Counseling Degrees & Licenses in Wyoming

Pursuing a counseling career in the state of Wyoming can be an excellent investment. Only one accredited counseling degree program currently operates in the state. The small number of professionals able to train in Wyoming each year compared with the scale of local demand suggests newly trained professionals will find significant local opportunities for years to come. 

In the years before the Covid-19 pandemic, Wyoming had higher suicide and alcohol use disorder rates than the national average. In the late 2010s, the percentage of Wyoming residents with mild or moderate mental illness who did not receive mental health treatment in the most recent year was also higher than the national average. Multiple rankings of the 2020 Mental Health America report show Wyoming ranks poorly for both adult and youth populations. Such metrics, as well as the geography and infrastructure of the state, indicate Wyoming has a pressing need for additional counseling professionals.

Read on to discover how to join various counseling careers in Wyoming, including detailed information about the academic program offered by the University of Wyoming.

Accredited Counseling Degree Programs in Wyoming

The one available Wyoming program only trains students in mental health counseling and school counseling. Students seeking education to become marriage and family therapists, rehabilitation counselors, substance abuse counselors, and genetic counselors currently must pursue their training in other states before seeking employment in Wyoming.

University of Wyoming

The University of Wyoming offers a 61-credit master of science degree in counseling. Students may choose to concentrate their studies in mental health counseling or school counseling. Both concentrations feature practicum and internship requirements for which students will obtain academic credit. 

Students may work at the WellSpring Counseling Clinic to fulfill their practicum requirement. This clinic offers individual, group, and couples counseling and play therapy. Program graduates seeking to further specialize in play therapy may complete a certificate in play therapy at the Rocky Mountain Center of Play Therapy Studies. This center is one of only a few Association for Play Therapy-approved U.S. centers for play therapy education. 

Mental health counseling concentration students develop the skills to serve in various settings, including community agencies, hospitals, substance abuse treatment programs, and private practice. School counseling students may enroll with no prior experience. Graduates of this concentration support the development of students in K-12 environments and will customarily collaborate with teachers, parents, administrators, and partner organizations to provide effective support for students’ academic and social development.

Working professionals seeking to maintain their employment while completing this program may also choose the intensive weekend program option offered by UW Casper. This program follows a cohort model and can be completed in a three-year period. 

  • Location: Laramie, WY (main campus)
  • Duration: Two to three years
  • Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
  • Tuition: $311 per credit for residents; $930 for non-residents

How Much Do Counselors Earn in Wyoming?

These numbers represent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from May 2021—the latest figures available as of November 2022.

Clinical and Counseling Psychologist Salaries

United StatesWyoming
Number employed58,100100
Average annual salary (mean)$99,640$72,900
10th percentile$47,010$23,680
50th percentile (median)$82,510$62,070
90th percentile$167,460$129,710

Marriage and Family Therapist Salaries

United StatesWyoming
Number employed54,80050
Average annual salary (mean)$59,660$50,950
10th percentile$37,050$36,660
50th percentile (median)$49,880$47,600
90th percentile$96,520$60,410

Rehabilitation Counselor Salaries

United StatesWyoming
Number employed90,31070
Average annual salary (mean)$44,740$48,450
10th percentile$28,890$29,350
50th percentile (median)$38,560$53,150
90th percentile$65,880$65,780

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor Salaries

United StatesWyoming
Number employed57,110680
Average annual salary (mean)$82,770$59,730
10th percentile$49,260$38,860
50th percentile (median)$78,780$60,790
90th percentile$124,950$77,920

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

United StatesWyoming
Number employed310,880520
Average annual salary (mean)$53,490$61,840
10th percentile$30,870$38,830
50th percentile (median)$48,520$60,130
90th percentile$77,980$96,440

Counseling Professional Associations & Resources in Wyoming

  • Wyoming Counseling Association
  • Wyoming School Counselor Association
  • Wyoming Psychological Association
  • Wyoming Association of Addiction Counselors

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

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
Mental Health Professions Licensing Board

Wyoming issues both Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Provisional Professional Counselor (PPC) licenses.

To earn a PPC license, candidates must:

  • Submit a complete application
  • Pay $193 application fee
  • Be 18 years old
  • Hold legal status to reside in the US
  • Graduate with a master’s or doctorate in counseling from a CACREP or CORE accredited program. If a program has neither accreditation, it must meet coursework requirements.
  • Have a passing NCE, NCMHCE, or CRC exam score

The PPC license is only valid for 36 months. Before it expires, candidates must apply for an LPC license. They must meet the same requirements as a PPC license, as well as:

  • Complete 3,000 hours of post-graduate supervised work experience. Of those, 1,200 hours must be direct client contact and 100 must be supervised. Group supervision may not be counted.
  • Pay $393 application fee

In Wyoming, LPC licenses are valid for two years and expire on the holder’s birth date. PPC licenses are valid for 36 months and may not be renewed.

LPCs must submit 45 continuing education hours every renewal cycle. Three of the 45 hours must be in ethics. The fee to renew an LPC license is $143.

School Counseling Licenses in Wyoming

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board

The Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board issues Educator Licenses with a Professional Services Endorsement for School Counselors.

The requirements for this license and endorsement are:

  • Complete a master’s degree in school counseling
  • Have an recommendation for licensure from the institution where the master’s degree was completed
  • Pass a background check
  • Demonstrate one’s knowledge of the United States and Wyoming Constitution either through coursework or examination
  • Pay an application fee
  • Submit a completed application

Educator licenses issued in Wyoming are valid for five years and cost $200 to renew.

School counselors are required to complete five renewal credits per cycle.

Substance Abuse Counseling Licenses in Wyoming

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements

Wyoming Mental Health Professions Licensing Board

Substance abuse counselors can apply to the Wyoming Mental Health Professions Licensing Board to earn Certified Addictions Practitioner Assistant (CAPA), Certified Addictions Practitioner (CAP), Provisional Addictions Therapist (PAT), or Licensed Addictions Therapist (LAT) credentials.

CAPA credential candidates must:

  • Be 18 years old
  • Submit a completed application
  • Pay $343 application fee
  • Provide proof to work in the US
  • Have either NCAC Level I or IC&CR certificate or an associate’s degree in a substance abuse-related field from an accredited institution or 270 hours of addiction specific education
  • Pass the NCAC Level I exam
  • Submit a Supervision Agreement for supervised work experience
  • Include a Professional Disclosure Statement

CAP credential candidates must:

  • Be 18 years old
  • Submit a completed application
  • Pay $343 application fee
  • Provide proof to work in the US
  • Have either NCAC Level II or certificate or a bachelor’s degree in addiction therapy from an accredited institution or bachelor’s in any human resource discipline and an associate’s degree from a NASAC-accredited institution or a bachelor’s in any human resource discipline and required coursework as outlined in the board rules
  • Pass the NCAC Level II exam or ADC
  • Submit a Supervision Agreement for supervised work experience
  • Include a Professional Disclosure Statement

PAT licenses may be issued to applicants who need to complete any of the requirements for LAC licensure. This license is only valid for 36 months. The fee for this application is $150 and must be accompanied by a Provisional License Supervision Agreement signed by an approved supervisor.

LAT license candidates must:

  • Be 18 years old
  • Submit a completed application
  • Pay $350 application fee
  • Provide proof to work in the US
  • Have a graduate degree in addiction therapy from an accredited institution or a graduate degree in any mental health discipline and complete required coursework as outlined in the board rules
  • Pass the MAC exam from either the NBCC or NAADAC
  • Complete 3,000 hours of post-graduate supervised work experience (at least 1,200 hours must be direct client contact and 100 hours of direct face-to-face supervision
  • Include a Professional Disclosure Statement

Licenses and certificates for substance abuse counselors in Wyoming expire every two years on the holder’s date of birth. Renewal fees are $143 for certifications and $168 for licenses.

Counselors are required to complete 45 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle. Three of those hours must be in ethics.

Rehabilitation Counseling Licenses in Wyoming

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements

Mental Health Professions Licensing Board

Rehabilitation counselors in Wyoming can become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) or Provisional Professional Counselors (PPC).

To earn a PPC license, candidates must:

  • Submit a complete application
  • Pay $193 application fee
  • Be 18 years old
  • Hold legal status to reside in the US
  • Graduate with a master’s or doctorate in counseling from a CACREP or CORE accredited program. If a program has neither accreditation, it must meet coursework requirements.
  • Submit a completed supervision agreement
  • Complete a Professional Disclosure Statement
  • Have a passing NCE, NCMHCE, or CRC exam score
  • Complete a National People Data Bank background check

The PPC license is only valid for 36 months. Before it expires, candidates must apply for a, LPC license. They must meet the same requirements as a PPC license, as well as:

  • Complete 3,000 hours of post-graduate supervised work experience. Of those, 1,200 hours must be direct client contact and 100 must be supervised. Group supervision may not be counted.
  • Pay $200 application fee

In Wyoming, LPC licenses are valid for two years and expire on the holder’s birth date. PPC licenses are valid for 36 months and may not be renewed.

LPCs must submit 45 continuing education hours every renewal cycle. Three of the 45 hours must be in ethics. The fee to renew an LPC license is $129.

Every four years counselors must complete a new National People Data Bank background check

Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Licenses in Wyoming

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
Wyoming Board of Psychology

In March 2022, the Wyoming legislature passed 22LSO-0341 establishing licensing guidelines for behavior analysts through the Wyoming Board of Psychology.

As of July 2022, no applications or guidelines are available. However, according to the wording in the bill, behavior analysts will need to hold BCBA certification and assistant behavior analysts will need to hold a BCaBA certification.

Renewal requirements for this certification have yet to be determined.

Marriage and Family Therapy Licenses in Wyoming

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
Mental Health Professions Licensing Board

The Wyoming Mental Health Professions Licensing Board issues Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Provisional Marriage and Family Therapist (PMFT) licenses.

To earn a PMFT license, candidates must:

To earn a PMFT license, candidates must:

  • Submit a complete application
  • Pay $243 application fee
  • Be 18 years old
  • Hold legal status to reside in the US
  • Graduate with a master’s or doctorate in marriage and family therapy from a COAMFTE accredited program
  • Have a passing AMFTRB exam score
  • Provide a Provisional License Supervision Agreement

The PMFT license is only valid for 36 months. Before it expires, candidates must apply for an LMFT license. They must meet the same requirements as a PMFT license, as well as:

  • Complete 3,000 hours of post-graduate supervised work experience (1,200 hours must be direct client contact and 100 must be supervision; group supervision may not be counted)
  • Pay $393 application fee
  • In Wyoming, LMFT licenses are valid for two years and expire on the holder’s birth date. PFMT licenses are only valid for 36 months and may not be renewed.
  • LMFTs must submit 45 continuing education hours every renewal cycle. Three of the 45 hours must be in ethics. The fee to renew an LMFT license is $168.

Child (Pediatric) Behavioral Therapy Licenses in Wyoming

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements

Mental Health Professions Licensing Board

Child therapists in Wyoming can become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) or Provisional Professional Counselors (PPC).

To earn a PPC license, candidates must:

  • Submit a complete application
  • Pay a $193 application fee
  • Be 18 years old
  • Hold legal status to reside in the US
  • Graduate with a master’s or doctorate in counseling from a CACREP or CORE accredited program. If a program has neither accreditation, it must meet coursework requirements.
  • Have a passing NCE, NCMHCE, or CRC exam score
  • Complete a fingerprint-based background check
  • Submit a professional disclosure statement

The PPC license is only valid for 36 months. Before it expires, candidates must apply for an LPC license. They must meet the same requirements as a PPC license, as well as:

  • Complete 3,000 hours of post-graduate supervised work experience. Of those, 1,200 hours must be direct client contact and 100 must be supervised. Group supervision may not be counted.
  • Pay $243 application fee

In Wyoming, LPC licenses are valid for two years and expire on the holder’s birth date. PPC licenses are valid for 36 months and may not be renewed.

LPCs must submit 45 continuing education hours every renewal cycle. Three of the 45 hours must be in ethics. The fee to renew an LPC license is $168.

Bernd Geels

Bernd Geels

Writer

Bernd Geels is a Berlin, Germany-based freelance writer and artist. He holds an undergraduate degree in atmospheric science and two graduate degrees. He completed his most recent graduate degree in international environmental studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 2011. He is interested in healthcare, climate change, marine conservation, indigenous science and refugee issues. You can reach him directly at [email protected].

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