Accreditation
Bushnell University’s Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The program is also approved by the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists (OBLPCT) and fulfills the educational requirements leading to Oregon licensure as a professional counselor.
Why Choose Bushnell?
Bushnell University offers a distinctive graduate counseling experience shaped by Christian faculty, intentional faith integration, and close faculty mentorship. You learn in a cohort-based, in-person format that emphasizes reflective practice, multicultural humility, and professional identity formation. Faculty members are experienced clinicians with diverse theoretical perspectives who provide individualized supervision throughout practicum and internship experiences.
Bushnell’s onsite counseling clinic further strengthens your preparation by allowing you to apply theory to practice in a supervised, community-serving environment aligned with the university’s mission and values.
700+
total clinical clock hours, including 280 direct client service hours
1
onsite counseling clinic providing supervised client experience
81-90%
licensure or certification exam pass rate range among recent graduates
Career Outcomes & Professional Pathways
Completion of the program prepares you to pursue licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Oregon, following completion of post-degree requirements. Graduates work in a variety of settings, including:
- community agencies
- private practices
- non-profit organizations
- hospitals
Professional roles may involve individual, group, or family counseling; crisis intervention; addiction treatment; and integrated behavioral health services. The program supports preparation for work with clients across the lifespan in diverse clinical contexts.
Clinical Training
Clinical training is a central component of the program and includes practicum, internship, and a culminating capstone project. You complete a minimum of 700 total clock hours, including 280 direct service hours, under qualified supervision in approved clinical settings, including Bushnell’s onsite counseling clinic or community sites. Additional requirements include participation in individual counseling as a client and leading or co-leading group counseling sessions. The capstone consists of a comprehensive paper and public presentation demonstrating your integrated counseling approach.
Admissions Requirements
Admission requires completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Required materials include official transcripts, a statement of purpose, professional résumé, two professional letters of recommendation, a dispositional assessment, and a personal interview. Applicants must complete a criminal background check at their own expense. International applicants must meet English proficiency requirements. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 must submit a supplemental essay for admissions consideration.
Tuition, Financial Aid & Scholarships
The program consists of 60 credits at a published cost per credit, with additional estimated expenses for books, technology fees, housing, transportation, and personal costs. Tuition and fees are structured by semester, and financial aid options are available to eligible graduate students. Institutional scholarships, federal financial aid, and military and veteran benefits may apply. Students are encouraged to consider both direct and indirect costs when planning for graduate study.
Frequently Asked Questions?
Students in the CMHC program must make a personal choice about working while pursuing their education. In the first year of the program, students are required to come to campus just one evening each week, which does allow students to continue working if they choose. In the second year of the program, they also begin seeing clients and participate in supervision with faculty and peers twice a week. Completing clinic hours, attending supervision, and balancing a weekly class may require students to adjust their work schedule as they progress in the program.
The CMHC program is the first step toward becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). To become an LPC, students must complete their master’s degree, pass the National Counselor Exam (NCE), and complete 1,900 supervised direct-client hours. Graduates of our program are eligible to work in a variety of settings, including agencies, private practice, non-profits, schools, prisons, hospitals, etc. and with individuals across the lifespan.
The CMHC program is the first step toward becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). To become an LPC, students must complete their master’s degree, pass the National Counselor Exam (NCE), and complete 1,900 supervised direct-client hours. Graduates of our program are eligible to work in a variety of settings, including agencies, private practice, non-profits, schools, prisons, hospitals, etc. and with individuals across the lifespan.
Students begin direct client work during the practicum and internship sequence, which typically occurs in the second year of the program. Clinical experiences are completed in approved settings, including Bushnell University’s onsite counseling clinic or community-based placement sites. All students receive individual and group supervision from qualified supervisors throughout their clinical training. This structure allows you to apply counseling theory, assessment, and treatment planning skills within supervised, real-world contexts.
The program emphasizes counseling as both a professional practice and a formative process. Coursework, supervision, and experiential requirements encourage self-awareness, ethical reflection, and engagement with personal values and worldview. Students are required to participate in individual counseling as a client and to engage in reflective supervision, supporting the development of professional identity, cultural humility, and ethical counseling practice aligned with professional standards.
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