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Counseling Degrees and Programs in Nevada

In Nevada, there are a limited number of public and private not-for-profit colleges and universities offering programs in these major counseling categories: mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, school counseling, and substance abuse counseling. No schools in Nevada currently offer a degree in mental health counseling or marriage and family therapy. 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 colleges and universities that offer a program in mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, school counseling, substance abuse counseling, and/or vocational rehabilitation counseling in Nevada.1,2
  • Of the counseling schools in Nevada, 0 offer an associate degree, 1 offers a bachelor’s degree, 3 offer a certificate, and 2 offer a master’s or advanced degree.1,2
  • 2 schools offer a degree in mental health counseling.1,2
  • 2 school offers a degree in marriage and family therapy.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 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 2 schools, 5 counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).2
  • Across 1 school, 1 counseling program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).5


Comparison of Nevada Counseling Schools and Programs

The table below shows the public and not-for-profit 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 (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. You can learn more about how to become licensed as a professional counselor in Nevada on our license requirements page.

School NameCACREP-Accred Program2MHMFVRSCSAGrad Rate1Net Price1
Great Basin College—————Yes44%$7,824
University of Nevada-Las VegasYesYesYes—YesYes47%$13,030
University of Nevada-RenoYesYesYes—YesYes63%$16,398

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 toward the state educational requirements to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). Students can also take addiction counseling courses as part of the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Human Services. An 18-credit minor in Family Studies is also available, which allows graduates to pursue further work in family studies, couple and family therapy, or other professions in mental health. At the graduate level, UNLV offers a 60-credit Master of Science (MS) and an Advanced Graduate Certificate (AGC) 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); a 60-credit Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling that enables graduates to work in K-12 settings as a school counselor in Nevada; and an AGC in Addiction Studies that can be taken concurrently with a master’s degree or post-master’s degree.

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; Marriage and Family 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 chair. Through its Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT), UNR also offers an 18-credit minor or Undergraduate Certificate in Addiction Treatment; an 18-credit Advanced Certificate in Addiction Treatment Services; a 12-credit Peer Support Specialist certificate; an undergraduate practicum for Addiction Treatment and Prevention; and a Master of Science (MS) in Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) with a specialization in Addiction Treatment Services leading to Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) licensure in Nevada, as well as an undergraduate minor/certificate in Addiction Treatment leading to Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) certification in the state.

Online and Hybrid Programs

Great Basin College

At Great Basin College (GBC), prospective substance abuse counselors can complete a Certificate of Achievement (CA) for Substance Abuse Counselor Training. The CA requires a minimum of 30.5 credits and most of the required courses are available online, although at least 15 credit hours must be completed at GBC. 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 toward 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, 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