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Online and On-Campus Counseling Degrees and Programs in Nevada

There are three schools in Nevada with programs in the five major counseling fields: 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 programs to choose from. Online counseling degrees are delivered entirely through web-based platforms, while hybrid degrees blend online and in-person classes. Two schools in Nevada 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 Nevada Counseling Schools and Programs

The table below summarizes public and not-for-profit colleges and universities in Nevada 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 Nevada counseling licenses Clinical Professional Counselor (CPC), Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), School Counselor (SC), and Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC). Rehabilitation counselors are typically licensed as CPCs. 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
Great Basin College—Online————Yes$7,824
University of Nevada-Las VegasCACREP, COAMFTEOnlineYesYes—YesYes$13,030
University of Nevada-RenoCACREP—YesYes—YesYes$16,398

Nevada 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 Nevada With Counseling Degrees

Traditional Undergraduate Programs

University of Nevada-Las Vegas

The University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV) offers several undergraduate and graduate counseling programs. At the undergraduate level, students can choose from a 21-credit minor in Addictions Treatment or an 18-credit minor in Addictions Prevention. Coursework in these minors can be applied toward the state educational requirements to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). Students can also take addiction counseling courses as part of the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Human Services. An 18-credit minor in Family Studies is also available, which allows graduates to pursue further work in family studies, couple and family therapy, or other professions in mental health. At the graduate level, UNLV offers a 60-credit Master of Science (MS) and an Advanced Graduate Certificate (AGC) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling that meet state academic requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential; a 60-credit MS in Couple and Family Therapy that meets state educational requirements to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT); a 60-credit Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling that enables graduates to work in K-12 settings as a school counselor in Nevada; and an AGC in Addiction Studies that can be taken concurrently with a master’s degree or post-master’s degree.

Traditional Graduate Programs

University of Nevada-Reno

At the University of Nevada-Reno (UNR), prospective counseling students can complete a CACREP-accredited Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling with one of three areas of specialization: Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Marriage and Family Counseling; or School Counseling. The MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling requires students to complete 65 credits and graduates of this specialization will meet state educational requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license. The MA in Marital, Family, and Couples Counseling is a 67-credit degree that fulfills the state coursework requirements to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). Students in the MA in School Counseling must complete 55 credits and will meet state requirements to become school counselors. Each MA specialization takes three years of full-time study to complete, including summers. As the degree has a set curriculum, part-time study is not permitted without permission from the department chair. Through its Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT), UNR also offers an 18-credit minor or Undergraduate Certificate in Addiction Treatment; an 18-credit Advanced Certificate in Addiction Treatment Services; a 12-credit Peer Support Specialist certificate; an undergraduate practicum for Addiction Treatment and Prevention; and a Master of Science (MS) in Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) with a specialization in Addiction Treatment Services leading to Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) licensure in Nevada, as well as an undergraduate minor/certificate in Addiction Treatment leading to Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) certification in the state.

Online and Hybrid Programs

Great Basin College

At Great Basin College (GBC), prospective substance abuse counselors can complete a Certificate of Achievement (CA) for Substance Abuse Counselor Training. The CA requires a minimum of 30.5 credits and most of the required courses are available online, although at least 15 credit hours must be completed at GBC. This undergraduate-level certificate introduces students to the substance abuse counseling profession and prepares them for entry-level roles in addiction counseling, prevention, and intervention. Courses completed through the certificate program may be applied toward the educational requirements to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) in Nevada. Students may also apply coursework completed in the certificate program towards the degree requirements for the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Human Services offered through GBC.

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