Clinical Mental Health Counseling

The MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is designed to prepare students to function as licensed clinical mental health counselors. It provides the educational requirements outlined by the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice as requisite to attaining mental health counseling licensures. PSU’s mental health counseling program is nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Students should note that there are significant post-degree requirements to undertake prior to being licensed, listed below in the Licensure Requirements section.

• 2021-22 Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Outcome Report
• 2021-22 Counselor Education Assessment Report
• Key Performance Indicators used to assess Student Outcomes

PSU was recently awarded a $1.9 million Federal Behavioral Health and Workforce Education Training program grant – Learn More!

Students can complete the 63 credit MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling by itself or add one of the following concentrations:

• Addictions Treatment
• Marriage and Family Therapy
• Eating Disorders
• Play Therapy
• Wellness Leadership

Curriculum Requirements

The program objectives for the Counselor Education programs can be viewed by using the link below:

Program Objectives

The Vision, Mission, and Process Statements for the Counselor Education and School Psychology programs can be viewed by using the link below:

Vision, Mission, and Process Statements

Transferring from another program?

The number of transfer credits that can be accepted may vary, depending on the type of program applicants are transferring from, its CACREP accreditation status, and the alignment of the courses already taken. Grades for transferred courses must be a B or higher.  Generally a total of between 9 and 18 credits may be accepted, though this can be exceeded on a case-by-case basis.  Applicants should be prepared to provide transcripts, syllabi, and other course materials as needed for program faculty to make this determination.

Coming back after completing a degree in School Counseling from PSU?

An applicant who has graduated in good standing from Plymouth State University’s School Counseling program may be eligible to return and complete a degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling without having to repeat any core courses already taken.  Students would instead complete 30 additional credits of Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialization courses, including a Practicum and Internship at a clinical site, to finish the full CMHC degree.  Eligibility will be determined on a case-by-case basis, and may be impacted by the length of time since the previous degree was granted.

Please contact the program coordinator Dr. Mike Mariska (mamariska@plymouth.edu) with any questions or to review your eligibility!

Register Now – Spring classes begin Jan 23

Did you know PSU allows you to take up to 12 credits of graduate coursework before applying to most programs? So whether you are admitted to a program or just want to try a class, you can get started today!

Search for classes – the Office of the Registrar handles the course registration process – more information is available by visiting their website where you can check out the current course schedule by clicking on the “Register for Course” option on the left side. Simply select the current term from the drop down menu which will then allow you to search for classes in a variety of ways.

Register Online – Registration can be completed online through the myPlymouth portal if you are a current/active student or have been admitted to a graduate program. Be sure to have your user name, password, and the course number and title handy. At the end of the registration process you will be notified of your billing due date. Specific instructions for completing the online registration can be found on the Registrar’s website under the “How to Register” tab.

New to PSU? If you are taking your first graduate class at PSU and have not been admitted to a graduate program, you will need to complete the paper registration form which can be found under the “Registration Forms” tab. Completed forms should be submitted directly to the Office of the Registrar via email to psu-registrar@plymouth.edu or faxed to 603-535-2724.

Graduate Tuition Rates – Tuition for graduate coursework is calculated on a per credit rate based on residency status. Click here to see the current tuition costs.

“How much will my graduate program cost?” and “How will I pay for it?” are two of the most common questions asked when considering continuing your education. Here is some basic information about tuition, financial aid, scholarships and Graduate Assistant opportunities. We encourage you to click the links on this page for additional information and resources.

The career outlook for Clinical Mental Health Counseling shows national job growth at 23% with the average salary at $46,560 according to the NH Employment Services office. It also ranks in the Top 10 for Best Social Services jobs in US News and World Report.

Among all PSU program graduates, the three year job placement rate is approximately 100% of those actively seeking positions.

Graduate Admission Team – Whether you are just graduating with your bachelor’s degree or have been out of school for a while, we are here to help guide you through the application process, assist in getting you registered for your first semester of classes, and provide you with “next steps, information, and resources on campus.

Program Coordinator/Advisor – Once you have been admitted into a graduate program, you will be assigned an academic advisor who will be your go-to person for class scheduling, program and/or curriculum questions, and academic guidance.

• Dr. Mike Mariska, 603-535-3288 or mamariska@plymouth.edu

Office of the Registrar – can assist with course registration, transcript requests and degree conferral information

Student Account Services – please contact them with questions regarding your bill, employer reimbursement, or financial holds on your account.

Financial Aid Office – is here to assist financial aid, student loans, or other financial related questions.

External Funding Website

This link will take you to the internal website for Counselor Education students and faculty.  It does require a Plymouth State login, however, so will not be accessible unless you are already a student or faculty in the USNH system.

Counselor Education Sharepoint Site

We would be happy to provide you with more information about our graduate programs – here are a few ways to learn more!

INQUIRE – Complete a brief inquiry form and we will connect you with the program coordinator and provide you with additional information about the curriculum, admission requirements, faculty information, and more.

VISIT – We hold information sessions and campus visits throughout the year, or we can schedule an in-person advising appointment – come check out our beautiful campus in Plymouth, NH

EMAIL – Have a quick question about our wide array of graduate programs and certificates? Send us an email at forgrad@plymouth.edu

CHAT – We would be happy to chat with you – just submit a question to one of our admissions advisors.

Want an answer right away? Give us a call – the Admissions Office is open Mon-Fri from 8:00am-4:30pm at 603-535-2237 or 800-FOR-GRAD.