The Master of Science in Clinical and Counseling Psychology follows a practitioner–scholar model, blending counseling and psychological theories to train culturally responsive, science-informed masters-level clinicians. Built on a multidisciplinary model that integrates psychology, counseling, and social work, the program prepares students to deliver culturally responsive services that promote the public good. Our supportive faculty guide students through licensure pathways, with graduates eligible to pursue credentialing as *Licensed Psychological Associates (LPAs) or *Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs), depending on state-specific requirements.
*If students meet licensure requirements in their state. Read Disclaimers below for more information.
Students applying directly to this program or who did not earn a 3.0 GPA in the generalist program, must submit the following:
The Master of Science in Clinical and Counseling Psychology program at Ferrum College is designed to generally prepare graduates for clinical licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or a Licensed Psychological Associate/Practitioner (LPA/LPP). The program requires 60 credit hours, aligning with the typical requirements for licensure in both professions across many states.
It is crucial to note that while our program is structured to meet the academic requirements for both license types, the ultimate determination of licensure eligibility lies with each state’s licensing board. Ferrum College cannot guarantee licensure, as licensure is subject to the policies and regulations set forth by individual state licensing boards.
Ferrum College holds regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). However, as a new MS in Clinical and Counseling Psychology program, it has not yet applied for accreditation through the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the American Psychological Association (APA), or the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC). The program intends to pursue accreditation with one or more of these bodies in the future, but the College cannot guarantee the outcome of the respective accreditation processes.
Prospective students are advised to research and understand the licensure requirements of the state in which they intend to practice. Ferrum College encourages students to contact their state licensing board for the most current and specific information regarding licensure eligibility. We are available to help prospective students locate licensure information for their state and preferred licensure type.
For further inquiries regarding the Ferrum College Master of Science in Clinical and Counseling Psychology program, please contact the program director, Dr. Ryan Cooper (rrcooper@ferrum.edu) or the Office of Academic Affairs (officeofacademicaffairs@ferrum.edu).
The Ferrum College Master of Science in Clinical and Counseling Psychology has been designed to meet the Virginia requirements for LPC licensure. The program has now had a graduate successfully approved by the Virginia Board of Counseling as a Resident in Counseling based upon completion of the Ferrum degree. While this provides an initial successful Virginia licensure outcome for the program, the Board evaluates each applicant individually, and Ferrum College cannot guarantee licensure results for every graduate.
Virginia mandates that candidates “complete 60 graduate semester hours” through a master’s degree that offers “a sequence of academic study with the expressed intent to prepare counselors as documented by the institution” (which our program fulfills). Additionally, the program must have “identifiable counselor training faculty and an identifiable body of students who complete that sequence of academic study” (both of which our program possesses). Finally, the “academic unit must have clear authority and primary responsibility for the core and specialty areas” (which our program holds). While CACREP programs are presumed to meet these criteria, non-CACREP programs that are regionally accredited may also meet these requirements when the program satisfies the applicable Virginia educational and program criteria.
We have proactively engaged the Virginia Board of Counseling and communicated that we began admitting students in Fall 2024. The board advised the College to maintain an/one LPC faculty (not a strictly psychological faculty) and suggested (but did not require) that the College have at least three LPCs on faculty. Currently, the faculty team includes three (3) Licensed Professional Counselors and (3) Licensed Psychologists. In addition to this prior consultation with the board, a Ferrum graduate has now been approved as a Resident in Counseling, providing the program with its first successful Virginia Board review of a graduate seeking the LPC pathway.
Virginians and/or those who plan to practice in Virginia should also be aware of coursework requirements (listed per 18VAC115-20-51), which include professional counseling identity, function, and ethics; theories of counseling and psychotherapy; counseling and psychotherapy techniques; human growth and development; group counseling and psychotherapy theories and techniques; career counseling and development theories and techniques; appraisal, evaluation, and diagnostic procedures; abnormal behavior and psychopathology; multicultural counseling theories and techniques; research; diagnosis and treatment of addictive disorders; marriage and family systems theory; and a supervised internship of 600 hours, of which 240 hours of face-to-face client contact are required.
Prospective students are encouraged to review the Virginia Board of Counseling’s regulations closely.
My professors were professional, but they were also personal in a way that made my education there unique. I genuinely felt like I mattered. Ferrum gave me the confidence to keep pushing toward my goals, and in a lot of ways, it is where I found myself. I’m incredibly honored to be a three-time Ferrum alumna.
