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.
Learn more about our online clinical mental health counseling program
* 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.
Discover your potential
Get in touch to learn more about our school and how we can help you reach your highest career goals.
Waived Enrollment Fee
Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.