Mental Health Counselor
Pathway to Licensure

Personalized Attention.
Professional Growth.
Community Impact.

Thinking about a career change?
Have you completed a graduate degree and want to become a licensed Mental Health Counselor?

Learn how Loras College can help you achieve your goal!

Loras College offers a special non-degree graduate program of study designed for individuals who have already completed a graduate degree in psychology or a related field within the past ten years and are interested in pursuing coursework so that they may be eligible for licensure as a Mental Health Counselor.

The number of credits required may vary significantly from student to student and will depend upon prior graduate coursework taken (either at Loras College or at another institution).

Applicants should be aware that no federal financial aid exists for this coursework, though they may seek private funding options.

Loras College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the curriculum in this program is designed to fulfill the current course requirements for the State of Iowa’s Mental Health Counselor license, but the license can also transfer to different states across the country.

Admission Criteria & Application Checklist

    Admission Criteria & Eligibility Information:

    • A minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 (or 2.9 in the last 60 credits) is required for admission.
    • Completion of at least 9 credits in the behavioral sciences is required for admission.
    Application Checklist

    Before applying, the faculty of the Counseling program urge interested individuals to consult the required coursework for Loras’ Master of Arts in Counseling program to formulate an unofficial outline comparing the graduate coursework they have already completed with the requirements for the degree (please see Master of Arts in Counseling Course Requirements).

    The Counseling program maintains standards set by the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE), and individuals may also refer to that website as they prepare their self-assessment (https://www.cce-global.org/Assets/StateLicensure/IA-MHCapp.pdf).

    Upon admission, the director of the Master of Arts in Counseling program will work with the student to finalize their program plan.

    Non degree-seeking students will be held to the same academic and professional ethics requirements and program policies as degree-seeking students in order to maintain good standing within the program and to continue their coursework. 

    Questions? Let’s get in touch.

    Loras College Graduate Admissions
    Megan Henderson
    megan.henderson@loras.edu
    563.588.7140

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