1. Department of Counseling
  2. Student Resources
  3. Career Opportunities

Career Opportunities

Explore careers in clinical mental health and school counseling, licensure steps, and where a UL Lafayette counseling master's can take you.

Do you have a passion for helping people know and accept themselves? Can you see yourself helping others with behavioral issues, wellness, strategies for success, and personal growth? Your career path in counseling depends on your personality and your interests.

Counseling Specialties

  • Mental health counselors help clients cope with difficult situations, including depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns, and help families support relatives with mental health needs.
  • Marriage and family counselors help families work better together and guide couples and families who want to improve their relationships.
  • School counselors help elementary, middle, and high school students reach their personal, social, and educational goals, work through behavioral and social challenges, and plan for college and careers.
  • Career counselors help students and adults build their skills and find jobs.
  • Play therapists work with children, adolescents, and families using developmentally appropriate interventions.
  • Substance use counselors help people manage addiction and support their families, including through support groups.

Careers by Concentration

Roles include: behavioral disorder counselor, counselor, marriage and family therapist, mental health counselor, substance use counselor, therapist, and vocational counselor.

Where you could work: mental health agencies and community mental health centers, health care, in-patient and substance use treatment facilities, rehabilitation centers, educational institutions, criminal justice and corrections, management and administration, the private sector, or your own private practice.

Roles include: elementary, middle, or high school counselor, career counselor, and student life counselor.

Where you could work: public and private schools, government, nonprofit organizations, and educational corporations.

Licensure and Certification

After you earn your degree and meet your state's licensing requirements, you can choose where you want to work. Our program meets the educational requirements in Louisiana:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC): The clinical mental health counseling concentration meets the educational requirements for LPC licensure. You'll take the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification. Learn more from the Louisiana LPC Board and CACREP.
  • School counselor, K-12: The school counseling concentration meets the educational requirements for Louisiana Department of Education certification as a counselor, K-12, or ancillary counselor, K-12. You'll take the Praxis for Professional School Counseling. Learn more from the Louisiana Department of Education.

Requirements vary by state. If you plan to practice outside Louisiana, read our licensure disclosure.

Get Career-Ready