LVC students in psychology seminar with Dr. Rachel Albert

Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Prepare to become a Licensed Professional Counselor through Lebanon Valley College’s CACREP-accredited Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Build a meaningful career supporting individuals, families, and communities in healthcare, private practice, and social service settings.

CACREP Accredited • 100% National Counselor Examination Pass Rate • Pennsylvania LPC Preparation

Online • Hybrid • On Campus • 2 Years Full-Time / 4 Years Part-Time

Applicants with a 3.0 GPA in any bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply. Ask about employer discounts and discounts for PA Commonwealth employees and dependents.

Next start date: August 24, 2026

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Learn More About the Program

Connect with professors and classmates through online courses that blend live sessions with recorded content. Build expertise in counseling areas such as grief, trauma, addiction, career, and child and adolescent counseling.

Get any graduate program syllabus upon request to see what’s in store. 

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Meet the Faculty
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60
credits (includes 600-hour internship)
$759
per credit (2025–26)
7-week
terms
100%
NCE pass rate

This program is designed to meet the educational requirements for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensure in Pennsylvania. Additional state requirements apply.

Our clinical mental health counseling graduate program is designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure as a professional counselor in Pennsylvania. Additional requirements to obtain licensure are mandatory, including passing the state licensure exam and acquiring the requisite supervision hours. You should consult the Pennsylvania State Licensing Board to determine the requirements to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

If you are interested in licensure outside Pennsylvania, contact the American Counseling Association or the National Board of Certified Counselors to access licensure requirements for other states. You are responsible for contacting the appropriate board for licensing and certification information.

Please consult Dr. Cynthia Vejar, CMHC Program Director, for additional information.

The Council for Accreditation and Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), has granted accreditation to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.S.) program at Lebanon Valley College.

The words on this certification mark are "CACREP ACCREDITED," incorporated into a design featuring a stylized dark checkmark against a dark horizontally lined background.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling alum walks on LVC campus

Why Choose LVC for Your Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master’s Degree?

Prepare for LPC Licensure in Pennsylvania

Broad-based curriculum designed for versatile counseling careers.

Counselors with diverse skills are in high demand and can pursue clinical counseling careers in a variety of specializations. Our Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is broad-based, enhancing your career opportunities. You’ll be ready to be an LPC in PA.

High-Demand Career Pathways

Develop skills employers seek.

Trauma-informed Counseling Certificate

12-credit standalone or embedded option.

Accelerate your impact and earn our four-course (12-credit) Trauma-Informed Counseling Certificate as a standalone achievement or incorporate it into the full LVC M.S. program—no prior counseling experience needed. Courses offer opportunities to practice, observe, and discuss counseling techniques. The certificate builds trauma-informed care skills and career marketability. Request info about the Trauma Certificate.

Apply for the M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Careers

Graduate prepared for counseling and therapy roles in growing areas such as:

  • Clinical child psychology
  • Addiction counseling
  • Trauma-informed counseling
  • Marriage and family counseling

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow faster than average. (Bureau of Labor Statistics) 

Learn from practicing clinicians with real-world expertise in addiction counseling, grief therapy, couples and family counseling, and psychopathology.

Clinical Counseling Internship/Practicum Sites

The M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program features an evidence-based curriculum and opportunities to get real-life experience through internships and a practicum. Local sites include:

  • Annville Psychological Services
  • Catholic Charities
  • Center for Hope and Healing
  • Everlasting Wellness Counseling
  • Horizon House Inc.
  • LVC Counseling Center
  • Maryland Treatment Centers – Mountain Manor
  • Milton Hershey School
  • Pennsylvania Counseling Services
  • WellSpan Health – Philhaven

Flexible Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Formats

The curriculum combines flexible learning modalities, including hybrid, online/asynchronous, and online/synchronous courses.

Our hybrid program is perfect for busy professionals balancing their education with other responsibilities. The benefits of each mental health counseling course type include:

  • Hybrid Classes: Coursework is 50 percent in person and 50 percent online. The in-person component includes real-time discussions, activities, and class exercises. For some students, in-person networking with instructors and classmates is extremely valuable. The online component of hybrid classes offers flexibility and accessibility. Courses offered in hybrid format can also be completed 100% online. This option is perfect if you are completing the program from a non-commutable distance to Annville, Pa. You’ll complete practicum and internships at in-person locations. 
  • Online/Asynchronous Courses: You can take your clinical counseling courses online and on your schedule. While there are deadlines each week, you decide when and where to learn.
  • Online/Synchronous Courses: During your 600-hour practicum and internships, and select other courses, you will engage with your classmates and instructors in real time. This is conducive to group supervision, which allows an exchange of feedback and dialogue about clinical-related matters. Simultaneously, the online modality provides flexibility and accessibility.

Students can begin the program in the fall or spring following a course plan outlined by their program advisor.

If you take courses out of sequence, you have a maximum of seven years to complete the M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. 

Handbooks, Reports & Statistics

View Annual Reports & Vital Statistics
View Program Handbooks

In Their Words

Preparation
Throughout the program, I felt encouraged and supported professionally and personally. The faculty are eager to engage with students throughout course planning, in the class setting and internship experience, as well as by fostering conference presentation opportunities. My transition to employment was seamless. I was well-prepared by a top-notch team and I am grateful for my experience.
Dayna Hanlon-Pinkerton M’24, MS, C-IAYT, LAPC, Yoga Therapist, Trauma Counselor, Founder, Unity Yoga Center
Practice
I learned something new every day. We did a lot of role-playing activities to gain feedback from our classmates and teachers, and that was the best thing because I think that was the best way to learn.
Jamie Rothenberger ’20, M’22, Lead Academic Teacher, YMCA of Greater Brandywine
Quality
LVC has a longstanding reputation for being student-centered and providing quality instruction that makes graduates competitive in the workforce.
Dr. Cynthia Vejar, Program Director and Associate Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Throughout the program, I felt encouraged and supported professionally and personally. The faculty are eager to engage with students throughout course planning, in the class setting and internship experience, as well as by fostering conference presentation opportunities. My transition to employment was seamless. I was well-prepared by a top-notch team and I am grateful for my experience.
Dayna Hanlon-Pinkerton M’24, MS, C-IAYT, LAPC, Yoga Therapist, Trauma Counselor, Founder, Unity Yoga Center
I learned something new every day. We did a lot of role-playing activities to gain feedback from our classmates and teachers, and that was the best thing because I think that was the best way to learn.
Jamie Rothenberger ’20, M’22, Lead Academic Teacher, YMCA of Greater Brandywine
LVC has a longstanding reputation for being student-centered and providing quality instruction that makes graduates competitive in the workforce.
Dr. Cynthia Vejar, Program Director and Associate Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Mental Health Counseling Master’s Program Resources

Graduate Scholarships
Graduate Tuition & Costs
7-week Term Calendar
Graduate Housing Options

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Graduate Programs Virtual Chat

Virtual
Join us May 7 for an information session about graduate study at LVC. Learn more about our programs, the application process, and support for graduate students.
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Graduate Programs Virtual Chat

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Join us May 14 for an information session about graduate study at LVC. Learn more about our programs, the application process, and support for graduate students.
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Graduate Counseling Virtual Chat: Careers in Counseling

Virtual
Join Dr. Cindy Vejar, Program Director and Associate Professor, on May 21, 2026, for a virtual chat to learn about careers in counseling.
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Graduate Programs Virtual Chat

Virtual
Join us May 21 for an information session about graduate study at LVC. Learn more about our programs, the application process, and support for graduate students.
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Graduate Programs Virtual Chat

Virtual
Join us May 7 for an information session about graduate study at LVC. Learn more about our programs, the application process, and support for graduate students.
Register

Graduate Programs Virtual Chat

Virtual
Join us May 14 for an information session about graduate study at LVC. Learn more about our programs, the application process, and support for graduate students.
Register

Graduate Counseling Virtual Chat: Careers in Counseling

Virtual
Join Dr. Cindy Vejar, Program Director and Associate Professor, on May 21, 2026, for a virtual chat to learn about careers in counseling.
Register

Graduate Programs Virtual Chat

Virtual
Join us May 21 for an information session about graduate study at LVC. Learn more about our programs, the application process, and support for graduate students.
Register

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The words on this certification mark are "CACREP ACCREDITED," incorporated into a design featuring a stylized dark checkmark against a dark horizontally lined background.

The Council for Accreditation and Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), has granted accreditation to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.S.) program at Lebanon Valley College.

 

Online Masters Best Counseling Degree Programs 2026 badge

OnlineMasters.com, a leading authority on accredited online graduate education, has included Lebanon Valley College in its annual rankings, awarding it the Best Online Master’s in Counseling Programs for 2026.