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Matt Zbrog
How to Become a Forensic Counselor
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Legal and mental health issues are often related, and forensic counselors work precisely where they overlap. Forensic counselors work with the families of people who are incarcerated; they offer substance abuse treatment to people on parole; and they develop strategies for teasing out the root causes of someone’s placement in the criminal justice system. In this way, being a forensic counselor means understanding that people in the criminal justice system don’t require simply punishment—they need help.
Forensic counselors aren’t just social workers, though. Their expert understanding of psychology as it relates to criminal justice allows them to work on many facets of the legal system. Forensic counselors can provide testimony as expert witnesses, sit in on parole meetings, or process inmate evaluations. A forensic counselor’s decisions can drastically alter the course of someone’s life, which is one reason why rigorous academic and licensure requirements are in place for this profession.
Forensic counselors can specialize in many fields, including substance abuse, group therapy, child psychology, or mental health law. They may work in hospitals, correctional facilities, or domestic violence shelters. In any event, this is emotionally heavy work, and it requires the compassion of a social worker, the objectivity of a legal professional, and the scientific rigor of a psychologist. For better or worse, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows the career outlook for community and social service occupations is on the rise, predicted to grow 10 percent from 2021 to 2031, creating 294,600 new positions.
With the average salary of a forensic counselor coming in at just under $50,000 a year, this isn’t a profession that’s motivated by money. But, interestingly, a PayScale (2022) survey with nearly 3,500 respondents found the vast majority of forensic counselors to be highly satisfied with their job. Of course, that might have something to do with the fact that their day-to-day lives involve being guardian angels for some of the least fortunate members of society.
But a guardian angel needs more than wings – forensic counselors need a degree, experience, and a license. In addition, forensic counseling has unique pathways that can validate a professional as an expert in their subject and make them eligible to practice.
Read on to get our step-by-step guide to becoming a forensic counselor.
Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Forensic Counselor
Step One: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree (Four Years)
After graduating high school, aspiring forensic counselors must earn a bachelor’s degree. Majors that revolve around psychology are the ideal choice for aspiring forensic counselors and programs that focus on forensic psychology specifically. Admissions requirements vary from school to school, but generally include some combination of the following: a competitive high school GPA (3.0 or greater); SAT and ACT scores; letters of recommendation; and a personal essay.
Arizona State University has an online bachelor of science in psychology with a concentration in forensic psychology. Going deeper than some bachelor of arts degrees in the subject, students take lab courses and advanced statistical training to understand the neuroscientific aspects of forensic psychology better.
Courses cover topics such as abnormal psychology; criminology; substantive criminal law; and data visualization. The program consists of 120 credits and can be completed entirely online in four years through 7.5-week courses.
- Location: Phoenix, AZ
- Duration: Four years
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Tuition: $621 per credit
Maryville University offers an online bachelor of arts in forensic psychology that lays the groundwork for graduate-level education. The curriculum covers the intersection of three distinct areas: psychology, criminal justice, and social science. Courses include criminal behavior; juvenile delinquency; abnormal psychology; investigations; and policy psychology. The program consists of 128 credits and courses are designed to meet American Psychological Association standards.
- Location: St. Louis, MO
- Duration: Four years
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Tuition: $500 per credit
Southern New Hampshire University offers a bachelor of arts in psychology with a forensic psychology concentration. Core courses include social psychology, sociology of crime & violence, and counseling process and techniques.
Students in this program automatically earn a 12-credit data literacy in psychology certificate, which verifies an individual’s ability to assess a crime’s psychological impact on individuals, groups, and society, and bolsters one’s credentials as an expert witness. Students can transfer up to 90 credits of courses from bachelor’s or associate’s degree programs.
- Location: Manchester, NH
- Duration: Four years
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- Tuition: $320 per credit
Step Two: Earn a Master’s Degree (One to Three Years)
After earning their bachelor’s degree, aspiring forensic counselors need to earn a master’s degree in forensic psychology or mental health counseling. This isn’t an optional step for those seeking credentials in the field; state licensure (see step four below) requires forensic counselors to have a master’s degree.
Admissions requirements vary from school to school, but generally include some combination of the following: a competitive undergraduate GPA (3.0 or greater); GRE scores; undergraduate coursework in psychology; letters of recommendation; and a personal statement.
Marymount University offers two on-campus dual-degree programs that award either a master of arts in forensic and legal psychology (MAFLP) and a master of arts in clinical mental health counseling (MACMHC) or a master of arts in counseling with clinical mental health and forensic and legal psychology.
Graduates of the programs meet all requirements to sit for state licensure exams. Courses cover topics such as legal and investigative psychology; forensic assessment; substance abuse assessment and intervention; multicultural counseling; and crisis intervention. The program consists of 75 credits.
- Location: Arlington, VA
- Duration: Two to three years
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Tuition: $1,190 per credit
The John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan has an on-campus master of arts in forensic mental health counseling program that prepares graduates for state licensure. In collaboration with the psychology department staff, students learn how to interview, counsel, and assess individuals in the legal system.
Courses cover topics such as criminal behavior and aggression; juvenile delinquency; alcohol and crime; victimology; and crisis intervention. The program consists of 60 credits.
- Location: New York, NY
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- Tuition: $470 per credit (residents); $855 per credit (non-residents)
Purdue Global University’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences offers a master of science in psychology with a concentration in forensic psychology. The course sequence is verified by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) and prepares graduates to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst exam.
The forensic psychology concentration prepares graduates to apply evidence-based psychological theories and concepts to advocate for a diverse range of patients in legal systems. Multiple start dates are available throughout the year for students’ convenience.
- Location: West Lafayette, IN
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Tuition: $420-$700 per credit
Step Three: Gain Work Experience (Two to Three Years)
After earning their master’s degree, forensic counselors will need to start putting theory into practice by gaining early work experience. Since forensic counseling is tailored to each situation and since the consequences of error can be so high, it’s at this stage that new forensic counselors work in supervised conditions. Only once a certain number of supervised work hours have been completed can forensic counselors begin to pursue state licensure (see step four below), which will allow them to practice as fully-licensed professionals.
Step Four: Get Licensed (Timeline Varies)
After gaining early work experience, forensic counselors must be licensed by the state they wish to practice in. Licenses will vary in requirements, terminology, and structure from state to state. However, common eligibility requirements include a master’s degree and 2,000 to 40,000 hours of supervised and unsupervised work experience (BLS 2022).
All states require forensic counselors to pass examinations before becoming licensed. The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) administers the licensure examinations used in all 50 states and maintains a directory of state licensure information for those who wish to clarify their status.
Step Five: Consider Professional Certification (Optional, Timeline Varies)
While it’s not a requirement to practice, many forensic counselors pursue professional certification to demonstrate their commitment to the profession. Many such certification options exist, each with their own requirements and specialties. But common requirements like work experience, graduate-level education, rigorous examinations, and ongoing professional development ensure that professionally certified forensic counselors go above and beyond their non-certified peers.
Here are three organizations offering professional certification for forensic counselors.
The National Board of Forensic Evaluators (NBFE) allows state-licensed counselors to prove their expertise in forensic health evaluation through its Certified Forensic Mental Health Evaluator (CFMHE) designation. Eligibility requirements include a state license to diagnose and treat mental health disorders independently; one year of post-licensure experience; and 40 hours of substantiated forensic documentation.
In addition, applicants must pass a written exam, submit a sample forensic evaluation, and then defend their evaluation in an oral exam. Exam fees vary. CFMHEs must renew their certification annually with a fee of $80 and proof of three hours of continuing education.
The National Association of Forensic Counselors (NAFC) has multiple optional certification methods for state-licensed professionals who become clinical-level members of the NAFC. Specialized tracks are available in mental health, criminal justice, law, corrections, and addictions. The addiction specialties certification requires applicants to have a valid state license; a master’s degree in a relevant subject; three years (or 6,000 hours) of supervised professional experience in addiction specialties; and 270 hours of formal training in addiction specialties.
Once deemed eligible, applicants have six months to take and pass a multiple-choice exam covering common-core knowledge in addiction specialties. Exam fees are $325. NAFC members can renew their membership by paying an annual fee of $125.
The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) offers optional board certification as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) through its flagship program. To be eligible, applicants must be able to present: a master’s degree in an area relevant to counseling; 100 hours of postgraduate counseling supervision over the last two years; endorsement from a similarly qualified mental health professional; and 3,000 hours of postgraduate counseling work in the previous two years. Note that students may waive some of these requirements for fully state-licensed professionals.
Once deemed eligible, applicants must pass either the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examinations (NCMHCE)—exams also used by states to determine licensure.
Once earned, professionals must recertify the NCC designation every five years through continuing education and annual fees. Those who have earned the NCC designation may pursue further specialized board certifications through the NBCC as a Master Addictions Counselor (MAC) or a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC).
Helpful Resources for Forensic Counselors
Forensic counseling has many different sub-disciplines, each with its own vast body of knowledge and best practices. But, as any good forensic counselor will tell you, a holistic view of each individual case is critical in ensuring the best possible outcome. If you’d like to get a view of what professionals in forensic counseling are talking about, check out some of the resources below.
Matt Zbrog is a writer and researcher from Southern California. Since 2018, he’s written extensively about the increasing digitization of investigations, the growing importance of forensic science, and emerging areas of investigative practice like open source intelligence (OSINT) and blockchain forensics. His writing and research are focused on learning from those who know the subject best, including leaders and subject matter specialists from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and the American Academy of Forensic Science (AAFS). As part of the Big Employers in Forensics series, Matt has conducted detailed interviews with forensic experts at the ATF, DEA, FBI, and NCIS.