Ohio Masters in Counseling Programs

Ohio is a state located in the Midwestern United States. Once a home of innovation, Ohio has recently been a victim of the opiate crisis and mass migration out of the state. This crisis in the state has led to an increased need for Mental Health Counselors. According to O*Net Online, Ohio’s need for Mental Health Counselors is expected to grow by 21% by 2030.

Considering a Master’s in Counseling in Ohio?

Ohio is an appealing option due to its high demand for mental health professionals. The increasing awareness of mental health issues has created a growing need for qualified counselors in both urban and rural areas, resulting in plentiful career opportunities. In Ohio, various employment settings are available, including hospitals, schools, community health centers, private practices, and government agencies, all supported by state-funded programs. A career in counseling in Ohio provides both personal and professional fulfillment, as counselors make significant contributions to individual and community well-being and have access to ongoing personal development and professional networks.

Master of Counseling Programs in Ohio

In Ohio, there are many Mental Health Counseling master’s programs. To obtain licensure, a counselor can attend an accredited program by The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP) or a program from an accredited university. If the program is not CACREP accredited, someone seeking licensure must attach a course worksheet to their counseling license application for approval from the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board.

Accredited Counseling Programs Accepting Ohio Applicants

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Online Master of Counseling Programs in Ohio

Learning online has many advantages. Some of these advantages include flexibility and convenience. Some people may opt for an online program due to transportation issues, accessibility, or not being close enough to an in-person program. There are currently four Master of Counseling programs based in Ohio that offer a fully online experience.

Ohio CACREP Accredited Programs

In Ohio, it is not necessary to obtain your Master of Counseling from a CACREP-accredited program, however, it makes the licensing process quicker. The benefits of having a graduate degree from a CACREP-accredited program include having uniformity among other counseling programs and knowing that your program meets the requirements for licensure in Ohio. According to the Ohio Counseling Association, there are currently 22 CACREP-accredited Master of Counseling Programs in the State of Ohio.

Ohio No GRE Required Master in Counseling Programs

Specialty	University Name	City	State	Counseling Accreditation	Modality	GRE Required?
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Bowling Green State University	Bowling Green	OH	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required
School Counseling	Bowling Green State University	Bowling Green	OH	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Franciscan University of Steubenville	Steubenville	OH	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Heidelberg University	Tiffin	OH	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required
School Counseling	Heidelberg University	Tiffin	OH	CACREP	Online & Campus	No GRE Required
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Ohio State University	Columbus	OH	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required
School Counseling	Ohio State University	Columbus	OH	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Ohio University	Athens	OH	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required
Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling	Ohio University	Athens	OH	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Union Institute and University	Cincinnati	OH	CACREP	Hybrid	No GRE Required
School Counseling	University of Akron	Akron	OH	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	University of Akron	Akron	OH	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	University of Toledo	Toledo	OH	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Ursuline College	Pepper Pike	OH	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Walsh University	North Canton	OH	CACREP	Online	No GRE Required
School Counseling	Walsh University	North Canton	OH	CACREP	Online	No GRE Required
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Winebrenner Theological Seminary	Findlay	OH	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Wright State University	Dayton	OH	CACREP	Online & Campus	No GRE Required
School Counseling	Xavier University	Cincinnati	OH	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Xavier University	Cincinnati	OH	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Youngstown State University	Youngstown	OH	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	The University of Akron	Akron	OH	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required
Counselor Education	Capital University	Columbus	OH	CACREP	Hybrid	No GRE Required

The Graduate Records Examination (GRE) is a standardized test that is used by some graduate schools. The test is broken up into subjects that help the graduate program determine a person’s level of mastery in a certain subject. Many people have trouble with standardized tests or just do not want to take one. If you are one of those people, you are in luck. Ohio has many Master in Counseling programs that do not require the GRE to be admitted. With more information listed above in the Online Programs category, the following programs do not require the GRE: Malone University, Union Institute & University, Walsh University (if GPA is above 3.0), and Winebrenner Theological Seminary. 

In Ohio, there are currently 17 CACREP-accredited programs do not require the applicant to take the GRE: Ashland University, Bowling Green State University (waived through 2024), Capital University, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Heidelberg University, John Carroll University, Kent State University, Ohio University (for GPA of 2.9 or above), The Ohio State University, University of Akron, University of Cincinnati, University of Dayton (for GPA of 2.75 or above), The University of Toledo, Ursuline College, Wright State University (for GPA of 3.3 or above), Xavier University, and Youngstown State University.

Most Affordable Masters in Counseling Program in Ohio

The most affordable Masters in Counseling Program in Ohio is Winebrenner Theological Seminary. This program is only $300 per month for the entire program. With this price point, the total cost for the Master in Counseling program at this University is only $10,800. The program at Winebrenner Theological Seminary is CACREP-accredited for the in-person program and also offers an online program that is not CACREP-accredited.

Accelerated Masters in Counseling Programs in Ohio

While there is not a counseling program in Ohio that advertises an accelerated program, the program that requires the least credit hours is The University of Toledo with 57 credit hours. The majority of programs in Ohio require 60 credit hours due to that being the requirement for the program to be CACREP accreditation. The University of Toledo Master in Counseling program is fully accredited and just requires the extra step of a course evaluation by the Board.

Required Courses for Licensure in Ohio

The Ohio Laws and Administrative Rules Legislative Service Commission lists the courses that are required for anyone seeking licensure in Ohio. They also deem that any program that is CACREP accredited meets the requirements for licensure. The required courses are as follows:

• Counseling Theory 
• Counseling Techniques
• Practicum
  • 100 supervised hours including 40 hours of direct client experience
• Internship
  • The internship must meet CACREP standards. Anyone who graduates from a non-CACREP accredited program must submit their internship experience to the Board for review
  • 600 supervised hours spread over two semesters including 240 hours of direct client experience
• Human Growth and Development
• Social and Cultural Foundations 
• Group Dynamics
• Lifestyle and Career Development
• Appraisal 
• Research and Evaluation 
• Professional Legal and Ethics

In addition to these required courses, graduate coursework must include the following information:

• Evaluation of Mental and Emotional Status 
• Diagnosis of Emotional and Mental Disorder
• Method of Intervention and Prevention of Mental and Emotional Disorders
• Treatment of Mental and Emotional Disorders

Counseling Licensure Requirements in Ohio

In Ohio, there are four levels of licensure. The four levels include Counselor Trainee (CT), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Supervisor (LPCC-S). Those licenses are listed in the order that they would be obtained. The Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board lists the requirements to obtain each licensure. 

Counselor Trainee (CT): 

This license is obtained by students who are enrolled in an internship course in their counseling program. To obtain the Counselor Trainee (CT) licensure, a student must apply for the licensure and provide the Board enrollment verification, a list of duties at the internship site, and a criminal records check. 

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC): 

To obtain the LPC licensure in Ohio, one must have graduated from either an accredited counseling program or a program that is approved by the Board. One must apply for licensure and wait for approval to take the National Counselor Exam (NCE). An official transcript showing a conferred degree, passing results from the NCE, and a criminal background check must be done to obtain the LPC licensure in Ohio. 30 hours of continuing education are required bi-annually with this license. 

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC): 

The Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) licensure allows a counselor to work independently without the supervision of a licensed supervisor. The LPCC license is obtained after a counselor has worked 3000 hours in two years or more where half of the worked hours are direct client time. A counselor seeking an LPCC license must also obtain 150 hours of supervision from a licensed supervisor. After completing the application for the LPCC, a request to take the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination will be generated. This test must be passed to move onto the LPCC licensure. A BCI and FBI background check will have to be completed before the license application is approved. A counselor’s supervisor will also be required to document that 3000 hours of working experience and 150 hours of supervision were completed. 

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Supervisor (LPCC-S):

The highest level of licensure in Ohio is the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Supervisor (LPCC-S) license. This licensure allows a counselor to supervise all dependent counselors including those with a CT and an LPC license. To obtain this licensure, one must obtain 1500 hours of post-LPCC experience. 24 hours of supervisor-specific continuing education must be completed before obtaining this licensure.

Accredited Counseling Programs Accepting Ohio Applicants

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Career Outlook for Counselors in Ohio

According to O*Net Online, the need for Mental Health Counselors in Ohio is expected to increase by 21%.  The current number of professionals in Ohio stands at 9,220 with an expected total of 11,140 employees by 2030.

Ohio Counseling FAQs (Obtained via The Ohio Counselor, Social Work, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board)

How long will it take to obtain Counselor Trainee (CT) licensure? 

Once the board has both your BCI & FBI criminal records check, initial application, and proof of enrollment, your CT licensure is expected to be approved within 30 days. 

How long is my Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license active? 

The LPC license is active for two years and must be renewed after these two years with 30 continuing education hours if the counselor chooses not to move on to the next step of licensure. 

How many continuing education hours are required? 

30 hours of continuing education are required for LPC and LPCC licenses with additional hours being required for LPCC-S licensure. 

How do I keep track of continuing education hours?Continuing education hours are tracked using CE Broker.

How Much Does a Mental Health Counselor Make in Ohio

In Ohio, the average salary for a Mental Health Counselor is listed at $48,420 according to O*Net Online.

The average salary for mental health counselors in Ohio can vary based on factors such as experience, location, employer, and credentials. As of 2022, the average annual salary for mental health counselors in Ohio was around $45,000 to $55,000. However, this figure can be higher or lower depending on the factors mentioned above.

In larger cities or metropolitan areas like Columbus, Cleveland, or Cincinnati, salaries might be slightly higher due to the cost of living. Additionally, counselors with specialized training or certifications may command higher salaries.

It’s always a good idea to consult recent salary surveys or job postings specific to your area and field of interest for the most up-to-date information on compensation for mental health counselors in Ohio.

How to Become a School Counselor in Ohio

To become a school counselor in Ohio, one must complete an approved Master’s degree program in School Counseling and obtain 600 hours of internship experience in a school. One must also take and pass the Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) exam. It is also possible in Ohio for those who received a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling to become school counselors, however, they must take the courses that are required for school counselors and complete a 600-hour internship in a school setting. Some programs in Ohio allow for a student to complete the requirements for Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling.

How Much Does a School Counselor Make in Ohio

The salary for a School Counselor in Ohio is listed at an average of $65,760 according to O*Net Online. This is higher than the national average of $60,140.

How to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor in Ohio

In Ohio, you can work as a Substance Abuse Counselor with your LPC, LPCC, or LPCC-S license, however, the Chemical Dependency Professionals Board has its own set of licensure. There are two categories of licensure for Chemical Dependency Professionals in Ohio: treatment and prevention. 

There are five stages of licensure for Chemical Dependency Professionals in Ohio seeking to provide treatment: Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant (CDCA), Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor II (LCDC II), Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor III (LCDC III), Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor (LICDC), and Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor Supervisor (LICDC-S). Each license has its own requirements. 

There are four stages of licensure for Chemical Dependency Professionals in Ohio seeking to work in prevention: Registered Applicant (RA), Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist Assistant (OCPSA), Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist (OCPS), and Ohio Certified Prevention Consultant (OCPC). Each license has its own requirements.

How Much Do Substance Abuse Counselors Make in Ohio

In Ohio, the average salary for Substance Abuse Counselors is listed at $48,420 according to O*Net Online. This is less than the national average which is listed at $49,710.