12 Best Counseling Psychology Masters Programs in California

The mental health industry is expected to grow 25 percent by 2029. California is leading this expansion. California hired 34,820 mental health professionals as of 2021, and the need continues to climb. Counseling psychology programs in California are clear pathways to both Marriage and Family Therapy (LMFT) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) credentials. We get into 12 top psychology programs in California in this piece, comparing curriculum, clinical requirements, accreditation and tuition to help you select the right MA in counseling psychology for your career.

National University: MA in Counseling Psychology

Program Overview & Specialization Options

National University offers two distinct pathways within its MA in Counseling Psychology program. The standard Marriage and Family Therapist option prepares you to work with individuals, couples, families, adolescents, and children in psychotherapy settings. The Combined MFT/LPCC option adds three courses specific to the LPCC scope of practice. These courses cover career counseling, research, and assessment techniques. Both tracks emphasize culturally sensitive approaches to mental health treatment and prepare you to assess, diagnose, and treat psychological stress, mental disorders, and relationship challenges.

Curriculum Structure & Core Requirements

You’ll complete at least 90 quarter units of graduate work to earn this degree. National University accepts up to 13.5 quarter units of graduate credit from other institutions. Those units must not have been used for another advanced degree. The program can be completed in 22 months, though most students finish in under two years. Students without an undergraduate degree in psychology must take PSY 501A and PSY 501B as their first two courses.

Core coursework covers legal and ethical issues in California counseling practice, crisis assessment, treatment planning, and intervention strategies. The curriculum integrates systems theory concepts and addresses systemic dynamics within diverse populations. You’ll also study research methods that cover quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, and community-based participatory research approaches.

Clinical Practicum Experience

Your clinical training requirements differ based on your chosen specialization:

You must complete at least 10 hours of individual, marital, family, and group psychotherapy before taking PSY 611B. Another 15 hours are required before graduation. Practicum placement follows a student-led process where you search for and secure your own approved site. National University provides lists of approved practicum sites throughout California. The university assigns a Clinical Director to help students who encounter placement difficulties.

Accreditation & Licensure Pathways

The MFT program holds accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy (COAMFTE). This makes National University the first distance education MFT program to receive this recognition. The program also carries accreditation from the International Accreditation Commission for Systemic Therapy Education (IACSTE). Both tracks meet the academic requirements mandated by the Board of Behavioral Sciences for their respective licenses in California.

Admission Requirements & Timeline

You need a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 2.5 or higher from a regionally accredited institution. Your GPA may fall between 2.0 and 2.49. You can still gain admission by scoring satisfactorily on the GMAT, GRE, or Miller Analogies Test. You may also enter on probationary status and complete 4.5 to 13.5 quarter units of graduate study with a 3.0 GPA. The application process has several components. You’ll submit a cover letter, current resume, and two essays of 3-5 pages each. Classes start every Monday with year-round enrollment.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Total program tuition is approximately $39,780. You should also expect a $350 fee during PSY 611B for materials designed to help with California licensing examination preparation. National University awards tuition scholarships and grants to students facing economic challenges based on financial need. You can complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to establish eligibility for federal financial aid, scholarships, grants, and loans.

California Institute of Integral Studies: Integral Counseling Psychology

Program Overview & Specialization Options

CIIS has trained students for over 50 years in a vision of psychotherapy that combines major spiritual traditions of the East and West with contemporary therapeutic practices. The comprehensive orientation invites you to develop your personal vision of psychology within modern theoretical approaches. You can choose from three flexible formats that meet California Board of Behavioral Sciences requirements for LMFT and LPCC credentials.

The weekend option brings in-person courses to busy professionals who need greater flexibility. The hybrid format expands training to reach students outside the Bay Area and maintains experiential depth through in-person intensives.

Curriculum Structure & Core Requirements

The program has scholarship from family and community systems theories, attachment theory, contemporary trauma theory and transpersonal concepts. Your coursework progresses from foundational subjects like Human Development and the Family, Multicultural Counseling and Therapeutic Communication to advanced studies that include Gestalt Therapy, the Clinical Relationship and Couples Counseling. You’ll complete courses that blend theory-based subjects with the development and healing potential of the therapist-client relationship. Students must complete 50 hours of personal psychotherapy with a licensed mental health professional.

Clinical Practicum Experience

You’ll participate in a year-long practicum at one of three award-winning Integral Counseling Clinics or an external site of your choice. The field placement office supports your clinical training and identifies placements that meet academic requirements, personal clinical interests and California Board of Behavioral Sciences mandates. The office has approved more than 200 sites throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. You’ll work with diverse populations in mental health clinics, hospitals, schools and clinical social service settings.

Accreditation & Licensure Pathways

The California Board of Behavioral Sciences has approved coursework to fulfill educational requirements toward the LMFT license. You also have the option to take additional coursework to fulfill LPCC educational requirements. The hybrid program meets requirements for California, Oregon, Washington and Nevada LPCC licensure. You must register with the BBS after graduation and complete post-graduate supervised clinical associate hours and written examinations.

Admission Requirements & Timeline

You need an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university. A GPA of 3.0 or higher is required. GPAs between 2.0 and 3.0 are considered if you submit a GPA Statement. Two undergraduate psychology courses are recommended but not required. Your application has a $68.00 nonrefundable fee, official transcripts, a four-to-six page statement of intent and two letters of recommendation. The admissions committee sends invitations for individual and group interviews.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Master’s division students pay $1,331.00 per unit for 2024-25 and $1,374.00 per unit for 2025-26. CIIS offers need-based financial aid, scholarships, competitive fellowships and assistantships. You can complete the FAFSA to establish eligibility for federal financial aid programs.

Palo Alto University: MA in Counseling

Program Overview & Specialization Options

Palo Alto University received eight years of CACREP accreditation in January 2017 for its MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. The program shows strong performance with a 93.2% degree completion rate and 269 graduates in the past year. You can complete coursework through residential hybrid or distance learning formats. Distance learning allows you to finish all coursework while completing practicum and internship placements in your local community. You must attend two residential training experiences on campus.

The Marriage, Family, Child Counseling (MFCC) emphasis fulfills California requirements for dual LMFT/LPCC licensure. Students planning to practice as an MFT in California benefit from this dual license option if they want LPCC credentials when relocating out of state. Students without the MFCC emphasis must take two elective courses instead of the two required Family Systems and Couples Counseling courses.

Curriculum Structure & Core Requirements

You must complete at least 94.5 quarter units of study and meet professional and dispositional requirements. Coursework lines up with Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) specifications. The curriculum emphasizes leadership and advocacy around human development issues and quality service provision.

Clinical Practicum Experience

You complete at least a 100-hour practicum and 600 hours of internship over at least three quarters of fieldwork beyond the 94.5 quarter credits. PAU works with students who require additional practicum or internship hours for licensure in states with higher clinical training requirements.

Accreditation & Licensure Pathways

Graduation makes you eligible to register as an Associate Marital and Family Therapist (AMFT) and/or Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) as defined by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. AMFTs must complete 3,000 supervised clinical hours and pass California law and ethics exams plus the licensing exam to become an LMFT. These hours include those earned during the master’s program. APCCs require 3,000 post-graduate supervised clinical hours and must pass law, ethics, and licensing examinations for LPCC credentials.

Program outcomes include an 81% LPCC Law & Ethics Exam pass rate, 78% NCMHCE pass rate, 77% LMFT Law & Ethics Exam pass rate, and 86% LMFT Licensure & Exam pass rate. Combined employment and doctoral admissions rates reach 75.22%.

Admission Requirements & Timeline

You need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Application deadlines are November 1, 2025 for Spring 2026 and May 1, 2026 for Fall 2026. Space may fill before posted deadlines. Early applications receive priority.

Tuition & Financial Aid

First-year tuition and fees total $33,801 annually for four quarters. Second-year costs are $25,056. The Office of Financial Aid provides resources to help you manage education expenses.

Alliant International University: MA in Clinical Counseling

Program Overview & Specialization Options

Alliant’s 60-unit program builds on a model of cultural humility that embraces life-long learning and self-care. The program prepares you to be a competent counselor and apply psychotherapeutic techniques to treat cognitive, mental and emotional issues. The training model integrates a strengths-based and resilience view to encourage critical consciousness and reflective thinking. You’ll develop multicultural competence and a solid foundation in social justice advocacy to strengthen the clients and communities you serve. The program focuses on mental wellness promotion and prevention rather than pathology.

Curriculum Structure & Core Requirements

The curriculum incorporates all California Board of Behavioral Sciences educational requirements outlined in Business and Professions Code Section 4999.30 for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors. You’ll complete 54 core credit units and 6 elective units. Coursework covers diagnosis, treatment planning and psychological interventions with individuals and groups. The program uses academic, experiential and research-based clinical practice approaches along with direct community service learning in field placements.

You must pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam, a national exam that the Center for Credentialing & Education administers. Many clinical counseling programs nationwide use this exam.

Clinical Practicum Experience

Your first year has a one-year fieldwork sequence of practicum (100 hours over at least 2 terms) and internship (600 hours over 3 terms). You get a total of 700 hours of clinical experience counseling individuals, families and groups. At least 280 required hours are direct client counseling with supervised clinical experience. The Clinical Training Director helps you locate approved field agencies in surrounding communities and be placed there. Fieldwork gives you experience with individual, family, group and couple therapy. You work with adults, children, families and couples.

Accreditation & Licensure Pathways

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs granted accreditation to this program on August 8, 2022. Completion makes you eligible for licensure as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in California. You must complete 3,000 hours of supervised professional experience post-degree and pass licensure exams.

Admission Requirements & Timeline

You need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Your application has a $65.00 fee, a 2-4 page essay covering your background and professional goals, and how you’ll use this privilege to better society. You also submit a resume, two letters of recommendation and complete a faculty interview. The admissions team reviews applications year-round.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Students pay per unit for coursework. Expect a $225.00 Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam fee and a $20.00 Time2Track fee per semester. Federal financial aid, scholarships and grants are available for eligible students.

California State University, Fullerton: MS in Counseling

Program Overview & Specialization Options

California State University, Fullerton operates two program tracks approved by the California State Board of Behavioral Sciences for LMFT and LPCC licensure. The Traditional Program allows you to progress at your own pace and complete the degree in three to five years. The Evening Cohort follows a structured format where you take two courses per semester for three years and one term. Classes meet in the evening to accommodate working professionals.

The Ánimo: Latinx Counseling Emphasis addresses professional and training needs for counselors working with Latinx and Spanish-speaking clients. This concentration develops bilingual and bicultural counseling skills while meeting California licensure requirements. You must demonstrate at least intermediate spoken Spanish proficiency to exit this emphasis.

Curriculum Structure & Core Requirements

You’ll complete 21 courses totaling 63 units. Core coursework has the Counseling Profession, Career and Lifestyle Development, Human Development and Functioning, Modes of Individual Counseling, Research in Counseling, Counseling and Culture, Child and Adolescent Counseling, Psychopharmacology for Counselors, Professional Ethical and Legal Issues, Groups Process and Practice, Addictions Counseling, Crisis Intervention and Trauma Treatment, Appraisal in Counseling, Intimate Partner and Couples Counseling, and Advanced Counseling Techniques.

Clinical Practicum Experience

Practicum begins at the program’s midpoint and runs for one to one and a half years. You’ll work 15-20 hours each week at an approved community mental health agency. Practicum functions as a part-time commitment with no salary, though you’ll provide counseling to children, adults, couples, and families. You’ll take two classes alongside practicum fieldwork. One is a seminar where you discuss counseling experiences and review videotaped sessions.

Accreditation & Licensure Pathways

CSUF holds CACREP accreditation and allows graduates to work with VA and Tricare after completing the program. The program meets all BBS educational requirements for California LMFT and LPCC credentials.

Admission Requirements & Timeline

You need a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Four prerequisite behavioral science courses are required: Counseling Theories, Abnormal Psychology or Psychopathology, Human Development or Developmental Psychology, and Research Methods or Statistics. You must complete at least two prerequisites before program entry. Your application has three letters of recommendation, a 1,000-word personal statement, resume, and faculty interview. Applications for Fall Traditional Program are accepted October 1 through February 1. Evening Cohort applications open August 1 through October 1 for Spring admission.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Federal Direct unsubsidized loans are available to meet educational expenses.

University of San Diego: MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Program Overview & Specialization Options

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialization develops clinically and culturally competent counselors through evidence-based practice applied in clinical settings of all types. This 60-unit graduate program provides complete master’s-level training for independent clinical counseling practice in mental health agencies, rehabilitation facilities, correctional institutions, schools, religious organizations, community centers, business settings, and private practice. The program prepares you to become a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in California or licensed counselor in other states.

Curriculum Structure & Core Requirements

You’ll complete 24 units of core courses. These cover professional orientation, ethics, lifespan development, research methods, career development, multicultural counseling, counseling theory, group dynamics, and assessment techniques. Another 18 units focus on clinical mental health foundations that include diagnosis and treatment, family counseling, substance abuse counseling, human sexuality, and crisis intervention. Clinical instruction courses add 12 units, with 6 elective units selected with specialization coordinator approval.

Clinical Practicum Experience

Practicum spans three sequential semesters during your final year. Each course is worth 3 units. You’ll complete a minimum of 700 supervised hours in Practicum I, II, and III. Practicum I requires you to accrue at least 100 clinical contact hours. This includes 40 hours of direct client contact and 60 hours of indirect service. You’ll participate in weekly group supervision and bi-weekly individual supervision with USD faculty supervisors, plus weekly supervision at your community site.

Accreditation & Licensure Pathways

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs granted accreditation to this specialization in 2015. Graduation makes you eligible to register as an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor. You must complete 3,000 post-graduate supervised clinical hours and pass licensing exams for full LPCC credentials.

Admission Requirements & Timeline

You need a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. GRE scores are not required. Your application has a resume, 500-word statement of purpose, and two letters of recommendation. Qualified candidates receive invitations for group interviews with counseling faculty. The program enrolls about 30 new students each year.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Full-time students complete the program in 2 years through year-round study that includes summer. The program is offered on-campus only. USD provides financial aid through loans, assistantships, merit scholarships, and HRSA grant opportunities.

The Wright Institute: MA in Counseling

Program Overview & Specialization Options

Nevitt Sanford founded the Wright Institute to educate ‘clinicians to society’ through a two-year master’s program that prepares you to provide mental health services that are culturally sensitive and support resiliency, recovery and social justice. The 60-unit program qualifies you for both MFT and PCC licensure in California. You’ll bond with a consistent cohort as you enter, progress and graduate together. This creates an intimate and supportive learning experience. The program accommodates working adults and parents with flexible class schedules.

Curriculum Structure & Core Requirements

First-year coursework has Counseling Theories & Techniques, Individual & Family Development, Diagnosis & Empirically Supported Treatments, Research Based Practice, Family Therapy I and II, Multicultural Awareness & Sensitivity, Clinical Assessment & Measures, Community Mental Health, and Child & Adolescent Counseling. Second year covers Group Counseling, Family Violence & Protection, Law & Professional Ethics, Addiction and Substance Use Disorders Counseling, Crisis Disaster & Trauma Counseling, Couples and Intimate Partners Counseling, Sexual and Gender Health and Development, and Psychopharmacology. You’ll also complete MFT Professional Development Seminars and practicum hours throughout the second year.

Clinical Practicum Experience

You must complete 500 hours minimum of supervised clinical experience. This has 280 direct client hours. Practicum occurs during your second year at one of many behavioral health agencies throughout California. These agencies include state and county mental health facilities, outpatient clinics, psychiatric hospitals, schools, residential treatment programs, day treatment facilities, chemical dependency programs, rehabilitation programs and forensic settings. The Field Placement Office maintains an approved practicum site database and assists you in preparing your CV and applications. You’ll participate in Professional Development Seminars that offer support during clinical training. These seminars cover assessment, treatment planning, intervention, documentation, supervision usage and career development.

Accreditation & Licensure Pathways

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges accredits the Wright Institute. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences approves the program to meet Business and Professions Code 4980.36 for marriage and family therapy practice and 4999.33 for professional clinical counseling. The program can be completed in two years with concurrent practicum, though three years is often more practical if you work full-time.

Admission Requirements & Timeline

You need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 minimum GPA. Applications open October 1, with priority deadline February 1 and standard deadline May 1. Applications continue on a rolling basis if space remains available. Submit a $50 application fee, statement of purpose (4-6 pages, double-spaced), current resume, two letters of recommendation and transcripts. The most recent cycle had 237 applicants. The program accepted 161 and enrolled 73. Application fee waivers are available for McNair Scholars, Gates Millennial Scholars, Peace Corps volunteers and applicants facing financial barriers.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Tuition is $1,280 per unit. At 60 total units, program cost is $76,800. You can complete the program in two years ($38,400 per year) or defer practicum to a third year. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans allow borrowing up to $20,500 per year. The Wright Institute Scholarship provides $250 to $3,800 per academic year based on financial need. Complete the FAFSA by December 5 to establish aid eligibility. Federal Work-Study positions offer additional funding opportunities.

San Francisco State University: MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Program Overview & Specialization Options

San Francisco State University’s mission centers on training counselor leaders through an intersectional, community-driven approach to liberation and social justice work. The 60-unit MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling prepares you to work in behavioral healthcare settings with vulnerable, marginalized communities experiencing disabling health conditions that trauma, homelessness, substance abuse, and oppression often complicate. Graduates work in community-based behavioral health agencies, hospital programs, rehabilitation settings, wellness centers, and programs serving at-risk communities.

Curriculum Structure & Core Requirements

The curriculum lines up with a biopsychosocial model of health and behavioral health. You’ll develop competencies in contemporary classification systems, Mental Health Recovery Model, Community Mental Health, Vocational Rehabilitation, and disability justice frameworks. Core coursework has four semesters of supervised counseling practicum and internship. The curriculum meets all but one of the LPCC educational requirements: a 3-unit psychopharmacology course.

Clinical Practicum Experience

You must complete at least 700 hours at two different academic year field placements. You need 280 hours minimum of direct client contact. The department partners with over 150 community agencies, schools, colleges, and universities that provide training opportunities. First-year trainees spend 12-16 hours weekly at placements and increase to 16-20 hours during second year.

Accreditation & Licensure Pathways

CACREP granted accreditation through October 31, 2031. The curriculum lines up with California Board of Behavioral Sciences requirements for LPCC licensure. You must complete 3,000 post-graduate supervised hours and pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination plus California Law and Ethics Exam afterward.

Admission Requirements & Timeline

You need a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 minimum GPA in the last 60 units. MS-CMHC applicants must have 2,000 hours of paid or unpaid human services work experience. Applications open October 1 through December 15 for fall admission only. The department charges a $25 application fee plus the $70 Cal State Apply fee. You must demonstrate writing proficiency after admission.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Graduate tuition and fees average $8,440 a year. California residents pay $6,838 in tuition fees plus $1,934 in local fees. CMHC students qualify for federal training stipends of $10,000-$13,000 a year that require two years of post-graduation work in nonprofit behavioral health organizations for each year received. The department awards approximately 18 scholarships that range from $500 to $2,000.

St. Mary’s College of California: MA in Counseling

Program Overview & Specialization Options

St. Mary’s College offers an MA in Counseling grounded in Lasallian Catholic principles. The program has six specialization paths: MFT/PCC (integrated emphasis), General Counseling, Career Counseling, Higher Education and Student Affairs, HESA/PCC, and School Counseling. You can complete multiple specializations by fulfilling additional field placement requirements with advisor permission. The MFT/PCC track requires 68 units over 2.5-4 years.

Curriculum Structure & Core Requirements

You’ll complete 40 core units covering counseling research, skills development, theories, intercultural counseling, career counseling, law and ethics, human sexuality, substance abuse, psychological testing, human development, and group practice. Classes meet Monday through Thursday evenings from 4:15-7:00pm and 7:15-10:00pm. Counseling Skills courses require Saturday sessions. You cannot complete the program taking only late evening courses.

Clinical Practicum Experience

Field placement spans 600 hours. You must complete 280 hours minimum of direct face-to-face counseling. On top of that, you must complete 20 hours of personal therapy, with 10 hours occurring during field placement.

Accreditation & Licensure Pathways

The MFT/PCC specialization meets California Board of Behavioral Sciences’ educational requirements for both LMFT and LPCC licensure. You’ll complete a culminating Master’s Project, Thesis, or Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam.

Admission Requirements & Timeline

You need a bachelor’s degree with a 2.8 minimum GPA. Applications require a $50 fee, 2-3 page personal statement, resume, three professional or academic recommendation letters, and tuberculin test results. Fall and spring admissions are available.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Total program tuition is $75,820.

Dominican University of California: MS in Counseling Psychology

Program Overview & Specialization Options

Dominican’s Bay Area program places 100% of trainees at over 50 community agencies. About 90% of graduates become licensed MFTs or registered associates. You choose between a 60-unit MFT/PCC concentration that meets both licensure requirements or a 43-unit General Master’s option. Classes accommodate working professionals through late afternoon, evening and weekend schedules. Each class has 20 students maximum [653].

Curriculum Structure & Core Requirements

The MFT/PCC track requires 60 units. The General Master’s concentration needs 43 units. Six units may transfer from another institution if the department chair approves. You must complete CP 5201, CP 5208, CP 5217, CP 5221 and CP 5237 before practicum eligibility. Students without prior Theories of Personality coursework must complete this requirement during their first year.

Clinical Practicum Experience

You’ll complete 500 practicum hours minimum. This has 280 direct counseling hours for MFT/PCC concentration. Fieldwork occurs at governmental agencies, schools, nonprofit organizations or licensed health facilities with on-site supervision. MFT/PCC students complete 45 hours of personal psychotherapy. Up to 15 hours can be completed within two years before program entry.

Accreditation & Licensure Pathways

The program meets California Board of Behavioral Sciences requirements under Business and Professions Code Section 4980.37 for MFT and 4999.10-4999.122 for PCC licensure. You must complete 3,000 post-graduate supervised hours and pass licensing examinations after that.

Admission Requirements & Timeline

You need a bachelor’s degree with 3.0 GPA in your last 60 units. Your application has a 4-5 page autobiography that describes influential people and counseling-related experiences. You also submit a written response to a crisis scenario with suicide intervention. Fall deadline is June 1. Spring deadline is December 1.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Federal loans, scholarships and grants are available through FAFSA submission.

California State University, Long Beach: Counseling Psychology Program

Program Overview & Specialization Options

CSULB’s MS in Counseling Psychology spans 65 units and qualifies you for both LMFT and LPCC licensure pathways. You select between 2-year or 2.5-year completion tracks after admission. Classes are scheduled late afternoons (4:00pm) and evenings (7:00pm) Monday through Thursday. Some required sessions occur on weekends between 9:00am-5:00pm. The program blends in-person and online synchronous instruction, though no remote option exists fully.

Curriculum Structure & Core Requirements

You complete 59 core units covering family systems, counseling theories, clinical interviewing, trauma counseling and psychological assessment. Choose between a 6-unit thesis (Option A) or 6 units of approved electives with complete examination (Option B). Elective options include Play and Art Therapy, Family Trauma Treatment, Gestalt Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Clinical Practicum Experience

Clinical training requires 500 supervised hours: 150 hours in practicum (COUN 609) and 350 hours in two fieldwork courses (COUN 643D & 644D). Training occurs both at CSULB’s Community Clinic and approved nonprofit agencies. These practicum and fieldwork hours apply toward the 3,000 hours that LMFT licensure requires.

Accreditation & Licensure Pathways

The program holds WASC accreditation and California Board of Behavioral Sciences approval. CACREP granted national accreditation. You can apply for both LMFT and LPCC licensure with the Board of Behavioral Sciences after completion.

Admission Requirements & Timeline

You need a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.85 GPA. No GRE is required. Admission is competitive with an acceptance rate around 5%. Applications open October 1. The university application is due December 1 and program materials are due December 12. Submit a $70 application fee, 3-4 page statement of purpose, resume and two professional recommendations.

Tuition & Financial Aid

The Golden State Social Opportunities Program provides up to $50,000 total for eligible students who commit to 24 months practicing in community-based organizations.

Saybrook University: MA in Counseling

Program Overview & Specialization Options

Saybrook’s hybrid-online MA in Counseling allows you to complete coursework without relocating. You meet face-to-face at Residential Learning Experiences each semester. The CACREP-accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization prepares you for LPC, LPCC, or LMHC licensure in most states. This low-residency program uses a cohort model. You interact online and attend intensive learning sessions at semester start. The three-year, 60-credit program can be completed in eight to nine semesters. Courses are offered fall, spring, and summer.

Curriculum Structure & Core Requirements

You’ll complete courses covering CACREP’s eight common core areas: Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice, Social and Cultural Diversity, Human Growth and Development, Lifestyle and Career Development, Helping Relationships, Group Work, Assessment, and Research and Program Evaluation. The curriculum has Simple Counseling Skills, Counseling Theories, Psychopharmacology and courses on Psychopathology & Diagnosis, Crisis & Trauma Intervention, Cultural Humility and Responsiveness, and Substance Abuse & Behavioral Addictions. So the program meets California Board of Behavioral Sciences requirements for LPCC licensure.

Clinical Practicum Experience

Your supervised clinical training totals 700 hours. This total has 280 direct client contact hours. Fieldwork spans three semesters through Practicum, Internship I, and Internship II. Tevera, an online management system, tracks your paperwork and field experience progress for a one-time fee of $195. Clinical training begins mid-way through the program. You receive multiple supervision levels and synchronous peer interaction.

Accreditation & Licensure Pathways

CACREP accreditation runs through October 2026. The program meets educational requirements for licensed professional counselor credentials in California plus 47 other states and U.S. territories. Program outcomes demonstrate strong results: 100% of graduates passed the licensing exam on first attempt (3 out of 3), 32 students graduated with a 90% completion rate, and 82% secured employment within mental health fields.

Admission Requirements & Timeline

You need a bachelor’s degree with 3.0 GPA from an accredited university. Applications are accepted year-round for upcoming terms. GRE scores are not required. Submit an application, official transcript, professional resume, personal statement, and one professional recommendation letter. A $100 nonrefundable tuition deposit is required upon acceptance. Complete your FAFSA at least three months before your start term.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Saybrook provides a cost calculator for estimated attendance expenses. Federal financial aid, scholarships, grants, and loans are available for eligible students. The Financial Aid Department offers guidance on suitable assistance options that fit your needs. University Learning Experience fees of $350 apply during terms when residential conferences occur. These fees support faculty-led academic activities that are integral to program outcomes and licensure requirements.

Start Today

Selecting the right counseling psychology program represents a critical decision that shapes your professional trajectory. Each of these 12 California programs offers distinct advantages, whether you prioritize CACREP accreditation, flexible scheduling, specialized emphases, or affordable tuition. Your ideal match depends on your career goals, learning priorities, geographic location, and financial situation. Clinical placement support and dual licensure options matter just as much. Compare program formats, review clinical hour requirements, and calculate total costs before applying. Reach out to admissions offices, connect with current students, and visit campuses when possible, to make your final decision.