Education · 1 of 5
The path
A master's degree, then thousands of supervised hours, then an exam. The order rarely changes.
- 1
High school
Grades 11 and 12
Solid grades and anything that gets you talking to people. Volunteering on a crisis line counts for more than you would think.
- 2
Bachelor's degree
4 years
Psychology, social work, sociology or human services is the common route, but graduate programs accept other majors with some prerequisite courses.
- 3
Master's degree
2 to 3 years
In counseling, social work or marriage and family therapy. Includes a supervised practicum and internship where you see real clients under watch.
- 4
Supervised clinical hours
2 to 3 years
Roughly 2,000 to 4,000 hours after graduation depending on the state, with regular supervision sessions logged and signed.
- 5
National exam and state license
A few months
Pass the exam for your license type, clear a background check, and you may practice independently.