Counseling Degrees and Programs in Wyoming
The state of Wyoming has three schools offering programs in counseling. The only counseling programs at the graduate level are in the fields of mental health counseling and school counseling, while two undergraduate programs are available in substance abuse counseling. If you are interested in becoming a professional counselor in Wyoming, you will need to complete a counseling program that meets state licensing requirements. As most counseling careers in Wyoming require a degree, you will need to either choose a program in Wyoming or look into programs offered online or in nearby states. If you are interested in undergraduate programs, you may wish to consider a counseling-related bachelor’s degree, such as psychology or human services, which are more abundant. For distance learning opportunities, one online undergraduate certificate and one hybrid graduate degree program are available in Wyoming. Prospective counseling students interested in studying from home may wish to review options available through schools in other states.
Table of Contents
Quick Facts
- There are 3 not-for-profit colleges or universities that offer a program in mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, school counseling, substance abuse counseling, and/or vocational rehabilitation counseling in Wyoming.1,2
- Of the counseling schools in Wyoming, 1 offers an associate degree, 0 offer a bachelor’s degree, 2 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
- 2 schools offer a degree in substance abuse counseling.1,2
- No schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Student Counseling Programs 2022.4
- 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 Wyoming Counseling Schools and Programs
We have provided you with this table to show you the public and not-for-profit colleges and universities in Wyoming offering a counseling program in one of the five main 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 a professional counselor in Wyoming by visiting our license requirements page.
School Name | CACREP-Accred Program2 | MH | MF | VR | SC | SA | Grad Rate1 | Net Price1 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Casper College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 37% | $8,099 |
Northern Wyoming Community College District | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 40% | $8,562 |
University of Wyoming | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | 60% | $10,452 |
Schools in Wyoming with Counseling Degrees
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
Casper College
Casper College is a two-year school that offers two programs for those interested in working as substance abuse counselors. Casper’s Associate of Science (AS) in Addiction Studies is designed for individuals currently working in the area of substance abuse and seeking certification or for students who have a master’s degree and are preparing to become Licensed Addiction Therapists (LATs) in Wyoming. Graduates of the AS in Addiction Studies meet the educational requirements to become Certified Addiction Practioner Assistants (CAPAs) and have the option to continue to a bachelor’s degree program in a related field. The program consists of 71 credits with courses such as Foundations of Substance Use Disorders Counseling; Drugs and Behavior; and Biological Psychology. Students must also complete a 150-hour Addiction Practicum. An Addiction Studies Certificate is also available to individuals who have already earned a degree in another area and are interested in pursuing the Certified Addiction Practitioner (CAP), CAPA, or Licensed Addiction Therapist (LAT) credential. The certificate program comprises 41 credits and takes about nine months to complete.
Traditional Graduate Programs
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming (UW) offers master’s and doctoral counseling degrees at the Laramie and Casper campuses. The 61-credit Master of Science (MS) in Counseling has specializations in Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling. Students in both tracks complete a shared 49-credit counseling core in addition to 12 credits for their chosen specialization. The MS in Counseling program takes two years to complete full-time and new students begin in the summer term. The Laramie degrees are also accredited by CACREP and are delivered through on-campus, face-to-face methods. During the program, students complete supervised work experience at the University’s WellSpring Counseling Clinic, which provides free counseling support to the Laramie community. The Casper campus offers the MS degrees with a hybrid format and a cohort structure. Students must attend weekend intensive courses in Casper but can complete the required supervised work experience in their home community. The program takes three years to complete full-time. Both MS specializations share a core counseling curriculum and examples of required courses include Human Growth and Development; Multicultural Counseling; and Counseling and Addictions. The MS in Mental Health Counseling is designed to meet state academic requirements to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and prepares students for employment in community agencies, outpatient facilities, hospitals, or other public settings, as well as private practice. Students in the MS in School Counseling will meet state requirements to become preK-12 school counselors and may customize the program to also meet the LPC educational requirements in Wyoming. The 72-credit Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Counselor Education and Supervision is offered at the Laramie campus. Students who have completed a 60-credit CACREP-accredited master’s degree program can apply up to 12 hours toward their PhD degree requirements. The degree takes approximately three years to complete full time and new students are admitted in the fall term.
Online and Hybrid Programs
Northern Wyoming Community College District
Northern Wyoming Community College District (NWCCD) includes Sheridan College and Sheridan College in Johnson County in addition to offering certificate and degree programs to students at Gillette Community College District (GCCD). NWCCD’s Addictions Practioner Certificate comprises 34 credits and includes courses such as Theories of Counseling; Addiction Behaviors; and Drugs and Behavior. Students must also complete a Practicum in Addictions which allows them to accrue supervised work experience that is required for certification in Wyoming. Graduates of the certificate program meet the academic requirements to become Certified Addiction Practitioners (CAPs) if they have already earned a bachelor’s degree or Certified Addictions Practioner Assistants (CAPAs) for those without a degree. This program is offered both online and in-person at the Sheridan College Campus or as part of NWCCD’s Evening Plus program that allows working professionals to take classes during the evenings and weekends.
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