- Complete a bachelor’s degree in a behavioral, social science, or psychology field
- Earn a master’s degree in counseling, social work, or psychology with a focus on military populations
- Complete graduate and postgraduate internship experience for certification/licensure requirements
- Pass any required counseling exams and apply for licensure.
- Apply for and earn additional counseling certifications
- Continue your education and stay up to date on military counseling trends and changes
How to Become a Military Counselor
Active duty military personnel, veterans and their families seek counseling help for a wide variety of mental, emotional and social needs. Military personnel may require assistance during training, deployment, transition from active duty and in retirement. They may face a variety of psychological and social issues including depression and anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and family and marital issues. Additionally, personnel returning home may seek support with their transition back to civilian life, including career and education assistance.
Counseling services within the military are also provided to military families. Military OneSource provides non-medical counseling to help military personnel and their families navigate the military lifestyle and the challenges that they may face. These services include addressing marital problems, parenting, stress management, and grief and/or loss to include a few.
The U.S. military employs counselors, case workers, and psychologists in a variety of roles with various levels of education and training to provide a host of support options for our military personnel and their families. In many cases, a military counselor will work as part of a team that may include social workers, psychologists, medical officers, chaplains, personnel specialists, and commanders.
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What does a Military Counselor do?
Military counselors, case workers, and psychologists caseworkers and counselors perform a variety of duties, including:
- Providing therapeutic services to personnel who request help or are referred by their commanders
- Offering off site counseling to service members deployed overseas, typically via video conference
- Identifying problems and determining if a referral for further help is needed, such as psychiatry, drug treatment or a community support group
- Counseling family members of military personnel
- Administering psychological tests
- Helping personnel explore career and education opportunities
- Teaching classes on human relations and transitioning back to civilian life
- Providing ongoing support to disabled veterans and those with severe mental trauma
- Offering crisis intervention, mental health assessments and suicide prevention support
Within six months of return from overseas deployments, the U.S. military service branches conduct mandatory screenings for mental health conditions via the Post Deployment Health Reassessment. Installation support programs provide referrals for assessment, treatment, suicide prevention and other counseling services as deemed appropriate. Service members and their families have more options than ever before for accessing counseling assistance, including government sponsored initiatives like the Army Substance Abuse Program, Family Advocacy Program and various TRICARE support offerings.
Steps to Become a Military Counselor
Step 1: Complete a bachelor’s degree in a behavioral, social science, psychology field, or another field.
Because a master’s degree is a requirement for licensure as a professional counselor, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, or a related field sets the groundwork for graduate studies in counseling. Coursework for undergraduate studies in counseling and other related fields will typically include the evaluation of human development, counseling skills and foundation, introduction to psychology, and/or basic approaches to counseling/therapy.
Step 2: Earn a master’s degree in counseling, social work, or psychology with a focus on military populations.
There are some CACREP-accredited universities that offer accredited degree programs with a focus on working with military populations. Obtaining your graduate degree in counseling is a requirement for practice as a licensed professional counselor.
Step 3: Complete graduate and postgraduate internship experience for certification/licensure requirements.
As a crucial aspect of accredited counseling master’s programs, graduate supervised counseling experience allows students to dive into their future role as a licensed professional counselor, gaining hands-on experience under licensed mental health professionals. Some military positions, including vocational rehabilitation, may require specialized experience, including working with individuals with disabilities as well as disadvantaged populations.
Step 4: Pass any required counseling exams and apply for licensure.
Some states and/or counseling programs require the passing of a recognized counselor examination for graduation or licensure such as the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and/or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). Check the available licenses and required examinations for counselors in your state through the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC).
Step 5: Apply for and earn additional counseling certifications.
Licensed professional counselors can pursue a national certification through the NBCC. Counselors can also pursue specializations in grief, pastoral, military and trauma, or other mental health challenges, concerns, or disorders.
Step 6: Continue your education and stay up to date on military counseling trends and changes.
Continuing education is imperative to maintaining professional counseling licensure and keeping in the know of changes, updates, and movements in trends in military and government changes, mental health care, counseling, and client advocacy.
What are the licensing requirements?
Counselors who support active duty military must be able to accept TRICARE, the healthcare program for military personnel and their families. To be able to do so requires a master’s degree or higher in mental health counseling or related field from an accredited university and passage of the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE).
Additional licensing requirements may apply in the state where you will be employed. See state licensure requirements.
For counseling employment with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), master’s degrees must be from universities accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Are there certification requirements?
To become a military counselor, any individual must have obtained at least their master’s degree in counseling, psychology, or social work. Some states do offer an add-on certification which guides applicants through veteran and military specific counseling courses, such as those offered by the Licensed Professional Counselors Association of North Carolina (LPCANC). Some universities and colleges may offer an add-on certification for work with the military population. While a certification is not a requirement for practice, it is a benefit for both the counselor and employers seeking military counseling professionals.
Career Outlook for Military Counselors
Seven categories of counseling services are offered to active duty service, National Guard, and reserve members. Many of these services are free of charge.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides mental health counseling services through over 1000 centers, clinics, or through their Veterans Crisis Line. According to the VA, more than 1.7 million veterans received mental health treatment in the fiscal year 2021. This has risen each year, in part to proactive screening to veterans who exhibit symptoms of a mental health concern.
Mental health counselors, psychologists, and social workers are employed as military counselors. As such, the job outlook can vary as employment can be contracted through the government or counseling can be provided through an independent practice – contracted through TRICARE. Employment is projected to rise 23% between 2020 to 2030 for mental health counselors with average earnings of over $48,520 per year. The employment of psychologists is projected to increase 8% from 2020 to 2030 with an average earning of over $81,040 per year. The field of social work is expected to grow 12% between 2020 and 2030 Licensed social workers earn, on average, about $50,390 per year.
Online Masters in Military Counseling Programs
Bellevue University
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Bellevue, Nebraska
Name of Degree: Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Enrollment Type: Full-Time
Length of Program: 2 years
Credits: 60
Concentrations: N/AAdmission Requirements:
- CV/resume
- Two letters of recommendation
- Statement of interest
- Official transcripts
Lock Haven University
Department of Social Work and Counseling
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Lock Haven, Pennsylvania
Name of Degree: Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Enrollment Type: Full-Time
Length of Program: 2 years
Credits: 60
Concentrations:Child and Adolescent Counseling, Military and Veterans Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Two references
- Statement of purpose
New York University
NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development
Master of Arts in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness
New York, New York
Description:
NYU’s online master of arts program in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness prepares students to become professional mental health counselors who guide clients of all backgrounds toward healthy lifestyles. Counseling@NYU students receive the knowledge and hands-on training to work with adults both individually and in groups. The program is delivered through online classes and course work and in-person field experiences at sites near students’ communities.
Enrollment Type: Full-Time
Length of Program: As few as 21 months
Credits: 60
Last updated: September 2022