9 Top Part Time Counseling Programs in Texas for Working Adults
If you are currently working and wondering how you will possibly manage taking on a counseling program at the same time, look no further. We’ve compiled a list of part time masters in counseling programs in Texas, some of which are online, that will allow you to keep working while you pursue your degree.
Becoming a counselor is a great choice. Like many states, Texas faces a critical mental health workforce shortage, with only 690 residents to every mental health provider. The state ranks 49th nationally. They can definitely use more people pursuing education for this fulfilling career.
Check out our guide to these programs and let us know if you know of any options we are missing!
1. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center – Online MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Program Overview and Key Features
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center launched its Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program in 2017. The program stands out as one of the first counselor education programs in the United States to train practitioners simultaneously in clinical counseling skills and telehealth techniques. Students complete a 60 credit-hour curriculum that combines core and specialty courses with 12 credit-hours of practicum and internship experience.
The program integrates telehealth as a core component throughout. This prepares you to provide distance-based health care services using state-of-the-art techniques that continue to gain wider acceptance. Students complete a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship at a clinic of their choosing. You can observe seasoned professionals and practice your own skills there. Coursework has Human Growth and Development, Treatment Planning and Case Management, Foundations of Counseling and Ethical Development, Crisis Counseling, and Psycho-pharmacology for Mental Health.
The program’s mission focuses on preparing entry-level counselors to work competently and ethically through evidence-based counseling practices. Special attention goes to the unique needs of diverse communities, particularly those in rural settings.
Part-Time Format and Flexibility
The program was designed for students working full-time. This uncommon approach allows you to complete clinical requirements in your local area and fit coursework into your busy schedule. All courses are delivered 100% online and serve students throughout Texas and the United States.
Students can complete practicum and internship hours at locations convenient to them. You won’t need to relocate or leave your current employment. This flexibility makes TTUHSC’s program one of the few fully online clinical mental health counseling programs available in Texas and nationwide.
CACREP Accreditation Status
The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program earned CACREP accreditation in 2019. This accreditation allows graduates licensure eligibility across a majority of states and helps reduce the national shortage of qualified mental health counselors. You’ll possess the competencies needed to take the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification upon completion. Success on this exam allows you to become accredited as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and pursue licensure as an LPC in most states.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The program charges $21,162 in tuition and fees. Students must submit the FAFSA to apply for financial awards. The application deadline for financial aid consideration is September 1. The program processes applications on a rolling basis and gives you flexibility in when you apply.
Admission Requirements
You must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. The program prefers degrees in psychology, sociology, rehabilitation, occupational therapy, social work, special education, or nursing, though degrees in other areas receive consideration. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 from all previous institutions is required. Alternatively, you can meet this requirement with a GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 semester hours of courses.
The application process has:
- $75 application fee paid through the online system
- Official transcripts from all colleges attended in sealed envelopes
- Current resume submitted through the online application
- Two letters of recommendation required (three preferred)
- Essay as part of the application
- Prior work experience in human service settings (paid or voluntary) normally expected
The program does not require GRE scores. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The Fall admission deadline is June 1st and the Spring admission deadline is November 1st. The program began accepting students twice yearly in Fall and Spring terms.
2. Northwestern University – Online MA in Counseling (accepts TX students)
Program Overview and Key Features
Northwestern University’s online Master of Arts in Counseling distinguishes itself through a psychodynamic approach that gets into conscious and unconscious forces affecting client work. The CACREP-accredited curriculum delivers 800 hours of clinical training through a 200-hour practicum and 600-hour internship. The program has 1.7k+ alumni and starts four cohorts each year in January, April, June, and September. You can choose between Standard and Bridge to Counseling pathways.
The Standard Program has 24 graduate-level courses for those with bachelor’s degrees in psychology or related fields. The Bridge to Counseling Program adds three introductory courses and totals 27 courses. This pathway was designed for career-changers entering counseling from other disciplines. You can pursue a Child and Adolescent Specialization during your second year. Two courses provide in-depth treatment approaches for youth mental health concerns and maintain full preparation for adult counseling.
The program’s psychodynamic values encourage you to explore developmental histories and trajectories. This helps you empathize more with clients’ experiences. You’ll develop cognitive complexity in clinical judgments through reflective practice and multicultural competence training. A dedicated clinical training team assists in securing Northwestern-approved practicum and internship sites within your local community in communities throughout the United States. This eliminates the burden of self-placement.
Part-Time Format and Flexibility
You can select from three study paths based on your schedule. The accelerated track takes 18 months across six quarters. The traditional track spans about 2.5 years, and the part-time track extends to three years over 12 quarters. All courses deliver through live, online class sessions. You can study from anywhere and maintain employment.
The program requires two in-person immersions in Illinois. The New Student Immersion orients you to program resources during your first quarter. The Group Dynamics Immersion during practicum season serves as a living laboratory for getting into group, institutional, and diversity dynamics. Northwestern covers hotel and meals for these immersions, though you handle travel costs.
CACREP Accreditation Status
Northwestern’s online and on-campus programs received a full eight-year CACREP accreditation in 2015. Renewal occurred in 2024. Receiving full eight-year accreditation on first application remains rare. This demonstrates the program’s exceptional training model and faculty strength. This accreditation provides licensure eligibility in most states, as many licensing boards require CACREP or CORE-accredited degrees.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition operates on a credit-based system. Current rates are available through The Graduate School at Northwestern. You can access federal loans, grants, and program scholarships as a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Starting July 1, 2026, changes affect graduate financial aid. Grad PLUS Loans will no longer be offered for new borrowers, and annual borrowing limits drop to $20,500 with a $100,000 lifetime cap for graduate degrees. If your federal loans disburse before July 1, 2026, you may continue borrowing under prior rules with limitations.
Students enrolled in 3-4 courses per quarter qualify as full-time. Two courses per quarter counts as half-time for federal aid eligibility.
Admission Requirements
You must be a U.S. citizen, DACA recipient, or permanent resident living in the United States throughout the program. The integrated review process assesses personal maturity, empathy, and professional potential beyond academic markers like GPA, which carries a 3.0 minimum recommendation.
Your application package has official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions, two letters of recommendation, a resume detailing clinical or relevant experience, and personal and academic statements addressing your interest and readiness. The academic statement must respond within 1,000 words to questions about personal influences, competing responsibilities, field attraction, and challenging life circumstances. You’ll participate in a mandatory group interview if selected. Acceptance rates fall below 7%. The $95 application fee can be waived through an enrollment specialist, and a $50 background check follows conditional admission.
3. Lamar University – Online M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Program Overview and Key Features
Lamar University’s M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling prepares you to provide clinical counseling services to clients in clinics, hospitals, school-based mental health programs and private practice settings. The 60-hour curriculum addresses human development, abnormal behaviors and counseling interventions such as individual techniques, group techniques, substance abuse counseling and crisis intervention.
The program requires two mandatory 5-day in-person residency seminars alongside practicum and internship components. These build ground experience in the field. Coursework spans Human Growth & Development, Foundations of Professional Counseling, Counseling Skills, Individual and Group Counseling Theory and Techniques, Multicultural Counseling, Professionalism Ethics & Law, Career Development, Addiction Counseling, Psychopathology and Basic Psychopharmacology, Measurement & Assessment, Abnormal Human Behavior, Crisis Prevention Intervention, Marriage Couple and Family Counseling and Introduction to Research. The clinical training has a practicum that provides 100 hours of supervised experience and two internship courses that total 600 hours.
This program meets the educational coursework requirements for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas.
Part-Time Format and Flexibility
The online M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling operates through 5-week courses that allow you to begin soon and graduate earlier. Multiple start dates throughout the year provide scheduling flexibility. Each traditional 15-week semester breaks into three sessions (Spring I, Spring II, Spring III) and summer divides into two sessions (Summer I, Summer II).
You’ll complete coursework online while you maintain your current employment. The exception is two 5-day residency seminars on campus. Field work courses such as practicum and internship must be completed in person at approved sites, though many locations have implemented telehealth protocols for virtual counseling sessions.
CACREP Accreditation Status
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is not CACREP accredited. The program held CACREP accreditation previously but lost this status in 2020. This does not affect your knowing how to become licensed in Texas and many other states. Most states accept counseling degrees from institutions with regional accreditation when curricular requirements are met.
Texas and the majority of states are not bound to CACREP for licensure eligibility. Lamar University holds regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), which falls under the Council on Higher Education Association (CHEA). The M.Ed. in Counseling programs are also accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).
Out-of-state students should verify their specific state requirements. Two states require CACREP accreditation, though exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Program Component // Cost
| Per Credit Hour | $360 |
| Per Course | $1,080 |
| Total Program | $21,604 |
University fees are part of the tuition listed and can be covered by financial aid if you qualify. You can pay tuition by the course and make the program manageable financially. Financial aid options have institutionally-sponsored loans, scholarships, career-related internships and Federal Work-Study, with support available for part-time students.
Admission Requirements
You must hold a bachelor’s degree from an institution with regional accreditation and a minimum 3.0 GPA. The program does not require GRE scores. As a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you’ll complete an online application through ApplyTexas with a $25 application fee.
Besides official transcripts from all institutions attended, you’ll complete a separate department application 24-48 hours after your ApplyTexas submission. The department application has program and licensure acknowledgement, professional informed consent, structured essays that discuss your career goals and motivation for pursuing clinical mental health counseling, and a professional reference. Your reference will receive direct email instructions for the reference form.
Department application essays and references are due by noon 10 business days after the ApplyTexas deadline. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. You must reapply for the next available start date if components aren’t completed within the semester you applied to initially.
4. University of North Texas at Dallas – MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Program Overview and Key Features
The University of North Texas at Dallas delivers a 60-hour Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling that prepares you to counsel in mental health centers, private counseling agencies, drug abuse treatment centers, child protective services, family counseling centers, pastoral counseling settings, private practice, and business and industry. You’ll select from four specialization tracks at the beginning of the program: Adolescent, Adult, Child, or College. This flexibility lets you tailor your training toward specific populations you intend to serve.
The curriculum meets all educational requirements for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas. Texas requires you to pass the National Counselor Examination and complete 3,000 clock hours of supervised clinical experience to get full LPC licensure after graduation. The program demonstrates strong preparation outcomes, with an 89% pass rate on the National Counselor Examination among students and graduates between Fall 2023 and Spring 2024.
Part-Time Format and Flexibility
UNT Dallas structures its Clinical Mental Health Counseling program for working professionals through a hybrid delivery model. Some courses meet face-to-face, others combine online and in-person elements, and some run online. All face-to-face sessions and classes occur at the UNT Dallas campus, with occasional meetings at service learning or internship sites.
Classes run during weekday evenings from Monday through Thursday and meet once per week. Part-time students complete the program in 3.5 years, while full-time enrollment reduces the timeline to 2.5 years. This evening schedule lets you maintain daytime employment while advancing your counseling credentials. You cannot complete the entire program remotely, but certain components require campus attendance.
CACREP Accreditation Status
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program holds full CACREP accreditation through April 30, 2034. Accreditation started on July 13, 2017, and graduates are considered CACREP graduates beginning January 13, 2016. This national recognition means the program meets strict academic standards for excellence and provides licensure eligibility in most states.
Tuition and Financial Aid
UNT Dallas offers affordable tuition for this program and lets you work a full-time mental health job while paying your tuition, as current students report. Financial assistance has federal grants, scholarships, state aid programs, institutional aid programs, loans, and part-time work-study opportunities for qualifying students. You must submit the FAFSA beginning October 1 of each year for the following academic year, with a March 15 priority deadline for fall and spring terms.
Admission Requirements
You need official transcripts showing a minimum 2.8 overall GPA or 3.0 for your last 60 undergraduate hours. The program does not require GRE scores. Your application package has three confidential reference assessments from a current or former employer, a professor or Certified School Counselor, and a non-family member. You’ll submit a writing sample responding to essay questions, limited to two double-spaced pages maximum. You’ll write an additional onsite essay during the interview process. Priority deadlines fall on January 1, March 1, and August 1 for fall admission, with final deadlines of May 1 for fall and October 1 for spring enrollment.
5. Sam Houston State University – MA in Counseling
Program Overview and Key Features
Sam Houston State University operates two state-of-the-art counseling clinics where students gain hands-on experience. One clinic sits on the Huntsville campus and serves rural populations. The other operates at The Woodlands Center and addresses urban and suburban needs. You’ll receive live faculty supervision while you provide free counseling to community members in settings equipped for individual therapy, play therapy, Sandtray counseling, group sessions, and couples and family work.
The 60-hour MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling combines face-to-face and online courses to accommodate working professionals. You’ll complete all academic and clinical experience requirements you need to apply for Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate (LPC-Associate) status in Texas. The program also offers Graduate Certificates in Play Therapy, Marriage Couples and Family Counseling, and Trauma and Loss. These certificates let you develop specialized expertise.
Faculty members bring decades of clinical experience and international recognition in trauma-related fields. Their work includes child abuse survivors, crime victims, transgenerational trauma in Indigenous populations, medical trauma, and the intersection of trauma with addiction or offending behaviors. The program houses the Center for Research on Trauma and Traumatology, which sponsors the Crisis, Attachment, Trauma, and Stress (CATS) Summer Institute.
Part-Time Format and Flexibility
The program delivers coursework through a combination of online and in-person classes at the Huntsville campus and The Woodlands teaching clinic. This hybrid model lets you maintain full-time employment while you progress through the curriculum. Field work training spans three semesters. You start with supervised practice in the Jack Staggs Counseling Clinics. Two internship semesters follow and require about 20-25 hours weekly at approved community-based sites.
CACREP Accreditation Status
The MA in Counseling holds current CACREP accreditation through October 31, 2031. The program’s accreditation status is listed as “Accredited (Progress Report Required with a Notice of Concern)”.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Student TypePer Semester (9 hours)
| Texas Resident | $4,476.65 |
| Non-Resident | $8,121.65 |
These rates apply for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. They cover tuition, fees, and various campus services.
Admission Requirements
Applications are accepted for Fall and Spring admission. Priority deadlines are January 1 (Fall) and September 1 (Spring). Regular deadlines are March 15 (Fall) and November 1 (Spring). The admissions committee conducts a holistic review process and interviews top candidates.
You must submit official transcripts, two reference forms (one from an employer or professor, another from a professional acquaintance who is not a family member or personal healthcare provider), a personal statement that addresses specific prompts, and official GRE scores. The GRE requirement is waived if you possess an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, or have completed at least nine graduate credit hours with a 3.5 GPA or higher.
6. University of Mary Hardin-Baylor – Online MA in Counseling
Program Overview and Key Features
The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor offers two distinct 60-hour MA in Counseling tracks, allowing you to specialize based on career goals. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling track prepares you for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credentials and focuses on individual client interventions in counseling and mental health settings. The Marriage, Family and Child Counseling track prepares you for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licensure, emphasizing relational and systemic interventions with couples and families.
Both tracks reflect UMHB’s Christian-based values while meeting educational requirements set by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council. Faculty members serve as active clinicians themselves and provide mentorship grounded in real-life experience. Coursework spans developmental counseling, theories and techniques, group dynamics, multicultural counseling, assessment and diagnosis, and professional ethics.
Part-Time Format and Flexibility
You can complete the program while maintaining employment. Courses accommodate working professionals’ schedules. Clinical practicum and internship experiences occur at appropriate settings in conjunction with core counseling courses. Full-time enrollment over year-round semesters requires approximately seven semesters for completion.
CACREP Accreditation Status
Both the CMHC and MFCC tracks hold CACREP accreditation under 2016 standards. This national recognition provides licensure portability, as CACREP standards meet or exceed requirements in most states beyond Texas. Federal agencies recognize these standards, including the Department of Defense and Veterans Administration.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The application fee is $35 for domestic applicants and $135 for international students. Financial support has graduate assistantships, Federal Work-Study, and aid for part-time students. You must submit the FAFSA to access financial awards.
Admission Requirements
You need a minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA or 3.0 on your last 60 credit hours. The GRE General Test is required if your overall undergraduate GPA falls below 3.0, with minimum scores of 300 on combined verbal and quantitative sections and 3.0 on the analytical portion. You’ll submit three letters of recommendation and complete an interview with departmental faculty. Application deadlines fall on June 1st for fall admission and November 1st for spring. Recent admissions data shows 33 applied, 30 accepted, and 21 enrolled.
7. Texas A&M University Central Texas – MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Program Overview and Key Features
Texas A&M University Central Texas in Killeen delivers a 60 semester hour MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling designed to prepare you for Licensed Professional Counselor credentials in Texas. The program’s mission centers on preparing professional counselors grounded in cultural relevance to meet the diverse needs of individuals and families in Central Texas and beyond.
You’ll develop strong professional identities as a counselor while establishing helping relationships with diverse clients. The curriculum lines up with CACREP standards across eight core areas. It covers theories and models that guide professional practice, individual and family development across the lifespan, career development and counseling, group dynamics, research methods and evidence-based practices, ethical foundations, and assessment fundamentals.
Part-Time Format and Flexibility
The program accommodates working professionals through flexible scheduling options. Many graduate programs at Texas A&M Central Texas feature online or hybrid courses to fit demanding work schedules, beyond traditional formats.
CACREP Accreditation Status
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program holds CACREP accreditation. All curriculum and standards meet national requirements. This accreditation has been in place since 2016.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The program charges a $30 per semester credit hour fee for new students entering the CMHC program. You can transfer up to 12 graduate-level credits from prior coursework if they line up with program requirements.
Admission Requirements
You need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum 2.5 GPA in your last 60 hours, including the semester where the 60th hour occurred. The program accepts both graduate and undergraduate coursework for this calculation. Specific clinical experience isn’t required, but previous related work makes your application more competitive. Application deadlines are July 1 for fall admission, November 1 for spring, and April 1 for summer.
8. Stephen F. Austin State University – Online MA in Professional Counseling
Program Overview and Key Features
Stephen F. Austin State University offers a 60-hour MA in Professional Counseling with three specialization tracks: Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling, and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling. The Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling track is being suspended due to decreased enrollment, though existing students can complete degree requirements within the current CACREP accreditation cycle.
You’ll complete a 48-hour common core curriculum before taking 12 hours in your chosen specialization. This structure exposes you to all three counseling areas and develops comprehensive professional skills. Clinical training has a 100-hour practicum at the on-campus SFA Counseling Clinic and a 600-hour internship in community, school, or rehabilitation settings.
Part-Time Format and Flexibility
SFA delivers coursework through a combination of online and face-to-face courses. This gives working professionals the flexibility they need. Most students complete the program in 24 months. You must complete a general psychology background course within your first year of enrollment.
CACREP Accreditation Status
The Professional Counseling Program holds full CACREP accreditation through April 30, 2034. Accreditation started January 5, 2017, and graduates are considered CACREP graduates beginning July 5, 2015.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Annual tuition averages $29,220, with a $50 application fee.
Admission Requirements
You need a minimum 2.8 GPA in your last 60 undergraduate hours. The GRE is no longer required. Application deadlines are March 1 for fall admission and October 1 for spring.
9. Angelo State University – Online MS in Counseling Psychology
Program Overview and Key Features
Angelo State University’s MS in Counseling Psychology has earned national recognition, ranking #10 among Best Master’s in Counseling Psychology Programs. The 60-credit-hour program prepares you to become a licensed psychological associate (LPA) or licensed professional counselor (LPC). Students and graduates have achieved a 100% passing rate on the National Counselor Exam since 2005, which shows exceptional preparation quality.
The program maintains collaborative relationships with local and regional healthcare agencies and provides hands-on training and networking opportunities. You can apply for paid graduate assistant, teaching assistant, and research assistant positions to gain practical experience while offsetting program costs.
Part-Time Format and Flexibility
The MS in Counseling Psychology operates through an in-person format on the San Angelo campus. Students with fewer than 18 credit hours of undergraduate psychology must complete a graduate leveling course in foundational psychology areas.
CACREP Accreditation Status
Angelo State’s School Counseling M.Ed. program holds accreditation from the Texas Education Agency to recommend candidates for educator certification. The MS in Counseling Psychology prepares graduates to obtain licensure eligibility through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists and Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors.
Tuition and Financial Aid
| Student Type | Cost (9 credit hours/2 semesters) |
|---|---|
| Texas Resident | $7,577.20 |
| Non-Resident | $15,281.20 |
| International Insurance | $3,123.00 annually |
ASU Distinguished Graduate Scholarships are awarded based on your highest degree GPA upon admission.
Admission Requirements
You need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. The program uses a GRE formula if your GPA falls below 3.0: [GPA x 100] + Quantitative + Verbal + Converted Analytical ≥ 730. Submit three letters of recommendation (two from academic sources), an essay, and unofficial transcripts through the Graduate Studies Documents for Submission form. Priority admission reviews begin March 15 for fall and October 15 for spring, with final deadlines of July 15 and December 1 respectively.
Start Today
Pursuing your counseling degree while working full-time may seem challenging at first, but Texas offers many flexible pathways to LPC licensure as shown above. You’ll find programs designed around your schedule and career goals whether you prioritize CACREP accreditation, prefer online delivery, or need evening classes.
Your next step is straightforward: identify which factors matter most (accreditation status, delivery format, or completion timeline), then reach out to programs that match your priorities. Most programs offer rolling admissions or multiple start dates each year and allow you to begin your counseling trip sooner than you might expect.