The Counseling program is designed to prepare ethical, culturally competent counselors to provide professional counseling services in various clinical settings. The faculty-approved settings where students have served their internships include mental health centers, state hospitals and training schools, facilities for clients with dual diagnoses, as well as multipurpose mental health agencies.
Features of the West Texas A&M University’s Counselor Education Program include being conveniently located in downtown Amarillo, at the WTAMU Harrington Academic Hall, and having access to state-of-the-art teaching and supervision facilities. Faculty offices are located on the 3rd floor.
Please feel free to contact our program director, Dr. Leigh Green, with any questions or to discuss the program further.
For Prospective Students
Program length: Can take 3 to 5 years, depending on the number of credits the students complete per semester.
Delivery method: Online
Cost of the program: This can be found through the Business Office
- Completion of 60 credit hours of counseling courses;
- Supervised Practicum and Internship experience; and
- Passing a comprehensive exam
More information can be found in the Student Handbook
Formal admittance to the counseling program requires:
- A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning
- 2.75 Undergraduate GPA (last 60 hours)
- WTAMU Graduate School Application
- Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions
- Two (2) letters of recommendation - professional/academic: to be requested and submitted through your WT applicant portal
- Upload the following to your WT applicant portal:
- Departmental Application
- Resume
- NO GRE required
The deadlines for the M.A. Counseling is as follows:
- August 1 for fall admission
- December 1 for spring admission
- May 1 for summer admission
Counseling Coursework
Course rotations are given to students at the time of admission.
Additional Questions and FAQs
Texas Professional Counselor Licensing Information
After completing the 60-semester-hour program and passing the counselor education program’s comprehensive exam, students seeking licensure as a professional counselor in Texas must:
- Pass the National Counselor Exam (nbcc exam)
- Pass the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counseling Texas Jurisprudence Exam (https://www.bhec.texas.gov/texas-state-board-of-examiners-of-professional-counselors/index.html)
- Apply for a temporary license through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors (Licensed Professional Counselor-Intern). This involves an application packet found at https://www.bhec.texas.gov/texas-state-board-of-examiners-of-professional-counselors/jurisprudence-examination/index.html.
- Secure a Master level/Doctoral level, board approved Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (LPC-S) through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors.
- Secure an internship site(s) where you will accrue the required 3,000-clock-hours for application for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor.
Requirements for licensure or certification vary from state to state. Our program prepares students for licensure or certification in the State of Texas. We do not represent that our programs prepare students for licensure or certification in other states.
You may also find out more information the counseling profession through the following professional counseling websites:
- American Counseling Association (live link to www.counseling.org)
- Texas Counseling Association (live link to www.txca.org)
- Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors (live link to https://www.bhec.texas.gov/texas-state-board-of-examiners-of-professional-counselors/index.html)