Counseling Degrees and Programs in Nevada
In Nevada, there are a limited number of public or not-for-profit, four-year colleges and universities offering programs in these major counseling categories: marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, school counseling, and substance abuse counseling. No schools in Nevada currently offer a degree in rehabilitation counseling. As most types of counseling careers in Nevada require a degree, one of the first steps you will likely take is choosing the right school and program. There are both undergraduate and graduate counseling programs available in Nevada, but not in every major area of counseling practice. Some schools in Nevada offer counseling programs or counseling classes online, but on-campus programs are more common. Due to the limited number of counseling programs in Nevada, you may also wish to compare programs at Nevada schools with those offered in nearby states or online to find the best program for your needs.
Quick Facts
- There are 3 not-for-profit four-year colleges and universities that offer a program in marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, school counseling, substance abuse counseling, and/or vocational rehabilitation counseling in Nevada.1,2
- Of the counseling schools in Nevada, 1 offers an associate’s degree, 1 offers a bachelor’s degree, 2 offer a certificate, and 2 offer a master’s or advanced degree.1,2
- 2 schools offer a degree in marriage and family therapy.1,2
- 2 schools offer a degree in mental health counseling.1,2
- No schools offer a degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling.1,2
- 2 schools offer a degree in school counseling.1,2
- 3 schools offer a degree in substance abuse counseling.1,2
- No counseling schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019.3
- No schools ranked in US News Best Student Counseling Programs 2019.4
- No schools ranked in US News Best Rehabilitation Counseling Programs 2019.5
- At 1 school, 3 counseling programs are accredited by CACREP.2
Comparison of Nevada Counseling Schools and Programs
The table below shows the public and not-for-profit four-year colleges and universities in Nevada that offer counseling programs in at least one of the following five areas: mental health counseling (MH), marriage and family therapy (MFT), vocational rehabilitation counseling (VR), school counseling (SC), and substance abuse counseling (SA). The table indicates the schools that offer programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP); CACREP-accredited programs are denoted with an asterisk (*). You can also compare each college or university by program type offered, graduation rate, and net price per year. You can learn more about how to become licensed as a professional counselor in Nevada on our license requirements page.
| School Name | CACREP- Accred Program2 | MH | MF | VR | SC | SA | Grad Rate1 | Net Price1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Basin College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 36% | $9,848 |
| University of Nevada-Las Vegas | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | 43% | $11,693 |
| University of Nevada-Reno | Yes | Yes* | Yes* | — | Yes* | Yes | 58% | $15,723 |
Schools in Nevada with Counseling Degrees
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
University of Nevada-Las Vegas
The University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV) offers several undergraduate and graduate counseling programs. At the undergraduate level, students can choose from a 21-credit minor in Addictions Treatment or an 18-credit minor in Addictions Prevention. Coursework in these minors can be applied towards the state educational requirements to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). Students can also take the addiction counseling courses as part of the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Human Services. At the graduate level, UNLV offers a 60-credit Master of Science (MS) and an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Clinical Mental Health Counseling that meet state academic requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential; a 60-credit MS in Couple and Family Therapy that meets state educational requirements to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT); and a 48-credit Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling that enables graduates to work in K-12 settings as a school counselor in Nevada.
Traditional Graduate Programs
University of Nevada-Reno
At the University of Nevada-Reno (UNR), prospective counseling students can complete a Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling with one of three CACREP-accredited areas of specialization: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Marital, Family, and Couples Counseling; or School Counseling. The MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling requires students to complete 65 credits and graduates of this specialization will meet state educational requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license. The MA in Marital, Family, and Couples Counseling is a 67-credit degree that fulfills the state coursework requirements to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). Students in the MA in School Counseling must complete 55 credits and will meet state requirements to become school counselors. Each MA specialization takes three years of full-time study to complete, including summers. As the degree has a set curriculum, part-time study is not permitted without permission from the department. UNR also offers an online undergraduate minor in Addiction Treatment Services comprised of 18-24 credits depending on the major area for students interested in becoming Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors (CADCs) in Nevada.
Online and Hybrid Programs
Great Basin College
At Great Basin College (GBC), prospective substance abuse counselors can complete a Certificate of Achievement in Substance Abuse Counselor Training. The certificate requires a minimum of 30.5 credits and most of the required courses are available online. This undergraduate-level certificate introduces students to the substance abuse counseling profession and prepares them for entry-level roles in addiction counseling, prevention, and intervention. Courses completed through the certificate program may be applied towards the educational requirements to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) in Nevada. Students may also apply coursework completed in the certificate program towards the degree requirements for the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Human Services offered through GBC.
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), Accredited Programs: https://www.cacrep.org/directory/
3. Kiplinger’s Best College Values, 2019: https://www.kiplinger.com/fronts/special-report/college-rankings/index.html
4. US News & World Report Best Student Counseling Programs, 2019: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/student-counseling-rankings
5. US News & World Report Best Rehabilitation Counseling Programs, 2019: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/rehabilitation-counseling-rankings