Master’s in Mental Health Counseling Programs in Nevada

Nevada is a state in the western United States home to the iconic Las Vegas and the Mojave Desert. Although the state is large in area, the population is 32nd in the country. More than half of the state’s population resides in Clark County, home of Las Vegas. This means most mental health resources and treatment are concentrated in this area. However, there is still a need for providers and care organizations in the sparsely populated desert regions.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 109,000 adults in Nevada have a serious mental illness along with 33,000 Nevadans aged 12-17 experiencing depression. However, a total of 164,000 people who needed mental health care in the state were unable to do so due to a lack of providers in the network and high costs associated with care. 2,445,591 people in Nevada live in an area that lacks adequate mental health care.

A study from Mental Health America reported that Nevada ranked 51st among all 50 states and the District of Columbia as having the worst mental health in the country. Part of this is a lack of access to affordable and quality care. The government is working to combat this problem by offering psychiatric care directives and a mobile crisis team. However one of the biggest challenges is filling the many open roles for mental health counselors open in the state.

Due to the need for mental health providers in Nevada, O*Net Online expects a growth in the field of 26% by 2030. This means there will also be a need for graduate mental health counseling programs to educate future clinicians. Luckily for potential students, many programs around the state meet the educational requirements.

Master of Counseling Programs in Nevada

To become a licensed counselor in Nevada, the state reports that one must graduate with a master’s degree in mental health counseling from either a regionally accredited or a CACREP-accredited program.

Online Master of Counseling Programs in Nevada

There are many benefits to attending an online master of counseling program. Some benefits include the flexibility of courses, continued access to course materials, and the ability to take classes at your own pace.

Unfortunately, none of the Nevada-based programs are offered online. However, for Nevada residents who wish to take courses online, programs in other states meet state licensure requirements and are open to residents.

Some online programs based in other states and meet licensure requirements include the following:

CACREP-Accredited Master of Counseling Programs in Nevada

Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accreditation is becoming an increasingly popular feature of many master of counseling programs nationwide. Attending a CACREP-accredited graduate program can help you meet the counseling licensure requirements in most states. There are two CACREP-accredited master of counseling programs in Nevada.

Nevada Online, No GRE & CAREP Accredited Counseling Masters Programs

Specialty	University Name	Degree	City	State	Accreditation	Modality	GRE Required?	Program Length	URL
School Counseling	University of Nevada, Las Vegas	M.Ed.	Las Vegas	NV	CACREP	Online	No GRE Required	1 Years	School Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	University of Nevada, Las Vegas	M.S.	Las Vegas	NV	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required	1 Years	Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling	University of Nevada, Reno	M.A.	Reno	NV	CACREP				Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	University of Nevada, Reno	M.A.	Reno	NV	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required	2 Years	Clinical Mental Health Counseling
School Counseling	University of Nevada, Reno	M.A.	Reno	NV	CACREP	Online	No GRE Required	1 Years	School Counseling
Master's in Education - School Counseling	Touro University Nevada	M.Ed.	Henderson	NV	CACREP	Online			Master's in Education - School Counseling
Counseling	Nevada State University	Minor in Counseling	Henderson	NV	CACREP		No GRE Required		Counseling

No GRE Required Master of Counseling Programs in Nevada

The Graduate Records Examination (GRE) is a standardized test used to determine the aptitude of potential college admittance. However, many people get anxious about standardized tests or do not want their college admission based on test scores.

Recently, programs have started recognizing that low GRE scores do not necessarily mean someone will not do well in their program. That is why many programs waive the requirement to take the GRE for admittance.

Both master of counseling programs in Nevada do not require the GRE for admittance. The two programs under the CACREP-accredited Programs category are at the University of Nevada – Las Vegas and the University of Nevada – Reno.

Most Affordable Master of Counseling Program in Nevada

Some people consider choosing an affordable master of counseling program just as important as choosing one that meets the licensure criteria. Of the two master of counseling programs based in Nevada, the most affordable is at the University of Nevada—Reno. This program costs just $344.25 per credit hour. Although it has seven more credit hours than the other program on this list, the price is still less.

Accelerated Master of Counseling Program in Nevada

Neither of the two master of counseling programs based in Nevada is advertised as accelerated. However, the program at the University of Nevada – Las Vegas only requires 60 credit hours to graduate whereas the program at the University of Nevada – Reno requires 67.

Required Courses for Licensure in Nevada

The State of Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists & Clinical Professional Counselors recently updated their list of required courses for licensure in 2023. The course topics required to obtain licensure include: 

• Human Development (2 courses)
• Individual Counseling Theories
• Individual Counseling Techniques & Practice 
• Lifestyle & Career Development
• Group Dynamics, Counseling, and Consulting
• Ethics & Professional Studies
• Diagnosis and Assessment
• Social & Cultural Foundations
• Research
• Abuse of Alcohol or Controlled Substances 
• Couples Counseling
• Family Systems
• Crisis or Trauma
• Grief or Loss
• Supervised Clinical Practice (3 courses/terms)

Nevada Counseling Licensure Requirements

To obtain licensure in Nevada, one must have graduated from a regionally or CACREP-accredited master of counseling program completing all required courses listed above. The applicant must have also completed two years and 3,000 hours of post-graduate supervised experience along with 300 hours of supervision. Finally, the applicant must have taken and passed the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE).

Nevada Counseling FAQs

How many continuing education hours are required for licensure renewal?
40 hours of continuing education are required for each two-year renewal period. Six hours must be related to ethics and four hours in suicide prevention.

How Much Does a Mental Health Counselor Make in Nevada

According to O*Net Online, the average salary for a mental health counselor in Nevada is $57,580. This is higher than the national average of $53,710.

How to Become a School Counselor in Nevada

The Nevada Department of Education states that to become a school counselor in Nevada one must have a master’s degree in school counseling or a specialty credential as a nationally certified school counselor issued by the National Board for Certified Counselors.

One may also obtain school counseling licensure by having a master’s degree in any field with two years of teaching experience or two years of school counseling experience, 36 hours of graduate credits in school counseling, and 600 hours of internship/practicum experience. If one chooses to obtain school counseling licensure from this route, they must complete the following graduate courses:

• The Process of Individual Counseling
• The Process of Group Counseling
• Testing and Educational Assessments
• Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling
• Career Counseling
• Organization and Administration of School Counseling Programs
• Multicultural Counseling
• Child and Family Counseling
• Two of the following:
  • The Use of Technology in Education
  • Exceptional Children
  • Human Growth and Development
  • Substance Abuse Counseling

How Much Does a School Counselor Make in Nevada

According to O*Net Online, the average salary for a school counselor in Nevada is $60,880. This is slightly less than the national average of $61,710.

How to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor in Nevada

The Nevada State Board of Examiners for Alcohol, Drug, and Gambling Counselors states that to obtain licensure as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor, one must have at minimum a bachelor’s degree in a social science, two years (4,000 hours) of supervised experience providing alcohol and drug abuse counseling, and pass the IC&RC ADC written examination.

If an applicant has a bachelor’s degree and completed 18 semester units in addictions, the number of required work hours decreases to 1,500. The same goes for an applicant with a master’s degree and 12 semester units in addictions.

How Much Does a Substance Abuse Counselor Make in Nevada

According to O*Net Online, the average salary for a substance abuse counselor is $57,580. This is higher than the national average of $53,710.

What Other Career Options Are Available to Those with a Degree in Mental Health Counseling

The skills learned in a Master’s of Counseling program open the door for many positions outside the counseling profession. Some important skills learned in a graduate program and the counseling field include communication, problem-solving, and crises. Positions one can hold with this degree include human resources, governmental social services, education, and non-profit leadership. Many mental health counselors also get into counseling consulting to provide business support and training to other counselors.