Counseling Degrees & Licenses in Tennessee
Counseling Schools Search
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“Students learn ethical and professional ways to use a client’s spiritual practices to offer client resilience and to enhance client outcomes through spiritually focused counselor multicultural competence.”
Janet Hicks, PhD, Chair and Professor, Mental Health Counseling Department, Belmont University
Earning your counseling degree and license to work in Tennessee can help you achieve both career advancements and personal fulfillment. Individuals who want to practice as a counselor will experience a growing and in-demand career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors are expected to grow by 19 percent nationally between 2023 and 2033, much faster than the average job growth over the same period (4 percent). The BLS predicts an increase of 84,500 counseling jobs over those years.
Many schools offer counseling degrees that can be completed in person or online, and most master’s programs are geared toward making the process easy for students who are already working. Often, classes are held evenings and weekends to allow the students to achieve their master’s degree and hold other responsibilities. With a counseling degree and license to practice in Tennessee, students can guide and assist people with their personal troubles and interpersonal development.
The Tennessee Department of Health licenses Licensed professional counselors, licensed marital and family therapists, and licensed clinical pastoral therapists.
In Tennessee, LPCs must hold a master’s degree in counseling from an accredited 60-credit degree program and must complete either a supervised practicum or internship that includes a minimum of 500 hours of training (including at least 300 within a mental health or community agency setting) and at least two years and 1,500 hours of face-to-face professional counseling work with at least 150 hours of consultation with an approved supervisor each year. Graduates must pass the National Counselor Examination and the Tennessee Jurisprudence Exam to be registered in Tennessee.
Read on to discover the accredited schools offering counseling degrees and how to become licensed in Tennessee.
Ask An Expert: Janet Hicks, PhD, LPC, CSC
Dr. Janet Hicks is the chair of and a professor in the mental health counseling department at Belmont University. She is a licensed professional counselor and certified school counselor who received her PhD in counselor education from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. She has researched and written extensively on child and adolescent counseling, including such topics as cyber-bullying, social aggression, self-injury, substance use and abuse, and academic achievement in the school setting.
Dr. Hicks’s previous experience working in the school system inspires her to conduct research that makes a positive impact on the mental health and academic success of youth while also offering practical programs for school and community counselors. She serves as an expert media spokesperson for the American Counseling Association on issues related to bullying and aggression. Her specialties include child and adolescent counseling, stress management for teachers and administrators, and the integration of solution-focused brief therapy into both the counseling and teaching setting.
Prior to attaining a professorship, Dr. Hicks worked for many years as a school counselor, teacher, and clinical mental health counselor. She is the former president of the Tennessee Counseling Association.
CounselingSchools.com: What sets this program apart from others in terms of preparing students for counseling careers?
Dr. Hicks: We currently offer master’s degrees with specialty areas in clinical mental health counseling; marriage, couple, and family counseling; school counseling; and pastoral therapy. We recently added a PhD that focuses on advanced clinical practice, teaching, and supervision.
In addition to the material covered in most programs, all of our degrees and specialty areas offer a strong emphasis on the integration of spirituality into counseling. Students learn ethical and professional ways to use a client’s spiritual practices to offer client resilience and to enhance client outcomes through spiritually focused counselor multicultural competence.
Pastoral therapists use faith-based practices in conjunction with psychotherapy to assist clients. Students are trained in theological principles as well as counseling techniques. The care of human souls is central to pastoral therapy and the licensure is unique to Tennessee. Courses including, but are not limited to, counseling techniques, theories, ethics, and human development are integrated with hermeneutics and other courses based on spirituality.
CounselingSchools.com: How does the program at Belmont University keep up with current research and best practices in counseling?
Dr. Hicks: Because we have CACREP-accredited clinical and marriage and family counseling programs, we continually infuse current research into all courses. Faculty also participate in their own research projects, assist students in our PhD degree with dissertations, and help students learn research as well. Faculty are involved in national, state, and local counseling organizations so they are privy and active in changes that occur within the profession.
Ask An Expert: Rebecca Milner, PhD, LPC-MHSP (TN)
Dr. Rebecca Milner is an associate professor and the counseling program coordinator for the counseling education program at East Tennessee State University. She has been part of the counseling program faculty since 2016 and regularly teaches courses in both the clinical mental health counseling core and concentration.
Dr. Milner is a member of the Association for Counseling Education and Supervision (with local membership in SACES), the American Counseling Association, and the Counselors for Social Justice division of ACA. Her professional interests include multicultural and intercultural development, social justice and anti-racism, mindfulness, technology-facilitated sexual violence, international service-learning, crisis counseling and risk assessment, and expressive arts. She earned her PhD in counseling and supervision from James Madison University.
CounselingSchools.com: How are students evaluated and assessed throughout the counseling program at East Tennessee State University?
Dr. Milner: We assess students on their academic and professional dispositions, which is standard for CACREP-accredited programs. That includes things like clinical skill development, critical thinking, ethical behavior, academic behaviors, and professional behaviors. We have informal opportunities for assessment and feedback and then more formal opportunities where students have their benchmark meetings.
Students are assessed at least three times in the program, but often faculty will just have conversations with students along the way to give them feedback. It’s meant to be supportive of student growth and development rather than being punitive. The evaluation and assessment process is for improving student professional and personal development. We also have traditional classroom assessment methods through tests, papers, projects, and clinical supervision. Students are receiving clinical supervision from faculty for the work that they’re doing in the clinic we have on campus, in addition to the supervision that they’re getting on their field sites.
Every student does have an advisor, but there’s no set requirement for meetings, so those meetings are held as needed. One of the other things I really like about our program is that students can go to their advisor, but they can also go to any other faculty member that they may have a rapport with. We have a core faculty of six, so if there’s someone they connect with, they can always go seek that person out for mentorship, guidance, or feedback rather than only having to go to their advisor.
One of the things I tell people who are looking at our program and applying is that we’re a pretty small program. It’s not the kind of program where you can hide. The faculty will know you and you will know them.
CounselingSchools.com: What support systems are in place for students during their clinical training throughout the counseling program at East Tennessee State University?
Dr. Milner: The clinic we have is part of the professional development and emotional support for students. Students have an opportunity to receive supervision from different folks. They’ve got their supervisor on their field site, where they’re doing the bulk of their hours, and then they’ve got their faculty supervisor. They usually see one to two clients in the clinic during their practicum and internship experience.
In addition to seeing clients, there’s group supervision, where you get group support from your peers, where you’re learning and practicing how to give and receive feedback. Faculty will also do some experiential activities and supervision to help students think through what’s going on with their client while also processing what’s happening with them as a counselors in training and just getting started.
We encourage students to seek additional supervision from someone if they have an area of interest or expertise for a client that they see, such as play therapy, if their advisor doesn’t have expertise in play therapy. Rather than it being siloed and competitive, it’s all about a learning community where students can seek out the kind of guidance and learning experiences that they need.
Our University Counseling Center is an internship site, and the Psychology Department has a clinic on campus as well. They’ve got a partnership with the University Counseling Center so that if a student is an intern or is doing practicum or wants to be at the University Center, they can get free services at the Psychology Department clinic, which otherwise would be a fee-based service. We definitely encourage and support our students to take care of themselves, get their own counseling, and do their own work along the way.
Accredited Counseling Degree Programs in Tennessee
Austin Peay State University is a public university in Clarksville, Tennessee that has been on the same site since 1845. The school offers a master of science (MS) in counseling with a concentration in clinical mental health counseling or school counseling. Both programs require 60 credits. A prerequisite for either of these degrees is 12 hours of psychology (or related) courses.
The clinical mental health counseling concentration meets the educational requirements for licensure in Tennessee as a Licensed Professional Counselor with Mental Health Service Provider status. The curriculum includes a 100-hour practicum experience, a 600-hour internship, and a comprehensive examination.
The school counseling concentration prepares graduates for school counseling positions at elementary, middle/junior high, and high school levels. Graduates will meet the current licensing requirements for the Tennessee Board of Education. The curriculum includes a 120-hour practicum, a 600-hour internship, and a comprehensive examination. Students entering the program without prior teaching experience will be required to take two education courses as electives.
- Location: Clarksville, Tennessee
- Duration: 60 credits
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), clinical mental health counseling and school counseling; Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), school counseling
Belmont University is a private Christian university founded in 1890 by schoolteachers. The master of arts in counseling is the only graduate program in Belmont’s College of Theology & Christian Ministry. The MA in mental health counseling combines scientific theory with a Christian worldview. Students in the mental health counseling program choose one of four specialty tracks. Each requires 60 hours of coursework.
The clinical mental health counseling track meets the requirements for LPC and the LPC-MHSP licensure in Tennessee. The marriage, couple, and family counseling track qualifies students to apply for licensure as an LMFT in Tennessee. The clinical pastoral therapy program satisfies the requirements for licensure in the state of Tennessee as a clinical pastoral therapist, which is a field that engages in faith-based counseling.
Finally, the school counseling program prepares graduate students to serve as school counselors in public or private pre-K-12 schools and satisfies the requirements for licensure as a School Counselor in the State of Tennessee.
- Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Duration: 60 hours
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University is a public research university. This school’s graduate programs include a master of arts (MA) in counseling with an elementary/secondary school counseling concentration or an MA in counseling with a clinical mental health concentration.
The university offers a school counseling concentration, which is CACREP accredited and fulfills the specifics of the requirements by the Tennessee State Department of Education for licensure as a pre-K through 12 school counselor. Students may also take coursework to prepare them for eligibility as a Licensed Professional Counselor.
Students wishing to specialize in couples and family therapy can take courses as electives for that specialization. Students interested in licensure in Tennessee as a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) can work with their advisor to complete coursework and clinical experiences that may lead to licensure as both an LPC-MHSP and an LMFT.
- Location: Johnson City, Tennessee
- Duration: 60 credits
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Lincoln Memorial University is a private liberal arts university with a large campus bordering Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. Lincoln’s counseling program offers master of education (MEd) concentrations in either PreK-12 school counseling or mental health counseling.
Students in both concentrations start by taking the Common Counseling Core, which consists of 36 credit hours. Then, students take courses within their concentration.
The PreK-12 school counseling program meets the academic requirements for licensure as a PreK-12 Counselor in the state of Tennessee. Students are required to be covered by insurance provided with an American Counseling Association student membership. After graduation, students are required by the State Department of Education to pass the Praxis Specialty Area Test in School Counselor with a score of at least 156 to be eligible for licensure as a PreK-12 school counselor in Tennessee.
Graduates of LMU’s mental health counseling program will qualify to apply for licensure in professional counseling (LPC). After graduating, students must pass a national counselor certification test (NCE) and complete post-master’s supervision hours before LPC licensure. Students majoring in mental health counseling must be covered by insurance provided with an American Counseling Association student membership.
- Location: Harrogate, Tennessee
- Duration: 60 credits
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), clinical mental health and school counseling concentrations; Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), school counseling concentration
Middle Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University is a public university founded in 1911. Middle Tennessee State University offers a professional counseling educational science degree. MTSU’s professional counseling program offers two concentrations: clinical mental health counseling and school counseling.
The MTSU Professional Counseling program was the 2011 recipient of the “Outstanding Master’s Program Award” by the Southern Association of Counselor Education and Supervision. Both degree programs are 61-hour programs.
Students who complete the concentration in clinical mental health counseling will have met the educational requirements for licensure as professional counselors with mental health service provider (MHSP) designation in the state of Tennessee. Students who complete the concentration in school counseling will have met the educational requirements necessary for licensure as a school counselor in the state of Tennessee.
- Location: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
- Duration: 61 hours
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Tennessee Technological University
Tennessee Technological University is a public research university that was formerly known as Tennessee Polytechnic Institute. The Counseling and Psychology Department offers either a master of arts or an education specialist counseling degree. Students can choose from four degree concentrations: clinical mental health counseling, psychology, school counseling, or school psychology.
Graduates of the clinical mental health counseling program are qualified to obtain LPC licensure with a Mental Health Service Provider endorsement. Licensure requires supervised clinical experience beyond the hours required for a degree. The psychology master of arts is a general non-licensure concentration. Licensure as a school counselor requires successful completion of the guidance section of the Praxis examination. The educational psychology program is a non-licensure track.
- Location: Cookeville, Tennessee
- Duration: 60 hours for the licensure track programs
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP), clinical mental health and school counseling concentrations; Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), school counseling and school psychology concentrations
The University of Memphis is a public research university founded in 1912 with an enrollment of more than 22,000 students. The school has several master of science (MS) in counseling degree programs with concentrations in clinical mental health counseling, clinical rehabilitation counseling, vocational rehabilitation counseling, or school counseling. The clinical rehabilitation counseling program requires 12 more credits than rehabilitation counseling.
- Location: Memphis, Tennessee
- Duration: The school counseling and vocational rehabilitation counseling programs are a minimum of 48 semester hours; clinical mental health counseling and clinical rehabilitation counseling are 60-semester hour programs.
- Accreditation: Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), Council of Rehabilitation Counseling (CORE)
University of Tennessee – Knoxville
The University of Tennessee is a public research university founded in 1794, two years before Tennessee became the 16th state. The school offers master of science (MS) degrees in counseling with two concentrations: clinical mental health counseling and school counseling.
The clinical mental health counseling concentration meets educational standards for licensure as a professional counselor in Tennessee and most other states. All states also require additional testing and postgraduate supervised experience for licensure.
The school counseling concentration meets the requirements for PreK-12 licensure as a school counselor in Tennessee and most other states. Some states may have additional experience and testing requirements.
The university also offers a dual option, allowing students to complete requirements for practice in both concentrations for no additional credit hours, though it must be completed over three full years, allowing one year of internship for school counseling CMHC each. Students can indicate interest and apply for the dual option in their first semester of study.
- Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
- Duration: 60 credits
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
University of Tennessee – Chattanooga
The University of Tennessee’s Chattanooga campus offers a similar counseling education program as the Knoxville campus, but the awarded degrees are slightly different. The Chattanooga campus offers master of education degrees in counseling with two concentrations: clinical mental health counseling and school counseling.
The clinical mental health counseling concentration meets educational standards for licensure as a professional counselor in Tennessee and most other states. All states also require additional testing and postgraduate supervised experience for licensure.
The school counseling concentration meets the requirements for PreK-12 licensure as a school counselor in Tennessee and most other states. Some states may have additional experience and testing requirements.
- Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Duration: 60 credits
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) school counseling and CMHC; Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), school counseling
Vanderbilt University is a private research university founded in 1873. Vanderbilt offers a counseling degree in the field of human development counseling (HDC) in either clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, or a dual concentration. Both programs at 60 credits, and the dual concentration is 66 credits.
The CMHC program includes a three-semester internship for hands-on experience under expert supervision in clinical counseling settings; the school counseling program includes a full-year internship in a variety of school settings; the dual track includes five internship semesters with placements in both school and clinical counseling settings.
- Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Duration: 60 credits for CMHC and school counseling; 66 for dual concentration.
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
How Much Do Counselors Make in Tennessee?
These numbers represent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from May 2023—the latest data available as of January 2025.
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
| United States | Tennessee | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 327,660 | 5,750 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $66,990 | $55,690 |
| 10th percentile | $40,140 | $37,500 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $61,710 | $52,850 |
| 90th percentile | $100,050 | $75,720 |
Marriage and Family Therapists
| United States | Tennessee | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 63,340 | 2,130 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $68,730 | $44,380 |
| 10th percentile | $39,090 | $29,520 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $58,510 | $44,180 |
| 90th percentile | $104,710 | $58,710 |
Rehabilitation Counselors
| United States | Tennessee | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 84,750 | 560 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $48,430 | $44,730 |
| 10th percentile | $31,390 | $30,740 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $44,040 | $43,090 |
| 90th percentile | $73,710 | $58,430 |
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
| United States | Tennessee | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 397,880 | 5,220 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $60,080 | $49,280 |
| 10th percentile | $36,700 | $30,050 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $53,710 | $45,490 |
| 90th percentile | $89,920 | $75,330 |
All Other Counselors
| United States | Tennessee | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 35,580 | 690 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $52,360 | $45,160 |
| 10th percentile | $33,300 | $29,300 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $46,130 | $45,080 |
| 90th percentile | $79,880 | $56,880 |
Counseling Professional Associations & Resources in Tennessee
- The Tennessee Licensed Professional Counselors Association (TLPCA)
- Tennessee Counseling Association (TCA)
- The Tennessee School Counselor Association (TSCA)
- Tennessee Association of Pastoral Therapists (TNAPT)
- Tennessee Psychological Association (TPA)
- The Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations (TAMHO)
- Tennessee Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (TNAMFT)
- Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association (TNOTA)
Mental Health Counseling (LMHC) Licenses in Tennessee: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Board for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapists | Tennessee credentials Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health Service Providers (LPC/MHSPs) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPCs). In order to receive LPC licensure, candidates must:
To be an LPC-MH, candidates must hold an LPC license as well as:
|
Renewals for LPC/HMSPs and LPCs in Tennessee are due every two years, may be completed online, and cost $115. Counselors are required to complete 20 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle. Three of those hours must be in ethics or Tennessee rules and regulations. |
School Counseling Licenses in Tennessee
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Education | The Tennessee Department of Education issues school services personnel licenses with a school counselor endorsement. There are five paths to earn a practitioner level license and endorsement. Candidates must:
Candidates must be 18 years old to apply. Applications are completed online and must pass a National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) screening. To advance from a practitioner to professional licenses, school counselors must:
|
A practitioner personnel license with a school counselor endorsement issued in Tennessee is valid for three years and may only be renewed once. A professional license is valid for six. Renewal applications must be completed online. Professional license holders must earn 60 professional development points (PDPs) per renewal cycle. There are no continuing education requirements for practitioner licenses. |
Substance Abuse Counseling Licenses in Tennessee
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
Tennessee’s Board of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors issues licenses for Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors Level I and II (LADC). LADC Level I licensure candidates must:
LADC Level II licensure candidates must:
|
LACD Level I and IIs in Tennessee must renew their licenses every two years. Renewals cost $325. Counselors must complete 15 hours of continuing education. Three of those hours must be in ethics and at least nine hours must be face to face. |
Rehabilitation Counseling Licenses in Tennessee
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
Rehabilitation counselors in Tennessee are either Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health Service Providers (LPC/MHSPs) or Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). In order to receive LPC licensure, candidates must:
To be an LPC-MH, candidates must hold an LPC license as well as:
|
Renewals for LPC/HMSPs and LPCs in Tennessee are due every two years, may be completed online, and cost $115. Counselors are required to complete 20 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle. Three of those hours must be in ethics or Tennessee rules and regulations. |
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Licenses in Tennessee
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Health Professional Boards Applied Behavior Analyst Licensing Committee | The Tennessee Health Professional Boards Applied Behavior Analyst Licensing Committee credentials Licensed Behavior Analysts and Licensed Assistant Behavior Analysts. Candidates must:
| Behavior analyst licenses issued in Tennessee are valid for two years. Renewals cost $300 for full analyst licenses and $200 for assistant licenses. Renewal applications must be accompanied by proof of current BACB certification and proof of completing three continuing education hours on cultural diversity |
Marriage and Family Therapy Licenses in Tennessee
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Board for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapists |
The Tennessee Board for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists, and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapists credentials Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT). If a candidate hasn’t met the supervised experience hour requirements they can receive a license as a Certified Marriage and Family Therapist in the interim. In order to receive LMFT licensure, candidates must:
|
Renewals for LMFTs in Tennessee are due every two years, can be completed online, and cost $115. Counselors are required to complete 20 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle. Three of those hours must be in ethics or Tennessee rules and regulations. |
Child (Pediatric) Behavioral Therapy Licenses in Tennessee
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
Child therapists in Tennessee are either Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health Service Providers (LPC/MHSPs) or Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). To receive LPC licensure, candidates must:
To be an LPC-MH, candidates must hold an LPC license as well as:
|
Renewals for LPC/HMSPs and LPCs in Tennessee are due every two years, may be completed online, and cost $115. Counselors are required to complete 40 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle. Three of those hours must be in ethics or Tennessee rules and regulations. |
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.