Counseling Degrees & Licenses in Oklahoma

Accredited Counseling Degree Programs in Oklahoma

East Central University

East Central University is one of Oklahoma’s public universities. The school’s College of Education and Psychology provides students with the following programs: an MEd of school counseling, an MS of counseling psychology, and an MS of clinical rehabilitation and clinical mental health counseling.

The above three programs are pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health. The master of psychology degrees allow students to choose a concentration in counseling or school counseling, along with other options like school psychology, educational psychology, and sports psychology. It also includes post-master certificates in school psychology and psychometry. Students who complete the counseling psychology MS are eligible to seek state LPC and LBP licensure. Students in the school counseling track are encouraged to work closely with their advisor to obtain LPC licensure.

The master of science in human resources allows for a clinical rehabilitation and clinical mental health counseling option. Students who complete this program satisfy the educational and clinical training requirements to be eligible for Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) licensure and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensure. An applicant for admission to the program must show evidence of professional potential.

• Location: Ada, Oklahoma
• Duration: Varies by program
• Accreditation: The clinical mental health counseling and clinical rehabilitation counseling programs are CACREP-approved; school counseling and school psychometry programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

Cameron University

Cameron University is a public university that emphasizes liberal arts, science and technology, and graduate and professional studies. The Department of Psychology’s master of arts in mental health with counseling and marriage & family tracks is pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health. 

The counseling track is designed for graduate students who would like to become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). The marriage and family track is designed for graduate students who would like to become Licensed Marital and Family Therapists (LMFT). 

The counseling curriculum has been pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure to meet the academic requirements for licensure as a professional counselor in Oklahoma. It requires 24 hours of core courses and 36 hours specific to the track, for a total of 60 credit hours. The marriage and family track curriculum has been pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health to meet the academic requirements for licensure as a marital and family therapist in Oklahoma. It requires 24 hours of core courses and 24 hours specific to the track for 48 credit hours.

• Location: Lawton, Oklahoma
• Duration: The counseling track is 60 credits; the marriage and family track is 48 credits
• Accreditation: Cameron University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission

Langston University

Langston University is a public land-grant university (meaning it was established on federal land for the purpose of education) and the only historically Black college in the state.

Their master of education and behavioral sciences department offers two counseling options: an MS in rehabilitation counseling and an MS in visual rehabilitation services, which prepare graduates for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) designation and the Oklahoma Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential.

• Location: Langston, Oklahoma
• Duration: Two years; the rehabilitation counseling program is 63 credits and the visual rehabilitation services program is 66 credits
• Accreditation: CACREP

Mid-America Christian University

Mid-America Christian University is a private liberal arts college initially founded as the South Texas Bible Institute in 1953 in Houston, Texas. The school’s master of science in counseling is pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health. The MS in counseling degree classes are available 100 percent online or in-person weekly at MACU’s campus in south Oklahoma City.

All classes are scientifically based while also integrating faith-based principles. The degree program includes a practicum and internship at the end. The practicum will total a minimum of 100 hours over a minimum of ten weeks, and the internship will total a minimum of 600 hours of service.

Students can choose from four emphases: clinical mental health counseling; addiction and substance abuse counseling; marital, couples, and family counseling/therapy; and applied behavioral science (non-licensure, no practicum or internship). Graduates in related fields can obtain an Addiction and Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate, which also qualifies them for the licensed alcohol and drug counseling/mental health (LADC/MH) credential.

Graduates in the addiction and substance abuse program can pursue a licensed alcohol and drug counselor (LADC) credential. In contrast, clinical mental health counseling graduates can pursue a licensed professional counselor (LPC) credential. Marital, couples and family counseling/therapy graduates can pursue a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) credential. Courses are online and cohort-based. Students can also choose a hybrid online and on-campus format, which requires one night weekly on campus.

• Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Duration: The clinical mental health counseling; marital, couples, and family counseling therapy; and addictions and substance abuse counseling emphases are 60 credits; the clinical mental health counseling emphasis requires 60 hours, though an additional 3 to 12 credits may be required for state licensure and added to the course total; the applied behavioral science emphasis is 36 credits
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

Northeastern Oklahoma State University

Northeastern Oklahoma State University is a public university. The university has campuses in Tahlequah, Muskogee, and Broken Arrow, as well as online.

The master of science in counseling at Northeastern Oklahoma State University is both CACREP-approved and pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health. The university offers it on both the Tahlequah and Broken Arrow campuses, with emphasis on clinical mental health counseling, addictions counseling, and school counseling.

All programs are 60 credits and include a 600-hour supervised internship experience. This program meets or exceeds the educational requirements for becoming either a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC), or a Certified School Counselor (K-12) in Oklahoma and most other states. 

The master of science in occupational therapy program is a 24-month program with 76 hours. It focuses on training occupational therapists for the rural region of Eastern Oklahoma, particularly to serve the Native Americans in the area. The program is designed to meet the requirements for the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association for professional accreditation. It also addresses the curricular standards of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

• Location: Tahlequah, Oklahoma
• Duration: 60 credits, occupational therapy is 76 credits
• Accreditation: The MS in counseling degrees are CACREP-approved

Oklahoma State University

Oklahoma State University is a public land-grant research university that is the flagship institution of the Oklahoma State University System. Oklahoma State University, master of science in counseling is CACREP-approved and pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health. Degree options include mental health counseling or school counseling. Courses are offered at the OSU Stillwater and Tulsa campuses.

The degree includes 100 clock hours of practicum and 600 hours of internship along with a creative component portfolio demonstrating competency.

• Location: Stillwater, Oklahoma
• Duration: Students must complete 60 credits for the mental health counseling option or school counseling options; students who wish to complete a thesis instead of a creative component must complete 66 credits; school counseling students who wish to pursue licensure as a professional counselor (LPC) must complete 63 credits
• Accreditation: CACREP

Oral Roberts University

Oral Roberts University is a private evangelical university founded in 1963 and named after its founder, evangelist Oral Roberts. The school’s MA in professional counseling (MAPC) is pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health. All programs are faith-based, and students can pursue licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) in Oklahoma as well as the majority of other states.

The MAPC degree offers three tracks toward state licensure: the professional counseling track (in preparation for LPC) with concentrations in marital and family therapy or addictions counseling; the marital and family therapy track (in preparation for LMFT) with a concentration in addictions counseling; or the addictions counseling track (in preparation for LMFT).

• Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
• Duration: 63+ credits
• Accreditation: Oral Roberts University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission

Rogers State University

Rogers State University is a public university in Claremore, Oklahoma, with branch campuses in Bartlesville and Pryor Creek. The university’s Department of Psychology & Sociology offers a master of science in community counseling degree program that has been pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health.

The master of science in community counseling (MSCC) prepares students to sit for the National Counselor Exam (NCE) and the Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Exam (OLERE) required by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health for application as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) candidate. 

• Location: Claremore, Oklahoma
• Duration: Two years attending full-time; 60 credits
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission 

Southern Nazarene University

Southern Nazarene University is a private Nazarene liberal arts college. The school’s master in counseling psychology is pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health. Students can choose from a master of arts or a master of science which is more research-focused. 

Several concentrations are available for this program, including becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), becoming an MFT, becoming a play therapist, or a drug and alcohol counselor. All classes are faith-based. 

• Location: Bethany, Oklahoma
• Duration: 60 credits
• Accreditation: Southern Nazarene University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission

Southeastern Oklahoma State University 

Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a small public university in Durant, Oklahoma. All of the school’s counseling programs — which include a master of arts in clinical mental health counseling and a master of education in school counseling — are all pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health.

SOSU’s 100 percent online MEd in school counseling requires students to have a teaching certificate to enroll. Courses are accelerated and flexible, so students can complete their master’s online while continuing to work full time. Graduates of the master of arts in clinical mental health counseling are qualified to be licensed at the state level.

• Location: Durant, Oklahoma
• Duration: 60 credits
• Accreditation: Southeastern Oklahoma State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission

University of Central Oklahoma

The University of Central Oklahoma is a public university that is also the third-largest university in Oklahoma. The school’s College of Education and Professional Studies offers a master of education in school counseling, a master of education in school and professional counseling, and, master of arts in counseling psychology, which are pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health.

The master’s degree in counseling psychology is a three-year, full-time program. Students in this program typically work towards Licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC) or Behavioral Practitioner (LBP).

The master of education in school counseling degree prepares professional counselors who specialize in the PK-12 school environment. The program prepares both master’s students and post-master’s for the School Counselor Certification examination. The master of education in school counseling—school and professional counseling combines 33 hours of the necessary coursework to be eligible to take the Oklahoma School Counseling exam to become a School Counselor at the K-12 level. This program also includes the additional 27 hours required to be eligible to take the Licensed Professional Counselor exam in the state of Oklahoma.

The school also offers a certificate in licensed professional counseling, which is embedded within the master of education degree in school counseling and school and professional counseling only. This certificate provides students with an additional 27 credits. It is designed for UCO school counseling students who wish to complete the academic requirements for a licensed professional counselor in Oklahoma.

• Location: Edmond, Oklahoma
• Duration: 60 credits
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

Counseling Professional Associations & Resources in Oklahoma

• Mental Health Association Of Oklahoma (MHAOK) 
• Oklahoma Counseling Association (OCA) 
• Oklahoma Mental Health Counselor Association (OKMCHA) 
• Oklahoma Association Of Colleges And Employers (OkACE)
• Oklahoma College Student Personnel Association (OCSPA)
• Oklahoma School Counselor Association (OSCA) 
• Oklahoma Career And Technical Education
• Oklahoma Works 
• Career Guidance Network Of Oklahoma
• Oklahoma Drug & Alcohol Professional Counselor Association (ODAPCA)
• Oklahoma Department Of Mental Health And Substance Abuse

Mental Health Counseling (LMHC) Licenses in Oklahoma: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Licensing Authority	Eligibility & Details	Renewal Requirements
State Board of Behavioral Health	Oklahoma credentials Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). Applicants who have not completed their required supervised work experience may be licensed as Licensed Professional Counselor Candidates (LPC Candidates). To apply for an LPC license, candidates must: Complete an application Complete a background check Pay $145 application fee Submit an Internship/Practicum Documentation Form Be 21 years old Submit official transcripts from an accredited institution demonstrating a master’s in counseling. Programs must be 60 semester-credits (or 90 quarter-hours) in length and include a 300-hour practicum Complete three years and 3,000 hours of supervised work experience. For every 1,000 hours completed, 350 must be direct client contact. There must be 45 minutes of supervision for every 20 hours of experience. Thirty credits of graduate semester coursework beyond the master’s degree may be substituted for one year of work experience, up to a total of two years. Have a passing NCE score Pass The Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination	Renewals for LPC licenses in Oklahoma are completed in three time periods: initial, interim, and annual. For an initial renewal candidates must renew two years from when it was first issued. Fees vary based on the expiration date. The next renewal is the interim cycle and is from the expiration date of the initial renewal till the 30th of June. Then, licenses renew annually. Continuing education requirements for interim renewals vary based on when the length of the license. In general, a license holder must complete 20 hours of continuing education hours. Three of those hours must be in ethics.

School Counseling Licenses in Oklahoma

Licensing Authority	Eligibility & Details	Renewal Requirements
Oklahoma State Department of Education	The Oklahoma State Department of Education certifies school counselors. The requirements for this certificate are: Hold a master’s degree in school counseling Complete an application Pay the application background check fee Pass a background check Pass the Oklahoma Subject Area Tests (OSAT) in School Counseling of the School Counselor Praxis Have a university recommendation for certification.	Standard school counselor certificates issued in Oklahoma are valid for five years. To renew, school counselors must submit a completed application, pay a $50 renewal fee, and complete 125 professional development units.

Substance Abuse Counseling Licenses in Oklahoma

Licensing Authority	Eligibility & Details	Renewal Requirements
Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors (OBLACD)	The Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors issues Licensed Alcohol Drug Counselor (LADC) licenses and Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor (CADC) certifications. CADC certificate candidates must: Be 21 years old Have a bachelor’s degree in behavioral health from an accredited institution Pay $175 application fee Submit three professional references Complete the application Have 300 practicum hours, with at least 10 hours in each of the 12 core functions Complete two years (4,000 hours) of supervised work experience; at least half of the hours must be direct client contact Sign the code of ethics Provide a 300-word written personal philosophy of counseling Complete 270 hours of continuing education (at least 135 of those hours must be drug and alcohol-specific) Submit an affidavit of right to work in the US Provide a supervisor’s evaluation Complete the supervision log demonstrating one hour of supervision per week Complete 45 hours of specialized training in co-occurring disorders Pass the written and oral exam administered by the Oklahoma Drug and Alcohol Professional Counselor Association LACD candidates must: Be 21 years old Have a master’s degree in behavioral health from an accredited institution Pay $175 application fee Submit three professional references Complete the application Have 300 practicum hours with at least ten hours in each of the 12 core functions Complete one year and 2,000 hours of supervised work experience; at least half of the hours must be direct client contact Sign the code of ethics Provide a written personal philosophy of counseling Complete 180 hours of continuing education (at least 90 of those hours must be drug and alcohol-specific) Submit an affidavit of right to work in the US Provide a supervisors evaluation Complete the supervision log demonstrating one hour of supervision per week Pass the written and oral exam administered by the Oklahoma Drug and Alcohol Professional Counselor Association	Renewals for LADCs and CADCs through the OBLACD are due annually. Renewals cost $125. In order to be eligible for renewal, counselors must complete 20 hours of continuing education, of which three hours must be in ethics.

Rehabilitation Counseling Licenses in Oklahoma

Licensing Authority	Eligibility & Details	Renewal Requirements
State Board of Behavioral Health	Rehabilitation counselors in Oklahoma are credentialed as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). Applicants who have not completed their required supervised work experience may be licensed as Licensed Professional Counselor Candidates (LPC Candidates). To apply for an LPC license, candidates must: Complete an application Complete a background check Pay $145 application fee Submit an Internship/Practicum Documentation Form Be 21 years old Submit official transcripts from an accredited institution demonstrating a master’s in counseling. Programs must be 60 semester credits (or 90 quarter hours) in length and include a 300-hour practicum Complete three years and 3,000 hours of supervised work experience. For every 1,000 hours completed, 350 must be direct client contact. There must be 45 minutes of supervision for every 20 hours of experience. Thirty credits of graduate semester coursework beyond the master’s degree may be substituted for one year of work experience, up to a total of two years. Have a passing NCE score Pass The Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination	Renewals for LPC licenses in Oklahoma are completed in three time periods: initial, interim, and annual. For an initial renewal candidates must renew two years from when it was first issued. Fees vary based on the expiration date. The next renewal is the interim cycle and is from the expiration date of the initial renewal till the 30th of June. Then, licenses renew annually. Continuing education requirements for interim renewals vary based on when the length of the license. In general, a license holder must complete 20 hours of continuing education hours. Three of those hours must be in ethics.

Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Licenses in Oklahoma

Licensing Authority	Eligibility & Details	Renewal Requirements
Oklahoma Licensed Behavior Analyst Board (OLBAB)	The Oklahoma Licensed Behavior Analyst Board (OLBAB) licenses Behavior Analysts and Assistant Behavior Analysts. Requirements for certification or licensure are: Complete an application Hold a BCBA or BCaBA certification Pay a prorated application fee Supply professional references Provide proof of supervision (BCaBAs only) Complete the Statement of Professional Disclosure form Submit a photocopy of a valid photo ID and of current Board Certification	Licenses and certifications issued by the OLBAB must be renewed by April 30 of odd-numbered years. To renew, applicants must pay a $100 fee for behavior analysts (or $50 for assistants), as well as supply proof of current BABC certification.

Marriage and Family Therapy Licenses in Oklahoma

Licensing Authority	Eligibility & Details	Renewal Requirements
State Board of Behavioral Health	Oklahoma credentials Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT). Applicants who have not completed their required supervised work experience may be licensed as Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists Candidates (LMFT Candidates). To apply for an LMFT license, candidates must: Complete an application Complete a background check Pay $200 application fee, $100 certification fee, and $45 exam fee Submit an Internship/Practicum Documentation Form Be 21 years old Submit official transcripts from an accredited institution demonstrating a master’s in marriage and family therapy, including a 300-hour practicum Complete two years of supervised work experience with at least 1,000 hours of direct client contact; there must also be at least 150 hours of face-to-face supervision Have a passing AMFTRB score Pass the Oklahoma LMFT Examination	Renewals for LMFT licenses in Oklahoma are completed in three time periods: initial, interim, and annual. For an initial renewal, candidates must renew two years from when the license was first issued. Fees vary based on the expiration date. The next renewal is the interim cycle and is from the expiration date of the initial renewal till the 30th of June. This renewal costs $100. Then, licenses renew annually and the fee is $100. Continuing education requirements for interim renewals vary based on when the length of the license. In general, a license holder must complete 20 hours of continuing education hours. Three of those hours must be in ethics.

Child (Pediatric) Behavioral Therapy Licenses in Oklahoma

Licensing Authority	Eligibility & Details	Renewal Requirements
State Board of Behavioral Health	Child therapists in Oklahoma are credentialed as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). Applicants who have not completed their required supervised work experience may be licensed as Licensed Professional Counselor Candidates (LPC Candidates). To apply for an LPC license, candidates must: Complete an application Complete a background check Pay $145 application fee Submit an Internship/Practicum Documentation Form Be 21 years old Submit official transcripts from an accredited institution demonstrating a master’s in counseling. Programs must be 60 semester-credits (or 90 quarter-hours) in length and include a 300-hour practicum Complete three years and 3,000 hours of supervised work experience. For every 1,000 hours completed, 350 must be direct client contact. There must be 45 minutes of supervision for every 20 hours of experience. Thirty credits of graduate semester coursework beyond the master’s degree may be substituted for one year of work experience, up to a total of two years. Have a passing NCE score Pass The Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination	Renewals for LPC licenses in Oklahoma are completed in three time periods: initial, interim, and annual. For an initial renewal, candidates must renew two years from when it was first issued. Fees vary based on the expiration date. The next renewal is the interim cycle and is from the expiration date of the initial renewal till the 30th of June. Then, licenses renew annually. Continuing education requirements for interim renewals vary based on when the length of the license. In general, a license holder must complete 20 hours of continuing education hours. Three of those hours must be in ethics.

Counseling Schools & Licensure in Nearby States

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Florida
• Georgia
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Virginia
• West Virginia