Counseling Degrees & Licenses in Washington, DC

Many people who live in or near Washington, DC work for our nation’s government in some way or another. This type of work brings a lot of prestige and power, but it can also quickly develop into negatives such as working long days, lack of time to spend with friends and family, commuting stress, and more. According to Census.Gov data from July 2022, Washington, DC is home to 671,803 people, making it the third least populated area out of 50 states and territories, including Puerto Rico.

DCHealthMatters.org states that Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA) undertaken in 2013, 2016, and 2019 identified mental health as a priority. The 2019 study found that depression, anxiety, alcohol, and opioid abuse were prevalent among DC residents, leading to poorer health outcomes and earlier death. In 2018, 12.8 percent of the population self-identified as having “frequent mental distress,” for more than two weeks out of a month.

In 2020, the site shows only 514 mental health providers per 100,000 people. Mental health providers include psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, counselors, and advanced practice nurses specializing in mental health care. This places the District of Columbia among the best providers of mental health in the country: cities in the best 50 percent have a value higher than 261, while cities in the worst 50 percent have a value less than 189.

Nonetheless, given DC’s high care provider rating, it is in the second-worst category of the number of people who state their mental health is “not good.” In 2018, DCHealthMatters.org said out of 30 days, respondents said their mental state was “not good” for 4.2 days on average. Of course, that was before the pandemic, which may have greatly increased that number. For that metric, cities in the best 50 percent have a value lower than 4.1, while cities in the worst 25 percent have a value higher than 4.7.

In Washington, DC, the DC Health Regulation and Licensing Administration‘s Board of Professional Counseling regulates professional counseling practice. Educational requirements to become a licensed counselor in Washington, DC include the completion of a master’s degree or higher from an accredited institution of higher education which was (at the time of the degree) recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education, the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (which existed until 1993), or its successor, which is currently the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

DC also has a Marriage and Family Counseling licensing board. The board requires completing a minimum 60-credit master’s degree program in marriage and family therapy.

Washington, DC accepts applications from prospective counselors who have completed a minimum of 60 semester-hours (or the equivalent) after earning a bachelor’s degree. That degree program must consist of suitable coursework, as well as 3,500 hours of professional counseling performed over at least two years. Two hundred of the required hours must have been under supervision by a qualified supervisor.

Counseling degree programs of all types, including rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, clinical mental health counseling, marriage and family counseling, and addiction counseling, are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP). CACREP and CHEW collaborate on accreditation standards for programs and schools.

CACREP-approved counseling programs require students to take a minimum of 60 semester-credit-hours (or 90 quarter-credit-hours) of coursework. Those who wish to pursue a counseling degree and license in Washington, DC will no doubt find their expertise in demand, as the population grows and challenges are continuously placed on everyone’s mental health. Read on for accredited counseling degree programs in Washington, DC.

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Accredited Counseling Degree Programs in Washington, DC

Gallaudet University

Gallaudet University is a private research university founded in 1864 to educate the deaf and hard of hearing. Gallaudet University was originally a grammar school for deaf and blind children and now is still the world’s only liberal arts university for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

Gallaudet’s Counseling program has two available concentration options: clinical mental health counseling and school counseling. These programs held CACREP accreditation until 2019. However, they now operate as low residency programs and plan to stay aligned with CACREP standards until they can reapply for CACREP accreditation in the fall of 2024.

The graduate program in clinical mental health counseling was established in 1986 specifically to teach skilled counselors to provide mental health services to deaf and hard-of-hearing adults, children, and adolescents in mental health centers, psychiatric hospitals, community programs, addiction programs, and psychosocial rehabilitation programs.

Both concentrations require three years to complete. The clinical mental health counseling and the school counseling program comprise 61 credits each and include two summer residencies. First and second-year students start with a summer residency, followed by online courses in the fall and spring. They are expected to do a Practicum during the summer at the end of the second year. Courses in the third year are completely online and students are expected to do a 600-hour internship in a school or at a mental health agency that serves deaf people over the final two semesters.

Students can earn a master of arts in clinical mental health or school counseling. Students can take the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) during their last semester of studies.

The curriculum includes courses such as orientation to the profession of mental health counseling; orientation to the profession of school counseling; legal, ethical, and professional issues in counseling; social and cultural diversity foundations & multicultural counseling; theories and approaches in counseling and psychotherapy; introduction to research for counselors; child and adolescent counseling; play therapy; organization and administration of school programs; family therapy; and the cycle of substance abuse.

  • Location: Washington, DC
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • Expected Time to Completion: 61 credits, three years
  • Estimated Tuition: $1,119 per credit

George Washington University

George Washington University is a private research university chartered in 1821. It is the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia. The school offers more than 230 master’s degree programs, including clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, and rehabilitation counseling.

Students in the Graduate School of Education and Human Development can earn a master of arts in education and human development in clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, or rehabilitation counseling.

The clinical mental health counseling program prepares students to sit for board certification as national certified counselors (NCC) and pursue careers as licensed professional counselors (LPC). This 60-credit program includes 57 credits of required courses and three credits of elective courses. It requires 600 hours in an internship and 100 hours in a practicum. Courses include foundations of clinical mental health counseling; trauma and crisis intervention; diagnosis and treatment planning; family counseling; and substance abuse and addictions counseling.

Graduates of the school counseling program are eligible to become certified school counselors, licensed professional counselors with a specialty in children and adolescents, or registered play therapists. This 60-credit program includes 54 credits of required courses and six credits in electives. It requires 600 hours in an internship and 100 hours in a practicum. Courses include foundations of school counseling K–12; coordination of comprehensive school counseling services; trauma and crisis intervention.

Graduates of the rehabilitation counseling program that leads to licensure are eligible to sit for the certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) credential exam, and the national certified counselor (NCC) credential exam, and are eligible to pursue the licensed professional counselor credential (LPC). The rehabilitation counseling program is also available in an online format. Courses include foundations of rehabilitation counseling; disability management and psychosocial rehabilitation; and medical and psychosocial aspects of disabilities.

  • Location: Washington, DC
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE); CACREP; CAEP
  • Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, two to three years
  • Estimated Tuition: CMHC ($1,870 per credit); school counseling ($950 per credit); rehabilitation counseling (on-campus: $1,870 per credit; online: $950 per credit)

University of District of Columbia

The University of the District of Columbia is a public historically black university. It was established in 1851 and is the only public university in the city. The university offers a master of arts program in rehabilitation counseling and a master of science degree in counseling with concentration options: school counseling (CACREP-accredited) and clinical mental health.

Students in the College of Arts and Science within the Division of Education, Health, and Social Work are eligible to sit for the national certification examination administered by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) after completing 75 percent of the coursework in the rehabilitation counseling program. Passing this exam enables students to be credentialed as Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRC). Graduates are also eligible to prepare for state licensure as licensed professional counselors.

Courses in the rehabilitation counseling program include foundations of rehabilitation counseling; ethics in rehabilitation counseling; rehabilitation counseling theories; psychosocial & medical aspects of disability in rehabilitation counseling; job placement and career development in rehabilitation counseling; and application of rehabilitation counseling in a field-based setting.

The school counseling specialization prepares students to meet the certification requirements of the District of Columbia Public School System and surrounding states. The master of science in counseling clinical mental health counseling concentration prepares students for licensure as licensed professional counselors and nationally certified counselors.

  • Location: Washington, DC
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE); CACREP
  • Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, two to three years
  • Estimated Tuition: Resident ($513 per credit); non-resident ($986 per credit)

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (The Chicago School) is a private university with campuses across the United States. The university offers more than 30 academic programs in various professional fields such as psychology, business, health care, health services, education, counseling, and nursing. The Chicago School was established in 1979 by psychologists and educators. Its East Coast campus in Washington, DC opened in the summer of 2010, three blocks from the White House.

The clinical mental health counseling program at Washington, DC offers a part-time option for students to earn a master of arts. Graduates meet the educational requirements for licensure as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) and as Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors (LCPC).

Blending practical training with theoretical knowledge, the program enables students to apply their skills in real-world settings. Graduates will gain the necessary expertise to support individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, stress, grief, thoughts of self-harm, and relationship challenges.

The program is also offered in an online format at the Chicago School. Students in this online program will attend two in-person mandatory residencies and will be prepared for programmatic fieldwork courses.

  • Location: Washington, DC
  • Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC); CACREP
  • Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, 2.5 to four years
  • Estimated Tuition: $1,368 per credit

Trinity Washington University

Trinity Washington University is a private Catholic school. Trinity was founded in 1897 as the nation’s first Catholic liberal arts college for women. Trinity became Trinity Washington University in 2004. Trinity’s graduate programs include clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, and a post-master’s counselor program.

Students in the clinical mental health counseling program will be prepared to take the examination to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). The school counseling programs give students the option of a career as a counselor in elementary and secondary schools or as a counselor for urban students. This track prepares students to work as counselors outside of schools, such as in foster care or nonprofit youth programs. This option also meets licensure requirements for the LPC exam.

Students with a master’s degree in school counseling can complete the additional 12 credits to meet the eligibility requirements for the LPC credential in the post-master’s counselor program. Students in this program are given a discounted rate on the tuition and have 12 months to complete the four courses.

  • Location: Washington, DC
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE); CACREP
  • Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, two to three years
  • Estimated Tuition: $855 per credit

How Much Do Counselors Make in Washington, DC?

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

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor Salaries

United StatesWashington, DC
Number employed344,9701,070
Average annual salary (mean)$56,230$60,830
10th percentile$34,580$38,620
25th percentile$39,810$43,690
50th percentile (median)$49,710$58,460
75th percentile$64,400$73,340
90th percentile$82,710$82,690

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor Salaries

United StatesWashington, DC
Number employed308,0001,910
Average annual salary (mean)$64,200$67,600
10th percentile$38,280$36,630
25th percentile$47,380$49,440
50th percentile (median)$60,140$62,340
75th percentile$76,590$82,820
90th percentile$98,530$102,370

Rehabilitation Counselor Salaries

United StatesWashington, DC
Number employed82,420560
Average annual salary (mean)$46,020$55,890
10th percentile$29,120$35,310
25th percentile$33,790$37,180
50th percentile (median)$39,990$48,780
75th percentile$53,470$73,300
90th percentile$71,270$85,210

All Other Counselors

United StatesWashington, DC
Number employed37,270120
Average annual salary (mean)$49,770$86,590
10th percentile$31,930$44,560
25th percentile$36,730$51,370
50th percentile (median)$43,390$67,970
75th percentile$52,770$92,140
90th percentile$75,340$227,460

Counseling Professional Associations & Resources in Washington DC

Mental Health Counseling (LMHC) Licenses in Washington, DC: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
Department of Health, Health Regulation & Licensing Administration Board of Professional Counseling

The District of Columbia Department of Health, Health Regulation & Licensing Administration Board of Professional Counseling licenses Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) and Licensed Graduate Professional Counselors (LGPC).

The requirements for an LGPC license include:

  • Submitting a completed application
  • Providing two recent passport-sized photos
  • Passing the NCE, NCMHCE, or CRC exam
  • Having a master’s degree or higher from a CACREP or substantially equivalent accredited program. It must be at least 48 semester-credits long and include a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship.
  • Paying $230 application fee
  • Passing a criminal background check

The requirements for an LPC license are:

  • Submit a completed application
  • Provide two recent passport-sized photos
  • Pass the NCE, NCMHCE, or CRC exam
  • Have a master’s degree or higher from a CACREP or substantially equivalent accredited program. It must be at least 60 semester-credits long and include a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship
  • Pay $230 application fee
  • Pass a criminal background check
  • Complete 3,300 hours of supervised work experience. There must be 200 hours of supervision.

LPC and LGPC licenses issued in Washington DC expire on December 31 of even-numbered years. To renew counselors must submit an online application and pay a $145 renewal fee.

Counselors must complete 40 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle. Six hours must be in ethics and four hours must be in trauma counseling.

School Counseling Licenses in Washington, DC

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
Office of the State Superintendent of Education

Washington DC’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education issues School Service Provider (SSP) certificates with school counselor credentials.

The requirements for initial certification and credential are:

  • Submit an Identity History Summary Check (IHSC) through the FBI
  • Send a complete online application and pay the applicable fee
  • Show proof of a master’s degree in school counseling from an accredited institution (applicants can be deficient up to 12 semester credits and still receive an initial certification)
  • Complete 300 hours of supervised work experience as part of a graduate program or two years of full-time teaching experience
  • A copy of an active full credential held in another state OR submit a completed DC LEA Request Form for an initial credential signed by the hiring official of the DC LEA where you are seeking employment

Candidates for a standard license must meet the requirements for an initial license as well as:

  • Provide proof of a master’s degree in school counseling or a related field
  • Achieve a passing score for the DC-required school counselor content exam or has passed a comparable exam in another state where an active school counselor license is held
  • Complete at least 300 hours of supervised school-based field, practicum or internship experience as part of the degree program

An initial school counselor endorsement is valid for two years and may not be renewed.

A standard license is valid for four years and is renewed through an online application. To renew, school counselor must either complete 120 clock hours (or eight college credit hours) of professional learning units or one of the following:

  • Submit satisfactory performance rating reports for each year, if your employer issues them
  • Submit passing scores for Praxis Professional School Counselor exam

Substance Abuse Counseling Licenses in Washington, DC

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements

Department of Health, Health Regulation & Licensing Administration Board of Professional Counseling


The Washington DC Department of Health, Health Regulation & Licensing Administration Board of Professional Counseling certifies Certified Addiction Counselor I or Certified Addiction Counselor II.

The requirements for a Certified Addiction Counselor I certificate are:

  • Submit a completed application
  • Provide two recent passport-sized photos
  • Pass NAADAC NCAC Level I exam
  • Pass the District Jurisprudence exam
  • Have an associate degree in health or human services that meets coursework requirements
  • Complete 500 hours of supervised work experience, with 40 hours in each of 12 domain areas
  • Pay $240 application fee and $125 jurisprudence test fee
  • Pass a criminal background check

A Certified Addiction Counselor II applicant must meet all the Certified Addiction Counselor I requirements (except work experience), as well as:

  • Complete 180 hours of supervised work experience with 10 hours in each of 12 domain areas
  • Pass the NAADAC NCAC Level II exam
  • Pay a $85 fee

Certified Addiction Counselor certifications issued in Washington DC expire on December 31 of even-numbered years. Renewals cost $155.

Counselors must complete 40 hours of approved continuing education credit. Six hours must be in ethics and three must be in trauma counseling.

Rehabilitation Counseling Licenses in Washington, DC

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals

Rehabilitation counselors are licensed by the District of Columbia Department of Health, Health Regulation & Licensing Administration Board of Professional Counseling as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) and Licensed Graduate Professional Counselors (LGPC).

The requirements for an LGPC license include:

  • Submitting a completed application
  • Providing two recent passport-sized photos
  • Passing the NCE, NCMHCE, or CRC exam
  • Having a master’s degree or higher from a CACREP or substantially equivalent accredited program. It must be at least 48 semester-credits long and include a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship.
  • Paying $230 application fee
  • Passing a criminal background check

The requirements for an LPC license are:

  • Submit a completed application
  • Provide two recent passport-sized photos
  • Pass the NCE, NCMHCE, or CRC exam
  • Have a master’s degree or higher from a CACREP or substantially equivalent accredited program. It must be at least 60 semester-credits long and include a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship
  • Pay $230 application fee
  • Pass a criminal background check
  • Complete 3,500 hours of supervised work experience of which 200 must be supervision

LPC and LGPC licenses issued in Washington DC expire on December 31 of even-numbered years. To renew counselors must submit an online application and pay a $145 renewal fee.

Counselors must complete 40 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle. Six hours must be in ethics and four hours must be in trauma counseling

Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Licenses in Washington, DC

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) for national certification

Currently, there are no local certification or licensing requirements for applied behavior analysts in Washington DC.

However, BCBA certification and membership with the District Association of Behavior Analysis (DCABA) can help with employment opportunities and career advancement.

Marriage and Family Therapy Licenses in Washington, DC

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
Department of Health, Health Regulation & Licensing Administration Board of Marriage and Family Therapy

The Washington DC Department of Health, Health Regulation & Licensing Administration Board of Marriage and Family Therapy licenses Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT).

The requirements for an LMFT license are:

  • Submit a completed application
  • Provide two recent passport-sized photos
  • Pass the AMFTRB exam
  • Have a qualifying master’s degree or higher in marriage and family therapy
  • Complete two years of full-time supervised work experience as a marriage and family therapist; it must include at least 2,000 hours of supervised practice and 1,000 hours of direct client contact
  • Pay $262 application fee
  • Pass a criminal background check

LMFT licenses issued in Washington DC expire on December 31 of even-numbered years.

To renew, therapists must submit an online application and pay a $177 renewal fee. Therapists must complete 30 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle, of which 15 must be face-to-face. At least six hours must be in ethics, two in LGBTQ issues, and 10 percent of the hours must be in public health priorities.

Child (Pediatric) Behavioral Therapy Licenses in Washington, DC

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
Department of Health, Health Regulation & Licensing Administration Board of Professional Counseling

Child therapists are licensed by the District of Columbia Department of Health, Health Regulation & Licensing Administration Board of Professional Counseling as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) and Licensed Graduate Professional Counselors (LGPC).

The requirements for an LGPC license include:

  • Submitting a completed application
  • Providing two recent passport-sized photos
  • Passing the NCE, NCMHCE, or CRC exam
  • Having a master’s degree or higher from a CACREP or substantially equivalent accredited program. It must be at least 48 semester-credits and include a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship.
  • Paying $230 application fee
  • Passing a criminal background check

The requirements for an LPC license are:

  • Submit a completed application
  • Provide two recent passport-sized photos
  • Pass the NCE, NCMHCE, or CRC exam
  • Have a master’s degree or higher from a CACREP or substantially equivalent accredited program. It must be at least 60 semester-credits and include a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship
  • Pay $230 application fee
  • Pass a criminal background check
  • Complete 3,500 hours of supervised work experience. There must be 200 hours of supervision.

LPC and LGPC licenses issued in Washington DC expire on December 31 of even-numbered years. To renew counselors must submit an online application and pay a $145 renewal fee.

Counselors must complete 40 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle. Six hours must be in ethics, four hours must be in trauma counseling, two must be in LGBTQ cultural competency, and 10 percent (four hours) in Public Health Priorities.

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.