Walden University · School of Counseling, College of Social and Behavioral Health

MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (General Program)

Awarded degree: Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Master'sMS CACREP Fully online coursework

Overview

Online 90-96-quarter-credit MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with two pre-practicum labs that include synchronous intensives (virtual or in person), a live group lab, and a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship at approved local sites.

Official program name: MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (General Program)
Awarded degree: Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Degree level: Master's
Counseling specialty: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Professional purpose: Clinical counselor preparationThe institution states the program prepares students for professional counselor licensure. Licensure itself also requires post-degree supervised experience, an examination and a state application.
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
School: Walden University — School of Counseling, College of Social and Behavioral Health
Source: academics.waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Location: Minneapolis, MNWhere the school is located. Coursework is online; this is not a residency requirement, does not decide whether you may enroll from your state, and is not where you complete practicum or internship.
Required credits: 90-96 quarter credits
Source: academics.waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Duration: as few as 33 months (General Program, minimum time to completion)A minimum under the stated conditions, not a typical length.
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Teaching language: English (not separately stated)

Optional specializations (Addiction Counseling recorded separately; also Forensic Counseling, Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling, Military Families and Culture, Play Therapy, Rehabilitation Counseling, Telehealth Counseling, Private Practice, and Supervision, Trauma and Crisis Counseling) add 10-15 credits.

Why this program is listed

Online master's degree in clinical mental health counseling.

Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026

We list counseling bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees whose official program is counselor preparation in a named specialty, and — separately labelled — counseling psychology. Generic psychology, education, social work and standalone MFT degrees are excluded. Eligibility rules

Format and campus attendance

How coursework is delivered and whether you must come to campus for it. Practicum and internship are a separate requirement, shown in the next section. “Fully online coursework” appears only when the school says no campus attendance is required.

Academic delivery: Fully online courseworkCoursework is delivered online. Practicum and internship are completed in person at approved sites, and some programs also require campus residencies.
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Campus attendance for coursework: No required campus attendance for coursework (stated)
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Class schedule: Mixed (live + self-paced)
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Study intensity: Part-time
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Campus requirements as published

Intensive Optional
Pre-practicum intensives may be attended in person or virtually (live)
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Practicum, internship and placements

Supervised fieldwork in a clinical, community or school setting, as the school publishes it. For online programs this happens in person, usually near where you live — whatever the coursework format.

Practicum: Required100 hours. 100-hour practicum
Source: academics.waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Internship: Required600 hours. 600-hour internship
Source: academics.waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Placement arrangements and supervision

Placement location: Field experience completed in person at approved sites in the student's community
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Placement assistance: Walden provides guidance and resources for securing placements
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026

How practicum and internship placements work

Curriculum

Other

Two required 6-week pre-practicum labs, each with a four-day synchronous intensive (virtual or in person)
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Group lab: nine weeks with 14 hours of live synchronous group sessions
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Up to 45 transfer credits
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Academic calendar

Multiple start dates per year; courses offered every quarter
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Admissions

Required, optional, waived and not-required items are shown exactly as the university states them. Anything not listed is not verified — not “not required”.

Prior degree: RequiredBachelor's degree in any area of study
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Application fee: Not requiredNo application fee
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Transcripts: RequiredCompleted online application and transcripts
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Other requirement: RequiredAge 21 or older, or under 21 with at least 12 quarter credits, or military/veteran
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Tests

GRE General Test: Not required
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026

We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate admission chances.

Start dates and deadlines

Dates are shown with the term the university printed. A past date is marked passed and is never carried into a new cycle.

Application deadlines: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

Tuition and fees

Each amount keeps its student category, academic year and basis. Per-credit, per-term and whole-program figures are not comparable with each other, and tuition is not the full cost of attendance.

Category	Amount	Basis and year
All students — Tuition per quarter hour	$550	per creditEstimated tuition$49,500 = 90 credits × $550 per credit. Excludes mandatory fees, books, travel for any required in-person sessions, transfer credit reductions and rate changes. Not the full cost of attendance.Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
All students — Total before scholarship, General Program (tuition, two pre-practicum labs, program fee)	$54,435 – $54,635	entire programIncludes feesSource: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Estimated total tuition: $49,500 (90 credits × $550 per credit)

Comparison basis: All students — Tuition per quarter hour, academic year not stated. Excludes mandatory fees, books, living costs and any rate changes during the program. How we calculate

Other published fees

Program fee: $185 per termMandatory
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Pre-practicum lab fee, two in program (virtual $1,450 / in-person $1,550 each): $1,450 per courseMandatory
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Funding

Funding policy and awards exactly as the school publishes them. Competitive scholarships and assistantships are not guaranteed funding; loans must be repaid and are not scholarships. Counseling tuition and scholarships

Funding classification: Funding not verified

We have not verified an official funding policy for this program. That does not mean funding is unavailable.

Believe & Achieve Scholarship ScholarshipCompetitive
-$7,700 (shown in tuition estimate)
Eligibility: Progress-based; for those who apply and qualify
Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Accreditation and enrollment restrictions

Institutional accreditation covers the whole school; programmatic accreditation (CACREP) covers only the specialty and degree it lists. Enrollment restrictions for online students are a separate question.

Institutional accreditation

Higher Learning Commission (HLC) — accreditedSource: ope.ed.gov · verified October 12, 2026

Programmatic accreditation

Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)Status: Accredited · Specialty: Clinical Mental Health Counseling · Degree: M.S.Accredited since July 5, 2015 · current cycle ends October 31, 2033 · listed by the accreditor as onlineSource: cacrep.org · verified October 11, 2026

Published enrollment restrictions (state authorization)

Relocating to another state may affect enrollment and licensure Official pageSource: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
State-by-state authorization disclosures; relocation may affect enrollment and licensure Official pageSource: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026

International applicants

Not verified for this program.

Licensure and professional disclosures

What the school publishes about professional licensure or certification. Meeting a state's educational requirements is only one part of licensure: examinations, post-degree supervised experience, background checks and a board application follow. This directory does not decide whether you qualify.

LicensureDesigned to prepare graduates to sit for licensing exams and meet academic licensure requirements of many state counseling boards; no program can guarantee licensure Official disclosureSource: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
LicensureProfessional licensure disclosure chart by state Official disclosureSource: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026

State-by-state disclosure as published

States not shown were not printed on the disclosure we checked and are not verified.

State	Educational requirements	Source
Alabama	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Alaska	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
American Samoa	School has not determinedProgram Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Undetermined (Unknown)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Arizona	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Arkansas	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
California	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Clinical Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Colorado	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Connecticut	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Delaware	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Florida	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Mental Health Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Georgia	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Guam	Meets (as stated by the school)Multiple credentials listed: Professional Counselor License; Mental Health Counselor License (status per credential printed on page)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Hawaii	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Mental Health Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Idaho	Meets (as stated by the school)Multiple credentials listed: Professional Counselor License; Clinical Professional Counselor License (status per credential printed on page)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Illinois	Meets (as stated by the school)Multiple credentials listed: Professional Counselor License; Clinical Professional Counselor License (status per credential printed on page)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Indiana	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Mental Health Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Iowa	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Mental Health Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Kansas	Meets (as stated by the school)Multiple credentials listed: Professional Counselor License; Clinical Professional Counselor License (status per credential printed on page)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Kentucky	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Clinical Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Louisiana	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Maine	Meets (as stated by the school)Multiple credentials listed: Professional Counselor License; Clinical Professional Counselor License (status per credential printed on page)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Maryland	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Massachusetts	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Mental Health Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Michigan	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Minnesota	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Mississippi	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Missouri	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Montana	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Clinical Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Nebraska	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Mental Health Practitioner License, Professional Counselor Certification)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Nevada	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Clinical Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
New Hampshire	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Clinical Mental Health Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
New Jersey	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
New Mexico	Meets (as stated by the school)Multiple credentials listed: Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) License; Professional Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LPCC) License (status per credential printed on page)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
New York	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Mental Health Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
North Carolina	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
North Dakota	Meets (as stated by the school)Multiple credentials listed: Professional Counselor License; Professional Clinical Counselor License (status per credential printed on page)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Northern Mariana Islands	School has not determinedProgram Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Undetermined (Unknown)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Ohio	Meets (as stated by the school)Multiple credentials listed: Professional Counselor License; Professional Clinical Counselor License (status per credential printed on page)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Oklahoma	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Oregon	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Pennsylvania	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Puerto Rico	School has not determinedProgram Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Undetermined (Unknown)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Rhode Island	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Clinical Mental Health Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
South Dakota	Meets (as stated by the school)Multiple credentials listed: Professional Counselor License; Professional Counselor - Mental Health License (status per credential printed on page)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Tennessee	Meets (as stated by the school)Multiple credentials listed: Professional Counselor License; Professional Counselor License with Mental Health Services Provider designation (status per credential printed on page)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Texas	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
U.S. Virgin Islands	School has not determinedProgram Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Undetermined (Unknown)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Utah	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Clinical Mental Health Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Vermont	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Clinical Mental Health Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Virginia	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Washington	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Mental Health Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Washington, DC	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
West Virginia	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Wisconsin	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Wyoming	Meets (as stated by the school)Program Meets Minimum Educational Pre-Requisites: Yes (Professional Counselor License)	Source: waldenu.edu · verified October 12, 2026

CACREP accreditation does not guarantee licensure in every state, and school counselor certification is not the same as clinical counselor licensure. LPC, LMHC and other state titles · School counselor credentials

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages below. Last verified October 12, 2026.

academics.waldenu.edu/catalog/social-behavioral-health/master-science/clinical-mental-health-counsel — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 12, 2026
academics.waldenu.edu/catalog/social-behavioral-health/master-science/marriage-couple-family-counsel — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 12, 2026
DAPIP — HLC institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-12) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 12, 2026
CACREP Directory of accredited programs (CSV export downloaded 2026-10-11) — Accreditor directory, verified October 11, 2026
waldenu.edu/about/accreditation/state-authorization-and-program-licensure — Official disclosure page, verified October 12, 2026
waldenu.edu/online-masters-programs/ms-in-clinical-mental-health-counseling — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
waldenu.edu/online-masters-programs/ms-in-clinical-mental-health-counseling/ms-in-clinical-mental-he — Official disclosure page, verified October 12, 2026
waldenu.edu/professional-licensure-disclosure — Official disclosure page, verified October 12, 2026

Something out of date? Request a correction · Represent this school? Claim the profile

Key facts

Degree
MS · Master'sClinical counselor preparation
Specialty
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
CACREP
Accredited (matched in the CACREP directory)
Delivery
Fully online coursework · Mixed (live + self-paced)
Campus attendance
No campus visits (stated)
Practical training
Fully online coursework; local practicum and internship required100 practicum + 600 internship hours
Study intensity
Part-time
Length
as few as 33 months (General Program, minimum time to completion) · 90-96 quarter credits
Tuition
$550 per creditAll students — Tuition per quarter hour
Next deadline
No upcoming verified date
Location
Minneapolis, MN

The school publishes enrollment restrictions for online students. Check your state before applying. Details

Official program page

Also at Walden University

Similar programs at other schools

Same degree level, specialty and format family, programs in Minnesota first. Listed for discovery, not ranked.

Capella University

MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Addiction Treatment and Recovery

Awarded degree: Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Clinical Mental Health Counseling · Addiction Counseling

Master'sMS CACREP

Minneapolis, MNSchool location, not where online students live or train

Online courseworkCampus residencies required · Study intensity not published

Online coursework with campus residencies; practicum and internship required in person100 practicum + 600 internship hours (as published)Placement support stated

39 months with no additional credits; 57 months with additional credits (tuition estimate) (no transfer credits; additional credits where a state requires more coursework) · 90 credits

$525 per credit · All students — GuidedPath tuition · year not statedEst. total tuition $47,250 (90 credits × $525 per credit; fees excluded)

No upcoming verified deadline

View Program

Capella University

MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Child and Adolescent Counseling

Awarded degree: Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Master'sMS CACREP

Minneapolis, MNSchool location, not where online students live or train

Online courseworkCampus residencies required · Study intensity not published

Online coursework with campus residencies; practicum and internship required in person100 practicum + 600 internship hours (as published)Placement support stated

39 months with no additional credits; 57 months with additional credits (tuition estimate) (no transfer credits; additional credits where a state requires more coursework) · 90 credits

$525 per credit · All students — GuidedPath tuition · year not statedEst. total tuition $47,250 (90 credits × $525 per credit; fees excluded)

No upcoming verified deadline

View Program

Capella University

MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – General Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Awarded degree: Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Master'sMS CACREP

Minneapolis, MNSchool location, not where online students live or train

Online courseworkCampus residencies required · Study intensity not published

Online coursework with campus residencies; practicum and internship required in person100 practicum + 600 internship hours (as published)Placement support stated

39 months with no additional credits; 57 months with additional credits (tuition estimate) (no transfer credits; additional credits where a state requires more coursework) · 90 credits

$525 per credit · All students — GuidedPath tuition · year not statedEst. total tuition $47,250 (90 credits × $525 per credit; fees excluded)

No upcoming verified deadline

View Program

CounselingSchools.net is independent and not affiliated with Walden University. Information is collected from official pages and can change; confirm requirements, costs, deadlines and licensure eligibility with the school and your state board.