Master’s in Mental Health Counseling Programs in Oklahoma

Oklahoma, also known as the “Sooner State,” is located in the south-central region of the United States. The state is known for its plains, oil and gas production, and has the largest Indigenous American population in the country. Like the rest of the country, Oklahoma has been struggling amid the mental health crisis. 

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 592,000 adults and 58,000 people aged 6-17 experience mental illness in Oklahoma. They also report that 1,518,029 people in the state do not have adequate access to mental health care. This is significant as the total state population is only 4.02 million people. U.S. News and World Report states that Oklahoma has the 6th worst rate of mental illness in the country. 

State leaders have implemented new ways to connect people with mental health services. The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services created a mobile crisis system to provide immediate care to those in need. This program starts by utilizing the 988 crisis line. After receiving a call from the crisis line, the team mobilizes services, if needed, and transports them to nearby mental health services. 

Although Oklahoma has taken great strides to improve access to care, O*Net Online states that mental health counselors need more than the national average by 25% by 2030. This is good news for those hoping to become counselors due to the likelihood of securing a job after graduation from an approved mental health counseling master’s program.

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Master of Counseling Programs in Oklahoma

To become a licensed counselor in Oklahoma, one must graduate from a regionally accredited master of counseling program. The state does not require programs to be CACREP accredited, however, it does require academic review for all programs that are not. All programs must contain 60 semester or 90 quarter credits including an internship.

Online Master of Counseling Programs in Oklahoma

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. Three master of counseling programs are offered online in Oklahoma.

CACREP-Accredited Master of Counseling Programs in Oklahoma

Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accreditation is becoming an increasingly popular feature of many masters of counseling programs nationwide. Meeting the counseling licensure requirements in most states is a benefit to attending a CACREP-accredited graduate program. Three master of counseling programs are CACREP-accredited in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Online, No GRE & CAREP Accredited Counseling Masters Programs

Specialty	University Name	Degree	City	State	Accreditation	Modality	GRE Required?	Program Length	URL
Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling	East Central University	M.S.	Ada	OK	CACREP				Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
Rehabilitation Counseling	Langston University	M.S.	Langston	OK	CACREP	Campus	GRE Required	1 Years	Rehabilitation Counseling
Addiction Counseling	Northeastern State University	M.S.	Tahlequah	OK	CACREP				Addiction Counseling
School Counseling	Northeastern State University	M.S.	Tahlequah	OK	CACREP				School Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Northeastern State University	M.S.	Tahlequah	OK	CACREP				Clinical Mental Health Counseling
School Counseling	Oklahoma State University	M.S.	Stillwater	OK	CACREP				School Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Oklahoma State University	M.S.	Stillwater	OK	CACREP				Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Counseling Psychology	University of Central Oklahoma	M.A	Edmond	OK	CACREP	Campus	GRE Required		Counseling Psychology
Professional Counseling	The University of Oklahoma	M.Ed	Norman	OK	CACREP	Online	No GRE Required	2 Years	Professional Counseling
Professional Counseling	Oklahoma City University	M.Ed	Oklahoma City	OK	CACREP	Online & Campus	No GRE Required	2 Years	Professional Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Southeastern Oklahoma State University	M.A	Durant	OK	CACREP	Online	No GRE Required	2 Years	Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Counseling Psychology	Northwestern Oklahoma State University	M.C.P	Alva	OK	CACREP	Online & Campus	No GRE Required	2 Years	Counseling Psychology
Community Counseling	Rogers State University	MSCC	Claremore	OK	CACREP	Online	No GRE Required	2 Years	Community Counseling
School Counseling	East Central University	M.Ed	Ada	OK	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required		School Counseling
Professional Counseling	Oral Roberts University	M.A	Tulsa	OK	CACREP	Online	No GRE Required		Professional Counseling
Counseling	Mid-America Christian University (MACU)	M.S	Oklahoma City	OK	CACREP	Online	No GRE Required	30 hours of college credit	Counseling
Counseling Psychology	Southern Nazarene University	M.S.	Bethany	OK	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required	3 Years	Counseling Psychology

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No GRE Required Master of Counseling Programs in Oklahoma

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 to recognize that low scores on the GRE do not necessarily mean someone would not do well in their program. That is why many programs waive the requirement to take the GRE for admittance. 

There are seven master of counseling programs in Oklahoma that do not require the GRE meaning that none of the programs on this list require the GRE. Three online master of counseling programs and three CACREP-accredited programs in Oklahoma do not require the GRE.

Most Affordable Master of Counseling Program in Oklahoma

Choosing an affordable master of counseling program is just as important to some people as choosing one that meets the criteria for licensure. The most affordable online master of counseling program in Oklahoma is at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. The program at Southeastern Oklahoma State University costs just $290 per credit hour for in-state students. 

The most affordable CACREP-accredited master of counseling program in Oklahoma is at The University of Oklahoma where the cost per credit hour is $295.56 for in-state students. 

However, the overall most affordable program in Oklahoma is listed under the No GRE Required category and is at Cameron University. This program costs just $279 per credit hour for residents of Oklahoma.

Accelerated Master of Counseling Programs in Oklahoma

After completing a four-year undergraduate degree or working for many years, the last thing some people want to do is spend a long time in school. There are not any master of counseling programs in Oklahoma that advertise accelerated completion. However, the program at Oklahoma City University states that the program can be completed full-time in just two years. Most master of counseling programs are usually completed within two to four years.

Required Courses for Licensure in Oklahoma

To become a licensed counselor in Oklahoma, the Board of Behavioral Health Licensure requires certain course topics before graduation. Unlike most states, Oklahoma has a list of core courses and elective courses that must be taken. The following are core courses that must be taken: 

• Human Growth and Development
• Abnormal Human Behavior
• Appraisal/Assessment Techniques
• Counseling Theories/Methods
• Professional Orientation/Ethics
• Research
• Practicum/Internship

Unlike the core courses, only five of the following elective courses must be taken: 

• Group Dynamics
• Lifestyle and Career Development
• Social and Cultural Foundations
• Addictions Counseling
• Rehabilitation Counseling
• Counseling with Children/Adolescents 
• Gerontology
• Human Sexuality
• Personality Theories
• Crisis Intervention
• Marriage/Family Counseling
• Clinical Supervision
• Psychopharmacology 
• Consultation
• Physical and Emotional Health
• Grief Counseling

Counseling Licensure Requirements in Oklahoma

According to the Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure, there is one counseling license in the state. This license is the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and those in possession can practice independently without supervision. 

To obtain this license, one must graduate from a counseling program containing either 60 credit hours or 90 quarter credits and meet all course requirements listed above. Upon graduation, one must pass the National Counseling Examination (NCE) and the local jurisprudence exam to test knowledge of counseling law. The next step is obtaining 3,000 hours of work experience over three years under the supervision of an LPC. After these steps, one submits background check information to the Board and applies for licensure.

Oklahoma Counseling FAQs

How many continuing education hours are required for license renewal?
According to the Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure, 20 hours of continuing education are required for each renewal period. Three of these hours are required to be related to ethics in counseling.

How often do I renew my LPC license?
Renewal is done yearly and renewal must be submitted by June 30th. Completion of all required continuing education must be done before applying. This information is provided by the Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure.

How Much Do Mental Health Counselors Make in Oklahoma

According to O*Net Online, the average salary for mental health counselors in Oklahoma is $57,190. This is higher than the national average of $53,710.

How to Become a School Counselor in Oklahoma

The Oklahoma State Department of Education has three routes to obtaining school counseling licensure: traditional, alternative, and emergency. 

To obtain school counseling licensure from the traditional route one must graduate from an approved graduate program in school counseling, have a passing score on the Oklahoma Subject Area Test (OSAT) in School Counseling, completion of a background check, and university recommendation. 

The alternative route to obtaining school counseling licensure requires that one has a master’s degree in a school counseling-related field or a master’s degree and two years of counseling experience. In addition, they must have 30 or more counseling-related graduate credits, 15 or more counseling-related graduate credits and one year of counseling experience, or three or more years of counseling work experience. Finally, one must pass the Oklahoma Subject Area Test (OSAT) in School Counseling and complete six credits addressing school counseling-related issues. 

Obtaining licensure from the emergency route is rarely done and requirements are handled at the local level and then passed along to the State Board.

How Much Does a School Counselor Make in Oklahoma

According to O*Net Online, the average salary for school counselors in Oklahoma is $49,520 per year. This is significantly lower than the national average of $61,710.

How to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor in Oklahoma

There are two stages of substance abuse counselor licensure in Oklahoma. The first stage is the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) license and the second is the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) license. 

The Center for Addiction Studies and Research reports that to become a CADC in Oklahoma, one must have a bachelor’s degree in a behavioral health or counseling field, 270 hours of education including 135 hours of alcohol and drug education, and 45 hours of co-occurring disorders education. 

On the other hand, Addiction-Counselors.com reports that to become a LADC in Oklahoma, one must have a master’s degree in substance abuse counseling, 2,000 hours of supervised experience, passage of the IC&RC examination, and 180 hours of continuing education in substance abuse counseling.

How Much Does a Substance Abuse Counselor Make in Oklahoma

According to O*Net Online, the average yearly salary for substance abuse counselors in Oklahoma is $57,190. 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.