Contact the Department of Educational Psychology
Meet the Counseling Program faculty at the Information Open House Click for Dates and Details
Interview Days-CMHC Flagstaff, Phoenix, & TucsonClick for Dates and Details
Student Handbook & Access to Personal Counseling
CACREP Student Handbook Access to Personal CounselingNAU CACREP Annual Reports
- 2021 - 2022 Program Evaluation Report
- 2020 - 2021 Annual Report to CACREP
- 2020 - 2021 Program Evaluation Report
- 2019 - 2020 Annual Report to CACREP
- 2019 - 2020 Program Evaluation Plan
Join our graduate program
Practicum and Internship Manuals and Forms for Masters Candidates
Practicum and Internship Manuals and Forms for Masters CandidatesFinancial Info
Future students
Visit the College of Education's future students page to get helpful links for both undergraduate and graduate students.Want to see how the program helped students find success in their goals and aspirations? Here's a small taste!
After finding new home at NAU, cohort of mental health counseling students graduates
Programs of study
For a complete listing of all programs of study, please visit the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies Programs of Study page.Professional Licensure
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Master of Arts
This program prepares you, through highly experiential classroom instruction in evidence-based counsling approaches, fieldwork experience, and internships, to become an applied counseling/psychotherapy practitioner to serve with clients of all ages in behavioral health agencies, clinics, hospitals and eventually private practices. We offer this program at Northern Arizona University-Flagstaff as well as NAU -Phoenix and NAU-Tucson.
This program has been CACREP-Accredited for 20 consecutive years. The GRE is not required or applicants with a 3.0 GPA.
GRE Statement, effective August 2017: If you have a cumulative GPA of 3.0* or higher, you are NOT required to submit official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores for the MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling or the MEd Counseling-School Counseling programs. If you have a cumulative GPA of less than 3.0, you are required to submit official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores on the aptitude portion (verbal and quantitative) of the GRE taken within the past six years. Scores, if applicable, must be received by application deadline for admission consideration.
This program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
This plan meets the coursework requirements for the Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) of the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners and for the national counselor certification of the National Board for Certified Counselors. Becoming an LAC and Nationally Certified Counselor are requirements toward the License as a Professional Counselor (LPC), which allows for independent practice. See the licensure requirements by state.
Requirements Accordion Open
To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units.
You must additionally complete:- All requirements for your specific academic plan(s). This may include a thesis.
- All graduate work with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
- All work toward the master's degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begins with the semester and year of admission to the program.
Read the full policy here.
Overview Accordion Closed
In addition to University Requirements:
- Complete individual plan requirements.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 60 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required. |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Required |
| Progression Plan Link | View Program of Study |
| Licensing or Certification | This program may lead to licensure or certification. |
Purpose Statement
The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MA CMHC) prepares counseling professionals with the current knowledge, skills, and competencies to provide multiculturally competent, ethical, and evidence-based counseling services to clients from all demographics across the lifespan. The 60-credit hour MA CMHC degree program has been CACREP-accredited continuously since 1998, and as such, the program meets and exceeds current national counselor education training standards. The program prepares students to deliver counseling services within a wide variety of settings, including outpatient, inpatient, specialty based agencies (e.g., addiction, eating disorders, etc.) and within private practices. Students are trained to deliver psychotherapeutic services in individual, group, couple, and family contexts. The program is highly experiential and developmental. Several classes entail laboratory components that involve the recording and evaluation of dozens of mock sessions, which allow students to practice session management on their way to providing face-to-face supervised counseling sessions to clients from our NAU campuses and to their respective local communities. Upon successful completion of their practicum semester, students then complete the final phase of their degree - Internship - which takes place anywhere in the USA under the careful supervision of licensed behavioral health professionals. Graduates enter the field ready to begin practicing counseling in any state of their choice (some states require a few additional postgraduate jurisprudence exams, etc.) as Licensed Associate Counselors on their way to independent practice as Licensed Professional Counselors.
Student Learning Outcomes
Outcomes align with Standards from the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
- Professional orientation and ethical practice - studies that provide an understanding of all of the following aspects of professional functioning.
- Social and cultural diversity - studies that provide an understanding of the cultural context of relationships, issues, and trends in a multicultural society.
- Human growth and development - studies that provide an understanding of the nature and needs of persons at all developmental levels and in multicultural contexts.
- Career development - studies that provide an understanding of career development and related life factors.
- Helping relationships - studies that provide an understanding of the counseling process in a multicultural society.
- Group work - studies that provide both theoretical and experiential understandings of group purpose, development, dynamics, theories, methods, skills, and other group approaches in a multicultural society.
- Assessment - studies that provide an understanding of individual and group approaches to assessment and evaluation in a multicultural society.
- Research and program evaluation - studies that provide an understanding of research methods, statistical analysis, needs assessment, and program evaluation.
- Foundations, contextual dimensions and practice in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
See the full list of Student Learning Outcomes
Details Accordion Closed
Graduate Admission Information
The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.
Admission requirements include the following:- Transcripts.
- Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.
Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.
Ready to apply? Begin your application now.International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.
Additional Admission Requirements
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
- GRE® revised General Test for applicants with a GPA lower than 3.0.
- Candidate interview
- Three Letters of Recommendation
- Responses to Specific Essay Questions
- IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card
- EPS 525 or upper-division undergraduate statistics course completed within the past three years.
Master's Requirements
This Master's degree requires 60 units distributed as follows:
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling Coursework: 51 units
- Clinical-Based Crisis Course: 3 units
- Post-practicum Internship: 6 units
Take the following 60 units:
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Coursework (51 units)
Clinical-Based Crisis Course (3 units)
- EPS 669 (3 units)
Post-Practicum Internship (6 units)
- EPS 694 (6 units)
This plan meets the coursework requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) of the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners and for the national counselor certification of the National Board for Certified Counselors.
Additional Information
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.
- Program Fee Information
Program fees are established by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). A program fee has been approved for this program. See program fee details. Program fees are subject to change and updated July 1 for the next academic year.
NAU Program Statement of Inclusion
We align with the American Counseling Association's (ACA) commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belongingness. As a program and a profession, we respect, honor, and support the uniqueness of individuals across varying multicultural identities, which include but are not limited to sexual and affectional orientation, gender identity and expression, age, race, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, military affiliation, religion or spiritual beliefs, ability, language, national origin, ancestry, and political views. Our counseling program welcomes students and faculty with diverse backgrounds and life experiences to ensure the representation of varying perspectives, worldviews, and ideas. We strive to build inclusive learning spaces in which all students feel their voice is valued and recognized as an asset to the classroom. These beliefs reflect the core values of the counseling profession and echo the sentiment: “Everyone counts, everyone has an opportunity, and everyone welcomed.”
GRE®️ revised General Test – Applicants with a cumulative GPA of less than 3.0 are required to submit official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores on the aptitude portion (verbal and quantitative) of the GRE taken within the past six years. Applicants with a cumulative GPA higher than 3.0 have the option to submit GRE scores, if desired. GRE scores must be received by the application deadline for admission.
Program Description Accordion Closed
Our Mission and Program Objectives Accordion Closed
Program and Student Learning Objectives for School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling Programs
- Our Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling Programs regularly gather and “reflect input from all persons involved in the conduct of the program, including counselor education program faculty, current and former students, and personnel in cooperating agencies.”
- We seek to recruit and retain students who represent the diverse population of the Southwestern U.S.
- Become familiar with the requirements for being a professional counselor, including the relevant research and literature pertinent to the discipline.
- Become familiar with and knowledgeable about the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels.
- Develop a thorough understanding of knowledge and competencies related to issues and trends in a multicultural and pluralistic society, and to effectively demonstrate multicultural counseling competencies.
- Demonstrate effective counseling skills.
- Become familiar with studies in group dynamics and to development and related life factors, and to demonstrate effective career counseling skills.
- Understand major theories of career development and related life factors, and to demonstrate effective career counseling skills.
- Develop an understanding of assessment processes, and to demonstrate skills in individual and group approaches to assessment and evaluation.
- Become familiar with research, statistics, and program evaluation as they apply to the practice of counseling.
- Develop a clear sense of professional identity in counseling, which includes professional ethics, legal responsibilities, professional preparation standards, participating in professional organizations, and obtaining necessary credentials.
- Acquire knowledge about counseling supervision, and to experience peer, site supervisor and faculty supervision that allow students to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills that they have acquired to practice.
- Experience continuous course-related and overall program-related feedback to enhance their professional development as they become professional counselors.
- Acquire knowledge and skills related to the ways that counselors use a variety of technologies designed to assist students, clients, and the systems they work within.
- Acquire knowledge related to the professional identity, roles, and functions of professional counselors.
- Practice ongoing assessment of one's own skills, strengths, weaknesses, professional and personal development as related to counseling professional identity, counseling ethics, and the principles of ethics of client autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, justice, and fidelity.
Accreditation Information Accordion Closed
- Number of graduates in the past year: 37
- Completion Rate: 88%
- Licensure or certification examination pass rate: 89%
- Job placement rate of students/graduates: 95%
How will this degree prepare students for the real world? What about licensure? Accordion Closed
What is the benefit of a face-to-face Counseling program over an online program? Accordion Closed
GRE Information Accordion Closed
Application and Due Dates Accordion Closed
How do I apply, and when is the application due?
The entire application process is a one-stop process. Once you click on APPLY NOW, in above right margin, all elements of the application are handled within that link!The primary application items we will evaluate include:
- The graduate school application
- GPA
- Application essay questions
- Three professional/academic recommendation forms
- Interview
- GRE General Test (ONLY if your undergraduate GPA was less than 3.0)
Application deadlines for Educational Psychology (EPS) programs
| Program | Site | Application deadlines | Semester next cohort begins |
|---|---|---|---|
| PhD Combined Counseling/School Psychology | Flagstaff | December 1 (all applications) November 15 (for those wishing to be considered for the Presidential Fellowship) | Fall 2025 |
| EdS School Psychology | Flagstaff | January 1, 2025 | Fall 2025 |
| EdS School Psychology | North Valley (Phoenix) | January 1, 2025 | Fall 2025 |
| MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Flagstaff | January 1, 2025 | Fall 2025 |
| MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling | North Valley (Phoenix) | February 15, 2025 | Fall 2025 |
| MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Tucson | February 15, 2025 | Fall 2025 |
| MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Yuma | April 1, 2025 | Fall 2025 |
| MEd Counseling - School Counseling | Flagstaff | January 1, 2025 | Fall 2025 |
| MEd Counseling - School Counseling | North Valley (Phoenix) | February 15, 2025 | Fall 2025 |
| MEd Counseling - School Counseling | Tucson | February 15, 2025 | Fall 2025 |
| MEd Counseling-Student Affairs | Flagstaff | January 1, 2025 (priority deadline) Extended Deadline of April 1, 2025 | Fall 2025 |
| M.Ed. Human Relations | Online & All Campuses | Rolling Admission | |
| Applied Human Behavior | Online; Glendale Community College, Mesa Community College, South Mountain Community College | Rolling Admission |
Please note:
- Completed application files are reviewed and admission decisions are made once each year.
- It is your responsibility to ensure that your application file is complete. Incomplete files will not be reviewed.
- In Flagstaff, many students apply for graduate assistantships (GA roles). If a student secures a GA role during grad school, they typically earn a full-tuition waiver in exchange for working 20 hours per week. For additional information, please visit the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies webpage.
Program Costs Accordion Closed
Programs of Study, Course Sequences and Syllabi Accordion Closed
What classes do I need to take - and in what order?
- The MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a 60-credit hour program that most students pursue on a full-time basis. The vast majority of students who complete the program do so in about 2 years, although the program can take a bit longer for those who take fewer than 15 credits per term.
- Some of your courses may have prerequisites you must meet before enrolling. Find more information in the academic catalog.