Prepare to Serve Others With Our CACREP-accredited Online Counseling Programs

Known as a “Public Ivy” for its decades-long history of academic excellence, William & Mary offers online graduate programs from the School of Education that emphasize social justice and cultural responsiveness. Students in online, CACREP-accredited counseling programs will become leaders in creating positive transformation one client, one student or one school at a time.

When you enroll in the online programs at William & Mary School of Education, you receive attentive mentoring from our esteemed faculty, who will guide you through the innovative curriculum emphasizing your personal and professional growth. The well-rounded programs are designed to align theory and practice, preparing you for necessary licensing examinations and real-world application of core competencies and social justice principles.

100% Pass Rate
Fall ‘23 NCE and NCMHCE1

Develop Counseling Competencies In A Collaborative, Interactive Environment

Our CACREP-accredited online counseling programs prepare students to work in diverse counseling settings through integrated teaching methods and experiential learning opportunities, including supervised practicum courses and internships.

Develop equitable instructional materials with our Curriculum and Instruction Master’s.
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Choose from these paths of study in William & Mary’s Online Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Counseling:

Find more information about the Online M.Ed. in Counseling below.

CACREP Accreditation Recognizes Our Program’s Value

William & Mary’s Online M.Ed. is a CACREP-accredited counseling program

Our Online M.Ed. in Counseling is one of only 75 online counseling degree programs accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, or CACREP.

This accreditation means that students may apply for federal student loans and that the program meets accepted professional education standards, preparing you for initial licensure.

CACREP’s mission is to promote excellence in the professional preparation of counselors and accreditation assures students that the program is stable, professionally and financially, and includes appropriate knowledge and skill areas.2

Learn More About Accreditation

Counseling Program Summary

  • 60 credit hours
  • 7.5-week “minimesters”
  • 3 program starts per year
  • Complete in as few as three years
  • Online courses
  • Two 3-day on-campus residencies
  • Supervised practicum and internship

Fill a Fast-Growing Need When You Become a Counselor

William & Mary’s CACREP-accredited online counseling programs prepare you to serve the rapidly growing demand in this dynamic and meaningful career field.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects an addition of 8.3 million jobs from 2021 to 2031. The healthcare and social assistance sector is projected to create 2.6 million jobs—the most in any sector—during that decade.3

Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselor jobs will grow 22%—much faster than the national average—by 2031. Rehabilitation counselors will see 11% growth in job opportunities for the decade, and school and career counselors and advisors' job opportunities will see 10% growth.4,5,6

The counseling field offers geographic flexibility in addition to the projected growth in the number of jobs. Become a counselor and you can find work just about anywhere.

Is a Counseling Career Right for You?

The path to becoming a counselor is not an easy one, given all the educational and practice requirements for initial licensing. Counselors usually don’t get rich doing the work, but they can earn a good living. What would make counseling a good career choice for you?

Most counselors are more interested in people than money, and they find personal satisfaction in helping others overcome adversity and thrive.

Some people go into the field because they want to help overcome systemic challenges like poverty and oppression. Some people become counselors because they enjoy connecting with others; some like to help young people succeed. Others become counselors because they want to repay the service of armed forces veterans or pay forward the help they received when they were struggling.

If you are motivated by any of these reasons, the master’s in counseling can be very worthwhile. Learn more about the clients and work settings for different counseling degrees.

William & Mary is Renowned for Excellence

#5
Best Schools for Making an Impact7
Top 10%
Best Online Student Counseling Degree8
#13
Best Value Colleges (Public Schools)9
#17
Best Alumni Networks (Public Schools)10
#27
Best Online Master’s in Education for Veterans11

Explore Our Online Counseling Degrees

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School Counseling
Our Online M.Ed in Counseling with a concentration in School Counseling prepares graduates to be effective, collaborative and community-minded leaders ready to assume positions as counselors in elementary, middle and high schools. The comprehensive and well-balanced program emphasizes social justice and teaches you to understand the cognitive and physical growth of children, recognize their developmental needs, and deliver targeted support.
Learn More
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Clinical Mental Health Counseling
William & Mary's Online M.Ed. in Counseling with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling teaches how to address clients’ physical wellness and psychopathology needs of diverse client populations. Our program is expressly designed to fulfill all classroom and clinical instruction requirements for licensure and to prepare you for a satisfying career.
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Military and Veterans Counseling
Master the core competencies of clinical mental health counseling for working with diverse client populations and learn to fill the urgent need for counselors to help armed services personnel and their families. The Military and Veterans Counseling specialization within the Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration prepares you to effectively engage with and serve the individuals and families who have been adversely affected by military service.
Learn More

Why Earn Your Master’s in Counseling Online From William & Mary?

  • You will graduate prepared with the knowledge, compassion and objectivity you need to become an effective licensed counselor
  • The curriculum is rooted in innovation and directed by highly engaged and experienced faculty leaders
  • Our engaging online experience emphasizes social justice and cultural responsiveness as part of your professional development
  • You can join the tight-knit community of bold and principled alumni from a renowned “Public Ivy” institution
  • You can tailor the program to your professional and personal goals

Learn More About William & Mary’s CACREP-Accredited Online Counseling Programs

WM Counseling Faculty 2022

Renowned Faculty, Focused on You

The renowned faculty who will partner with and mentor you during your W&M graduate journey are active scholars. Inside the virtual classroom, they are committed to your success and to building your confidence as a licensed counselor.
Meet Our Leaders
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Review Our Admissions FAQs

Graduate school can be a life-changing decision, and pursuing the opportunity online comes with a unique set of questions and concerns. Find answers to some of the most common questions related to the W&M online application process and admissions procedures.
Learn More
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Begin Your Application

At William & Mary, we are proud to offer support throughout your grad school journey, from application to graduation. If you have questions about the Online M.Ed. in Counseling, contact an Admissions Outreach Advisor today at 866-870-6966. The next deadline is fast approaching!
Apply Now

Keep Up With the Latest Information

Current News and Featured Articles

The Importance of Ethics in Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide
26 Sep
Man in a contemplative state during a counseling session, while the therapist engages in conversation
Thoughtful and impactful counselors understand that it is critically important to develop a bond of trust and respect with their clients. It is this bond that frees clients to feel as though they can be open and vulnerable without fearing judgment or a betrayal of confidence.
Continue Reading

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Sources
  1. 100% of William & Mary’s Online M.Ed. in Counseling graduates who took the National Counselor Examination and/or the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination in Fall 2023 passed.
  2. Retrieved on May 9, 2023, from cacrep.org/about-cacrep
  3. Retrieved on May 9, 2023, from bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ecopro.pdf
  4. Retrieved on May 9, 2023, from bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder-and-mental-health-counselors.htm#tab-1
  5. Retrieved on May 9, 2023, from bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/rehabilitation-counselors.htm#tab-1
  6. Retrieved on May 9, 2023, from bls.gov/OOH/community-and-social-service/school-and-career-counselors.htm
  7. Retrieved on May 9, 2023, from princetonreview.com/college-rankings?rankings=top-20-best-schools-for-making-an-impact-public-schools
  8. Retrieved on May 9, 2023, from collegefactual.com/colleges/college-of-william-and-mary/academic-life/academic-majors/education/student-counseling
  9. Retrieved on May 9, 2023, from princetonreview.com/college-rankings?rankings=top-50-best-value-colleges-public-schools
  10. Retrieved on May 9, 2023, from princetonreview.com/college-rankings?rankings=top-20-best-alumni-networks-public-schools
  11. Retrieved on May 9, 2023, from usnews.com/education/online-education/college-of-william-and-mary-OEDU0155/education