Master’s in Mental Health Counseling Programs in Washington

Washington is a state in the Pacific Northwest Region of the United States. The state is known for mild and rainy weather and is home to many technology companies in Seattle. Washington has experienced rapid population growth in the double digits since the early 1900s. More recently, the technology boom has also led to more people moving to the state searching for work. 

While population growth is seen as a positive factor, the cost of living in Washington has skyrocketed leading to many people being unable to afford their homes and services. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, there are about 1,269,000 people in Washington with a diagnosed mental health disorder. A total of 30.1% of people in Washington with mental health concerns were unable to receive counseling and other mental health services. 

Due to a rapidly growing population and a lack of access to mental health resources, the federal and state governments have worked together to provide grant funding. These grants fund mental health services throughout the state including community clinics and crisis teams. As a result of the growing population, rising mental health concerns, and the help of grant funding, there is a need for more mental health counselors in the state. According to O*Net Online, it is estimated that the need for mental health counselors in Washington will grow by 23% by 2030. 

With a need for 23% more mental health counselors by 2030, many colleges and universities have designed programs to help meet this need as well as fulfill the requirements for licensure. 

The program at Western Washington University stands out for being affordable and CACREP-accredited. After graduation, counselors in Washington can find ample opportunities all over the Evergreen State in cities like Seattle, Tacoma, or Olympia. Mental health counselors in Washington have the option of joining the state counseling organization, the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association (WMHCA).

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Master of Counseling Programs in Washington

In Washington, there are no requirements for accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), however, programs are required to meet certain educational standards. Many programs in Washington meet the needs of students and fall under the categories of Online Programs, CACREP-Accredited programs, and programs that do not require the Graduate Records Examination (GRE).

Online Master of Counseling Programs in Washington

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. Three programs in Washington are offered online and meet the requirements for licensure.

CACREP-Accredited Master of Counseling Programs in Washington

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 becoming familiar with other programs that are accredited. Seven programs in Washington are CACREP-Accredited.

Washington 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	Central Washington University	M.S.	Ellensburg	WA	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required	2 Years	Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling	City University of Seattle	M.A.	Seattle	WA	CACREP				Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	City University of Seattle	M.A.	Seattle	WA	CACREP				Clinical Mental Health Counseling
School Counseling	Eastern Washington University	M.S.	Cheney	WA	CACREP				School Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Eastern Washington University	M.S.	Cheney	WA	CACREP	Online & Campus	No GRE Required	1 Years	Clinical Mental Health Counseling
School Counseling	Gonzaga University	M.A.	Spokane	WA	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required	2 Years	School Counseling
Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling	Gonzaga University	M.A.	Spokane	WA	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required	2 Years	Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Gonzaga University	M.A.	Spokane	WA	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required	2 Years	Clinical Mental Health Counseling
School Counseling	Seattle Pacific University	M.Ed.	Seattle	WA	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required	3 Years	School Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Seattle University	M.A.Ed.	Seattle	WA	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required	3 Years	Clinical Mental Health Counseling
School Counseling	Seattle University	M.A.	Seattle	WA	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required	3 Years	School Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	University of Puget Sound	M.Ed.	Tacoma	WA	CACREP				Clinical Mental Health Counseling
School Counseling	University of Puget Sound	M.Ed.	Tacoma	WA	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required	2 Years	School Counseling
School Counseling	Western Washington University, College of Humanities and Social Sciences	M.Ed.	Bellingham	WA	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required	2 Years	School Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Western Washington University, College of Humanities and Social Sciences	M.S.	Bellingham	WA	CACREP				Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MS)	Eastern Washington University	M.S	Cheney	WA	CACREP	Online & Campus	No GRE Required	2 Years	Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MS)
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Western Washington University	M.S	Bellingham	WA	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required	2 Years	Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Seattle University	M.A	Seattle	WA	CACREP				Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Master of Science in Counseling with two concentrations: School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling	University of the District of Columbia	M.S	Washington	WA	CACREP			60 semester hours	Master of Science in Counseling with two concentrations: School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Mental Health Counseling	University of Puget Sound	M.Ed	Tacoma	WA	CACREP			2 Years	Mental Health Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Seattle University	M.A.Ed.	Seattle	WA	CACREP	Hybrid	No GRE Required	3 Years	Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Northwest University	M.A.	Kirkland	WA	CACREP	Hybrid	No GRE Required	3 Years	Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Mental Health Counseling	University of Puget Sound	MEd	Tacoma	WA	CACREP	Campus		2 Years	Mental Health Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Northwest University	M.A.	Kirkland	WA	CACREP	Hybrid	No GRE Required	2 Years	Clinical Mental Health Counseling

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No GRE Required Master of Counseling Programs in Washington

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. Eleven programs in Washington do not require the GRE for admission. This means that all of the programs listed in this article do not require the GRE. The program listed below does not require the GRE and does not fall into either category above.

Most Affordable Master of Counseling Program in Washington

When choosing a mental health counseling program, it is important to find one that meets your budget. Many programs offer scholarships and graduate assistantships to help offset some of the cost, however, those are not guaranteed so it is important to understand the full price without any offsets.

The most affordable program located in the Online Programs category is at Bellevue University which costs $649 per credit hour. This means the program will cost about $38,940.

The most affordable program located in the CACREP-Accredited Programs category is at Western Washington University which costs $322.95 per credit hour. This means the program will cost about $29,388.

There is only one program located in the No GRE Required Programs category and that program is located at Faith International University which costs $275 per credit hour. This means the program will cost about $19,800.

Therefore, the most affordable master of counseling program in Washington is located at Faith International University. This program is not CACREP-Accredited but meets the course requirements for licensure in Washington. The program also does not require the GRE.

Accelerated Master of Counseling Programs in Washington

There is only one program listed above that advertises having an accelerated master of counseling program. This program is at the University of Puget Sound. However, there is a catch. To qualify for the accelerated program, an applicant must have completed an approved undergraduate degree at the University of Puget Sound. This means that those who are coming from other university programs do not have the option to complete the accelerated programs, but can still finish the program in two years.

Required Courses for Counseling Licensure in Washington

In Washington, counseling programs are not required to be CACREP-Accredited and therefore have a list of course requirements to obtain licensure. However, if one does graduate from a CACREP-Accredited university, rest assured, that their program meets the requirements for licensure. The required courses for licensure are:

• Assessment/diagnosis
• Ethics/law
• Counseling groups
• Counseling couples and families 
• Developmental psychology
• Psychopathology/abnormal psychology
• Research and evaluation
• Career development counseling
• Multicultural concerns
• Substance/chemical abuse
• Physiological psychology
• Organizational psychology 
• Mental health consultation
• Developmentally disabled persons
• Abusive relationships
• Chronically mentally ill patients

It is also required that those completing a master of counseling program in Washington obtain hours in practicum and internship with direct client hours.

Counselor Licensure Requirements in Washington

The Washington State Department of Health sets the requirements for counseling licensure. There are two stages of counseling licensure in Washington. The first stage is the Mental Health Counselor Associate and the other is the Mental Health Counselor licensure.

Mental Health Counselor Associate: 
This is the first stage of licensure for mental health counselors in Washington. To obtain this license, one must graduate from a master’s or doctoral program in mental health counseling. If the program is CACREP-accredited it is guaranteed that the courses taken will be sufficient for licensure, however, the Board needs copies of all transcripts to issue licensure.

Mental Health Counselor:
This is the second and highest stage of mental health counselor licensure in Washington. To obtain this licensure one must have graduated from a master’s or doctoral program in mental health counseling or a very closely related behavioral health program. The next steps are to complete 36 months of a full-time counselor or 3,000 hours of mental health counseling (of which 1,200 must be direct client contact) under supervision, at least 100 hours of supervision with a qualified supervisor, and passage of either the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE).

Washington Counseling FAQs (Obtained via the Washington State Department of Health)

How many times can the Mental Health Counselor Associate license be renewed?
Six times.

How many hours of continuing education are required to renew my license?
36 hours of continuing education are required for Mental Health Counselor license holders every two years. Six of these hours are required to be in law and ethics. Six hours of training are required every six years in suicide assessment and management.

When do I have to renew my Mental Health Counselor license?
Every year on or before the license holder’s birthday.

How Much Does a Mental Health Counselor Make in Washington

According to O*Net Online, the average salary for a mental health counselor in Washington is $51,480 per year. This is slightly higher than the national average of $49,710. 

How to Become a School Counselor in Washington

According to the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, there are two steps to school counseling licensure. The first step is the First Issue Certificate and the next is the Professional Certificate. 

To obtain licensure with the First Issue Certificate, one must graduate with a master’s degree in counseling, completion of any state’s approved program leading to school counselor certification, completion of a comprehensive examination related to this role, and submit fingerprints. 

For the Professional Certificate, one must ensure they meet all of the requirements for the First Issue Certificate, hold a school counselor certificate issued by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), attest to the competition of the abuse course, and attest to the completion of a suicide prevention training. 

How Much Does a School Counselor Make in Washington 

According to O*Net Online, a school counselor in Washington makes an average of $77,770 per year. This is significantly higher than the national average which is $60,140. 

How to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor in Washington

According to the Washington State Department of Health, there are two steps of substance abuse counselor licensure. The first step is the Substance Use Disorder Professional Trainee and the next is the Substance Use Disorder Professional. 

To obtain the Substance Use Disorder Trainee license, one must declare that they are enrolled in an approved school and are gaining the experience required to receive a substance use disorder professional certificate. 

To obtain the Substance Use Disorder Professional license, one must have at least an associate’s degree in human services or a related field or completion of 90 quarter credits or 60 semester credits in courses from an approved school. At least 45 quarter credits or 30 semester credits must be in courses related to the substance use disorder profession. 

The required amount of experience varies based on the highest level of education. Those with an associate’s degree must have 2,500 hours, those with a bachelor’s degree must have 2,000 hours, and those with a master’s or doctoral degree must have 1,500 hours of supervised experience. The National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) is level one or higher. Also, the Intentional Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (ICRC), the Alcohol Drug Counselor (ADC), or the Advanced Alcohol Drug Counselor (AADC) exam is accepted for certification.

How Much Does a Substance Abuse Counselor Make in Washington 

According to O*Net Online, the average salary for a substance use disorder counselor in Washington is $51,480. This is slightly higher than the national average salary 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.