Is a Master’s in Counseling Worth It?

Communities across the country need more counselors to deal with a growing mental health crisis. One-fifth of American adults reported mental health issues in 2021 but less than half of those people received treatment. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data also identified increases in substance use disorders and youth suicide rates in 2022.

Mental health counselors guide clients of all ages through challenges and more during therapy. This guidance is shaped by years of advanced education and a commitment to ethical practice confirmed by state licensure. It is a good idea to consider counseling career options as you think about whether a master’s in counseling is worth it.

What Can You Do with a Master’s in Counseling?

A master’s degree in counseling builds the interpersonal and clinical skills necessary to positively impact clients’ lives. Graduate coursework trains counselors to identify sources of mental distress. They work with their clients on mitigating issues like family conflict, social anxiety, and work-related stress. Counselors also collaborate with psychiatrists, psychologists, and physicians on effective treatment plans.

Newcomers to the counseling profession find a variety of practice settings where their skills are needed. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found that 18% of counselors worked in outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers in 2022. While this was the most common setting, counselors also helped clients in places including:

• Family service providers (15%)
• Health practitioner offices (12%)
• Hospitals (9%)
• Residential mental health and substance abuse centers (9%)

Becoming a Counselor

The starting point for any counseling career is a master’s degree in counseling. Graduate studies combine advanced coursework and supervised clinical experiences in the above work settings. Full-time, in-person programs require at least two years of study with more flexible online options available to working professionals.

National Counseling Exam (NCE)

Counseling students should sit for the NCE after graduation. The National Board of Certified Counselors and the Center for Credentialing & Education base each edition of the NCE on a national skill review of experienced counselors. State boards use NCE results to confirm the competency of counselors seeking licensure.

The NCE asks test takers to complete 200 multiple-choice questions in three hours and 45 minutes. A computerized grading system scores 160 questions and uses data from the 40 unscored questions for future test editions. Aspiring counselors demonstrate their knowledge in six knowledge domains tested by the NCE:

1. Professional Practice and Ethics
2. Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis
3. Areas of Clinical Focus
4. Treatment Planning
5. Counseling Skills and Interventions
6. Core Counseling Attributes

State Licensure

State laws regulating who could work as professional counselors emerged in the 1970s. Licensing requirements for the profession ensure the safety of those seeking counseling services. Professional counseling licenses also establish baseline standards for practitioners with renewal required throughout their careers.

There are different standards for counseling licensure from state to state. New Jersey’s Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license offers a good example of what new applicants can expect. Counselors in New Jersey achieve this level of licensure by:

• Completing an accredited master’s degree program in counseling
• Reporting passing scores on the NCE
• Achieving a minimum of 4,500 hours of supervised counseling experience as a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC)

Career Outlook for Master’s in Counseling Graduates

You may wonder “Is a counseling degree worth it?” given the time and energy needed to enter the profession. It is important to consider personal and financial returns on your educational investment before researching schools. Counseling is a rewarding profession with a strong outlook for the foreseeable future.

Salary Prospects

Consistent demand for mental health counselors will open plenty of opportunities for new graduates. The BLS projects an 18% growth in mental health counseling employment from 2022 to 2032. This rate outpaces the 3% growth rate for all professions.

This demand translates into above-average annual salaries for mental health counselors. The BLS found a median salary of $53,710 for counselors in 2023, while all professions averaged $48,060 in the same year. Counselors in the top 10% of earners reported salaries of at least $89,920, while others make well over $100,000 per year.

BLS data show that salary prospects vary based on practice location. Mental health counselors based in hospitals earned an average of $59,090 in 2023. The following locations and median salaries show the broad range of compensation for counseling work:

• Health practitioner officers ($55,410)
• Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers ($51,130)
• Family service providers ($51,010)
• Residential mental health and substance abuse centers ($46,880)

Finding the Right Counseling Degree for You

The value of a master’s degree in counseling depends in part on where it is earned. An accredited and reputable degree program makes graduates more competitive in the marketplace. You’ll also want to learn from a university that meets you where you are with counseling degrees built for working professionals. Felician University checks these boxes with its Online Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology (MACP).

Earning a Counseling Degree at Felician University

The MACP offers flexibility for your schedule and future career plans. This innovative degree can be completed part-time or full-time with all courses taught virtually by experienced faculty. Students are prepared for state licensure and the start of their counseling careers in as little as seven semesters of study.

University faculty work with MACP students on identifying sites in their communities for 100 practicum hours and 600+ internship hours. These experiences bring to life a 60-credit curriculum with courses on topics including:

• Industrial, Organizational and Community Counseling
• Multicultural Perspectives in Counseling
• Professional Issues and Ethics
• Psychopathology

Felician University graduates carry the school’s values - including compassion, justice, and respect for human dignity - throughout their careers. They also benefit from Felician University’s strong regional reputation as noted by U.S. News & World Report. 

Find out more about how Felician University’s Online MA in Counseling Psychology program can open new career horizons.