Counseling Degrees & Licenses in Colorado

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    Counseling degrees and licenses in Colorado will be in high demand in the coming years, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts strong growth in all careers related to counseling. According to Mental Health Colorado, a report on mental health care in the United States shows that Colorado is among the worst states to provide mental health help to those who need it, especially kids. The group Mental Health America compared all 50 states and Washington, DC, and ranked Colorado 43rd.

    Also, data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration show that 19.55 percent of Colorado residents are living with some kind of mental illness—the third-highest rate in the country.

    Despite those dour-sounding statistics, there is access to care in the state. The Mental Health America report ranked Colorado 17th for access overall and 8th in terms of the number of people with mental illness who also have insurance.

    Colorado is not the only state with a need for mental health services. There’s a strong need for all types of counselors in every state, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that this career field will grow 15 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations in the same period. The need for counselors, in general, will grow as a growing population seeks mental health counseling. The BLS (2021) predicts the job outlook for substance abuse counselors to grow at an even higher rate: 25 percent. Demand for rehabilitation counselors is expected to grow at a rate of 10 percent. On the other hand, the job outlook for marriage and family therapists is expected to grow at a rate of 22 percent.

    In order to earn a counseling license in Colorado, the Colorado State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners requires that licensees have a master’s degree or higher in professional counseling from a program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). CACREP certifies programs when they consist of a minimum of 48 graduate semester-hours (or 72 graduate quarter-hours). The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies has separate boards that certify counselors in the fields of LPC (Licensed Professional Counselors), substance abuse counseling, and marriage and family therapy.

    Read on for a few of the many accredited schools offering programs for counseling degrees and licenses in Colorado.

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    Accredited Counseling Degree Programs in Colorado

    Adams State University

    Adams State University is a public university that was founded in 1921 as a teacher’s college. Adams State’s Department of Counselor Education offers a master of arts in counseling with a focus on clinical mental health and school counseling. Both programs are offered online and on campus. The online program requires two weeklong summer residencies on campus, which take place in June. The MA degree in counseling meets the state academic requirements for licensure as a school counselor and/or a Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado.

    • Location: Alamosa, Colorado
    • Duration: 60 credits
    • Accreditation: CACREP
    • Tuition: $406.19 per credit, Colorado resident on campus; $586.19 per credit, Colorado resident off-campus; $452.80 per credit, online

    Colorado Christian University

    Colorado Christian University is a private Christian university that dates back to 1914. CCU’s master of arts in clinical mental health counseling is nationally accredited by CACREP. Its curriculum is based on a Christian worldview that integrates Christian values into counseling principles.

    Students can choose to emphasize their studies in either marriage and family therapy or substance use disorders. Each emphasis adds eight credits to the program requirements.

    Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared to take the National Counselor Exam, which is the clinical mental health licensure exam for the state of Colorado and many other states. For counseling program core coursework, students may enroll in either the online or on-campus program; all specialization courses are 100 percent online. There is a required residency for online students

    • Location: Lakewood, Colorado
    • Duration: 60 credits, clinical mental health counseling; 68 credits for either specialization in marriage and family therapy or substance use disorders
    • Accreditation: CACREP
    • Tuition: $681 per credit, plus fees

    Colorado State University

    Colorado State University is a public university that is highly active in research programs. The school’s psychology department offers a master of arts in counseling program that includes 48 core counseling curriculum credits, a clinical practicum (100 hours), and an internship (600 hours).

    Students choose from either an addictions counseling concentration, a clinical/counseling psychology concentration, a general psychology concentration, or school counseling, which requires additional coursework in the specialization. Students can pursue two specializations, with a 600-hour internship for each. Upon graduation, students will be eligible for licensure and eligible to become a National Certified Counselor (NCC).

    • Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
    • Duration: 48 credits, or 60 credits per specialization
    • Accreditation: CACREP
    • Tuition: $34,013 per year, Colorado resident; $50,441 per year, non-resident

    Denver Seminary

    Denver Seminary is a private, Evangelical Christian seminary with a campus in Littleton, Colorado, and an online global campus for several of its degree programs (but not counseling at this time). The school’s master of arts in counseling allows for a counseling degree with a concentration in clinical mental health counseling or school counseling, or a dual concentration in clinical mental health and school counseling. The school also offers a counseling ministries degree which is not a licensure track program.

    The MA in counseling (clinical mental health concentration) degree is CACREP-accredited and prepares students for counseling licensure in the state of Colorado as well as for the National Counselor Exam. The school counseling degree is designed to train school counselors to integrate Christian faith and school counseling education in K-12 school settings, as well as prepare them to meet requirements for licensure and endorsement in the state of Colorado.

    The dual concentration degree is designed to train counselors to integrate Christian faith, clinical mental health training, and school counseling education in various clinical and school-based settings. The dual concentration prepares students for counseling licensure and school counseling licensure and endorsement in the state of Colorado. Denver Seminary was the first seminary to receive Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP) accreditation for its counseling program, which the school received in 1997.

    • Location: Littleton, Colorado, with an extension campus in Washington, DC
    • Duration: Clinical mental health counseling and school counseling: 64 credits total with 60 credits of counseling; clinical mental health and school counseling (dual concentration): 76 credits total, 72 credits in either concentration
    • Accreditation: CACREP
    • Tuition: $215 per credit plus fees

    Regis University

    Regis University is a private Jesuit university that was founded in 1877. The school’s master of arts in clinical mental health counseling combines theoretical knowledge, practical counseling skills, and professional leadership abilities. Specialized certifications are offered in areas such as counseling children and adolescents, marriage and family therapy, and depth psychotherapy, which refers to the process of bringing to light parts of the self that are unconscious and may be understood through dreams and archetypes.

    Completion of the program qualifies students for meeting the requirements for Colorado Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC). Evening classes are taught at the Thornton (Denver) campus, with select courses offered on weekends.

    • Location: Denver, Colorado
    • Duration: 60 credits
    • Accreditation: CACREP
    • Tuition: $735 per credit

    University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

    The University of Colorado Colorado Springs is a public research university founded in 1902. It is one of four campuses that make up the University of Colorado system. The school offers two counseling degree programs through its College of Education: clinical mental health counseling and school counseling.

    The clinical mental health counseling program meets the academic requirements for licensure as a professional counselor (LPC) in Colorado to practice psychotherapy. In addition to completing the master’s degree, applicants for the professional counselor license must complete appropriate post-master’s degree supervised experiences and pass a written examination.

    Students graduating from the CMHC degree program will be eligible to take the National Certified Counselor exam during their last semester in the program. The school counselor program meets the licensure requirements of the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). School counselor students will complete the same foundational coursework as the CMHC students and may be eligible for licensure as a Colorado LPC. Teaching experience is not a requirement for the Colorado school counselor license.

    • Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
    • Duration: 60 semester-hours
    • Accreditation: CACREP
    • Tuition: For 12 credits: $7,161.80 plus fees, Colorado resident; $14,649.80 plus fees, non-resident

    University of Colorado at Denver

    The University of Colorado at Denver offers three master of arts in counseling degrees through its School of Education & Human Development: couple and family counseling/therapy, clinical mental health, and school counseling.

    All programs offer on-campus classes with some online options. The admission process requires students to attend a half-day interview virtually or at the Denver campus. During this interview, applicants will be oriented to the program and participate in small and large group interviews and activities. The final selection of the applicants will be based on their performance in the interview.

    • Location: Denver, Colorado
    • Duration: 63 credits for each program
    • Accreditation: CACREP, Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)
    • Tuition: $377 per credit plus fees, Colorado resident; $1,255 per credit plus fees, non-resident

    University of Northern Colorado

    The University of Northern Colorado is a public university that was founded in 1889. It has a long history in teacher education.

    The school’s rehabilitation counseling master of arts is considered one of the top programs of its kind in the United States. The U.S. Department of Education recently awarded UNC a five-year, $938,705 federal grant to train rehabilitation counselors at the master’s level. Students in this program will take part in a supervised practicum in the school’s own Rehabilitation Counseling Clinic. Students will complete 600 clock hours of internship, including 240 hours in direct service to people with disabilities. The rehabilitation counseling MA is designed for working students, with about half of the courses available online, with the other half offered on campus in the late afternoon and evening. On-campus courses are presented in three-hour blocks, so students need only come to campus once a week. Elective courses can be taken either online or on-campus.

    The school’s master of arts in clinical mental health counseling offers school counseling or marriage, couple, and family counseling specializations. The Greeley Campus includes the school’s state-of-the-art Psychological Services Clinic, which provides a more traditional graduate school experience in a semester-long format. This program is also offered at the school’s Denver Center, where classes are delivered in an intensive weekend format designed for working professionals.

    The master’s degree in marriage, couples, and family counseling/therapy program meets the educational requirements for licensure as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).

    • Location: Greeley, Colorado
    • Duration: Rehabilitation counseling, 60 credits; the clinical mental health counseling degree requires 60 to 72 credits; school counseling requires 63 to 75 credits; marriage, couple, and family counseling requires 66 to 75 credits
    • Accreditation: CACREP
    • Tuition: $615 per credit plus fees, Colorado resident; $1,150 per credit plus fees, non-resident

    How Much Do Counselors Make in Colorado?

    These numbers represent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from May 2020.

    Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors

    United StatesColorado
    Number employed292,2305,120
    Average annual salary (mean)$61,000$55,500
    10th percentile$34,380$36,700
    50th percentile (median)$57,040$53,140
    90th percentile$96,090$79,340

    Marriage and Family Therapists

    United StatesColorado
    Number employed60,850530
    Average annual salary (mean)$54,590$58,950
    10th percentile$32,070$37,290
    50th percentile (median)$49,610$56,350
    90th percentile$87,700$90,580

    Rehabilitation Counselors

    United StatesColorado
    Number employed100,2601,420
    Average annual salary (mean)$40,160$52,570
    10th percentile$23,820$25,760
    50th percentile (median)$39,950$47,700
    90th percentile$63,790$78,960

    Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

    United StatesColorado
    Number employed293,6209,470
    Average annual salary (mean)$49,950$53,760
    10th percentile$29,520$31,620
    50th percentile (median)$46,240$50,830
    90th percentile$76,080$80,440

    All Other Counselors

    United StatesColorado
    Number employed27,310220
    Average annual salary (mean)$48,800$57,960
    10th percentile$27,030$38,770
    50th percentile (median)$42,930$57,400
    90th percentile$77,590$79,870

    Counseling Professional Associations & Resources in Colorado

    Mental Health Counseling (LMHC) Licenses in Colorado: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

    Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
    Colorado State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners

    Colorado credentials Licensed Professional Counselor Candidates (LPCCs) and Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs).

    The LPCC is a temporary license and the requirements are:

    • Submit transcripts from a master’s degree from a CACREP accredited program or an education review from the Center for Credential and Education (CCE) demonstrating the program is equivalent to the CACREP one.
    • Pay the appropriate fee
    • Complete the online application, including an affidavit of eligibility to work in the US and a social security number

    The LPCC license is good for four years. To apply for the LPC licensure, candidates must:

    • Earn a minimum of 2,000 hours of work experience over the course of two years, 100 of the hours must be in supervision
    • Pass the NCE exam and send official scores to the licensing board
    • Pay the required application fee
    • Submit a completed application
    • Take and pass the Colorado Mental Health Profession’s Jurisprudence Examination
    • Complete a Healthcare Professions Profiling Program account

    Counseling licenses in Colorado are valid for two years and can be renewed online. Licenses expire on August 31st of odd-numbered years.

    LPCs are required to demonstrate Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) by:

    • Completing a Professional Survey and Self-Assessment
    • Creating professional goals for the coming cycle and write a Learning Plan to meet those goals
    • Completing 40 Professional Development Hours in line with the Learning Plan and professional goals, with no more than 20 hours in one professional category

    Renewal applications and applicable fees must be submitted online.

    School Counseling Licenses in Colorado

    Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
    Colorado Department of Education

    The Colorado Department of Education issues a Special Service Provider Endorsements in school counseling. Candidates for an initial endorsement must:

    • Submit a complete online application
    • Submit fingerprints to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation
    • Pay $110 application fee
    • Hold a master’s degree or higher in school counseling that is either CACREP-accredited (or the equivalent)
    • Complete a 100-hour practicum
    • Complete a 600-hour internship
    • Pass the Praxis Professional School Counselor exam with a score of 156 or higher
    • Submit official transcripts from all schools attended

    Alternatively, if an applicant is a licensed counselor or social worker, the requirements for this interim school counselor endorsement are:

    • Submit a complete online application
    • Submit fingerprints to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation
    • Pay $110 application fee
    • Have a valid counseling (LPC) or social work (LSW, LCSW) license issued by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies
    • Have three years of full-time work experience as a social worker or professional counselor.

    Both the interim and initial endorsements are valid for one to three years. To advance from the interim to the professional license, candidates must:

    • Submit a completed application
    • Pay $90 application fee
    • Complete an approved induction program for school counselors
    • Pass the Praxis Professional School Counselor exam

    Special Service Provider Endorsements issued in Colorado are valid for five years. To renew, applicants must:

    • Pay $90 application fee
    • Submit a renewal application
    • Complete six semester hours (or 90 total hours) of renewal credit
    • Complete the Professional Activities Summary
    • Provide employment history for the past five years

    Substance Abuse Counseling Licenses in Colorado

    Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements

    State Board of Addiction Counselor Examiners

    The State Board of Addiction Counselor Examiners in Colorado credentials Certified Addiction Counselors (CAC) and Licensed Addiction Counselors (LAC).

    CAC licenses are issued at level I, II, or III. Level I is considered entry-level, whereas level II can work independently and level III allows the licensee to provide supervision to a level I.

    CAC I candidates must:

    • Graduate from high school
    • Complete Colorado Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) 112 hours of required training courses
    • Complete 1,000 hours of supervised work experience
    • Pass the Online Jurisprudence Exam
    • Submit a completed application
    • Pay $225 application fee

    CAC II candidates must:

    • Meet CAC I requirements
    • Pass 126 hours of CAC II required training classes,
    • Pass the NCAC I exam.
    • Complete 2,000 hours of clinically supervised work experience in addition to the 1,000 required for CAC I
    • Submit a completed application
    • Pay the $225 application fee

    CAC III candidates must:

    • Meet CAC II requirements
    • Complete a clinical bachelor’s degree in the behavioral health sciences
    • Pass 56 hours of CAC III required training classes
    • Pass an NCAC II exam
    • Complete 2,000 hours of clinically supervised work experience in addition to the 1,000 required for CAC I and 2,000 required for CAC II
    • Submit a completed application
    • Pay $225 application fee

    LACs can supervise and practice independently. Requirements include:

    • A clinical master’s degree
    • Proof of passing the NAADAC MAC exam
    • Meeting all requirements for a CAC III
    • A completed application
    • $250 application fee
    		In Colorado, CAC and LAC licenses expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years.

    Renewals are completed online and must be accompanied by a fee, 40 professional development hours, a Professional Survey and Self-Assessment, and a Learning Plan to accomplish goals set in the self-assessment.

    Rehabilitation Counseling Licenses in Colorado

    Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements

    Colorado State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners

    Rehabilitation counselors in Colorado are required to be either Licensed Professional Counselor Candidates (LPCCs) or Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs).

    The LPCC is a temporary license and the requirements are:

    • Submit transcripts from a master’s degree from a CACREP accredited program or an education review from the Center for Credential and Education (CCE) demonstrating the program is equivalent to the CACREP one.
    • Pay the appropriate fee
    • Complete the online application, including an affidavit of eligibility to work in the US and a social security number

    The LPCC license is good for four years. To apply for the LPC licensure, candidates must:

    • Earn a minimum of 2,000 hours of work experience over the course of two years, 100 of the hours must be in supervision
    • Pass the NCE exam and send official scores to the licensing board
    • Pay the required application fee
    • Submit a completed application
    • Take and pass the Colorado Mental Health Profession’s Jurisprudence Examination
    • Complete a Healthcare Professions Profiling Program account

    Counseling licenses in Colorado are valid for two years and can be renewed online. Licenses expire on August 31st of odd-numbered years.

    LPCs are required to demonstrate Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) by:

    • Completing a Professional Survey and Self-Assessment
    • Creating professional goals for the coming cycle and write a Learning Plan to meet those goals
    • Completing 40 Professional Development Hours in line with the Learning Plan and professional goals, with no more than 20 hours in one professional category

    Renewal applications and applicable fees must be submitted online.

    Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Licenses in Colorado

    Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
    Colorado State Board of Psychologist Examiners

    The 2019 Mental Health Practice Act in Colorado states that behavior analysis and therapy fall under the scope of practicing psychology; therefore, behavior analysts must be licensed psychologists.

    The Colorado State Board of Psychologist Examiners licenses psychologists. Applicants must:

    • Earn a doctor of philosophy (PhD) in psychology or a doctor of psychology (PsyD) from a program approved by the American Psychological Association (APA)
    • Pay the required application fee
    • Pass the jurisprudence exam
    • Complete an Affidavit of Eligibility and provide proof of right to work in the US
    • Complete a Healthcare Professions Profiling Program (HPPP)
    • Complete 1,500 hours of supervised work experience over a minimum of one year; there must be 75 hours of supervision and 50 of those hours must be face-to-face
    • Pass the Examination for the Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP) administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB)
    • Submit a completed application

    Psychologist licenses in Colorado expire on August 31 of every odd-numbered year.

    To renew, a psychologist must submit an application along with a learning plan, and complete 40 hours of professional development hours that meet the goals set out in the learning plan.

    Marriage and Family Therapy Licenses in Colorado

    Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
    State Board of Marriage and Family Therapist Examiners

    The Colorado State Board of Marriage and Family Therapist Examiners licenses Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT) and Marriage and Family Therapist Candidates (MFTC).

    MFTC candidates must:

    • Submit transcripts from a master’s degree from a COAMFTE-accredited program or have an education review from the Center for Credential and Education (CCE)
    • Pay the appropriate fee
    • Complete the online application, including an affidavit of eligibility to work in the US and a social security number

    The MFTC license is good for four years.

    To apply for the MFT licensure, candidates must:

    • Earn a minimum of 2,000 hours of work experience over the course of two years; 100 of the hours must be in supervision and 1,500 hours must be face-to-face hours with clients (and 1,000 of those hours must be with couples and families)
    • Pass the AMFTRB examination
    • Pay the required application fee
    • Submit a completed application
    • Take and pass the Colorado Mental Health Profession’s Jurisprudence Examination
    • Complete a Healthcare Professions Profiling Program profile

    MFTC licenses issued in Colorado may not be renewed.

    MFT licenses in Colorado are valid for two years. Licenses expire on August 31st of odd-numbered years.

    MFTs are required to demonstrate Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) by:

    • Completing a Professional Survey and Self-Assessment
    • Creating professional goals for the coming cycle and writing a Learning Plan to meet those goals
    • Completing 40 professional development hours in line with the Learning Plan and professional goals, with no more than 20 hours in one professional category

    Renewal applications and the paying of applicable fees must be completed online.

    Child (Pediatric) Behavioral Therapy Licenses in Colorado

    Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
    Colorado State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners

    Colorado child therapists are required to be either Licensed Professional Counselor Candidates (LPCCs) or Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs).

    The LPCC is a temporary license and the requirements are:

    • Submit transcripts from a master’s degree from a CACREP accredited program or an education review from the Center for Credential and Education (CCE) demonstrating the program is equivalent to the CACREP one.
    • Pay the appropriate fee
    • Complete the online application, including an affidavit of eligibility to work in the US and a social security number

    The LPCC license is good for four years. To apply for the LPC licensure, candidates must:

    • Earn a minimum of 2,000 hours of work experience over the course of two years, 100 of the hours must be in supervision
    • Pass the NCE exam and send official scores to the licensing board
    • Pay the required application fee
    • Submit a completed application
    • Take and pass the Colorado Mental Health Profession’s Jurisprudence Examination
    • Complete a Healthcare Professions Profiling Program account

    Counseling licenses in Colorado are valid for two years and can be renewed online. Licenses expire on August 31st of odd-numbered years.

    LPCs are required to demonstrate Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) by:

    • Completing a Professional Survey and Self-Assessment
    • Creating professional goals for the coming cycle and write a Learning Plan to meet those goals
    • Completing 40 Professional Development Hours in line with the Learning Plan and professional goals, with no more than 20 hours in one professional category

    Renewal applications and applicable fees must be submitted online.

    Vanessa Salvia

    Vanessa Salvia

    Writer

    Vanessa Salvia is an Oregon-based freelance writer and editor with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. As fun as rigorous studies in math and science were, Vanessa took an independent path and developed a prolific career covering lifestyle and healthcare topics for magazines and newspapers, important industries such as concrete construction and building waterproofing, and even hard science. You can get in touch at Sage Media and Marketing.

    Counseling Schools & Licensure in Nearby States