Counseling for Mental Health is an online and on-campus program.
The New York University Master of Arts in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness program is an academic program designed to enable a graduate to meet the educational requirements to qualify for licensure in New York and in certain other states. This program places students in supervised field experiences both within and outside of New York State (NYS).
Note, state regulations change frequently, and the information posted here may have changed at the time of your specific application to or enrollment in our program of study.
The Program is not authorized in all states. If a student changes their state of primary residence following initial enrollment in the Program, that student may not be able to continue in the Program, complete placement requirements, sit for any required state examinations, or be eligible for licensure in the student’s new state. If a student moves or plans to move, the student should contact the Field Placement Office. Please check with the Field Placement Office if you have specific questions about the educational requirements for licensure or other licensure requirements in a specific state.
Please see the table below for eligibility by state for licensure.
Please note that certain states may require individualized plans of study to meet certain state specific requirements, or require that a student take certain State-required courses in lieu of electives. If required to meet State licensure requirements, NYU will provide students in those states with an individualized plan of study to meet the requirements, and such an individualized plan of study may not allow such students to take other electives in the Program.
In addition to the information listed below, most states require candidates to pass the National Counseling Exam (NCE), the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) or the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification exam (CRCC).
| State | State License Contact Info | Meets the Academic Requirements for State Licensure? | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Board of Examiners in Counseling
| Yes | |
| Alaska | Board of Professional Counselors | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curriculum Requirements: Alaska requires a course in marriage and family counseling (APSY-GE 2684 Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling). Students will take this course as an elective for no additional time or cost to meet Alaska state requirements. |
| Arizona | Arizona Department of Education | Yes | |
| Arkansas | Board of Examiners in Counseling & MFT | No | Additional Curriculum Requirements: Arkansas requires a 1-credit Use of Technology course. NYU does not offer such a course. Other Licensure Requirements: Arkansas requires that classes be completed in a residential setting. Online students cannot meet this requirement. At this time, NYU is not recruiting students from Arkansas for the online program. |
| California | Board of Behavioral Sciences | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curriculum Requirements: California requires a 3-credit psychopharmacology course. Students will take NYU's course in psychopharmacology as an elective for no additional time or cost to meet California state requirements. Other Licensure Requirements: California requires applicants who attend an out of state institution to complete a 3-credit California law and ethics course prior to issuance of the associate license. |
| Colorado | State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners | Yes | Other Licensure Requirements: Candidates must obtain a content equivalency evaluation and report from the Center for Credentialing and Education, Inc. (CCE). Additional cost for this may be required. |
| Connecticut | Department of Public Health | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curriculum Requirements: Connecticut requires a course in addiction and substance abuse (APSY-GE 2691 Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders: Theory, Research and Treatment) and a course on trauma (APSY-GE 1500 Trauma: Theoretical and Clinical Perspectives). Students will take these two courses as electives for no additional time and cost to meet Connecticut state requirements. |
| Delaware | Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals | Yes | |
| Florida | Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curriculum Requirements: Florida requires a course in human sexuality. Students will take NYU's course in human sexuality as an elective for no additional time or cost to meet Florida state requirements. |
| Georgia | Board of Prof. Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage & Family Therapists | Yes | |
| Hawaii | Dept. of Commerce and Consumer Affairs - Professional and Vocational Licensing | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curriculum Requirements: Hawaii requires 300 hours of supervised client contact. NYU requires 280 hours. NYU will work with the candidate to acquire and document the additional hours. |
| Idaho | Board Of Professional Counselor And Marriage And Family Therapists | Yes | |
| Illinois | Department of Financial and Professional Regulation | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curriculum Requirements: Illinois requires a substance abuse course (APSY-GE 2691: Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment) and a family dynamics course (APSY-GE 2684 Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling). Students will take these as electives for no additional time or cost to meet Illinois state requirements. |
| Indiana | Behavioral Health And Human Services Licensing Board | No | Additional Curriculum Requirements: Indiana requires 66 hours of face-to-face supervision in a counseling setting. NYU can work with the candidate to acquire and track supervision hours to meet this requirement. Indiana also requires an advanced internship of 300 hours beyond the 700 hours that NYU's program provides. NYU does not offer an advanced internship and is unable to work with the candidate to acquire these additional hours. NYU is not recruiting from Indiana for the online program. |
| Iowa | Board of Behavioral Science | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curricular Requirements: Iowa requires a 3-credit psychopharmacology course. Students will take NYU's course in psychopharmacology as an elective for no additional time or cost to meet Iowa state requirements. Other Licensure Requirements: Candidates must obtain a content equivalency evaluation and report from the Center for Credentialing and Education, Inc. (CCE). Additional cost for this may be required. |
| Kansas | Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board | Yes | |
| Kentucky | Board of Professional Counselors | No | Other Licensure Requirements: Kentucky requires CACREP programmatic accreditation for licensure. NYU is accredited by MPCAC. |
| Louisiana | Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners | Yes | |
| Maine | Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure | Yes | |
| Maryland | Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curriculum Requirements: Maryland requires courses in alcohol and drug counseling (APSY-GE 2691: Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment), psychotherapy and treatment of mental and emotional disorders (APSY-GE 2025: Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Theory and Application), and marriage and family counseling (APSY-GE 2684 Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling). Students will take these three courses as electives for no additional time or cost to meet Maryland state requirements. Additional Licensure Requirements: Candidates must pass the Maryland law exam. |
| Massachusetts | Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Professions | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curriculum Requirements: Massachusetts requires specific amounts of group and individual supervision hours. NYU will work with the student to acquire and document these hours to meet Massachusetts state requirements. |
| Michigan | Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs | Yes | Additional Licensure Requirements: Michigan requires applicants for licensure to complete training in identifying victims of human trafficking. Students may satisfy this requirement by taking a teleconference or webinar course, online presentation, live presentation, or printed or electronic media prior to applying for licensure. |
| Minnesota | Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curriculum Requirements: Minnesota requires a course in marriage and/or family counseling therapy (APSY-GE 2684: Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling). Students will take this course as an elective for no additional time or cost to meet Minnesota state requirements. |
| Mississippi | Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curriculum Requirements: Mississippi requires a course in marriage and/or family counseling therapy (APSY-GE 2684: Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling). Students will take this course as an elective for no additional time or cost to meet Mississippi state requirements. |
| Missouri | Committee for Professional Counselors | Online: No Residential: Yes | Other Licensure Requirements: Missouri requires that online programs be accredited by CACREP. NYU is accredited by MPCAC. At this time, NYU is not recruiting students from Missouri for the online program. |
| Montana | Board of Behavioral Health | Yes | |
| Nebraska | Department of Health & Human Services | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curriculum Requirements: Nebraska requires 300 clock hours of direct client contact of which 150 clock hours must be face-to-face in a work setting under the supervision of a qualified supervisor. NYU requires 280 hours. NYU will work with the student to acquire and document these hours to meet Nebraska state requirements. |
| Nevada | Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists & Clinical Professional Counselors | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curriculum Requirements: Nevada requires a course in substance abuse counseling and a second course in human development across the lifespan. Students will take APSY-GE 2691 Substance-related and Addictive Disorders: Theory, Research and Treatment and the program's new course in human sexuality as electives at no additional time or cost to meet Nevada state requirements. At this time, NYU is not recruiting students from Nevada for the online program. |
| New Hampshire | Board of Mental Health Practice | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curriculum Requirements: New Hampshire requires a course in addictive behaviors (APSY-GE 2691 Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment). Students will take this course as an elective for no additional time or cost to meet New Hampshire state requirements. |
| New Jersey | Professional Counselor Examiners Committee | Yes | |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Counseling and Therapy Practice Board | Yes | |
| New York | New York State Education Department - Office of the Professions | Yes | |
| North Carolina | Board of Licensed Professional Counselors | No | Other Licensure Requirements: North Carolina requires CACREP programmatic accreditation for licensure. NYU is accredited by MPCAC. At this time, NYU is not recruiting from North Carolina for the online program. |
| North Dakota | Board of Counselor Examiners | Yes | |
| Ohio | Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curriculum Requirements: Ohio requires coursework in the evaluation, diagnosis, methods of intervention and prevention, and treatment of mental and emotional disorders. Students will take NYU's course in psychopharmacology and APSY-GE 2182 Psychopathology and Use of the DSM as electives at no additional time or cost to meet Ohio state requirements. |
| Oklahoma | State Board of Behavioral Health | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curriculum Requirements: Oklahoma requires courses in addictions counseling (APSY-GE 2691: Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment); and marriage/family counseling (APSY-GE 2684: Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling). Students will take these courses as electives at no additional time or cost to meet Oklahoma state requirements. |
| Oregon | Board of Licensed Professional Counselors & Therapists | Yes | |
| Pennsylvania | State Board Of Social Workers, Marriage And Family Therapists And Professional Counselors | Yes | |
| Rhode Island | Department of Health - Marriage, Family and Mental Health Therapy | Yes, with certain specifications | Additional Curriculum Requirements: RI requires a course in cognitive behavioral therapy (APSY-GE 2025 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) or a course in marriage/family counseling (APSY-GE 2684: Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling). Students will take one of these courses as an elective at no additional time or cost to meet RI state requirements. At this time, NYU is not recruiting students from Rhode Island for the online program. |
| South Carolina | Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists | Yes
| |
| South Dakota | Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapist Examiners | Yes | |
| Tennessee | Board for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapists | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curriculum Requirements: Tennessee requires a course in psychopathology and use of the DSM (APSY-GE 2182 Psychopathology and Use of the DSM). Students will take this course as an elective at no additional time or cost to meet Tennessee state requirements. |
| Texas | State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curriculum Requirements: Texas requires courses in substance abuse counseling (APSY-GE 2691 Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment), marriage and family counseling (APSY-GE 2684 Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling), psychopathology and use of the DSM (APSY-GE 2182 Psychopathology and Use of the DSM), and psychopharmacology. Students will take these four courses as electives at no additional time or cost to meet Texas state requirements. |
| Utah | Dept. of Commerce - Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curricular Requirements: Utah requires a course in substance abuse counseling (APSY-GE 2691 Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders: Theory, Research and Treatment). Students will take this course as an elective at no additional time or cost to meet Utah state requirements. |
| Vermont | Board of Allied Mental Health | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curriculum Requirements: Vermont requires a course in psychopathology and use of the DSM (APSY-GE 2182 Psychopathology and Use of the DSM). Students will take this course as an elective at no additional time or cost to meet Vermont state requirements. |
| Virginia | Board of Counseling | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curriculum Requirements: Virginia requires courses in substance abuse counseling (APSY-GE 2691 Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment) and marriage and family counseling (APSY-GE 2684 Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling). Students will take these courses as electives at no additional time or cost to meet Virginia state requirements. |
| Washington | Department of Health | Yes | |
| West Virginia | Board of Examiners in Counseling | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curricular Requirements: West Virginia requires coursework in one of the following areas: substance abuse counseling (APSY-GE 2691 Substance-related and Addictive Disorders: Theory, Research and Treatment) and marriage and family counseling (APSY-GE 2684 Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling). Students must also take either APSY-GE 2008 Adolescent Sexual Health and Healthy Relationships or NYU's course in psychopharmacology. Students will take these courses as electives at no additional time or cost to meet West Virginia state requirements. |
| Wisconsin | Department of Safety and Professional Services | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curricular Requirements: Wisconsin requires a course in clinical mental health counseling diagnosis and treatment planning (APSY-GE Psychopathology and Use of the DSM). Students will take this course as an elective at no additional time or cost to meet Wisconsin state requirements. |
| Wyoming | Mental Health Professions Licensing Board | Yes |
U.S. Territories
| Territory | License Contact Info | Meets the Academic Requirements for State Licensure? | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Samoa | No | ||
| District of Columbia | Board of Professional Counseling | Yes with certain specifications | Additional Curricular Requirements: District of Columbia requires a course in marriage and family counseling (APSY-GE 2684: Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling). Students will take this course as an elective at no additional time or cost to meet District of Columbia requirements. |
| Guam | Guam Board of Allied Health Examiners | Yes | |
| Northern Mariana Islands | CNMI Board of Professional Licensing and the Health Care Professions Licensing Board | Yes | |
| Puerto Rico | Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors | No | |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs | Yes |