5 Types of Counseling Degrees and How to Choose the Right One
Editor & Writer
Editor & Writer
Contributing Reviewer
Editor & Writer
Editor & Writer
Contributing Reviewer
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Arguably, there are few professions that can make more of an impact on people’s personal lives than counseling. And counselors of all kinds are sorely in need — anxiety and depression skyrocketed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the U.S. opioid epidemic continues to take lives at a staggering and sadly increasing rate.
If you want to help make a difference, a counseling degree can set you on the right path. A counseling program will give you the knowledge and experience you’ll need in order to practice as a counselor. Plus, you’ll probably need a degree in order to earn your counseling license.
Below we’ll cover the different types of counseling degrees that you can choose from and give tips on how to make this important decision.
What Types of Counseling Degrees Are There?
Marriage and Family Counseling
Marriage and family counselors help couples and families navigate problems that arise in the context of their relationships.
These counselors typically need a two- or three-year master’s degree in marriage and family therapy. Admission requirements for these programs vary but often include a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field.
After earning their master’s degree, potential counselors usually must complete a supervised clinical experience and take a licensure exam. Exact requirements vary by state, but all states require licensure.
Marriage and family counselors earned a median salary of $56,570 in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). But a six-figure salary in this field isn’t impossible — the highest-paid 10% of these counselors earned just over $98,700 that year.
School Counseling
School counselors, also called academic counselors or academic advisors, help guide students in their educational and career journeys. They advise on course, college, program, and major selection and help students navigate the steps required to achieve their academic goals. School counselors may also help with social and emotional development and provide short-term counseling.
School counselors typically must complete a master’s program in school counseling or psychology, which takes 2-3 years. In most cases, they also need a license or certification issued by the state where they intend to work. Getting into a master’s program usually requires a bachelor’s degree, a personal statement, and letters of recommendation.
School counselors earned a median annual income of $60,140 in 2022, the BLS reports.
Substance Use Counseling
Substance use counselors aid those managing addiction in their recovery efforts. Substance use or addiction counseling programs can be found at both the bachelor’s and master’s levels. However, workplace and state requirements for these counselors vary considerably and may only prescribe a high school diploma and a state-issued license.
Bachelor’s programs in this counseling specialty take about four years to complete. Admission requirements generally include a personal statement, high school diploma, and letters of recommendation.
Payscale reports that substance use counselors earned an average salary of $45,960 as of April 2024. The salary range for these professionals is relatively narrow — 80% of substance use counselors earned between $35,000 and $61,000.
Rehabilitation Counseling
When people with physical and developmental disabilities need help navigating social services or transitioning into employment, they call a rehabilitation counselor.
These counselors often must have a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling, though a bachelor’s degree might suffice depending on the specific role. Master’s programs typically require applicants to hold a bachelor’s degree with a GPA above a certain threshold — often 3.0.
Rehabilitation counselors probably aren’t in it for the money. The BLS reports that rehabilitation counselors earned a median salary of close to $40,000 in 2022, with 80% of these counselors earning roughly between $30,000 and $70,000 a year.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Mental health counselors help diagnose and treat mental health issues and behavioral disorders in a clinical setting.
Mental health counselors typically must possess a master’s degree, supervised clinical experience, and a state-issued license. Master’s programs may prefer prospective students to have a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field, though applicants with a bachelor’s degree in any field are usually welcome to apply.
According to Payscale, mental health counselors earned an average salary of $50,530 as of April 2024, based on salary information from over 2,000 counselors.
Featured Online Counseling Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
5 Tips to Choose the Right Counseling Degree for You
With so many different counseling degrees, how do you know which one is right for you? We had professional counselors weigh in with five unique strategies.
1 | Shadow an expert.
One surefire way to learn what a job is like is to see it firsthand. Find a counselor in the field you’re interested in and ask them what a typical day looks like for them. Then see if you can tag along.
Can’t decide between multiple counseling specialties? Shadowing a counselor in each discipline is a great way to choose. As licensed mental health counselor GinaMarie Guarino puts it: “If you sample each type of counseling by … consulting with other professionals in the field…, you may have a better idea of what to expect and how it will work for you.”
2 | Decide what you don't want to specialize in.
If you’re not totally sure which counseling degree is right for you, it may be easier to start by narrowing down the field. Identify the disciplines you don’t want to specialize in and then see what’s left.
“I knew that I absolutely did not want to work with children, so I could happily leave those school internships to my peers who were passionate about kids. I knew I was interested in a clinical mental health specialization and a dual-degree program, so I looked specifically for universities that offered dual master's degree programs.”
― Hannah Brents, LICSW
3 | Align with your interests and goals.
Another great way to choose the right counseling degree is to get clear on your goals and interests. Do you already have experience in a certain area that is pulling you toward counseling?
“I can personally say that after losing my father to addiction and also experiencing social injustices, it made sense for me to develop a specialization in addiction and multicultural counseling. This pain defined my purpose. My purpose defined my specialization.”
― Dr. Masica Jordan, LCPC
4 | Think about your scheduling preferences.
Passion is important when picking your counseling specialty, but so is work-life balance. If you already know how and when you tend to work best, this can help guide your decision-making.
Each type of counselor has different scheduling demands. “School counselors tend to have standard weekday schedules with summers off, whereas inpatient mental health hospitals or substance [use] rehabs may require weekend or evening hours. A private practice family therapist is more likely to be able to set their own schedule,” says Dr. Lea McMahon, LPC, Ed.D.
5 | When in doubt, choose a general counseling degree.
Still not sure which counseling field is right for you? Licensed clinical professional counselor Joyce Marter offers these words of advice: “If you aren't completely sure of which setting or what type of population you want to work with, consider the broadest specialization.”
Sticking with a general counseling degree can help you enter the counseling field while also keeping your options open. Another plus? Marter adds that the variety “keeps [her] engaged and prevents burnout.”
Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed March 28, 2024.
