How many years of college does it take to earn every degree to become a mental health counselor?
6 to 8 years. This depends on the type of counseling you want to do and how quickly you move through your courses. Any licensed counseling career will require a graduate degree beyond the bachelors. Most (e.g., clinical or counseling psychology) require a Ph.D., which typically takes 4-6 additional years. However, there are some options (e.g., school psychology, licensed clinical social worker in some states) that require only a masters level degree, which will usually take 2 years beyond the bachelors. The specific credentials you will need for each type of license vary somewhat from state to state, so the surest way to know what you will need is by contacting the licensing bureau in your state. Congratulations on getting your GED and best of luck in your future studies.
