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Online and On-Campus Counseling Degrees and Programs in Wyoming

There are three schools in Wyoming with programs in the five major counseling areas: mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, and substance abuse counseling.1 In addition to traditional programs completed in person, there are online and hybrid options to choose from. Online counseling degrees are delivered through web-based learning, while hybrid degrees blend online and in-person courses. Two schools in Wyoming offer hybrid and online counseling degrees that make counseling education more accessible to those who can’t attend traditional programs.

Table of Contents

Comparison of Wyoming Counseling Schools and Programs

The table below summarizes public and not-for-profit colleges and universities in Wyoming with traditional and online counseling programs. Where applicable, we note schools with one or more programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), and the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC).

The five major counseling degree concentrations are abbreviated as MH for mental health counseling degrees, MF for marriage and family therapy degrees, VR for vocational rehabilitation counseling degrees, SC for school counseling degrees, and SA for substance abuse counseling degrees. These correspond to the Wyoming counseling licenses Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), School Counselor (SC), and Licensed Addictions Therapist (LAT). Rehabilitation counselors are typically licensed as LPCs. Note that some programs offer degree tracks that can lead to credentialing in more than one specialty. Bold text indicates a program with online or hybrid options.

School NameAccreditation2-4Online/Hybrid Programs?MHMFVRSCSANet Price1
Casper College—Online————Yes$8,099
Northern Wyoming Community College District—Online————Yes$8,562
University of WyomingCACREP—Yes——Yes—$10,452

Wyoming Schools With Online Counseling Programs

Programs on the following lists may be online or hybrid. Check with schools for any in-person degree requirements.

Online Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees

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 Practitioner 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 degrees offered on the Laramie campus are accredited by CACREP. During the program, students complete supervised work experience at the University’s WellSpring Counseling Clinic, which provides free counseling support to the 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 Practitioner 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 Practitioner 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. 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
4. Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council Accredited Programs: https://mpcacaccreditation.org/accredited-programs/
5. US News & World Report Best Student Counseling Programs 2022: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/student-counseling-rankings
6. 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