Counseling Degrees & Licenses in Oklahoma
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Working as a counselor in Oklahoma can be a very rewarding career for the person interested in working with people in need. The need for counselors, in Oklahoma and in general, will grow as a growing population seeks mental health counseling.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) forecasts that careers in counseling fields will grow 17 percent nationally from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. The BLS predicts the job outlook for substance abuse counselors to grow at an even higher rate during that same decade (18 percent). 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.
As a graduate with a counseling degree in Oklahoma, students can expect to find a strong job market. To reach that goal, the state of Oklahoma requires that counseling graduates complete a program from a regionally accredited college or university, recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health recognizes counseling licensing for Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs), Licensed Marital and Family Therapists (LMFTs), and Licensed Behavioral Practitioners (LBPs).
In order to qualify for Licensed Professional Counselors licensure in Oklahoma, students must have at least a master’s degree in counseling (or a mental health degree that is content-equivalent). Approved programs consist of at least 60 semester-credits (or 90 quarter-credits) of graduate counseling-related coursework, including a supervised internship. These specifications typically match up with programs that are approved by CACREP, or the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs, an organization that accredits counseling education programs.
Choosing an accredited program can not only expand job opportunities but also can meet Oklahoma requirements for counseling education, along with those of many other states. The following programs are pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health and accepted as schools offering programs for counseling degrees and licenses in Oklahoma.
Featured Counseling Programs | ||
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Methodist University | BS - Psychology: Counseling/Clinical Psychology | Program Website |
Methodist University | MS - Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Program Website |
New York University | Online MA - Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness | Program Website |
Northwestern University | Online MA - Counseling | Program Website |
Northwestern University | Online MA - Counseling: Child and Adolescent Emphasis | Program Website |
Southern New Hampshire University | Online BA in Psychology - Addictions | Program Website |
Southern New Hampshire University | Online BA in Psychology - Mental Health | Program Website |
Walden University | MS - Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Program Website |
Walden University | MS - School Counseling | Program Website |
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Ask an Expert: Donna Autry, PhD
Dr. Donna Autry has been an assistant professor in psychology at East Central University since 2019. She has been a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) since 2000 and worked in the mental health field in various settings.
Dr. Autry is a certified school counselor who worked as an elementary school counselor. She earned a doctorate degree in educational psychology from Capella University in 2021 and a master’s and bachelor’s in psychology from East Central University.
CounselingSchools.com: What is something you wish the public understood about the field of counseling?
Dr. Autry: I wish people understood more about the effectiveness of counseling, that counseling is a great process that is very effective for most common mental health concerns that people are suffering from. And also that counseling should be done in concurrence with medication, and not without, if medication is prescribed.
Many times, the frustration that I find is that a lot of people are just thrown on anti-anxiety or depression medication by general practitioners. It’s not that those medications don’t have their place. But without the combination of counseling, how do you expect that person to get off of those medications? Because that should be the overall goal, right?
While many mental health concerns are chronic, such as bipolar disorder or for some people with major depressive disorder, many times, people need counseling just because they are having a rough patch. Counseling and therapy itself do not have any negative side effects, unlike medication, but it’s not a quick fix. Behaviors come about over time, and you cannot expect to turn around and see those behaviors completely resolved within two sessions. They may take a little bit more time depending on the goal and the disorder that is being addressed.
CounselingSchools.com: What advice would you give to aspiring students who want to enter the field of counseling?
Dr. Autry: Go to counseling yourself. And I say that for twofold reasoning. One, if you’re in counseling, and you experience what it’s like to be in therapy, it will give you a far greater empathy for your clients sitting across from you because you will know how hard it is to open up and share. When you’ve got clients coming in talking about the worst things that they don’t want to talk about with anyone, you’ll know what it is like to be sitting there yourself, looking at a crossroads in your life. If you understand that process, it just makes you more empathetic and better.
It also provides a roadmap of understanding great ways to get help for clients, giving you possible ideas and seeing it for yourself. Going to counseling is a very interesting and very educational process for you.
Second, many people come into this field without their own wounds being addressed. Counseling tends to draw people who are wounded because you’re hurt and you want to see that others are helped. It’s very common that unless you address your own wounds, then you are not going to be an effective helper for those who are wounded as well. Instead, it’s going to cause us to respond out of hurt and weakness, which is not the response that your client needs. It can lead to you doing poor work with that client or being triggered by that client.
The other thing I would say is to make sure you intern. For most states, to my knowledge, it’s a 60-credit-hour program, which is a lot of time to invest. You want to make sure that this is what you want to do. While you are in high school or when you are in college, and you think this is a path that you want to take as a bachelor-seeking student, go work somewhere that has mental health techs, or at least intern, to see the process. Ensure you have thoroughly thought this out before proceeding down this avenue. The field of psychology has a lot of jobs, a whole lot of jobs. This is just one avenue.
Accredited Counseling Degree Programs in Oklahoma
East Central University is one of Oklahoma’s public universities. The school’s College of Education and Psychology provides students with the following programs: an MEd of school counseling, an MS of counseling psychology, and an MS of clinical rehabilitation and clinical mental health counseling.
The above three programs are pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health. The master of psychology degrees allow students to choose a concentration in counseling or school counseling, along with other options like school psychology, educational psychology, and sports psychology. It also includes post-master certificates in school psychology and psychometry. Students who complete the counseling psychology MS are eligible to seek state LPC and LBP licensure. Students in the school counseling track are encouraged to work closely with their advisor to obtain LPC licensure.
The master of science in human resources allows for a clinical rehabilitation and clinical mental health counseling option. Students who complete this program satisfy the educational and clinical training requirements to be eligible for Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) licensure and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensure. An applicant for admission to the program must show evidence of professional potential.
- Location: Ada, Oklahoma
- Duration: Varies by program
- Accreditation: The clinical mental health counseling and clinical rehabilitation counseling programs are CACREP-approved; school counseling and school psychometry programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Cameron University is a public university that emphasizes liberal arts, science and technology, and graduate and professional studies. The Department of Psychology’s master of arts in mental health with counseling and marriage & family tracks is pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health.
The counseling track is designed for graduate students who would like to become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). The marriage and family track is designed for graduate students who would like to become Licensed Marital and Family Therapists (LMFT).
The counseling curriculum has been pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure to meet the academic requirements for licensure as a professional counselor in Oklahoma. It requires 24 hours of core courses and 36 hours specific to the track, for a total of 60 credit hours. The marriage and family track curriculum has been pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health to meet the academic requirements for licensure as a marital and family therapist in Oklahoma. It requires 24 hours of core courses and 24 hours specific to the track for 48 credit hours.
- Location: Lawton, Oklahoma
- Duration: The counseling track is 60 credits; the marriage and family track is 48 credits
- Accreditation: Cameron University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission
Langston University is a public land-grant university (meaning it was established on federal land for the purpose of education) and the only historically Black college in the state.
Their master of education and behavioral sciences department offers two counseling options: an MS in rehabilitation counseling and an MS in visual rehabilitation services, which prepare graduates for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) designation and the Oklahoma Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential.
- Location: Langston, Oklahoma
- Duration: Two years; the rehabilitation counseling program is 63 credits and the visual rehabilitation services program is 66 credits
- Accreditation: CACREP
Mid-America Christian University
Mid-America Christian University is a private liberal arts college initially founded as the South Texas Bible Institute in 1953 in Houston, Texas. The school’s master of science in counseling is pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health. The MS in counseling degree classes are available 100 percent online or in-person weekly at MACU’s campus in south Oklahoma City.
All classes are scientifically based while also integrating faith-based principles. The degree program includes a practicum and internship at the end. The practicum will total a minimum of 100 hours over a minimum of ten weeks, and the internship will total a minimum of 600 hours of service.
Students can choose from four emphases: clinical mental health counseling; addiction and substance abuse counseling; marital, couples, and family counseling/therapy; and applied behavioral science (non-licensure, no practicum or internship). Graduates in related fields can obtain an Addiction and Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate, which also qualifies them for the licensed alcohol and drug counseling/mental health (LADC/MH) credential.
Graduates in the addiction and substance abuse program can pursue a licensed alcohol and drug counselor (LADC) credential. In contrast, clinical mental health counseling graduates can pursue a licensed professional counselor (LPC) credential. Marital, couples and family counseling/therapy graduates can pursue a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) credential. Courses are online and cohort-based. Students can also choose a hybrid online and on-campus format, which requires one night weekly on campus.
- Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Duration: The clinical mental health counseling; marital, couples, and family counseling therapy; and addictions and substance abuse counseling emphases are 60 credits; the clinical mental health counseling emphasis requires 60 hours, though an additional 3 to 12 credits may be required for state licensure and added to the course total; the applied behavioral science emphasis is 36 credits
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Northeastern Oklahoma State University
Northeastern Oklahoma State University is a public university. The university has campuses in Tahlequah, Muskogee, and Broken Arrow, as well as online.
The master of science in counseling at Northeastern Oklahoma State University is both CACREP-approved and pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health. The university offers it on both the Tahlequah and Broken Arrow campuses, with emphasis on clinical mental health counseling, addictions counseling, and school counseling.
All programs are 60 credits and include a 600-hour supervised internship experience. This program meets or exceeds the educational requirements for becoming either a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC), or a Certified School Counselor (K-12) in Oklahoma and most other states.
The master of science in occupational therapy program is a 24-month program with 76 hours. It focuses on training occupational therapists for the rural region of Eastern Oklahoma, particularly to serve the Native Americans in the area. The program is designed to meet the requirements for the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association for professional accreditation. It also addresses the curricular standards of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
- Location: Tahlequah, Oklahoma
- Duration: 60 credits, occupational therapy is 76 credits
- Accreditation: The MS in counseling degrees are CACREP-approved
Oklahoma State University is a public land-grant research university that is the flagship institution of the Oklahoma State University System. Oklahoma State University, master of science in counseling is CACREP-approved and pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health. Degree options include mental health counseling or school counseling. Courses are offered at the OSU Stillwater and Tulsa campuses.
The degree includes 100 clock hours of practicum and 600 hours of internship along with a creative component portfolio demonstrating competency.
- Location: Stillwater, Oklahoma
- Duration: Students must complete 60 credits for the mental health counseling option or school counseling options; students who wish to complete a thesis instead of a creative component must complete 66 credits; school counseling students who wish to pursue licensure as a professional counselor (LPC) must complete 63 credits
- Accreditation: CACREP
Oral Roberts University is a private evangelical university founded in 1963 and named after its founder, evangelist Oral Roberts. The school’s MA in professional counseling (MAPC) is pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health. All programs are faith-based, and students can pursue licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) in Oklahoma as well as the majority of other states.
The MAPC degree offers three tracks toward state licensure: the professional counseling track (in preparation for LPC) with concentrations in marital and family therapy or addictions counseling; the marital and family therapy track (in preparation for LMFT) with a concentration in addictions counseling; or the addictions counseling track (in preparation for LMFT).
- Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Duration: 63+ credits
- Accreditation: Oral Roberts University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Rogers State University is a public university in Claremore, Oklahoma, with branch campuses in Bartlesville and Pryor Creek. The university’s Department of Psychology & Sociology offers a master of science in community counseling degree program that has been pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health.
The master of science in community counseling (MSCC) prepares students to sit for the National Counselor Exam (NCE) and the Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Exam (OLERE) required by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health for application as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) candidate.
- Location: Claremore, Oklahoma
- Duration: Two years attending full-time; 60 credits
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Southern Nazarene University is a private Nazarene liberal arts college. The school’s master in counseling psychology is pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health. Students can choose from a master of arts or a master of science which is more research-focused.
Several concentrations are available for this program, including becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), becoming an MFT, becoming a play therapist, or a drug and alcohol counselor. All classes are faith-based.
- Location: Bethany, Oklahoma
- Duration: 60 credits
- Accreditation: Southern Nazarene University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a small public university in Durant, Oklahoma. All of the school’s counseling programs — which include a master of arts in clinical mental health counseling and a master of education in school counseling — are all pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health.
SOSU’s 100 percent online MEd in school counseling requires students to have a teaching certificate to enroll. Courses are accelerated and flexible, so students can complete their master’s online while continuing to work full time. Graduates of the master of arts in clinical mental health counseling are qualified to be licensed at the state level.
- Location: Durant, Oklahoma
- Duration: 60 credits
- Accreditation: Southeastern Oklahoma State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
University of Central Oklahoma
The University of Central Oklahoma is a public university that is also the third-largest university in Oklahoma. The school’s College of Education and Professional Studies offers a master of education in school counseling, a master of education in school and professional counseling, and, master of arts in counseling psychology, which are pre-approved by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health.
The master’s degree in counseling psychology is a three-year, full-time program. Students in this program typically work towards Licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC) or Behavioral Practitioner (LBP).
The master of education in school counseling degree prepares professional counselors who specialize in the PK-12 school environment. The program prepares both master’s students and post-master’s for the School Counselor Certification examination. The master of education in school counseling—school and professional counseling combines 33 hours of the necessary coursework to be eligible to take the Oklahoma School Counseling exam to become a School Counselor at the K-12 level. This program also includes the additional 27 hours required to be eligible to take the Licensed Professional Counselor exam in the state of Oklahoma.
The school also offers a certificate in licensed professional counseling, which is embedded within the master of education degree in school counseling and school and professional counseling only. This certificate provides students with an additional 27 credits. It is designed for UCO school counseling students who wish to complete the academic requirements for a licensed professional counselor in Oklahoma.
- Location: Edmond, Oklahoma
- Duration: 60 credits
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
How Much Do Counselors Make in Oklahoma?
These numbers represent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from May 2023 — the latest data available as of August 2024.
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
United States | Oklahoma | |
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Number employed | 327,660 | 4,270 |
Average annual salary (mean) | $66,990 | $53,040 |
10th percentile | $40,140 | $35,650 |
50th percentile (median) | $61,710 | $49,520 |
90th percentile | $100,050 | $76,930 |
Marriage and Family Therapists
United States | Oklahoma | |
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Number employed | 63,340 | 1,530 |
Average annual salary (mean) | $68,730 | $55,210 |
10th percentile | $39,090 | $37,080 |
50th percentile (median) | $58,510 | $54,270 |
90th percentile | $104,710 | $75,180 |
Rehabilitation Counselors
United States | Oklahoma | |
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Number employed | 84,750 | 1,600 |
Average annual salary (mean) | $48,430 | $29,060 |
10th percentile | $31,390 | $21,180 |
50th percentile (median) | $44,040 | $27,160 |
90th percentile | $73,710 | $39,980 |
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
United States | Oklahoma | |
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Number employed | 397,880 | 5,010 |
Average annual salary (mean) | $60,080 | $61,760 |
10th percentile | $36,700 | $32,990 |
50th percentile (median) | $53,710 | $57,190 |
90th percentile | $89,920 | $95,790 |
Counseling Professional Associations & Resources in Oklahoma
- Mental Health Association Of Oklahoma (MHAOK)
- Oklahoma Counseling Association (OCA)
- Oklahoma Mental Health Counselor Association (OKMCHA)
- Oklahoma Association Of Colleges And Employers (OkACE)
- Oklahoma College Student Personnel Association (OCSPA)
- Oklahoma School Counselor Association (OSCA)
- Oklahoma Career And Technical Education
- Oklahoma Works
- Career Guidance Network Of Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Drug & Alcohol Professional Counselor Association (ODAPCA)
- Oklahoma Department Of Mental Health And Substance Abuse
Mental Health Counseling (LMHC) Licenses in Oklahoma: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
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State Board of Behavioral Health |
Oklahoma credentials Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). Applicants who have not completed their required supervised work experience may be licensed as Licensed Professional Counselor Candidates (LPC Candidates). To apply for an LPC license, candidates must:
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Renewals for LPC licenses in Oklahoma are completed in three time periods: initial, interim, and annual. For an initial renewal candidates must renew two years from when it was first issued. Fees vary based on the expiration date. The next renewal is the interim cycle and is from the expiration date of the initial renewal till the 30th of June. Then, licenses renew annually. Continuing education requirements for interim renewals vary based on when the length of the license. In general, a license holder must complete 20 hours of continuing education hours. Three of those hours must be in ethics. |
School Counseling Licenses in Oklahoma
Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
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Oklahoma State Department of Education | The Oklahoma State Department of Education certifies school counselors. The requirements for this certificate are:
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Standard school counselor certificates issued in Oklahoma are valid for five years. To renew, school counselors must submit a completed application, pay a $50 renewal fee, and complete 125 professional development units. |
Substance Abuse Counseling Licenses in Oklahoma
Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
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Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors (OBLACD) | The Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors issues Licensed Alcohol Drug Counselor (LADC) licenses and Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor (CADC) certifications. CADC certificate candidates must:
LACD candidates must:
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Renewals for LADCs and CADCs through the OBLACD are due annually. Renewals cost $125. In order to be eligible for renewal, counselors must complete 20 hours of continuing education, of which three hours must be in ethics. |
Rehabilitation Counseling Licenses in Oklahoma
Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
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Rehabilitation counselors in Oklahoma are credentialed as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). Applicants who have not completed their required supervised work experience may be licensed as Licensed Professional Counselor Candidates (LPC Candidates). To apply for an LPC license, candidates must:
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Renewals for LPC licenses in Oklahoma are completed in three time periods: initial, interim, and annual. For an initial renewal candidates must renew two years from when it was first issued. Fees vary based on the expiration date. The next renewal is the interim cycle and is from the expiration date of the initial renewal till the 30th of June. Then, licenses renew annually. Continuing education requirements for interim renewals vary based on when the length of the license. In general, a license holder must complete 20 hours of continuing education hours. Three of those hours must be in ethics. |
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Licenses in Oklahoma
Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
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Oklahoma Licensed Behavior Analyst Board (OLBAB) |
The Oklahoma Licensed Behavior Analyst Board (OLBAB) licenses Behavior Analysts and Assistant Behavior Analysts. Requirements for certification or licensure are:
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Licenses and certifications issued by the OLBAB must be renewed by April 30 of odd-numbered years. To renew, applicants must pay a $100 fee for behavior analysts (or $50 for assistants), as well as supply proof of current BABC certification. |
Marriage and Family Therapy Licenses in Oklahoma
Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
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State Board of Behavioral Health | Oklahoma credentials Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT). Applicants who have not completed their required supervised work experience may be licensed as Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists Candidates (LMFT Candidates). To apply for an LMFT license, candidates must:
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Renewals for LMFT licenses in Oklahoma are completed in three time periods: initial, interim, and annual. For an initial renewal, candidates must renew two years from when the license was first issued. Fees vary based on the expiration date. The next renewal is the interim cycle and is from the expiration date of the initial renewal till the 30th of June. This renewal costs $100. Then, licenses renew annually and the fee is $100. Continuing education requirements for interim renewals vary based on when the length of the license. In general, a license holder must complete 20 hours of continuing education hours. Three of those hours must be in ethics. |
Child (Pediatric) Behavioral Therapy Licenses in Oklahoma
Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
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State Board of Behavioral Health | Child therapists in Oklahoma are credentialed as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). Applicants who have not completed their required supervised work experience may be licensed as Licensed Professional Counselor Candidates (LPC Candidates). To apply for an LPC license, candidates must:
| Renewals for LPC licenses in Oklahoma are completed in three time periods: initial, interim, and annual. For an initial renewal, candidates must renew two years from when it was first issued. Fees vary based on the expiration date. The next renewal is the interim cycle and is from the expiration date of the initial renewal till the 30th of June. Then, licenses renew annually. Continuing education requirements for interim renewals vary based on when the length of the license. In general, a license holder must complete 20 hours of continuing education hours. Three of those hours must be in ethics. |