Counseling Degree Programs in Vermont

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Updated June 22, 2023 · 5 Min Read

Discover the best accredited Vermont counseling degrees. Learn more about pursuing your counseling license and the career outlook for counselors in Vermont.

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Counselors practice in many roles and specialty areas to provide mental health care and guidance for patients of all demographics. Practicing counselors work in many different industries, including within state and local governments, individual and family services, schools, and hospitals. In Vermont, a graduate degree is a minimum requirement for earning licensure as a professional counselor. Most counselors hold master's degrees, and a small percentage hold doctorates. Many mental health counselors in Vermont hold multiple licenses in different practice areas, including substance abuse, addiction, social work, and marriage and family therapy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that most counselors in Vermont work as substance abuse, behavior disorder, and mental health counselors, earning an average annual wage of $44,970. Each prospective counselor in Vermont must earn a graduate degree from an accredited program, complete required supervised practice hours, and pass a national certifying exam. Read on to learn more about earning your counseling degree in Vermont and explore accredited programs in the state.

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Career Outlook for Counselors in Vermont

Counselors in Vermont can pursue many specialties and work with clients and patients of all demographics. Alcohol and substance abuse, assessment and diagnosis of mental health disorders, solution-focused therapy, and case management offer some of the most common practice specialties in Vermont. The U.S. Department of Labor projects significant and ongoing growth for employment in all counseling specialty areas in Vermont, with rehabilitation counseling projected to grow by 14.1% and jobs in substance abuse, behavior disorder, and mental health counseling projected to expand by 14% from 2016-26. Average yearly earnings for counselors in Vermont vary based on specialty area, ranging from $40,770 for general counselors to $54,030 for educational, guidance, and career counselors. Substance abuse, behavior disorder, and mental health counselors in Vermont earn an average yearly salary of $44,970, and rehabilitation counselors take home an average annual salary of $50,530.

Counseling Degree Program in Vermont

  • University of Vermont
    Location

    Burlington, VT

    View School Profile

    The full name of the UVM is University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, but the university is commonly abbreviated. The university is known as one of the "Public Ivies," which is a designation given to public universities that offer educational opportunities on par with the traditional Ivy League schools. The university was founded in 1791 and as such was one of the first universities established in the country. Only four colleges in New England were established before the University of Vermont, including Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, and Brown. The school offers instruction to around 12,000 students and provides a campus of around 450 acres in the city of Burlington.

    Students who enter the Graduate Counseling Program experience a curriculum designed to enhance professional knowledge and the information needed to make a difference in society and the community. The program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and is also accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Students who wish to enter the School Counseling program at UVM will complete 48 credit hours that will allow students to become eligible for licensed practice within the state of Vermont as school counselors. The school states that its mission with its school counseling program is to prepare students for life outside academia as professional counselors. The program is designed to ensure students will operate efficiently in a variety of diverse settings in the mental health industry. Students may also choose to enter a dual program option that takes 67 credits and combines School Counseling with a Mental Health Counseling program.

    As with the School Counseling option, students who choose to study on the Mental Health Counseling track will benefit from accredited counseling degree programs in Vermont that are accredited by CACREP and NCATE. Students must complete 60 credit hours, and upon graduation are eligible to become licensed mental health counselors in Vermont. Completion of this program allows students to gain eligibility for licensure as a school counselor or a mental health counselor. Students who wish to enter the program will need to complete the standard form and create a Statement of Purpose that helps UVM measure the strength of a student's application. Students must also send the traditional items like letters of recommendation and official college transcripts. Students who enter the program are met with classes that offer a strong foundation of skills required to help others in mental health facilities. Students are also expected to challenge themselves during enrollment so as to ensure they are effective mental health professionals after graduation.

    Accreditations

    • Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
    • National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
    • New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. (NEASC)

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