Mental health counselor programs NYC

If you are considering pursuing a counseling degree in New York, there are a variety of on-campus and online options available. Different programs offer different specializations, such as clinical mental health counseling, school counseling and community counseling.

Pursuing a degree in counseling in New York may open up a variety of career options, and some programs may provide pathways to licensure. A number of programs offer pathways to becoming a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in New York state. There are over 50 master’s programs in New York that offer degrees in counseling, so it’s important to research each program individually to decide which program is right for you.

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In This Article:

• Compare 37 Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs in New York
• Compare 17 School Counseling Programs in New York
• Compare 3 Rehabilitation Counseling Programs in New York
• Insights into Counseling Degrees in New York
• Education and Other Requirements for Counseling Licensure in New York
• Salary and Career Outlook for Counselors in New York
• FAQs

Compare 17 School Counseling Programs in New York

Start your school counseling counseling career by requesting information from our sponsored program:

Earn your master’s in school counseling online from NYU Steinhardt. GRE not required.Request information from Counseling@NYU

University Name	Location	Degree Type	GRE Requirement	Accreditation	Time to Complete	Program Characteristics
Alfred University	Alfred, NY	MS Ed. in School Counseling	If undergraduate GPA is less than 3.0	CACREP	2-3 years	On-Campus
Canisius College	Buffalo, NY	MS in School Counseling	No	CACREP	2 years	On-Campus
The College of Saint Rose	Albany, NY	MS Ed. in School Counseling	No	N/A	Varied	On-Campus
Fordham University	New York, NY	MS Ed. in School Counseling	No	MPCAC	2-3 years	On-Campus
Hunter College CUNY	New York, NY	MS Ed. in School Counseling	No	CACREP	2-5 years	On-Campus, Online, or Hybrid format
Lehman College CUNY	Bronx, NY	MS Ed. in Counselor Education	No	CACREP	3 years	On-Campus
Long Island University	Brookville, NY	MS in School Counseling	No	N/A	2 years	On-Campus
Manhattan College	Riverdale, NY	MA in School Counseling	No	N/A	2 years	On-Campus
Mercy College	Bronx/Dobbs Ferry, NY	MS in School Counseling	No	N/A	3 years	On-Campus
New Paltz SUNY	New Paltz, NY	MS in School Counseling	Yes	N/A	2-3 years	On-Campus
New York Institute of Technology	New York, NY	MS in School Counseling	No	CACREP	2-3 years	On-Campus
New York University Sponsored	New York, NY	MA in School Counseling	No	MPCAP	Varied	On-Campus and Online
Oswego SUNY	Oswego, NY	MS in School Counseling	Yes	N/A	2 years	On-Campus
Queens College CUNY	Queens, NY	MS in School Counseling	No	N/A	2 years	On-Campus
Russell Sage College	Albany/Troy NY	MS in Professional School Counseling	No	N/A	Varied	On-Campus
Touro College	Brooklyn/New York, NY	MS in School Counseling	No	N/A	2-3 years	On-Campus
University of Buffalo SUNY	Buffalo, NY	EdM in School Counseling	No	N/A	1.5 years	On-Campus

Compare 3 Rehabilitation Counseling Programs in New York 

University Name	Location	Degree Type	GRE Requirement	Accreditation	Time to Complete	Program Characteristics
Hunter College CUNY	New York, NY	MS. Ed. in Rehabilitation Counseling	No	N/A	varied	On-Campus, Online, or Hybrid format
Hofstra University	Hempstead, NY	MS Ed. In Rehabilitation Counseling	No	CACREP	Varied	On-campus
University at Buffalo SUNY	Buffalo, NY	MS in Rehabilitation Counseling	No	CACREP	2-2.5 years	On-Campus

Insights into Counseling Degrees in New York

Here are additional details about the programs listed in the tables above:

Adelphi University

Program Overview

Program Name: Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Adelphi University External link 

Concentrations in Global Mental Health Counseling, Infant Mental Health Counseling and Substance Abuse Counseling are also available.

Program Length: 2 years

Instruction Method: In-person

Program Requirements

• 60 credits
• 100-hour practicum and 900-hour internship program
• Full-time study only

Admission Requirements

• $50 application fee
• GRE scores
• Two letters of recommendation
• Personal essay
• Interview

Alfred University

Program Overview

Program Name: Mental Health Counseling (MS Ed) program from Alfred University External link 

Program Length: 2-3 years

Instruction Method: In-person

Program Requirements:

• 60 credits
• 100-hour practicum
• 600-hour internship
• Full-time or part-time study

Admission Requirements:

• Three letters of recommendation
• GRE scores if undergraduate GPA is less than 3.0
• Personal statement

Alfred University

Program Overview

Program Name: School Counseling (MS Ed) program from Alfred University External link 

Program Length: 2-3 years

Instruction Method: In-person

Program Requirements:

• 60 credits
• 100-hour practicum
• 600-hour internship
• Full-time or part-time

Admission Requirements:

• Three letters of recommendation
• GRE scores is undergraduate GPA is less than 3.0
• Personal statement

Baruch CUNY

Program Overview

Program Name: Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Baruch CUNY External link 

Program Length: 2 years

Instruction Method: In-person

Program Requirements:

• 60 credits
• Students must maintain 3.0 GPA
• Full-time only
• Lock-step course sequence

queens college mental health counseling

Mental Health Counseling

​The Mental Health Counseling program is registered with the New York State Education Department and leads to licensing as a Mental Health Counselor. Post-degree clinical hours and exams are required beyond the master’s degree for permanent licensing. The following are the specific requirements for all candidates in mental health counseling: Mental health counseling specialty courses: ECPCE 708. Ethics, Clinical Issues, and Crises InterventionECPCE 730. Substance Abuse Counseling ECPCE 811. Mental Health CounselingECPCE 812. Psychopathology & Diagnosis in Mental Health CounselingECPCE 813. Family DynamicsECPCE 814. Advanced Applications in CounselingFieldwork in Mental Health settings as part of ECPCE 721.4. Practicum in Mental Health Counseling (4 credits) and ECPCE 821.Internship in Mental Health Counseling (8 credits). Completion of a final research project (as part of ECPCE 8067 Research Methods) in an area related to mental health counseling.MHC Full Time Program MHC Part Time Program Counseling Fieldwork Guide  For more information on policies, procedures, and course descriptions please see the Queens College Graduate Bulletin.Additional Requirements for the Counseling in a College Setting Specialization  Students who plan to work as counselors in college settings must complete the Mental Health Counseling program. Dr. Lourdes Rivera is the advisor for the College Counseling specialization and should be notified if you wish to concentrate in this area. In addition to the Mental Health Counseling requirements above, students must complete the following: Practicum and internship hours in a college setting that is also acceptable as a mental health site for the New York State License in Mental Health Counseling.The final research project in ECPCE 807 on a topic relevant to counseling in a college setting.An additional 3-credit course specifically addressing issues of the college organization may be available.