Should I enroll in the 36-hour degree (Master of Arts in Global Mental Health Counseling) or the 62-hour degree (Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling) offered at TMU?
Answer:
To address this question, it all depends on your career goal. The following chart will assist you in making this choice.
| Expectation | 36-hour degree | 62-hour degree |
| Can I open my own counseling practice and charge clients for therapy? | YES | YES * |
| Can I file insurance claims on behalf of my clients? | NO | YES |
| Can I conduct therapy at any non-profit organization? | YES | YES |
| Can I be licensed as a LPC therapist with my degree? | NO | YES |
| Can I teach counseling/psychology at the college level once I have completed my degree? | YES ** | YES ** |
| Can I be credentialed as a therapist by entities apart from my state? | YES | YES |
| Can I be eligible to practice counseling in most counseling settings with my degree? | NO *** | YES |
| Can I practice counseling for pay without taking any national or state board exams? | YES | YES **** |
* The answer is “yes” if all supervisory hours are completed, and you have passed the NCE exam.
** To teach at the college level, it is required to have an accredited master’s degree; 18 hours of that degree must be in classes taken in the psychology/counseling field.
*** Most counseling clinics will require their therapists to have a LPC license. The reason being is that most of these clinics accept insurance and insurance companies require that the therapist must have the LPC license to be reimbursed. However, clinics that don’t file for insurance may be open to hire a 36-hour candidate if their specific skill set or experience is needed.
**** If you have not completed the licensure requirements for your LPC credential (passing the NCE exam, plus your supervised hours) you cannot bill a client for your services. Only a host clinic can do that on your behalf.