health services to diverse individuals, families, and couples in various settings. This master’s degree offers three concentration options in clinical mental health counseling; marriage, couples, and family counseling; and co-occurring disorders and addiction counseling. Courses are available in on-campus, online, and hybrid formats.
The 60-credit clinical mental health counseling program prepares graduates for the licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) credential in Minnesota. Students in this program must complete 700 hours of field experience and a 600-hour internship. Courses include theories of family therapy, consultation and advocacy for the mental health profession, clinical treatment planning in counseling and psychotherapy, and behavioral neuroscience.
The marriage, couples, and family counseling program comprises 60 credits and prepares graduates for the licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) credential in Minnesota. This program also requires students to complete 700 hours of field experience and a 600-hour internship. Courses include group psychotherapy and counseling; foundations of addictions and co-occurring disorders; couples counseling; family therapy; and counseling children and adolescents.
The 64 to 73-credit co-occurring disorders and addiction counseling program prepares graduates for the licensed alcohol and drug counselor (LADC) and licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) credentials in Minnesota. Additional credits are required for dual licensure as LADC and licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) in Minnesota. Students are required to complete 880 of field experience and a 600-hour clinical internship. Courses include case management for co-occurring disorders; best practices in co-occurring disorders; foundations of addictions and co-occurring disorders; and trauma and crisis intervention.
- Location: Minnetonka, Minnesota
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two to three years; clinical mental health counseling and marriage, couples, and family counseling (60 credits); co-occurring disorders and addiction counseling (64 to 73 credits)
Bethel University
Bethel University offers a master of arts program in clinical mental health counseling preparing students to become effective counselors who treat clients with compassion and competence. In addition to gaining a solid foundation in counseling research, practice, and theory in the clinical mental health counseling specialty, graduates will learn to promote personal well-being and positive change in the lives of their clients.
This 60-credit on-campus program includes courses such as foundations of clinical mental health counseling; family systems; worldview and integration of faith and spirituality in counseling; multicultural counseling and social justice; theories and techniques of group counseling; addictions counseling; neuroscience, counseling, and trauma; and psychopathology and diagnosis. Notably this program includes a 12-month clinical training series that includes a summer practicum, a fall internship, and a spring internship.
- Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Expected Time to Completion: 33 months
How Much Do Counselors Make in Minnesota?
These numbers represent the most recent 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 | Minnesota | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 63,340 | 4,230 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $68,730 | $69,030 |
| 10th percentile | $39,090 | $44,370 |
| 25th percentile | $45,250 | $50,190 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $58,510 | $65,870 |
| 75th percentile | $78,440 | $79,180 |
| 90th percentile | $104,710 | $94,070 |
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor Salaries
| United States | Minnesota | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 397,880 | 6,550 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $60,080 | $54,420 |
| 10th percentile | $36,700 | $41,060 |
| 25th percentile | $44,600 | $47,210 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $53,710 | $51,130 |
| 75th percentile | $70,130 | $60,400 |
| 90th percentile | $89,920 | $69,680 |
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor Salaries
| United States | Minnesota | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 327,660 | 4,210 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $66,990 | $64,830 |
| 10th percentile | $40,140 | $46,890 |
| 25th percentile | $48,760 | $52,200 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $61,710 | $60,660 |
| 75th percentile | $78,780 | $75,210 |
| 90th percentile | $100,050 | $88,350 |
Rehabilitation Counselor Salaries
| United States | Minnesota | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 84,750 | 2,670 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $48,430 | $48,210 |
| 10th percentile | $31,390 | $34,960 |
| 25th percentile | $36,440 | $38,480 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $44,040 | $45,880 |
| 75th percentile | $56,610 | $52,820 |
| 90th percentile | $73,710 | $70,010 |
All Other Counselors
| United States | Minnesota | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 35,580 | 720 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $52,360 | $46,620 |
| 10th percentile | $33,300 | $32,870 |
| 25th percentile | $38,890 | $35,620 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $46,130 | $38,740 |
| 75th percentile | $59,340 | $48,660 |
| 90th percentile | $79,880 | $74,630 |
Counseling Professional Associations & Resources in Minnesota
- Minnesota Counseling Association (MnCA)
- Minnesota School Counselors Association (MSCA)
- Minnesota Association of Resources for Recovery and Chemical Health (MARRCH)
- Minnesota Certification Board (MCB)
- Minnesota Department of Human Services Licensing
- Midwest Association of Colleges and Employers (MWACE)
- Minnesota Association of Colleges and Employers (MN ACE)
- Minnesota Career Development Association (MCDA)
- International Coach Federation Minnesota Charter Chapter (ICF Minnesota)
- Minnesota College and University Career Services Association (MCUCSA)
- Minneapolis Metro School Counselor Association (MMSCA)
- Academic Advising Network (AAN)
- Minnesota College Personnel Association (MCPA)
- Middle Atlantic Career Counseling Association (MACCA)
- Minnesota Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (MAMFT)
- Minnesota Association for College Admission Counseling (MACAC)
Mental Health Counseling (LMHC) Licenses in Minnesota: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy |
Mental health counselors can be licensed as Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC) or Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) in Minnesota. Requirements to be an LPC include:
If an LPC applicant has not finished their supervised work hours the board can issue an LPC-Supervised license while the hours are being completed. LPCC requirements include submitting:
|
Renewals are required annually for mental health counselors in Minnesota. Renewals cost $250. Counselors must complete 12 postgraduate semester-credits during their first four years of licensure and 40 hours of continuing education. Each two-year cycle (after the first four years), counselors are required to complete 40 hours of continuing education. |
School Counseling Licenses in Minnesota
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board |
School counselors in Minnesota must earn a Tier 2 license in school counseling. The requirements for this license are:
Applicants who have a bachelor’s with at least 24 semester credit hours in school counseling coursework may apply for this license if they verify to the board they will complete the necessary courses to achieve licensure within three years. For a Tier 3 license, candidates must meet all the Tier 2 requirements, as well as complete a CACRE- accredited preparation program approved by the state. Tier 4 license candidates must meet Tier 2 and 3 requirements, as well as have three years of experience as a school counselor. |
Tier 2 licenses issued in Minnesota must be renewed every two years and may be renewed two times. Candidates completing their education must provide proof of making meaningful progress towards degree completion. Tier 3 licenses expire every three years School counselors at this tier must complete 75 clock hours of continuing education, including all mandatory requirements. Tier 4 licenses expire every five years. School counselors at this tier must complete 125 clock hours of continuing education, including all mandatory requirements. All licenses cost $57 to renew. |
Substance Abuse Counseling Licenses in Minnesota
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
The Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (BBHT) issues Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) licenses. LADC applicants must meet general requirements, as well as either the standard method of application or the supervision alternative. General requirements include:
For the standard method of application, candidates must:
For the supervision alternative, candidates must:
|
LADCs in Minnesota must renew their license every two years. Renewal fees $295. LADCs must complete 40 hours of continuing education, which must include nine hours on diversity and three hours on professional ethics |
Rehabilitation Counseling Licenses in Minnesota
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
Rehabilitation counselors in Minnesota can be credentialed as Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC) or Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC). Requirements to be an LPC include:
LPCC requirements include submitting:
|
Renewals are required annually for mental health counselors in Minnesota. Renewals cost $250. Counselors must complete 12 postgraduate semester credit hours during their first four years of licensure and 40 hours of continuing education. Each two-year cycle (after the first four years), counselors are required to complete 40 hours of continuing education. |
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Licenses in Minnesota
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) for national certification | Currently, there are no certification or licensing requirements for applied behavior analysts in Minnesota. However, holding a BCBA certification and maintaining membership with the Minnesota Northland Association for Behavior Analysis can help with employment opportunities or job advancement. |
Marriage and Family Therapy Licenses in Minnesota
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy |
The Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy credentials Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) and Licensed Associate Marriage Family Therapists (LAMFTs). LAMFT license candidates must:
Candidates for an LMFT license must meet the LAMFT license requirements, as well as:
|
Marriage and family therapy licenses issued in Minnesota must be renewed every year. LAMFT renewals cost $75 and LMFT renewals cost $125. Therapists must complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years. Three of those hours must be in ethics and four must be in cultural competency. |
Child (Pediatric) Behavioral Therapy Licenses in Minnesota
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy |
Child therapists in Minnesota can be credentialed as Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC) or Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC). Requirements to be an LPC include:
LPCC requirements include submitting:
|
Renewals are required annually for mental health counselors in Minnesota. Renewals cost $250. Counselors must complete 12 postgraduate semester-credit-hours during their first four years of licensure and 40 hours of continuing education. Each two-year cycle (after the first four years), counselors must complete 40 hours of continuing education. |
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.