CACREP accredited until March 31, 2032.
The Master of Education degree in Counselor Education with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is designed to prepare graduates to assess, diagnose and treat clients with mental disorders as well as those with problems in living. Graduates will have completed all the academic requirements to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Florida. The emphasis of this Master's degree program is on developing skills in counseling individuals, families and groups, using the best theoretical and research-based practices. The goals are to help clients to become stabilized and to achieve as optimal functioning as possible.
Preparing for Your New Career
The 60 credit hour Master's degree program provides a solid foundation in counseling theories and techniques with specialty courses in issues in mental health counseling practice, psychopathology, substance abuse counseling, and human sexuality counseling. During the practicum and internship, students are assigned to mental health agencies where they specialize in areas of interest to them. They provide individual counseling, family counseling and lead groups.
Where are MHCs Employed?
FAU graduates in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling work in a variety of agencies, including community mental health centers, psychiatric hospitals, university counseling centers, domestic violence agencies, adolescent run-away agencies, sexual assault treatment centers for adults and for children, substance abuse treatment centers, marriage and family counseling centers, eating disorders agencies, women's centers, elder centers, hospice, employee assistance programs, career counseling centers and private practice. To become licensed in Florida, graduates must counsel under an approved supervisor for two years and take the state licensing exam. Many of our graduates later become administrators in their agencies, and some develop their own private practices and some pursue doctoral work in counseling or psychology.
Interested in Our Combined M.Ed./Ed.S. program?
This combined program in Counselor Education pairs the 60-credit Master of Education program with the Specialist in Education program . Students enrolled in this program apply once and are eligible to graduate with their master's degree after they have completed 60 credits of coursework. After completing an additional 12 credits for a total of 72, students would receive their Specialist in Education degree.
How to Apply
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program only admits for Fall entry terms (once per year). The next entry term cycle is Fall 2027. The application deadline is January 15, 2027. Apply Now.
The GradCas application portal will open in September 2026 for submissions.