Florida State’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program consists of five full semesters of academic coursework, practica, and internship. Upon completing the 60 credit hour program, you will earn both a master’s (M.S.) and a specialist (Ed.S.) degree.
During the program, you will practice in a variety of settings. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program has connections with a number of organizations. These allow you to gain hands-on experience in settings like:
- independent practices
- community agencies
- managed behavioral health care organizations
- hospitals
- military organizations
- hospice care
- employee assistance programs
- student counseling centers
- prisons
- substance abuse centers
Our Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is fully accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Upon graduation, you will be eligible for licensure in Florida and other states as a mental health counselor.
Admission to graduate study is a two-fold evaluation process. The Office of Admissions determines eligibility for admission to the University, and the academic department, program, or college determines admissibility to the degree program. University graduate admissions requirements are found at https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions.
In order to meet minimum University and departmental admission requirements, an applicant must have:
- A bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA – An earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor’s degree.
- GRE test scores* – Official test results are required from the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The Educational Testing Service (ETS) does not retain scores longer than five years. If your test scores are older than five years, you may have to retake the test to have official scores sent directly to FSU from the testing agency. If you have the official report that was mailed to your home address for older scores, then FSU will accept that report. FSU Institution Code: 5219.
- Target Scores: Verbal: 145 or above, Analytical: 3.5 or above
- *NOTE: The GRE admission requirements for master's and specialist programs have been waived through Fall 2026.
- Language proficiency test (international students only)– FSU accepts scores from TOEFL (minimum 80), IELTS (minimum 6.5), MELAB (minimum 77), Cambridge C1 Advanced Level (minimum 180), Michigan Language Assessment (minimum 55), and Duolingo (minimum 120)
- Transcripts – Applicants must submit an official transcript from each college and/or university attended. Transcripts should be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions electronically at graduateadmissions@fsu.edu or via mail in a sealed envelope:
- Florida State University
Office of Graduate Admissions
314 Westcott Building
P.O. Box 3061410
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1410 - Applicants who studied at International Institutes: Florida State University requires a course-by-course credential evaluation for all applicants that have degrees from a non-U.S. institution. International and domestic applicants with degrees earned from international institutions must submit their official transcripts through a NACES approved evaluator for transcripts from a non-U.S. institution. SpanTran has created a custom application for Florida State University that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. See the “Transcript Requirement” section on The Graduate School website, https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions, for detailed information on University transcript requirements for graduate admission.
- Florida State University
For this program, the following supporting documents must be to the Admissions Application Portal:
- Personal Statement (1 required) – The personal statement should describe your purpose for pursuing a degree, qualifications, and long-term career goals and should be no more than 3 pages in length.
- Letters of Recommendation (3 required)
- Letters of recommendation should be written by persons who are in a position to comment on the likelihood of your success within the department.
- Resume/Curriculum Vitae (1 required)
- Unofficial Transcripts – Include transcripts from all colleges attended. Uploading a copy will expedite the review process, though you must still send official copies to the Office of Admissions.
The counseling programs admit students in the Fall only. Applications open at the beginning of the Fall semester for the next academic year.
Only applications that are complete by the deadline will be reviewed for admissions. A complete application includes items sent by people outside of the applicant (i.e., Letter of Recommendation, Official Transcript, & SpanTran Review of Transcript).
Application Deadline:
- December 1st
Program faculty will review applications and invite applicants with strong applications to be interviewed.
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Florida State University is one of its three counseling specialty tracks offered:
• Career Counseling (Residential & CACREP accredited)
• School Counseling (Fully Online & Approved by Florida department of Education)
Together our three programs create our Counselor Education degree program which share a common mission and objectives in training professional counselors.
COUNSELOR EDUCATION MISSION AND OBJECTIVES
The mission of the Counselor Education program at Florida State University is to prepare candidates to become professional counselors. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to (1) integrate current research with established theoretical foundations to serve pluralistic communities; (2) demonstrate awareness, reflection, and respect for the diverse populations that they serve, and finally (3) demonstrate professional dispositions of ethical practice, commitment to learning, and professional growth. Graduates serve as professional counselors who lead and advocate in their communities and their practice specialization: Career Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, or School Counseling.
- i. Counselor Education candidates will be grounded in counselor identity domains of wellness, development, prevention and early intervention, and empowerment.
- ii. Counselor Education candidates will successfully demonstrate professional dispositions:
- a. Ethical decision-making and professional boundaries
- b. Respect, humility, and openness for diverse cultural experiences and expressions
- c. Commitment to learning and professional growth
- d. Apply constructive feedback
- e. Appropriate interpersonal skills
- f. Professionalism
- iii. Counselor Education candidates will demonstrate knowledge of counseling theories, apply theories to implement evidence-based techniques, and utilize data-driven approaches to evaluate their counseling program and professional practices.
- iv. Counselor Education candidates will co-create goals and identify appropriate interventions in a holistic and integrated manner that is based on clients’ or students’ diverse experiences, development, and presenting needs.
- v. Counselor Education candidates will demonstrate knowledge of mental health, career development, individual and group interventions, crisis intervention, and the ecological systems that support people reaching their goals.
Specific Program Objectives for Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Clinical Mental Health candidates will conceptualize biological, neurological, sociocultural, and psychological factors that contribute to a clients’ current presentation.
- Clinical Mental Health candidates will identify and implement treatment approaches within an appropriate level of care that applies evidence-based theories and enhances overall wellness in clients.
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