Counseling Degrees and Programs in Alaska
Individuals hoping to pursue a counseling career in Alaska will find there are few counseling programs offered in the state. The University of Alaska Fairbanks is the only not-for-profit school in the state that offers programs in counseling. Currently, programs are available in mental health counseling and school counseling. If you are interested in becoming a professional counselor, you will need to complete a degree in your desired area of practice. Only graduate degrees are available in Alaska so if you are an undergraduate student, you may need to explore online programs or programs in other states. The degrees available in Alaska do have online study options, which may be desirable for students who do not live near campus. Online programs offer a more flexible learning environment while providing students with the same education to meet state licensure requirements.
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Quick Facts
- There is 1 not-for-profit university that offers a program in marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, school counseling, substance abuse counseling, and/or vocational rehabilitation counseling in Alaska.1,2
- Of the counseling schools in Alaska, 0 offer an associate degree, 0 offer a bachelor’s degree, 0 offer a certificate, and 1 offers a master’s or advanced degree.1,2
- 1 school offers a degree in mental health counseling.1,2
- No schools offer a degree in marriage and family therapy.1,2
- No schools offer a degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling.1,2
- 1 school offers a degree in school counseling.1,2
- No schools offer a degree in substance abuse counseling.1,2
- No schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Student Counseling Programs 2022.3
- No schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online M.Ed. Programs for Student Counseling 2022.4
- Across 1 school, 2 counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).2
- No counseling programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).5
Comparison of Alaska Counseling Schools and Programs
We have created the table below to show you the public and not-for-profit colleges and universities in Alaska offering counseling programs in the following five major areas: mental health counseling (MH), marriage and family therapy (MF), vocational rehabilitation counseling (VR), school counseling (SC), and substance abuse counseling (SA). Use the table to compare each school by program type offered, Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accreditation status, graduation rate, and net price per year. If you are interested in reading more about how to become a counselor in Alaska, have a look at our license requirements page.
| School Name | CACREP- Accred Program2 | MF | MH | VR | SC | SA | Grad Rate1 | Net Price1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alaska Fairbanks | Yes | — | Yes | — | Yes | — | 38% | $9,379 |
Schools in Alaska with Counseling Degrees
Traditional Graduate Programs
University of Alaska Fairbanks
The University of Alaska Fairbanks is home to a CACREP-accredited Master of Education (M.Ed.) with concentrations in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling, and K-12 School Counseling. The program can be completed either on campus or as a hybrid program that combines synchronous online video conferencing courses with an intensive on-campus course in group counseling during the summer term. All three programs require 42 credits of core counseling coursework including Appraisal for Counselors; Counseling Theories and Applications I; and Research in Counseling and Educational Settings. Students in the M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling must complete additional clinical coursework for a total of 60 credits. In this program, students learn to provide psychotherapeutic support to individuals, groups, and families struggling with mental health and behavioral challenges. Upon completion of the program, students will meet Alaska’s educational requirements to become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). Students in the M.Ed. in School Counseling complete three additional credits of school counseling-related coursework for a total of 48 credits to meet state requirements to become a school counselor at either the elementary or secondary school level in Alaska. Students seeking certification to work with all grade levels should pursue the K-12 School Counselor concentration, which requires an additional nine credits of pre-practicum or practicum, school counseling-related coursework, and an internship. It is also possible to combine the Clinical Mental Health Counseling M.Ed. with either School Counseling or K-12 School Counseling for candidates looking for dual licensure. The combined Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling program comprises 27 credits in addition to the core counseling coursework and enables students to fulfill the state requirements for either elementary or secondary school counseling, while the combined Clinical Mental Health Counseling and K-12 School Counseling program comprises 30 additional credits and meets the state coursework requirements for K-12 school counseling.
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, Accredited Programs: https://www.cacrep.org/directory/
3. US News & World Report Best Student Counseling Programs 2022: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/student-counseling-rankings
4. US News & World Report Best Online Master’s in Education Programs Offering Student Counseling and Personnel Services 2022: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/student-counseling-rankings
5. Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, Directory of COAMFTE Accredited Programs: https://coamfte.org/COAMFTE/Directory_of_Accredited_Programs/MFT_Training_Programs.aspx