Quick facts about the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program
| Format | 100% online coursework, with a blend of asynchronous and synchronous delivery |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Full- and part-time enrollment available; no in-person residency requirements |
| Practicum | Field-based practicum and internship are completed in person, near where you live, and we work with you to find the site. No travel to a Herzing campus required. |
| Faculty | All core MS-CMHC faculty are licensed professionals who currently work in the field |
| Curriculum | Developed to be aligned with Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) standards1 |
| Accreditation | Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) |
Satisfaction rate
Our overall student satisfaction rate, according to the 2024 Herzing Graduate Survey.
Turn empathy into impact. We’ll help you navigate the path.
A career in counseling takes more than understanding theory—you need opportunities to practice, grow, and learn how to support real people.
Herzing’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling combines a 60-credit online curriculum with 700 hours of supervised practicum and internship experience. You can complete the program full-time in 24 months, while developing skills in assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, trauma and crisis counseling, addictions, and culturally responsive care. It’s a practical path designed to help you build a strong foundation for professional counseling practice.
Like all of our online programs, the online MS-CMHC program is designed to help working adults balance advancing their education with the demands of work, family, and everyday life. We support you every step of the way to ensure you’re on track and developing the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive as a clinical mental health counselor.
Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
You can take classes during the day or in the evening. We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
Virtual services
Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
MS-CMHC courses & curriculum details
Build a broad foundation in clinical mental health counseling through coursework focused on both client care and professional practice.
The curriculum includes counseling theories, assessment, psychopathology, diagnosis and treatment planning, trauma, addictions, group counseling, human development, diverse populations, and ethical practice.
Your studies culminate in supervised practicum and internship experiences where you will apply counseling skills in real-world settings under professional guidance.
All courses are delivered 100% online via the Canvas learning management system, featuring a mix of asynchronous and synchronous delivery.
| Program | Months i | Semester Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 24 | 60 |
i. Average number of months for students to complete the program attending full-time
Full list of courses
What counseling licensure can this program lead to?
The specific license depends on the state where you plan to practice. Depending on your location, professional counseling credentials may include titles such as:
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
- Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
- Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
Earning a master’s degree is one part of the licensure process; states may also require examinations, background checks, and additional supervised clinical experience after graduation.
Always review the requirements established by the licensing board in the state where you intend to practice.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition & Cost
The cost of tuition for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is $675 per credit.
Our goal is your career development. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculums and processes to make our counseling program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.
Overall cost can be reduced through transfer credit from prior graduate coursework (up to 9 credit hours of equivalent coursework – subject to review and approval, and not including fieldwork), scholarships and grants, loans, VA and military benefits, and several additional options for financial aid.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants, both through Herzing University and several national scholarship websites.
Military/Veteran Discounts
Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10-20% tuition discount.
Apply now and save 10% on tuition
Your pathway to a MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling just got more affordable. Enroll for the March 8th start and you can earn 10% tuition reduction through the Herzing University Inaugural Class Scholarship.i
iStudents must remain continuously enrolled to maintain eligibility.
Admissions requirements
Prerequisites and requirements to enroll in the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program include:
- A minimum 2.5 GPA
- A personal statement addressing select prompts during the application process
- Interview with the Admissions team
- Herzing University does not require background checks or drug testing, but this may be required for some practicum/internship sites
Eligible states for enrollment: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Idaho, Illinois, , Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
The program does not meet the education requirements for licensure in the following states: California, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Iowa, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Texas, and Vermont.
Meet Our Leadership
“Herzing University's Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is a unique addition to the landscape of online counseling programs in offering the convenience and flexibility of asynchronous learning while providing necessary skills practice in synchronous formats, all without requiring an in-person residency.
We are beyond thrilled to have created a program that considers the needs of the adult learner and working professional first, preparing individuals for successful careers and advancement. Herzing is a university with heart and soul and as such, perfectly aligns with the counseling profession in developing clinicians for work with the most vulnerable in our communities and society.”
Dr. Susan Purnell PhD, LPC (MO), LCPC (ME), NCC
Program Chair, MS in Clinical Mental Health CounselingDr. Susan Purnell is the inaugural Master of Mental Health Counseling Program Chair. She is thrilled to be a new member of the Herzing family and the Behavioral Health department. Dr. Purnell previously held the positions of Program Director of Addictions Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Beal University, Department Head of Human Services at Lindenwood University, and Visiting Assistant Professor of Counseling at Webster University.
Dr. Purnell received her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Walden University, and her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Webster University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Missouri, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the State of Maine, and a National Certified Counselor (NCC) through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). She is a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES), the American Psychological Association (APA), the International Association for Resilience and Trauma Counseling, the Missouri Mental Health Counselors Association, the Maine Mental Health Counselors Association, and the Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International.
Dr. Purnell previously served as a pro bono counselor and clinical supervisor at a St. Louis area non-profit, counseling survivors of intimate partner violence. She currently maintains a small caseload in her private practice seeing individuals and couples. Her research interests are posttraumatic growth, vicarious trauma, resiliency, intimate partner violence, transgenerational themes and expressions of violence, and PTSD as a result of IPV, war, and familial trauma. She is mom to two amazing daughters, two cats and a dog, and is a proud Navy Veteran. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, taking walks with her dog, and reading.
Accreditation & Recognition
Our accredited & recognized online school
We strive to earn rank as one of the top private, nonprofit universities in the United States. Just as you work every day to become the best version of yourself, so do we as a university.
We are proud to have attained institutional accreditation in addition to industry recognition for our accomplishments helping students earn a college education and find career success.
Herzing University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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What can you do with a master’s in clinical mental health counseling?
Clinical mental health counselors support individuals facing emotional, psychological, social, behavioral, and substance use challenges.
With a master’s degree, you will build advanced counseling skills and clinical experience to pursue opportunities in settings ranging from community mental health centers and hospitals to private practices and government or community agencies.
Potential job titles include:
- Licensed Professional Counselor2
- Clinical Therapist
- Behavioral Health Program Manager
- Substance Abuse and Behavioral Addictions Counselor
- Military and Veteran Counselor
- Crisis Intervention Specialist
- Clinical Supervisor
- Clinical Director
Specific career and licensure pathways depend on state regulations and employer requirements.
Begin preparing for work that can change lives—one conversation, one client, and one community at a time.
Faq
Frequently Asked Questions
Didn't find the answer to your question? Send us an inquiry and we will be happy to answer all your questions!
No. Herzing’s program model includes university support for practicum and internship placement, along with site-development resources and relationships with clinical sites.
Employment-based internships may also be permitted when the site and experience meet program requirements.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors earn an average salary of $64,440 per year ($30.98 per month).*
The American Counseling Association’s 2024 Counseling Workforce Report estimates an average full-time salary of $70,956 per year among all 4,095 respondents. Average salaries can vary significantly based on level of education, place of employment, and years of experience. Respondents with a master’s degree were near the overall average ($69,639 salary annually).
The curriculum gives you broad exposure to the people, challenges, and settings you may encounter as a professional counselor.
Coursework explores professional identity, ethics, human development, theories, counseling children and adolescents, couples and families, and diverse populations; group counseling, trauma and crisis, and substance use and addiction. You’ll also study assessment, DSM-5-TR-informed diagnosis, psychopathology and psychopharmacology, culturally responsive treatment planning, and counseling skills for in-person and telehealth environments.
This broad foundation can help you develop a versatile skillset to work with many different types of clients as your counseling career develops.
Clinical mental health counseling is specifically oriented toward preparing professional counselors to assess client needs, develop treatment plans, provide counseling interventions, and pursue counselor licensure.
Counseling psychology is a psychology discipline and can lead to different educational and licensing pathways. If your goal is to become a licensed psychologist, clinical and counseling psychologists typically need a PhD or PsyD.
If your goal is professional counselor licensure, an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling provides a direct counseling-focused path, and the ability to conduct clinical mental health therapy with a master’s degree.
A Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a graduate degree designed to prepare you for professional counseling practice and is the educational path toward licensure. Licensure requirements vary by state.
Our 60-credit program combines coursework in counseling theory, ethics, assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, trauma, addictions, and culturally responsive practice with supervised clinical experience.
Students also complete a 100-hour practicum and 600 hours of internship experience, giving them opportunities to apply counseling skills with clients under professional supervision.
Yes. Telehealth is now a widely used and professionally recognized way to provide counseling services. In the American Counseling Association’s 2024 Counseling Workforce Survey, 83% of employed counselors said they saw at least some clients through telehealth, and 30% reported providing all or most of their services virtually (“Entirely” or “Majority” through telehealth, as broken down in the report).
National certification organizations also maintain formal standards for distance counseling, and the Center for Credential & Education (CCE) offers a specialized Board Certified-TeleMental Health Provider credential.
Whether and how you can provide telehealth depends on the laws and licensing requirements in the state where you and your client are located.
Yes. The program is designed to give working adults as much flexibility as possible while pursuing graduate education.
Most coursework is delivered online and asynchronously, with scheduled synchronous components for certain counseling skills and practice courses. Full-time students can complete the program in 24 months, and a part-time option is available for additional flexibility.
As you progress, keep in mind that your practicum and internships require in-person clinical hours at an approved site, so you will need to plan your work schedule around those field experiences.
Yes. Earning your master’s degree is an important step toward counselor licensure, but independent practice generally requires additional supervised clinical experience after graduation.
State licensing boards determine how much supervised experience is required and how those hours must be completed. Requirements may include total counseling work hours, direct client-contact hours, and hours of supervision with a qualified licensed professional.
Because the requirements differ from state to state, you should review the current licensing rules where you plan to practice.
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Disclosures
- Our program’s curriculum is aligned with CACREP standards and most state licensure requirements. Admissions can help provide more details.
- Licensure requirements vary by state.
* BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2025. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.
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Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.