What Is the Fastest Way to Become a Licensed Counselor or Therapist?

Most counselors and therapists require a state-issued license to practice professionally. You can follow multiple routes to qualify for a license, some of which are faster than others.

This guide explains how to become a licensed therapist or counselor in the shortest time frame. It is specially geared toward counseling students and career changers seeking efficient paths to licensure. Use it to inform your career planning as you pursue educational and professional development opportunities that match your goals.

Requirements to Become a Licensed Counselor or Therapist

Before researching how to become a licensed therapist or counselor, you must grasp the subtle but impactful differences between the two professions. It is also important to note that therapists and clinical psychologists are not the same.

Therapists and counselors both guide patients through treatment and recovery programs for trauma and/or mental health, addiction, or behavioral disorders. However, therapists tend to apply clinical techniques that operate on longer-term timelines, while counselors use practical, goal-oriented, and more direct tools and strategies.

Becoming a counselor or therapist involves a similar set of general steps:

1. Earn an undergraduate degree in a relevant field.
2. Obtain a master's degree in psychology, counseling, or social work.
3. Meet applicable supervised practical training requirements and apply for your license.

The following subsections explain each step in greater detail.

Undergraduate Degree

Your journey starts with a bachelor's degree. Ideal majors include psychology and counseling. Fields like social work, sociology, and human services also match well.

Bachelor's degrees typically take about four years of full-time study to complete. They equip learners with well-rounded foundational knowledge bases for developing sharper, more targeted professional skills.

If you already have an undergraduate degree in an unrelated field, consider a degree completion program. You can transfer coursework to cover some or all of your general studies or elective requirements. This will save you money while reducing your completion timeline.

Depending on your previous major and your academic performance history, you may qualify for direct entry to some master's programs in psychology or counseling.

Graduate Degree

Graduate (or advanced) degrees include master's and doctoral credentials. At a minimum, you need at least a master's degree in a directly related field to become a licensed therapist or counselor.

Master's programs usually require 1-3 years of full-time study, depending on their structure and rigor. Notably, they also offer many opportunities to specialize in focused areas, such as:

• Clinical mental health counseling
• Family or marriage counseling
• School counseling
• Substance abuse and addiction

If you aspire to become a licensed psychologist, you must hold a doctorate. Some states additionally mandate that the American Psychological Association formally accredits your doctoral degree.

A doctorate may improve your professional effectiveness as a therapist or counselor, thanks to the depth of the advanced training it provides. However, you generally require one only if you want to work as a counseling educator.

Supervised Experience and Licensing Requirements

The final aspect of your preparatory training covers supervised experience. This involves developing professional skills in a clinical or private practice setting under a licensed therapist or counselor.

The number of supervised experience hours required varies by state, but it generally falls in the 1,500-3,000 range. Once you meet your state's educational and supervised experience requirements, you can apply for your license.

Note that you cannot practice as an independent mental health counselor or therapist without a state-issued license. Depending on your jurisdiction, additional requirements like background checks and ethics or jurisprudence exams may apply.

You can learn more about state-specific licensing requirements from the American Counseling Association.

The Fastest Way to Become a Licensed Counselor or Therapist

As you look into how to become a licensed therapist or counselor, you will find there are not many shortcuts available. Therapists and counselors are both highly skilled career paths that demand extensive education, training, and professional development.

That said, you can draw on several strategies for minimizing the overall time commitment:

With a bachelor's degree, you may qualify for a paid position that will accrue hours toward your supervised experience requirements. You can then pursue an online master's or doctoral degree while you work.

Consider some of the entry-level jobs and careers profiled in the next section.

Quick Career Options for Counselors and Therapists

Typically, psychologists need doctorates, and counselors need master's degrees. Other professionals in mental health fields, however, can get started in entry-level roles with an appropriate undergraduate degree. Consider the career options for counselors and therapists below.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Fastest Way to Become a Licensed Therapist

Page last reviewed on May 2, 2024