Counseling Degrees and Programs in Vermont
The New England state of Vermont offers limited study options for students interested in counseling, with degree programs available in mental health counseling and school counseling. If you are interested in a counseling career in one of these areas of counseling, you will find two colleges or universities 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. All the programs offered by Vermont schools are at the master’s level and there are no fully-online programs available. If you are interested in undergraduate degree options, 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 2 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 Vermont.1,2
- Of the counseling schools in Vermont, 0 offer an associate’s degree, 0 offer a bachelor’s degree, 0 offer a certificate, and 2 offer a master’s or advanced degree.1,2
- No schools offer a degree in marriage and family therapy.1,2
- 2 school 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
- No schools offer a degree in substance abuse counseling.1,2
- 1 counseling school 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, 2 counseling programs are accredited by CACREP.2
Comparison of Vermont Counseling Schools and Programs
Below we have created a table that allows you to compare the public and not-for-profit four-year colleges and universities in Vermont that offer counseling programs in the following five fields of practice: 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 (*). The table also includes information about the program types offered at each school, the graduation rate, and the 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goddard College | — | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | 57% | $23,187 |
| University of Vermont | Yes | Yes* | — | — | Yes* | — | 76% | $19,261 |
Top-Ranked Schools with Counseling Programs in Vermont
Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019
- University of Vermont (#267)
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. In the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, students take courses such as The Practice of Mental Health Counseling and Therapeutic Psychopharmacology for Counselors to learn theories and models of mental health and mental illness. 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 wellbeing, strengthen social supports, and address behavioral challenges. Examples of required courses include Diagnosis in School Counseling and Developmental Guidance in Schools (K-12). Upon completion of the program, graduates will meet state requirements to become a school counselor in Vermont. A 79-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. UVM also offers an Accelerated Master’s Program to current, high-achieving undergraduate students. This program enables students to complete both an undergraduate degree and an MS degree in counseling at UVM in an accelerated time frame by completing MS coursework during the senior year of the bachelor’s degree.
Online and Hybrid Programs
Goddard College
Goddard College offers a 60-credit Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with optional concentrations in Sexual Orientation, Expressive Arts Therapy, Human Animal Interaction Studies, and Spiritual Care and Counseling, as well as a 60-credit MA in School Counseling. 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 Clinical Mental Health Counseling teaches students about the psychological theories influencing mental health counseling and how to assess and provide counseling services to a diverse clientele. While the program does not specifically meet licensure requirements to become a Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC) in Vermont, faculty advisors assist students in creating an academic plan of study that meets licensure requirements in the state where the student plans to practice. The program is only offered on a full-time basis; however, students take either three or four courses each term. 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. This degree can be taken on a full- or part-time basis and meets Vermont’s educational requirements to become a K-12 school counselor.
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