Counseling Degrees and Programs in Vermont
The New England state of Vermont offers limited study options for students interested in counseling, with programs available in mental health counseling, school counseling, and substance abuse counseling. If you are interested in a counseling career in one of these areas of counseling, you will find four schools in Vermont that offer programs designed to meet state licensure requirements. Choosing where to study is an important consideration as nearly all professional counseling careers in Vermont require a degree, and most require a master’s degree in counseling. Most of the programs offered by Vermont schools are at the master’s level. If you are interested in programs in other areas of counseling or fully-online degree programs, you may want to consider programs offered in nearby states or online programs offered at other institutions.
Quick Facts
- There are 4 not-for-profit colleges and universities that offer a program in mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, vocational rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, and/or substance abuse counseling, in Vermont.1,2
- Of the counseling schools in Vermont, 1 offers an associate degree, 1 offers a bachelor’s degree, 1 offers a certificate, and 3 offer a master’s or advanced degree.1,2
- 3 schools offer 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
- 3 schools offer a degree in school counseling.1,2
- 2 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 schools are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).5
Comparison of Vermont Counseling Schools and Programs
Below we have created a table that allows you to compare the public and not-for-profit colleges and universities in Vermont that offer counseling programs in the following five fields of practice: 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. For more information about licensure as a counselor in Vermont, read our license requirements page.
| School Name | CACREP-Accred Program2 | MH | MF | VR | SC | SA | Grad Rate1 | Net Price1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community College of Vermont-Montpelier | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 28% | $11,994 |
| Goddard College | — | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | 50% | $26,622 |
| Northern Vermont University | — | Yes | — | — | Yes | Yes | 38% | $17,086 |
| University of Vermont | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | 77% | $19,873 |
Schools in Vermont with Counseling Degrees
Traditional Graduate Programs
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont (UVM) is home to a 60-credit, CACREP-accredited Master of Science (MS) in Counseling with tracks in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling also available. In the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, students learn theories and models of mental health and mental illness through their coursework. The program also provides opportunities to develop and practice clinical skills through supervised practicum and internships. The program meets state coursework requirements for the Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC) license. Students in the MS in School Counseling learn to work with elementary and secondary school students to improve mental well-being, strengthen social supports, and address behavioral challenges. Upon completion of the program, graduates will meet state requirements to become a school counselor in Vermont. A 76-credit dual licensure option is available that enables students to meet the educational requirements to become both a school counselor and a CMHC in Vermont. Students in this program are required to complete coursework and supervised work experience in both areas of practice.
Online and Hybrid Programs
Community College of Vermont
The Community College of Vermont (CCV) offers an Associate of Science (AS) in Behavioral Science that can be completed fully online with several optional focus areas, including Substance Use Disorders. This 60-credit degree includes both general education requirements and specific program requirements. Students will gain the necessary skills to work in a number of human service and mental health settings. Graduates of the AS in Behavioral Science can transfer to a four-year college or university to continue their studies or utilize CCV’s 2+2 transfer agreement with several schools in the state of Vermont to easily complete their bachelor’s degree. Coursework for the Substance Use Disorders focus includes Introduction to Substance Use Disorders; Introduction to Case Management; Trauma: Origins and Impacts; and Addiction: An Introduction to Clinical Skills.
Goddard College
Goddard College offers a 60-credit Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CLMH) with optional concentrations in Sexual Orientation, Expressive Arts Therapy, Human-Animal Interaction, and Spiritual Counseling and Care, as well as a 60-credit MA in School Counseling Licensure. These programs have a low-residency format in which students must attend an eight-day intensive residency at the beginning of each semester and work with a faculty advisor to complete required coursework and assignments during the remainder of each 16-week term. The MA in CLMH program meets the educational requirements to become a Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC) in Vermont and the MA in School Counseling meets the educational requirements to become a school counselor in the state In the MA in School Counseling, students learn how to provide social, emotional, and behavioral support to elementary and secondary students. Students also learn how to develop and implement guidance programs in alignment with state educational standards. A fast-track option is also available for students to complete a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology and, during their last semester, begin graduate coursework toward the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Northern Vermont University
Northern Vermont University (NVU) offers a 60-credit Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling with three concentrations: Addictions Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling; and School Counseling. The counseling program is designed to offer flexibility to those students who work by combining face-to-face courses with distance learning instruction. Each concentration prepares students to pursue licensure in clinical mental health, substance use, or school counseling. Students in the School Counseling concentration pursuing the endorsement in Vermont will need to compile a portfolio and pass the PRAXIS exam for licensure in Vermont. An MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is also available in an intensive one-weekend-per-month format combining face-to-face instruction with remote and distance learning. NVU also offers a 27-credit Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) program in School Counseling designed for students with a master’s degree in counseling who are seeking licensure as a Pre-K-12 school counselor. Pending final approval, NVU is merging with Castleton University and Vermont Technical College to become Vermont State University in July 2023.
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