What Is a Master's in Counseling Psychology in California?
In California, a master's in counseling psychology is often a clinical degree that prepares students for licensure as a marriage and family therapist (LMFT), and many programs with the title prepare students for licensure as a professional clinical counselor (LPCC) as well. Counseling psychology is one of the degree titles that Business and Professions Code 4980.36 accepts for the LMFT, so graduates of a qualifying program register with the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) as associates and work toward the license.
The title alone does not make a degree qualify. The program behind it has to meet the requirements of Business and Professions Code 4980.36, and the BBS decides whether each applicant's degree does. A master's in counseling psychology also does not lead to licensure as a psychologist, which in California requires a doctoral degree.
Does a Master's in Counseling Psychology Make You a Counseling Psychologist?
A master's in counseling psychology does not make its graduates counseling psychologists in California. State law reserves the title for licensees of the Board of Psychology: under Business and Professions Code 2903, no one may "represent themselves to be a psychologist, without a license granted under this chapter, except as otherwise provided in this chapter." The Board of Psychology requires applicants to "possess an earned doctoral degree" from a regionally accredited college or university in psychology (counseling psychology is one of the listed fields), in education with a specialization in counseling, educational or school psychology, or in a field designed to prepare graduates for the professional practice of psychology. Applicants also complete 3,000 hours of supervised professional experience and pass two examinations, the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and the California Psychology Laws and Ethics Examination.
Graduates of a master's program in counseling psychology work toward licenses from a different board. They register with the BBS as associates and work toward the LMFT and, in programs designed for both licenses, the LPCC. California law allows licensed marriage and family therapists to do "work of a psychological nature consistent with the laws governing their respective professions," but they may not describe themselves or their services with titles that include words such as "psychologist," "psychological" or "psychology," or imply that they are licensed to practice psychology.
A student who wants to work as a counseling psychologist in California therefore needs a doctoral program. A student who wants to practice therapy with a master's degree can pursue the LMFT, and in many counseling psychology programs the LPCC as well.
Does a Master's in Counseling Psychology Qualify for the LMFT?
A master's in counseling psychology qualifies for the LMFT when the program behind it meets Business and Professions Code 4980.36. Counseling psychology is one of the degree titles the statute lists, and a separate guide covers which master's degree titles qualify for the California LMFT. Beyond the title, the statute sets requirements for the program's design, units, practicum and content.
The degree must come from "a single, integrated program" that integrates marriage and family therapy principles throughout its curriculum. It must contain at least 60 semester or 90 quarter units of instruction, including at least 6 semester or 9 quarter units of practicum in a supervised clinical placement. The practicum must include at least 150 hours of face-to-face experience counseling individuals, couples, families or groups, plus 75 more hours of face-to-face counseling or client-centered advocacy. The coursework must cover the content areas the statute lists, among them the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of mental disorders, including psychological testing and psychopharmacology, and California law and professional ethics for marriage and family therapists.
The school must be approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE), accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), or accredited by a regional or national institutional accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and any one of the three is enough. The BBS then has "the authority to make the final determination as to whether a degree meets all requirements, including, but not limited to, course requirements, regardless of accreditation or approval." The guide to California's educational requirements for MFT licensure covers each requirement in more detail.
Which California Programs Are Titled Counseling Psychology?
Many California programs that prepare students for the LMFT carry the counseling psychology title, and the names vary in degree type, track and concentration. Four programs show the range.
| School | Program name, as the school gives it | What the school says |
|---|---|---|
| California State University, Long Beach | "Master of Science in Counseling Psychology" | The degree title "changed to Counseling Psychology as of the 2020/2021 University Catalog," and the program prepares students for both the LMFT and the LPCC. |
| Golden Gate University | "Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology" | "Our curriculum meets the educational requirements for MFT licensure and LPCC licensure in California." |
| Santa Clara University | "Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology" | Students choose an MFT track or a joint MFT/LPCC track in "an intensive 90-unit Master's program." |
| The Wright Institute | "Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling Psychology" | The curriculum is "designed to meet the requirements defined in the Business and Professions Code 4980.36." |
The same title can sit on programs with different structures. CSU Long Beach's degree was previously titled Marriage and Family Therapy, Santa Clara's program offers one track for a single license and another for two, and the Wright Institute ties its curriculum directly to the statute. A student comparing programs can ask each one how it meets Business and Professions Code 4980.36 and which licenses its curriculum is designed for.
Can a Master's in Counseling Psychology Lead to Both the LMFT and the LPCC?
Many counseling psychology programs in California prepare students for both the LMFT and the LPCC. CSU Long Beach says its program prepares students for both licenses, Golden Gate University says its curriculum meets the educational requirements for both, Santa Clara University offers a joint MFT/LPCC track, and the Wright Institute says its students gain hours toward MFT and/or PCC licensure. Dominican University of California describes its Master of Science in Counseling Psychology as a curriculum "designed to lead to licensures in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), Professional Clinical Counselor (PCC), or both".
The LPCC is a separate license under its own law, the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Act, so a program's preparation for the LMFT does not by itself show that it meets LPCC requirements. A student who wants both licenses can ask whether the curriculum is designed for both and how the practicum fits each license. The choice between the two licenses, and what each one is built around, is the subject of LMFT vs. LPCC in California.
How Can You Tell Whether a Program Meets California's Requirements?
A useful first check is the program's own statement of how its curriculum meets Business and Professions Code 4980.36, backed by details a student can verify. A program should be able to state its total units, its practicum units and the face-to-face hours its practicum provides, and the courses that cover the required content, including California law and professional ethics for marriage and family therapists. The school's BPPE approval or accreditation can be confirmed with the BPPE or the accreditor.
The BBS publishes a list of schools that "offer degree programs which may qualify towards California licensure." A listing is a useful starting point, and the Board still decides each applicant's case when it reviews the application.
The requirements themselves may change. Since 2025 the Board's Workforce Development Committee has been reviewing the education requirements for LMFT licensure, including the definition of an "integrated degree program," unit and practicum requirements, and accreditation requirements. Nothing had been adopted as of the Board's Spring 2026 newsletter, so students choosing a program can check the BBS website for updates before enrolling.
A Closer Look at One Program: The Sentio MFT Program
Programs differ in what they call the degree. The Sentio MFT program is a 20-month Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy of 60 semester credits, based in Los Angeles and open to students across California. Classes meet online in weekly live Zoom sessions over five 12-week semesters, with an in-person residency in Los Angeles at the start of each semester.
Students train in deliberate practice every week, rehearsing specific therapeutic skills with feedback. Every student has a guaranteed practicum at the Sentio Counseling Center, an online counseling center. Students begin seeing clients in their second semester and complete more than 400 supervised clinical hours before graduating, and supervisors review video of their sessions. In the Class of 2026, the program's first graduating class, 100% of graduates were registered as Associate Marriage and Family Therapists within six weeks of graduation.
Making Your Decision
The right program depends on the license you want. A student who wants to practice as a psychologist needs a doctoral program, while a student who wants the LMFT can choose among master's programs titled counseling psychology, marriage and family therapy or another title on the statute's list. Among those programs, the useful comparisons are how each one meets Business and Professions Code 4980.36, how its practicum works, and whether it also prepares students for the LPCC.
A student who has not yet decided between the LMFT and the LPCC can look first at programs that prepare students for both licenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you become a counseling psychologist with a master's degree in California?
A master's degree does not qualify anyone for the psychologist license in California. The Board of Psychology requires an earned doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution in psychology, including counseling psychology, or in a related listed field, plus 3,000 hours of supervised professional experience and passing scores on the EPPP and the California Psychology Laws and Ethics Examination. A master's in counseling psychology leads instead to licenses from the Board of Behavioral Sciences, such as the LMFT.
Does a master's in counseling psychology lead to an LMFT in California?
A master's in counseling psychology can lead to the LMFT. Counseling psychology is one of the degree titles listed in Business and Professions Code 4980.36, and the degree qualifies when it comes from a single, integrated program of at least 60 semester or 90 quarter units with a supervised practicum and the required content, at an approved or accredited school. Graduates register with the Board of Behavioral Sciences as associates and complete the remaining requirements for the license.
Is a master's in counseling psychology the same as a master's in marriage and family therapy?
For the California LMFT, both titles appear on the same statutory list, and a program with either title must meet the same requirements in Business and Professions Code 4980.36. The programs can still differ in design. Some counseling psychology programs also prepare students for the LPCC, and CSU Long Beach changed its degree title from Marriage and Family Therapy to Counseling Psychology as of its 2020/2021 catalog.
Can a master's in counseling psychology lead to the LPCC?
Many California counseling psychology programs prepare students for the LPCC as well as the LMFT. CSU Long Beach, Golden Gate University and Santa Clara University each describe preparation for both licenses on their program pages. The LPCC is governed by its own law, the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Act, so a student who wants it should confirm that the program's curriculum is designed for the LPCC as well as the LMFT.
How many units is a master's in counseling psychology in California?
A counseling psychology master's that qualifies for the LMFT must contain at least 60 semester or 90 quarter units under Business and Professions Code 4980.36, including at least 6 semester or 9 quarter units of supervised practicum. Programs may require more than the minimum; CSU Long Beach's Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, for example, lists 65 units.
References
Board of Behavioral Sciences. (n.d.). Education resources. https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/education_resources.html
Board of Behavioral Sciences. (2026). Spring 2026 newsletter. https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/newsletters/spring2026.pdf
Board of Behavioral Sciences. (2026). Statutes and regulations relating to the practice of professional clinical counseling, marriage and family therapy, educational psychology, clinical social work. https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/publications/lawsregs.pdf
Board of Psychology. (n.d.). Psychologist licensure FAQs. https://www.psychology.ca.gov/licensees/faq.html
California Legislature. (2026). Business and Professions Code section 2903. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC§ionNum=2903
California Legislature. (2026). Business and Professions Code section 2908. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC§ionNum=2908
California State University, Long Beach. (n.d.). Counseling psychology. https://www.csulb.edu/college-of-education/counseling-psychology
California State University, Long Beach. (n.d.). Counseling psychology: Program description. https://www.csulb.edu/college-of-education/counseling-psychology/program-description
Dominican University of California. (n.d.). Master of Science in counseling psychology (MS, MFT/PCC). https://www.dominican.edu/academics/graduate-programs/master-science-counseling-psychology-ms-mftpcc
Golden Gate University. (n.d.). Master of Arts in counseling psychology. https://ggu.edu/programs/ma-counseling-psychology/
Santa Clara University. (n.d.). Counseling psychology. https://www.scu.edu/ecp/programs/counseling-psychology/
Wright Institute. (n.d.). MA clinical experience. https://www.wi.edu/ma-clinical-experience
Wright Institute. (n.d.). MA curriculum. https://www.wi.edu/ma-new-curriculum
