SOC-OFE Masters Students - Field Experience Manual:

State Licensure and Accreditation

The counseling masters’ programs are all accredited by CACREP. The programs may meet or exceed requirements for licensure in most states where licensure or certification is available; however, not all are license-eligible counseling programs, and states have varying requirements for licensure and certification for each program.

If you are seeking licensure or certification in your state, you are responsible for ensuring that your program meets the necessary requirements. Additionally, you are responsible for checking with your state licensure board throughout your program for updates to program and field experience requirements for licensure or certification. If you find that your state requires additional courses or experiences to be academically eligible for licensure, you can request to add the State Education Specialization. See the Office of Certification, Licensure, and Compliance for more information.

If you need postgraduate verification of program completion and/or field experience hours, you should submit the request to the Office of Certification, Licensure, and Compliance in Meditrek®. Licensure-related inquiries should be directed to the Office of Certification, Licensure, and Compliance at counlicensure@mail.waldenu.edu.

The MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is accredited by CACREP as a mental health counseling program. CACREP is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and CACREP accreditation is a requirement for licensure in many states.

The MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is designed to prepare graduates to qualify to sit for licensing exams and to meet the academic licensure requirements of many state counseling boards. Walden enrollment specialists can provide guidance on licensure issues; however, it remains your responsibility to understand and comply with all state licensure requirements. Walden University makes no representations or guarantee that completion of Walden coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain state licensure.

Walden’s MS in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling program is also accredited by CACREP. CACREP accreditation is a requirement for licensure in many states. The MS in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling program is not accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) and will not lead to licensure as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).

The MS in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling program is designed to prepare graduates to qualify to sit for licensing exams and to meet the academic licensure requirements of many state counseling boards. Walden enrollment specialists can provide guidance on licensure issues; however, it remains your responsibility to understand and comply with all state licensure requirements. Walden makes no representations or guarantee that completion of Walden coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain state licensure or endorsement.

The MS in School Counseling program is offered by Walden University, an institution accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), which is a requirement to practice as a school counselor in some states. The MS in School Counseling program is accredited by CACREP, which may also be a requirement to practice as a school counselor in some states.

The MS in School Counseling program is designed to prepare graduates for qualification to apply for licensure or certification to practice as school counselors. However, each state board responsible for regulating the practice of school counseling has its own academic, licensure, and certification requirements and issues its own credential for an individual to practice as a school counselor in that state. Walden enrollment specialists can provide general information relating to the state-by-state requirements for school counseling licensure or certification; however, it remains your responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to licensing or certification for the state in which you intend to practice. Walden makes no representations or guarantee that completion of its coursework or programs will permit you to obtain certification or to obtain state licensure, authorization, endorsement, or other state credential.