How long does it take to become a mental therapist

If you intend to become a therapist or a counselor, you have probably wondered, “How long does it take to become a therapist or a counselor?” In short, the answer to this question varies. Depending on how you have progressed in the process of becoming a counselor, you may require a different amount of additional time to achieve your career goals.

To become a licensed counselor, you must hold at least a master’s degree in counseling. Therefore, the length of time it takes to become a counselor depends on your current level of education and experience. If you have already completed an undergraduate degree or undergraduate coursework, it may take you less time to become a counselor. Importantly, the requirements for licensure vary from state to state; therefore, the location in which you intend to practice may also affect how long it takes you to become a counselor.

If you want to better understand the process of becoming a counselor or therapist and learn how long it could take for you to become one, continue reading about the various steps you will need to complete.

What is a Therapist/Counselor?

Therapists and counselors are mental health professionals who help people overcome a variety of struggles and improve their overall mental health. These professionals specialize in various areas, including childhood and adolescent disorders, family dynamics, infancy and early childhood studies, substance use disorders, chemical dependency, addiction and trauma.

Earn a Counseling Degree

Depending on the state where you intend to work, you will most likely need to earn a master’s degree before becoming a counselor and earning a counseling license.

When choosing the best master’s in counseling program for you, it is important to consult the appropriate body in the location where you plan to work. Taking this step helps to ensure that the courses in your program of interest meet the requirements for licensure or certification in the area where you plan to practice as a licensed counselor.

Some graduate counseling degree options include the following:

• Master of Science (MS) in Addiction Counseling
• MS in Christian Counseling of Substance Use and Addictive Disorders
• MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an Emphasis on Childhood and Adolescent Disorders
• MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an Emphasis on Christian Counseling
• MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an Emphasis on Marriage and Family Therapy
• MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an Emphasis on Trauma

Some professionals choose to continue their education and earn a counseling doctoral degree.

Obtaining a Counselor/Therapist License

To become a counselor or therapist, you will need to obtain the appropriate licensure. After you earn your graduate degree, the general process to obtain your license typically includes the following steps, although the process can vary from state to state:

• Acquire Experience: Each state requires counseling candidates to complete a minimum number of hours under the supervision of a counseling professional. Because the required number of hours and the rate at which you complete them can vary, this requirement is among the factors that make the question “How long does it take to become a counselor?” dynamic.
• Complete a Background Check: Individuals who intend to become counselors may have to submit to a background check and complete other paperwork with personal information.
• Pass an Examination: Counselors may be required to take various exams depending on state regulations. For example, to become a counselor in Arizona, you are required to take the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), the National Counselor Examination (NCE), or the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Examination.

After you have completed these steps, you can chose to pursue additional specialties and certifications. It is also important to note that depending on your state, you may be required to complete a certain number of continuing education hours even after you have obtained your counseling license.

If you are interested in pursuing a degree as a counselor, explore Grand Canyon University’s psychology and counseling degree programs. Each program is designed to help you become an effective mental health professional. To learn more about GCU, our online degrees or the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, click on the Request Info button at the top of your screen.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.

When considering a career in psychology, you will likely wonder how much time it will take to become licensed and what type of degrees you'll need to attain. The answer is not always so cut-and-dry. The amount of time it takes to complete your college education depends largely on your specialty area and career interests.

In most cases, becoming a licensed psychologist can take as little as eight years or as long as 12 years.

If you are considering a career in psychology, it is important to be aware of all of the educational and training requirements it takes to become a licensed psychologist. Take the time to research all of your options and carefully examine your goals before you decide if this is the right career for you.

Educational Requirements

At a minimum, you will want to earn your undergraduate degree in psychology or in a related field such as sociology, education, anthropology, or social work. Then, you will want to decide if you want to earn a doctorate-level degree.

The reason you should make a decision at this point is due to the fact that many programs do not offer a terminal master's degree in psychology. In such cases, you will enroll in a graduate program after earning your bachelor's degree and then spend four to seven years working on your doctorate.

To become a clinical psychologist, you will need an undergraduate degree (four to five years of college) plus a doctorate degree (four to seven years of graduate school). For this specialty area, most people will spend between eight to 12 years in higher education.

Of course, there are other career options in psychology that do not require as many years of college. For example, you could become a licensed marriage and family therapist with a master's degree, which would require two to three years of graduate study.

If you decide not to pursue a doctorate at this point, you should start looking at different master's degree programs in psychology or in related fields such as counseling or social work.

Bachelor’s Degree

You might want to begin by earning your undergraduate degree in psychology, but some people choose to pursue a degree in a related social science field. While it depends upon the requirements of the individual graduate school you attend, some programs also accept students who have undergraduate degrees in a subject unrelated to psychology or social science.

If you have a degree in a different field and want to become a psychologist, you may need to complete a number of prerequisites before you would be accepted into a graduate program.

Master’s Degree

A master’s degree can be a great way to delve deeper into a specific field of interest. However, a master’s degree is not always necessary. If you are interested in what is known as a terminal master’s degree in a field such as counseling, social work, or school psychology, you can often enter the workforce immediately after earning your degree.

In other cases, you might use your master’s degree as a stepping stone toward a doctorate, or you might choose to forgo a master’s program and go directly into a Ph.D. or Psy.D. program immediately after earning your bachelor’s degree. The path you take depends largely on your career goals as well as the graduate offerings at the school you choose to attend.

Doctorate Degree

The length of your doctoral program depends on many factors, including the specialty area you are pursuing as well as whether or not you already earned a master’s degree. In order to become a licensed psychologist, you will need to earn either a Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) or a Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology).

As with your master's degree, the doctorate degree you pursue really depends on your career goals. If you are interested in a career in research, a Ph.D. might be the best choice. Ph.D. programs place greater emphasis on research, experimental methods, and training graduates to work as scientists.

If you are more interested in starting a private therapy practice, consider a Psy.D. The Psy.D. option tends to be more centered on professional practice and clinical work, preparing graduates to enter careers in mental health.

The American Psychological Association recommends that you enroll in an accredited program. Accreditation provides public notification that an institution or program meets certain standards of quality.

In addition to your doctorate, you will be required to complete a year-long postdoctoral training period before you can be fully licensed to practice in your state.

Degree Requirements

Becoming a licensed psychologist working in the field of mental health is certainly not the only career option if you are interested in working in the field of psychology. Licensing requirements for psychologists vary by state and specialty. Careers in forensic or sports psychology, for example, have differing requirements.

Please note that these represent the minimum educational requirements in these fields. Job opportunities and pay are generally greater with advanced training. Learn about different degree options and requirements for various careers in psychology.

• Social worker: Bachelor's degree (four to five years of undergraduate school)
• Licensed counselor: Master's degree (two to three years of graduate school)
• Sports psychologist: Master's degree (two to three years of graduate school)
• Industrial-organizational psychologist: Master's degree (two to three years of graduate school)
• School psychologist: Varies by state (generally two to three years of graduate school)
• Forensic psychologist: Master's degree (two to three years of graduate school, ideally with a doctorate degree)
• Criminal psychologist: Master's degree (two to three years of graduate school, ideally with a doctoral degree)
• Clinical psychologist: Doctorate degree (four to seven years of graduate school)
• Health psychologist: Doctorate degree (four to seven years of graduate school)
• Social psychologist: Doctoral degree (five to seven years of graduate school)
• Child psychologist: Doctoral degree (five to seven years of graduate school)

A Word From Verywell

Becoming a psychologist requires a substantial commitment of time, but this can be a rewarding and challenging career. Before you decide if becoming a psychologist is the right choice for you, consider your goals and resources as well as some of the potential alternatives. There are many different types of mental health professionals.

You might find that being a psychologist is the perfect choice for you, or you may find that an alternative career path is better suited to your needs. For example, you might also consider becoming a psychiatrist, counselor, physical therapist, or some other career centered on helping people. There are also a number of types of psychologists and each field has its own educational and training requirements.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Additional Reading

• Dinos, S, & Tsakopoulou, M. Becoming a Psychologist: Is Psychology the Right Career for You? BPP Learning Media; 2012.

• Kuther, TL. The Psychology Major's Handbook. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning; 2016.

• U.S. Department of Labor. O*NET Online.

By Kendra Cherry
Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author and educational consultant focused on helping students learn about psychology.

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