Psychotherapist Graduate Training Options
You want to be a therapist? Graduate training options:
Many undergraduate students wish to pursue a career as a psychotherapist but are unaware of graduate training options that prepare individuals to work in this field. Many undergraduates think that they must get a doctoral degree in clinical psychology in order to work as a therapist. This is simply not the case. This page outlines the types of graduate programs that train individuals for a career in counseling and psychotherapy.
The graduate training options listed here are not exhaustive in terms of the types of programs that focus on training counselors and therapists, but it does provide a number of alternatives to the clinical psychology Ph.D. The descriptions of each type of program are purposely general, as different schools that offer the same graduate degree may structure their programs very differently. Graduate degree programs are listed below, but the schools listed are not meant as recommendations or endorsements of specific graduate schools by the Psychology Department at BGSU.
This is meant to provide students with some information to get them started with their research about graduate training options in counseling and psychotherapy. It is essential that students research the specific details of any graduate training option and specific graduate schools in which they’re interested.
References to “licensure” and “licenses” are made frequently throughout this list. It is important to note that licensure is determined on a state-by-state basis, and different states have different types of licenses and licensing requirements. Definitions of licenses can usually be found on state government websites. When considering a graduate program, it is important to know if the program prepares students for a specific type of license and in which parts of the United States. A total of 11 graduate training options are listed below, along with basic information on the type of graduate degree program and examples of schools in the Midwest that have this type of training. Explore the schools' websites for further information on each type of training option.
- Most programs take approximately 2 years to complete (full-time); part-time programs take longer
- Many programs offer specializations (e.g., Infant Mental Health, Interpersonal Practice) to prepare you to be licensed as a social worker who is able to conduct therapy
- Most programs admit over 200 people each year
- All 50 states license MSWs, and some states allow MSWs to practice independently (without supervision)
Examples:
- Bowling Green State University
- University of Michigan
- Wayne State University (Michigan)
- Ohio State University
Relevant websites:
- National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
- Accrediting Body: Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Most programs take approximately 2 years (full-time) to complete
- Most programs prepare students for licensure as a marriage and family therapist
Examples:
- University of Akron
- Northern Illinois University
- Family Institute at Northwestern University (Illinois)
Relevant websites:
- Accrediting Body: American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy
- Many programs to prepare students for licensure as a professional counselor
- Most programs take approximately 2 years (full-time) to complete
Examples:
- Bowling Green State University
- Wayne State University
- Michigan State University
- University of Toledo (Counselor Education with the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration)
Relevant websites:
- Accrediting Body: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Most programs prepare students for certificates or licenses in school psychology
- Some, but not all, programs prepare students to obtain professional counselor licenses or limited licenses to practice therapy
Examples:
- Wayne State University (School and Community Counseling)
- John Carroll University
Relevant website:
- Programs prepare students to work with people with disabilities and facilitate the process of rehabilitation
- Students who graduate from CORE-accredited programs are eligible to become certified rehabilitation counselors (CRC)
- Most programs do not prepare students for licensure as a counselor unless additional coursework is completed
- Some programs prepare students to obtain a limited license in counseling
Examples:
Relevant websites:
- Accrediting Body: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Some states allow people with a masters in clinical psychology to obtain a limited license to practice therapy
- Some states do not provide any licensure for people with a masters in clinical psychology, but allow masters of clinical psychology to be psychological assistants
- Some programs prepare students for doctoral-level studies
Examples:
- Cleveland State University
- Eastern Michigan University (MS in Clinical Behavioral Psychology or MS in Clinical Psychology)
- APA-accredited programs have approximately a 10% acceptance rate (Norcross, Kouhout, & Wicherski, 2006)
- Many programs provide assistantships and tuition remission
- Most programs take a minimum of 5 years to complete
- Some programs are more research-oriented than others
- Students are prepared for licensure as a psychologist
Examples:
- Bowling Green State University
- Wayne State University (Michigan)
- Central Michigan University
- Miami University (Ohio)
Relevant websites:
- Accrediting Body: American Psychological Association
- APA-accredited programs have approximately a 40% acceptance rate (Norcross, Kouhout, & Wicherski, 2006)
- Most programs take a minimum of 5 years to complete
- Programs are less research-oriented than Ph.D. programs in clinical psychology
- The focus of these programs is on clinical training
- Students are prepared for licensure as a psychologist
- On average, students who graduate from Psy.D. programs do not score as high as students who graduate from clinical Ph.D. programs on the national licensing exam for psychologists (EPPP)—this could be due to the less selective admissions criteria or to a larger student to faculty ratio (Norcross & Castle, 2002)
Examples:
- Adler School of Professional Psychology (Chicago)
- Wright State University (Ohio)
- Xavier University (Ohio)
Relevant websites:
- National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology (NCSPPP)
- Accrediting Body: American Psychological Association
- Students must complete 4 years of medical school and a 4-year residency
- Approximately 50% of applicants are accepted to medical school (aamc.org)
- Students begin seeing therapy patients in their residency years
Relevant websites:
- Similar to programs in clinical psychology
- Programs have a median acceptance rate of 21.5% (Norcross, Kouhout, & Wicherski, 2006)
- Most programs take a minimum of 5 years to complete
- Counseling psychologists tend to work with less pathological populations than clinical psychologists (Norcross, 2000)
- Most programs prepare students for licensure as psychologists
Examples:
- Notre Dame (Indiana)
- University of Kentucky
Relevant websites:
- Accrediting Body: American Psychological Association
- Some programs prepare students to meet requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist and/or a professional counselor
- Some programs are more research-oriented than others
Examples:
Relevant websites:
- Accrediting Body: American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy
Updated: 02/14/2025 03:06PM