Master’s in Mental Health Counseling Programs in Washington, D.C.

Historic and picturesque, Washington, D.C. sits on the banks of the Potomac River just south of Maryland and north of Virginia. Home to the United States federal government, Washington, D.C. boasts many economic opportunities. However, beneath the beauty and economic splendor, the District is home to the 9th highest poverty rate in the country.

Along with high rates of poverty, D.C. has the most amount of violent crimes out of all states and territories of the United States. With high poverty and crime rates, mental health issues are prevalent, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). NAMI reports that 125,000 adults in Washington, D.C. have a mental health condition out of slightly more than 700,000 residents. According to O*Net Online, the need for mental health counselors in Washington, D.C. will increase by about 21% by 2030.

As a result of the high numbers of people with mental health conditions in D.C. and the growing need for mental health counselors, the federal and local governments have been working to improve conditions across the District. The District has increased funding for school-based mental health programs and mental health organizations in the District have been advocating for mental health crisis workers to be on the scene of police calls.

Colleges and universities across the District of Columbia have been offering graduate programs to train future mental health counselors. Mental health counselors in D.C. have many prospects for employment in community mental health agencies, private practice, and local and federal government. Counselors also have the opportunity to join the D.C. Mental Health Counselors Association.

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Master of Counseling Programs in Washington, D.C.

To become a mental health counselor in Washington, D.C. one must graduate from an accredited graduate program containing at least 60 semester hours from the Secretary of the United States Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. While the graduate program is not required to be accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the District has a list of required courses the program must meet.

Online Master of Counseling Programs in Washington, D.C.

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 courses at your own pace. One program in D.C. is offered online.

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CACREP-Accredited Master of Counseling Programs in Washington, D.C.

Accreditation by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is becoming an increasingly popular feature of many masters of counseling programs nationwide. Some of the benefits of attending a CACREP-accredited program include meeting the requirements for most states and familiarity with other programs that are accredited. Sixteen programs in Virginia are CACREP-accredited. Three programs in Washington, D.C. are CACREP-Accredited.

Washington, D.C. 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	The Chicago School of Professional Psychology - Washington, D.C.	M.A.	Washington	DC	CACREP	Hybrid	No GRE Required	4 Years	Clinical Mental Health Counseling
School Counseling	Trinity Washington University	M.A.	Washington	DC	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required		School Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Trinity Washington University	M.A.	Washington	DC	CACREP	Hybrid		2 Years	Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Rehabilitation Counseling	University of the District of Columbia	M.A.	Washington	DC	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required	2 Years	Rehabilitation Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	The George Washington University	M.A	Washington	DC	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required		Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Counseling Psychology	Washington State University	Ph.D	Washington	DC	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required	4 Years	Counseling Psychology

No GRE Required Master of Counseling Programs in Washington, D.C.

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. Five programs in D.C. do not require the GRE for admission. Under the Online Programs category, Gallaudet University does not require the GRE. Under the CACREP-Accredited Programs category, George Washington University, The Chicago School, and Trinity Washington University do not require the GRE.

Most Affordable Master of Counseling Program in Washington, D.C.

Choosing an affordable Master in Counseling program is sometimes just as important as finding an academically sound one. The most affordable master of counseling program on the list above is at the University of the District of Columbia with a price tag of $513 per credit hour.

Accelerated Master of Counseling Programs in Washington, D.C.

Due to the nature of counseling licensure requirements, master of counseling programs must contain at least 60 credit hours. Most counseling programs can be completed in two to four years. While none explicitly advertise accelerated coursework, the programs at the University of the District of Columbia, Trinity Washington University, The Chicago School, and George Washington University require 60 credit hours whereas Gallaudet University requires 61 credit hours.

Required Courses for Licensure in Washington, D.C.

According to the District of Columbia Department of Health, the following courses are required to take in a master of counseling program to obtain licensure:

• Counseling theory and practice
• Human growth and development
• Lifestyle and career development
• Group counseling appraisal, assessment, and testing of individuals
• Principles of etiology, diagnosis, treatment planning, and prevention of mental and emotional disorders and dysfunctional behavior
• Social and cultural foundations including multicultural counseling 
• Marriage and family counseling 
• Research and program evaluation 
• Professional orientation and ethics
• Counseling practicum/internship

Counseling Licensure Requirements in Washington, D.C.

There are two stages of counseling licensure in Washington, D.C. The first stage is the Graduate Professional Counselor license and the second is the Professional Counselor license. The District of Columbia Department of Health sets the requirements for licensure in the District.

Graduate Professional Counselor:
To obtain this license one must graduate from a counseling graduate program with 60 credit hours, pass an exam by the National Board for Clinical Counselors (NBCC), and complete a practicum/internship.

Professional Counselor:
To obtain this license one must have completed all the requirements for the Graduate Professional Counselor license as well as complete 3,300 hours of supervised postgraduate experience and 200 hours of supervision.

Washington, D.C. Counseling FAQs (Obtained via the District of Columbia Department of Health)

How many continuing education credits are required?
40 hours of continuing education credits are required. At least four hours are required for topics that are deemed by the District to be of priority, two hours are required for cultural competency related to LGBTQIA+ clients, six hours in ethics, and four hours in trauma counseling.

How Much Does a Mental Health Counselor Make in Washington, D.C.

According to O*Net Online, mental health counselors in Washington, D.C. make an average of $58,460 per year. This is higher than the national average of $49,710. 

How to Become a School Counselor in Washington, D.C.

School counseling is a rewarding career that works with students in public and private schools and helps with scheduling courses, mental health support, and a connection between families and schools.

To become a school counselor in the District of Columbia, the D.C. Public Schools state that one must have a master’s degree in an approved school counseling program, complete 300 hours of supervised school-based field experience, and achieve a passing score on the School Counselor Praxis exam.

How Much Does a School Counselor Make in Washington, D.C.

According to O*Net Online, the average salary of a school counselor in Washington D.C. is $62,340. This is slightly higher than the national average of $60,140.

How to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor in Washington, D.C.

According to the District of Columbia Department of Health, there are two levels of substance abuse counselors in Washington, D.C. The first level of license is the Certified Addiction Counselor I and the second level is the Certified Addiction Counselor II.

To become a Certified Addiction Counselor I, one must have an associate’s degree in a health or human service field and 30 hours of approved education and training in 10 chemical dependency content areas.

To become a Certified Addiction Counselor II, one must have a bachelor’s degree in a health or human service field and 42 hours of approved education and training in 12 chemical dependency content areas.

How Much Does a Substance Abuse Counselor Make in Washington, D.C.

According to O*Net Online, the average salary for a substance abuse counselor in Washington, D.C. is $58,460 per year. This is higher than the national average of $49,710.

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

The skills learned in a Master of Counseling program open the door for many positions outside of the counseling profession. Some positions with this degree include human resources, governmental social services, education, and non-profit leadership.