Study Counseling in Florida
Studying counseling in Florida is advantageous for a couple of reasons. First, there are nearly 100 degree-granting institutions in the state. Though not all of these colleges, technical schools, and universities have graduate programs, many of them do, including a fair share with counseling options.
Second, Florida is a highly populated state (it’s the third-most populated in the nation), and it’s a diverse state, too. Nearly 19 percent of Floridians are Hispanic, more than 14 percent are black, and six percent are Asian. This diversity is key when you reach the field experience stage of your program – you will get to work with a wide range of people from many different backgrounds.
Of course, it helps that the Sunshine State also has pristine beaches, an abundance of recreational opportunities, and beautiful weather. But you don’t have to live in the same city as the school you attend to get your degree. With many online options available – the most popular of which are detailed below – you can get the degree you want from a Florida school without ever stepping foot on campus!
Online Master’s in Counseling in Florida
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online master’s in counseling in Florida:
- Keiser University
- Nova Southeastern University
- Florida State University
- Barry University
- Florida International University
- University of South Florida
- Southern New Hampshire University
- Arizona State University Online
Nova Southeastern University
Online Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
The MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University is a 60-credit, three-year program that’s accredited by The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs or CACREP. The program is also accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation or CAEP.
This program offers the flexibility of online learning as well as the flexibility of starting at one of three points during the year – fall, spring, or summer. Moreover, this can be a degree completion program – if you have already completed some applicable graduate courses, Nova Southeastern might allow you to transfer those credits and apply them toward your degree.
Over the course of the program, you will take part in a diverse range of classes that prepare you for clinical mental health practice. This includes the following:
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Adult Psychopathology
- Career and Lifestyle Assessment
- Group Theory and Practice
- Community Mental Health
- Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling
This is a licensure-track program, so you must complete field experiences in addition to coursework. There is a three-credit counseling practicum during which you will work directly with clients under the supervision of an experienced counselor. There is also a six-credit internship during which you will gain advanced skills related to the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of clients in a supervised clinical setting.
Furthermore, you must participate in a residential institute at NSU’s main campus in Fort Lauderdale or the satellite campus in Orlando. The residential institute is an intensive weekend that involves face-to-face mentorship and feedback from faculty members.
Upon graduating, you will meet the educational requirements to apply for a Licensed Mental Health Counselor credential in Florida. You will also meet the requirements to seek the National Certified Counselor credential. Since the licensure of mental health professionals is controlled at the state level, it’s important to check the licensure requirements in the state in which you intend to work.
You can apply to the NSU College of Psychology online. You must have an undergraduate degree from a regionally-accredited college or university with a 2.5 GPA or higher in the last 60 credits of undergraduate coursework. You must have a 3.0 GPA or higher for all graduate coursework you have completed.
If you don’t meet one of these requirements, you must take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and achieve a score of 300 or higher on the combined verbal and quantitative sections. If you submit GRE scores, they must be no more than five years old. Other required documentation includes the following:
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended
- A personal statement
- Two letters of recommendation
- English proficiency scores (if English is not your native language)
Florida State University
Online Master of Science in Counseling and Human Systems With a Specialist Degree in School Counseling
This school counseling program from Florida State University is like many graduate-level counseling programs in that it requires 60 credits to graduate, which takes about three years of full-time studies to complete. But this program is unique because you earn a Master of Science and a Specialist degree simultaneously. This degree program also prepares you to become a licensed school counselor in Florida.
Most students take two or three courses per semester for eight semesters to meet the requirements of graduation. The coursework focuses on a variety of areas, including career development, group counseling, and theories of school counseling. Other courses include the following:
- Psychosocial and Multicultural Aspects of Counseling
- School, Family, and Community Partnerships
- Methods of Educational Research
- Consultation and Organizational Development
- Urban and Rural Schools
Much of the coursework you complete aims to build your ability to create and implement effective school counseling programs. You will also learn how to evaluate programs and use data to drive improvements in the programs you develop.
A four-credit practicum and two four-credit internship experiences are also required. The internship component is critical for your success as a preservice counselor as it provides real-world experience counseling children in a school setting. The internship also allows for direct supervision by a certified school counselor who can give you feedback and guidance to hasten your professional development.
You can apply online at any time, provided you have an undergraduate degree from a regionally-accredited institution. You must also have a 3.0 GPA or higher for the totality of your undergraduate work. You must also submit the following documentation when applying:
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended
- Three letters of recommendation
- A personal statement
- A resume or curriculum vitae
- English proficiency scores (if English is not your native language)
Barry University
Online Master of Science in Counseling
Barry University’s MS in Counseling is a CACREP-accredited program that requires the completion of 63 credits. Most students complete these requirements in about 2.5 years, making it a slightly shorter program than most.
One of the hallmarks of this program is its flexibility. You can take classes online, in person, or a combination of the two. Barry University also offers three counseling concentrations to choose from: Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, or School Counseling.
The coursework you complete depends on the concentration you select. For example, the school counseling concentration focuses on providing comprehensive counseling programs for students in K-12 settings. Meanwhile, the marital, couple, and family counseling concentration focuses on helping families improve their communication to bring about positive changes in the family dynamic.
However, each concentration shares numerous core counseling courses. These include the following:
- Orientation to the Counseling Profession
- Crisis Intervention
- Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling
- Human Growth and Development
- Psychological Measurements
A 300-hour practicum helps you build advanced skills beyond what you learn in the classroom. The practicum is supervised by a licensed or certified counselor in your chosen area of specialization. In addition to getting real-world experience working with clients, you’ll also take part in individual and group supervision.
You must also complete a 600-hour clinical internship during which you focus on improving your counseling skills, mastering appropriate counseling techniques, and working directly with clients. As in the practicum, you will take part in weekly supervision.
You can apply by signing up for a myBarry online account. Note that you must have an undergraduate degree from a regionally-accredited college or university before applying. You must also submit the following with your application:
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities you’ve attended
- Two letters of recommendation
- A resume
- A statement of purpose and goals
Florida International University
Online Master of Science in Counseling Psychology – Professional Counseling Psychology
The MS in Professional Counseling Psychology at Florida International University is squarely focused on helping you become a well-informed counselor. This is a licensure-track program that explores the foundations of counseling psychology as well as how to address clinical problems in a wide range of client populations.
The 60-credit program takes about eight semesters to complete. During that time, you will take courses in the following subjects:
- Principles and Practices of Counseling and Psychotherapy
- Advanced Case Conceptualization
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Sexual Disorders
- Career Development in Adolescence and Adulthood
- Current Issues in Community Psychology
Since this program prepares you for licensure as a mental health counselor in Florida, you must complete a 1,000-hour supervised clinical training experience. This experience is divided into a 400-hour practicum and a 600-hour clinical internship. Both experiences must be completed at FIU-approved sites. The practicum is completed during the program’s first semester, while the internship is completed during the program’s second year.
A unique component of this program is the required case conceptualization. This project allows you to specialize in a specific area of counseling psychology through advanced studies and research. You will apply what you have learned in previous courses and your clinical experiences to create the case conceptualization, which must include the following:
- A research paper
- Presentation slides
- An oral presentation to a committee of two faculty members
You must have a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA in your last 60 credits of coursework to apply to this program. You must also submit the following with your application:
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended
- GRE scores
- Three letters of recommendation
- A resume or curriculum vitae
- Two academic writing samples
- A video statement of intent
- Proof of English language proficiency (if English is not your native language)
University of South Florida
Online Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling
You can specialize in a unique niche of counseling by enrolling in the MA in Rehabilitation Counseling at the University of Southern Florida. Rehabilitation counselors work specifically with people that have mental, physical, emotional, or other disabilities that make daily life a challenge.
To prepare you to work with these populations, you will complete 60 credits of online studies that explore topics like the following:
- Personal Adjustment
- Psychological Aspects of Disabilities
- Medical Aspects of Disabilities
- Social Psychology
- Vocational Psychology
In addition to core and required coursework, you must also pass a comprehensive exam and complete nine credits of practicum and internship experiences. These experiences help bridge the gap between your classroom learning and the application of what you have learned in the real world. You can select the site where you complete your practicum and internship, though it must be approved by your advisor first.
As a graduate of this program, you can become a rehabilitation counselor, researcher, or educator. You might also focus on advocacy for disabled persons. Whatever path you choose, your learning experiences in this program will help you be a competent practitioner for your clients.
To apply, you must hold an undergraduate degree, preferably in a field related to psychology, social work, health, or education. You must also submit the following to support your application:
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended showing that you’ve successfully completed a statistics course
- A resume or curriculum vitae
- Three letters of recommendation
- A one-page statement of your career goals and objectives
- GRE scores
- A background check
- A personal interview
What are the Counseling Work Opportunities in Florida?
As noted earlier, the size and diversity of Florida’s population is a distinct advantage for counselors. For example, if you get your degree in school counseling, there’s a good chance to find employment in one of Florida’s growing K-12 school districts. As a school counselor, you might help new students acclimate to the school, work with teachers to create a more accepting and supportive classroom, and provide parents with educational programs that build skills for talking to their children about difficult issues.
Florida’s ethnic diversity opens up opportunities to work with varying populations in a community mental health setting. For example, you might work in a mental health center that specializes in addressing the unique needs of immigrants. You might provide career counseling services, identify local resources for new immigrants to find housing, and provide individual, couples, or family counseling to address issues like anxiety that result from moving to a new country.
You might also consider a career in private practice. As a self-employed counselor in Florida, you might specialize in counseling older adults – an area of need, given the high population of retirees. Working in this niche might involve anything from rehabilitation counseling after an illness or injury to counseling for end-of-life issues to more traditional counseling services to address common mental health issues like anxiety or depression.
What Degree Do You Need to be a Counselor in Florida?
Becoming a licensed mental health counselor in Florida typically requires a master’s degree in counseling or a related field. Here’s an overview of the general steps to become a licensed counselor in Florida:
- Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
- Complete a Master’s Degree
- Obtain Post-Master’s Supervised Experience
- Pass Required Examinations
- Apply for Licensure
- Meet Continuing Education Requirements
The exact requirements can vary depending on the specific type of counseling you intend to practice (e.g., school counseling, rehabilitation counseling, addiction counseling).
Can You Practice Counseling Without a License in Florida?
In Florida, as in many states, you generally cannot practice counseling without a license or be identified as a “counselor” to the public without the appropriate credentials. Using titles such as “Licensed Mental Health Counselor”, “Licensed School Counselor” or “Marriage and Family Therapist” without proper licensure can lead to legal consequences.
Related Reading
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- Accredited Online Master’s in Counseling in Texas
- Online Accredited Master’s in Counseling in Washington State