Program Certificate in Mental Health Counseling Online
This online certificate program is designed to prepare students who hold a 48-hour master's in counseling degree for the Texas state Licensed Professional Counseling (LPC) licensure exam.
Program Overview
Take a glimpse of LU’s Program Certificate in Mental Health Counseling
This 18-hour bridge program for mental health counseling is designed for master's-level graduates with a 48-hour degree in counseling who want to pursue licensure as a professional counselor (LPC). This post-graduate certificate provides the supplementary knowledge and experience needed to meet the 60-credit-hour academic requirement for licensure in Texas. Coursework in your master’s degree should include:
- Normal growth and development
- Abnormal behavior
- Counseling theories
- Counseling techniques/skills
- Appraisal or assessment
- Lifestyle and career development
- Social, cultural, and family issues
- Foundations of professional orientation/ethics
- Research
- 300-hour Practicum/Internship
The Certificate in Mental Health Counseling provides the coursework for licensure in:
- Psychopathology/Psychopharmacology
- Advanced counselor ethics
- Addictions counseling
- Foundations of professional counseling
- Marriage, couple and family counseling
- Abnormal human behavior
Lamar University does not evaluate credentials for licensing. As such, candidates must contact the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors at https://www.bhec.texas.gov/texas-state-board-of-examiners-of-professional-counselors/index.html for transcript evaluation.
In this online mental health counseling certificate program, you will gain:
- Knowledge of the history and philosophy of the counseling profession and its specialty areas
- Understanding of professional counseling ethics, legal issues and responsibilities as members of interdisciplinary community outreach and emergency management response teams
- Knowledge of advocacy processes needed to address institutional and social barriers that impede access, equity and success for clients
- The ability to identify etiologies, diagnoses and treatment plans
- Interpret and apply legal and ethical concerns regarding diagnosis, treatment, and pharmacological integration with other professionals
- Knowledge of the history and philosophy of the counseling profession and its specialty areas
- Understanding of professional counseling ethics, legal issues and responsibilities as members of interdisciplinary community outreach and emergency management response teams
- Knowledge of advocacy processes needed to address institutional and social barriers that impede access, equity and success for clients
- The ability to identify etiologies, diagnoses and treatment plans
- Interpret and apply legal and ethical concerns regarding diagnosis, treatment, and pharmacological integration with other professionals
*Price includes distance learning fee.
Tuition
Pay for your online program by the course
The following is the tuition breakdown for students pursuing the Program Certificate in Mental Health Counseling online. Our tuition is affordable and can be paid by the course.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Per Program* |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMHC | $360 | $1,080 | $6,481 |
*University fees are included in the tuition listed. University fees are able to be covered by Financial Aid if you choose to apply and are qualified.
Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice due to action by the Board of Regents or the Texas State Legislature.
Total program cost depends upon transfer hours and program advisement relevant to program requirements. For more information, contact a Lamar University enrollment specialist.
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Important dates for this online certificate program
Our Program Certificate in Mental Health Counseling online program features multiple start dates to accommodate your busy schedule. Find the start date that works best for you and apply before the application deadline associated with it.
| 5 week courses | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day | TEA Requirement Deadline | Department Required Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer I | 5/29/25 | 5/8/25 | 5/20/25 | 6/27/25 | 5/15/25 | |
| Summer II | 6/30/25 | 6/9/25 | 6/23/25 | 7/31/25 | 6/16/25 | |
| Fall 1 | 8/21/25 | 7/31/25 | 8/12/25 | 9/17/25 | 8/7/25 | |
| Fall 2 | 9/29/25 | 9/8/25 | 9/23/25 | 10/29/25 | 9/15/25 | |
| Fall 3 | 11/3/25 | 10/13/25 | 10/28/25 | 12/4/25 | 10/20/25 | |
| Spring II | 2/23/26 | 2/2/26 | 2/16/26 | 3/29/26 | ||
| Spring III | 3/30/26 | 3/9/26 | 3/23/26 | 5/3/26 |
Now enrolling:
Have questions or need more information about our online programs?
Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?
Admissions
Discover the qualifications for the Certificate in Mental Health Counseling online program
The Program Certificate in Mental Health Counseling online program has specific requirements that applicants must meet to enroll. Please read the admission guidelines to ensure you qualify.
Admission Requirements:
- Online Application
- Master's Degree
- 3.0 Graduate GPA
University Admission Requirements
- Complete online application and pay an application fee of $25.
- Master's Degree in Counseling. Conferred master’s degree GPAs will be used for admission purposes.
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended*
- U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
The Department of Counseling Admission Requirements
The Department of Counseling requires the following for admission to the department programs. Instructions for the department application and reference will be e-mailed to you after your ApplyTexas application is processed.
- 3.0 graduate GPA
- Completed 48-hour Master’s Degree in Counseling
- Completed 300 hours of field experience (Practicum and Internship) in applicant’s masters counseling program
- Two letters of recommendation submitted via the online application.
View information regarding licensure outside the state of Texas.
Send all required documents to:
Lamar University Online Admissions
PO Box 10017
Beaumont, TX 77710
OR
Submit electronically to [email protected]
*All applicants must submit official transcript(s) indicating: 1) The conferred bachelor's or master's degree as required for the program of application from a regionally accredited US institution or its equivalent. 2) The transcript of the most recent attendance if it differs from the institution of the conferred degree. This requirement applies regardless of the length of time in attendance and regardless of whether credit was earned or is desired. However, if a department or program wishes to review additional transcripts from prior attendance for decision purposes, the department or program may directly request the applicant to submit the official transcript(s) to the Office of Admissions for processing. Students must be eligible to re-enter all colleges and universities previously attended. Failure to disclose previous college attendance is justification for revocation of acceptance and dismissal from Lamar University.
We reserve the right to review individual applicant qualifications for admission. Final determinations for admission are based upon a number of criteria. We reserve the right to refuse student entrance or terminate a student after admission to a program if, in the judgment of the faculty, the student demonstrates unacceptable professional fitness to practice in their particular field of study with children, youth, and/or adults.
Now that you have completed the Apply Texas application, click here for FAQ’s and next steps in the admissions process.
Courses
Learn more about our Certificate in Mental Health Counseling online classes
Students are required to complete 18 hours of coursework in the Program Certificate in Mental Health Counseling online program.
