Counseling Degrees & Licenses in Nevada

The State of Nevada Board of Examiners oversees counseling degrees and licenses in Nevada. The Board sets the standards and licensing requirements for Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) and Clinical Professional Counselors (CPC) in Nevada. Applicants for licensure in Nevada must be a graduate with a mental health degree from a program approved by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), which is an organization that accredits counselor education. In addition, counselors must have passed the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) which is administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).

Nevada has specific requirements for licensure as a counselor. In order to qualify for licensure as an MFT in Nevada, the student must complete at least two years of postgraduate experience practicing marriage and family therapy and at least 3,000 hours of supervised experience in the field, which includes at least 1,500 hours of direct face-to-face contact with clients.

Nevada has similar requirements for licensure as a CPC. In addition to the aforementioned hours of supervised experience, students must have at least 300 hours of weekly supervision from approved supervisors for each week the applicant provided counseling.

Nevada also licenses Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors, and Gambling Counselors. For those who wish to work as a counselor in Nevada, the effort will be worth it. According to a report by the state of Nevada, Nevada ranked 47 of 51 states on access to care. Nationwide, 18 percent of adults are experiencing a mental health illness. Nevada has similar figures: in fact, Nevada ranked 24 of 51 with an 18.33 percent prevalence rate for mental illness. The prevalence rates vary from the lowest prevalence state (New Jersey, at 15.5 percent) to the highest prevalence state (Oregon, at 22.6 percent).

There is an increased demand everywhere for licensed counselors. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021), forecasts that careers in counseling fields will grow 18 percent nationally from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. The need for counselors, in general, will grow as a growing population seeks mental health counseling. Demand for rehabilitation counselors is expected to grow at a rate of 2 percent. On the other hand, the job outlook for marriage and family therapists is expected to grow at a rate of 15 percent.

Overall, students who pursue counseling degrees and licenses in Nevada can find rewarding and stable careers. Read on for accredited schools offering programs for counseling degrees and licenses in Nevada.

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Accredited Counseling Degree Programs in Nevada

University of Nevada, Reno – College of Education & Human Development

The University of Nevada, Reno is the state’s flagship public university. It was founded in 1874, in Elko, Nevada, about 300 miles northeast of its present-day campus. The master of arts in counseling (MA). The counseling program within the College of Education & Human Development offers a master’s degree in counseling with three possible majors:

  • School counseling
  • Clinical mental health counseling
  • Marriage and family counseling

School counseling is the recommended major for students who wish to work in elementary, middle, high school, or alternative school environments. Clinical mental health counseling is the recommended major for students desiring careers working with community members in mental health centers, agencies, non-profit organizations, and state or federal government environments. Marriage and family counseling is the major recommended for students who wish to counsel couples and families.

The MFC program is aligned with eventual licensure as an LMFT; the CMHC program is aligned with eventual licensure as a CPC; and the school counseling program is aligned with licensure as a Nevada School Counselor.

  • Location: Reno, Nevada
  • Duration: Marriage and family counseling is 67 credits; the clinical mental health counseling program is 65 credits; the school counseling program is 55 credits
  • Accreditation: CACREP
  • Tuition: $321.75 per credit, plus fees

University of Nevada, Las Vegas – The Department of Counselor Education, School Psychology & Human Services

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas is a public land-grant research university in Paradise, which is less than two miles from the Las Vegas Strip. The school’s master of science (MS) in clinical mental health counseling prepares students to take the National Counselor Examination (NCE) leading to certification in Nevada as a National Certified Counselors (NCC). The clinical mental health counseling program also prepares students to seek licensure as a Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Nevada.

Classes meet once a week and are offered in the late afternoon and evenings to accommodate students’ work and internship schedules. While classes are taught primarily in-person and on-campus, some classes may be offered fully online or through a hybrid format.

The school’s master of education (MEd) in school counseling prepares professional counselors to work with K-12 student populations. The school also offers an advanced graduate certificate in addiction studies. The School of Medicine at UNLV offers a master of science in couple and family therapy. The couple and family therapy program prepares candidates for licensure as a Couple and Family Therapist (MFT) in Nevada.

  • Location: Paradise, Nevada
  • Duration: The MS in clinical mental health counseling is 60 credits; school counseling is 48 credits; couple and family therapy is 60 credits
  • Accreditation: COAMFTE (The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education ) accredits the couple and family therapy program
  • Tuition: $7,094, yearly cost plus fees for Nevada residents; $24,050 yearly cost plus fees, non-resident

How Much Do Counselors Make in Nevada?

These numbers represent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from May 2022—the latest data available as of October 2023.

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors

United StatesNevada
Number employed308,0001,680
Average annual salary (mean)$64,200$60,550
10th percentile$38,280$38,480
50th percentile (median)$60,140$57,560
90th percentile$98,530$83,830

Marriage and Family Therapists

United StatesNevada
Number employed62,080250
Average annual salary (mean)$63,300$70,590
10th percentile$36,840$50,040
50th percentile (median)$56,570$63,120
90th percentile$98,700$95,930

Rehabilitation Counselors

United StatesNevada
Number employed82,420170
Average annual salary (mean)$ 46,020$50,470
10th percentile$29,120$23,190
50th percentile (median)$39,990$50,730
90th percentile$71,270$78,360

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

United StatesNevada
Number employed344,9701,220
Average annual salary (mean)$56,230$64,890
10th percentile$34,580$35,040
50th percentile (median)$49,710$63,060
90th percentile$82,710$92,380

All Other Counselors

United StatesNevada
Number employed37,270200
Average annual salary (mean)$49,770$63,320
10th percentile$31,930$37,090
50th percentile (median)$43,390$57,900
90th percentile$75,340$87,240

Counseling Professional Associations & Resources in Nevada

  • Nevada School Counseling Association
  • Nevada Counseling Association
  • Nevada 211 Mental Health Services
  • NAMI Nevada
  • Family Behavioral Health
  • Nevada Urban Indians, Inc.
  • Northern Nevada Evaluation Center (Reno)
  • Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center
  • Rural Nevada Counseling
  • Tahoe Youth and Family Services
  • Northern Nevada HOPES (Reno)
  • Community Counseling Center of Southern Nevada

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

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
Nevada Board of Examiners for
Marriage and Family
Therapists and Clinical
Professional Counselors

Mental health counselors in Nevada are licensed as either Certified Professional Counselors (CPC) or Certified Professional Counselor Interns (CPC Interns).

To obtain a CPC Intern license, candidates must:

  • Graduate with a master’s degree in counseling from an accredited institution. The degree must be at 60 semester-credits or 72 quarter-hours. There must be three semesters (or four quarters) of courses of supervised clinical practice.
  • Pay $150 application fee
  • Submit a completed application
  • Be 21 years old
  • Secure a supervisor for supervised work experience and complete the Primary Supervisor Contract
  • Secure a secondary supervisor and complete the Secondary Supervisor Contract
  • Complete a background check
  • Complete an interview with the Board

Interns are required to submit a report to the board every six months of their progress towards completing the required work experience.

To become a full CPC candidates must:

  • Complete 3,000 hours of supervised clinical work experience. Of those hours, 1,500 must be direct client contact and 100 must be direct supervision. There must be at least one hour of supervision completed each week the intern worked
  • Pass the NCMHCE

Mental health counselor licenses in Nevada expire January 1st, every other year. Renewals cost $450.

Counselors are required to complete 40 continuing education units each renewal cycle. Six of those units must be in ethics, and four must be in suicide prevention.

School Counseling Licenses in Nevada

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
State of Nevada Department of Education

The State of Nevada Department of Education issues School Counselor licenses. There are four pathways to meet the education requirement for this license. Candidates must fulfill one of the following conditions:

  • Have a master’s degree or higher in school counseling
  • Hold National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) credential issued by National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
  • Have a master’s degree in counseling with at least 36 graduate semester credits that meet coursework requirements, including a 600-hour practicum, internship, or field experience in school counseling at any grade level K-12
  • Have a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, have two years of teaching or school counselor work experience, have at least 36 graduate semester credits that meet coursework requirements. and complete a 600-hour practicum, internship, or field experience in school counseling at any grade level K-12

Applicants must submit a complete online application, pay an application fee, provide official transcripts, pass the Praxis Professional School Counselor exam, and pass a background check.

Nevada school counselor licenses are valid for five years.

To renew, school counselors must complete an online application, pay a $150 application fee, and complete 15 renewal hours per year.

Substance Abuse Counseling Licenses in Nevada

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements

Nevada Board of Examiners for Alcohol, Drug, and Gambling Counselors

There are three certifications and two licenses issued by the Nevada Board of Examiners for Alcohol, Drug, and Gambling Counselors. They are Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor Intern (CADC-Intern), Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC), Provisional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (PADC), Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC), and Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LCADC).

CADC-Intern certification candidates must:

  • Be 21 years old
  • Have the right to work in the US
  • Complete 60 credits towards a degree in an approved social science field
  • Complete six hours of continuing education in confidentiality and HIPAA and another six hours in ethics
  • Submit an affidavit confirming enrollment in college
  • Pay $210 application fee
  • Complete a supervision agreement
  • Submit a completed application

CADC certification candidates must:

  • Be 21 years old
  • Have the right to work in the US
  • Complete a bachelor’s degree in an approved social science field from an accredited institution
  • Complete two years and 4,000 hours of supervised work experience (18 semester credits in addiction studies at the bachelor’s level or 12 semester credits at the master’s level reduces this requirement to only 1,500 hours)
  • Complete six hours of continuing education in confidentiality and HIPAA and another six hours in ethics
  • Pay $495 in fees, including $150 for a request for application, $60 processing fee, $100 oral exam fee, and $185 written exam fee
  • Pass the written ADC exam from the IC&RC as well as an oral exam
  • Submit a completed application

PADC certificates are issued when an application for certificate or licensure has been submitted and the candidate has been approved to test.

To receive the provisional license, the applicant must submit a completed application and the test must be paid for and scheduled. These certificates are only valid for six months and may not be renewed.

LADC license candidates must:

  • Complete a master’s degree in an approved social science field
  • Complete two full years and 4,000 hours of supervised work experience as a drug and alcohol abuse counselor (12 semesters credits in addiction studies at the master’s level reduces this requirement to 1,500 hours)
  • Pass the AADC exam from IC&RC and an oral exam
  • Pay $495 in fees, including $150 for a request for application, $60 processing fee, $100 oral exam fee, and $185 written exam fee
  • Submit a completed application

LCADC license candidates must:

  • Be 21 years old
  • Hold a master’s or doctorate in a board-approved social sciences field from an accredited institution
  • Complete a board-approved program of 2,000 of supervised post-graduate work experience as a drug and alcohol abuse counselor
  • Complete a board-approved program of 2,000 of supervised post-graduate work experience as a drug and alcohol abuse counselor of people who have both mental illness and suffer from substance abuse issues
  • Pass the NCMHCE exam from The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
  • Submit a completed application
  • Pay $495 in fees, including $150 for a request for application, $60 processing fee, $100 oral exam fee, and $185 written exam fee

In lieu of the work experience, those licensed as clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and nurses with at least a master’s degree may complete just six months of supervised work in alcohol and drug counseling.

Certificates and licenses for substance abuse counselors in Nevada must be renewed every two years, with the exception of intern-level certificates, which must be renewed every six months.

Intern certificates renewals cost $75 and all other certificates and licenses cost $250.

Counselors must complete 40 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle. Three of those hours must be in ethics and three must be in confidentiality.

Interns must complete 12 hours of continuing education during the first six-month renewal cycle, of which six must be in confidentiality and six in ethics. The following six-month renewals must have 10 hours of continuing education each.

Rehabilitation Counseling Licenses in Nevada

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements

Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors

Rehabilitation counselors in Nevada are licensed as either Certified Professional Counselors (CPC) or Certified Professional Counselor Interns (CPC Interns).

To obtain a CPC Intern license, candidates must:

  • Graduate with a master’s degree in counseling from an accredited institution. The degree must be at 60 semester credits or 72 quarter hours. There must be three semesters (or four quarters) of courses of supervised clinical practice.
  • Pay $150 application fee
  • Submit a completed application
  • Be 21 years old
  • Secure a supervisor for supervised work experience and complete the Primary Supervisor Contract
  • Secure a secondary supervisor and complete the Secondary Supervisor Contract
  • Complete a background check
  • Complete an interview with the Board

Interns are required to submit a report to the board every six months of their progress towards completing the required work experience.

To become a full CPC candidates must:

  • Complete 3,000 hours of supervised clinical work experience. Of those hours, 1,500 must be direct client contact and 100 must be direct supervision. There must be at least one hour of supervision completed each week the intern worked
  • Pass the NCMHCE

Mental health counselor licenses in Nevada expire January 1st, every other year. Renewals cost $450.

Counselors are required to complete 40 continuing education units each renewal cycle. Six of those units must be in ethics, and four must be in suicide prevention.

Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Licenses in Nevada

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
Nevada Board of Applied Behavior Analysis

The Nevada Board of Applied Behavior Analysis licenses Behavior Analysts and Assistant Behavior Analysts.

Requirements for licensure are:

  • Submit a completed application
  • Pay $100 application fee, $25 license fee, a $425 biennial fee (prorated for the remainder of the biennium) and a $151.33 fee for the state examination
  • Hold a BCBA (behavior analyst candidates) or BCaBA (assistant candidates)
  • Submit a supervision form (assistants only)
  • Provide proof of right to work in the US
  • Provide three character references
  • Complete a criminal background check, including fingerprinting
  • Submit official transcripts
  • Pass state jurisprudence exam

Behavior analyst licenses issued in Nevada expire on January 1st of odd-numbered years.

To renew, applicants must:

  • Submit a completed renewal application
  • Pay renewal fee
  • Provide proof of current BACB certification
  • Every third renewal, applicants must complete a criminal background check, including fingerprinting

Marriage and Family Therapy Licenses in Nevada

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors

The Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors credentials Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) and Marriage and Family Therapist Interns (MFT Intern).

To obtain an MFT Intern license, candidates must:

  • Graduate with a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from an accredited institution
  • Pay $150 application fee
  • Submit a completed application
  • Be 21 years old
  • Secure a supervisor for supervised work experience and complete the Primary Supervisor Contract
  • Secure a secondary supervisor and complete the Secondary Supervisor Contract
  • Complete a background check

Interns are required to submit a report to the board of their progress towards completing the required work experience every six months.

To become a full MFT, candidates must:

  • Complete two years and 3,000 hours of supervised clinical work experience as a marriage and family therapist (of those hours, 1,500 must be direct client contact and 100 must be under direct supervision)
  • Pass the AMFTRB exam

Marriage and family therapist licenses in Nevada expire January 1st, every other year. Renewals cost $450.

MFTs are required to complete 40 continuing education units each renewal cycle. Six of those units must be in ethics and four must be in suicide prevention.

Child (Pediatric) Behavioral Therapy Licenses in Nevada

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements

Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors

Child therapists in Nevada are licensed as either Certified Professional Counselors (CPC) or Certified Professional Counselor Interns (CPC Interns).

To obtain a CPC Intern license, candidates must:

  • Graduate with a master’s degree in counseling from an accredited institution. The degree must be at 60 semester-credits or 72 quarter-hours. There must be three semesters (or four quarters) of courses of supervised clinical practice.
  • Pay $150 application fee
  • Submit a completed application
  • Be 21 years old
  • Secure a supervisor for supervised work experience and complete the Primary Supervisor Contract
  • Secure a secondary supervisor and complete the Secondary Supervisor Contract
  • Complete a background check
  • Complete an interview with the Board

Interns are required to submit a report to the board every six months of their progress towards completing the required work experience.

To become a full CPC candidates must:

  • Complete 3,000 hours of supervised clinical work experience. Of those hours, 1,500 must be direct client contact and 100 must be direct supervision. There must be at least one hour of supervision completed each week the intern worked
  • Pass the NCMHCE

Mental health counselor licenses in Nevada expire January 1st, every other year. Renewals cost $450.

Counselors are required to complete 40 continuing education units each renewal cycle. Six of those units must be in ethics, and four must be in suicide prevention.

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.

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