Frequently Asked Questions 
MS in Mental Health Counseling

Our Mental Health Counseling program stands out both locally and nationally in that we are one of a few MS Counseling programs embedded in a medical school. This connection is evident through our Interprofessional Education (IPE) experiences. You will engage in three IPE experiences during your first year and at least six IPE experiences during your second year with us. First year IPE experiences involve having DO students attend skills courses alongside you, debriefing relevant movies, and shadowing in the OMM lab. Second year IPE experiences involve you engaging in a three hour encounter in which you work collaboratively with a PsyD, PA and DO student.

We also have the opportunity for you to engage in a Standardized Patient (SP) experience.

Mentorship is also something the faculty do above and beyond just advising you. We also assign you a student mentor who is a second year student who meets with you to help you navigate our program.

Usually two years if attending full time, three years if attending part time.

PCOM's Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling degree requirements include 60 credits of coursework that includes two elective (6 credits) courses. As dictated by the state, all counseling students must complete a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship that takes place over the course of two terms. PCOM students must also take and pass comprehensive exams which attend to various learning styles (multiple choice exam, case conceptualization paper, and a skills demonstration video). Lastly, students must also engage in an advocacy project that takes up to 10 hours over the course of their last year at PCOM and report on their advocacy project through a poster presentation.

Most students are on campus two nights a week; with classes starting at either 4 p.m. or 5:15 p.m. To learn more about the course delivery formats for the MS in Mental Health Counseling program, visit the curriculum page. 

Here are a few comments from our students:

• “The program provides a safe environment for students to speak up and be heard, as we trust and respect our professors and know they have a mutual respect for us.”
• “Faculty accessibility; enthusiastic faculty; classes that foster community and provide safe learning spaces.”
• “The workload coordination between courses. I also appreciate how assignments are meant to stimulate different type of learners.”
• “I really appreciate how understanding and caring all faculty and professors of this program are. Coming into the program, I was confused why self care was so emphasized. After going through this semester, I fully understand and appreciate how this also helped me learn more about myself.”
• “I appreciated the support and mentoring shown by my professors.”
• “My practicum experience made me marketable to reputable and clinically relevant mental health agencies.”
• “My training at PCOM (specifically through STEPPS, the Standardized Training and Evaluation of Psychologists and Psychotherapists program) helped me to achieve my dream job in the field of child trauma years earlier than I ever thought possible.”

Any student who wants to be independently licensed in the state of Pennsylvania must complete a 60 credit-hour MS degree, pass a licensure examination and complete at least 3,000 hours of supervised work experience (i.e., a paid position). Pennsylvania also offers a provisional license aimed at expanding opportunities for new counseling graduates. Licensure requirements often differ by state. For more information on licensure requirements for professional counseling in all 50 states, visit the American Counseling Association website.

Neither MAT nor GRE scores are required for admission.