How to Become a Licensed Counselor in Wyoming

Individuals interested in helping people and making a difference in the state of Wyoming should consider the professional field of counseling, as it’s one of the fastest growing careers in the state. With employment projected to increase by 21% through the year 2030 according to O*NET (a site sponsored by the US Department of Labor), counseling jobs within the state of Wyoming enable professionals to reach out and make a positive impact on the lives of men, women, and children. Becoming a counselor in Wyoming is not only very rewarding, but it can be very lucrative as well.

What Are the Requirements to Become a Counselor in Wyoming?

In order to have a solid foundation to pull from when counseling patients, professional counselors need a great education and some work experience before becoming licensed. They will also be required to pass one of the examinations administered by the State (mentioned below) which gauges their level of knowledge and skill on counseling topics and information.

The first step in becoming a counselor is to obtain either a master’s degree or doctorate degree in the field of counseling from an educational institution that has been accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). During this training, students will cover a large variety of topics, from human growth and development to social and cultural diversity.

What Are the Supervised Experience Requirements to Become a Counselor in Wyoming?

Wyoming state laws and statutes require future counselors to accumulate a certain amount of experience before becoming licensed. This helps candidates for licensure gain confidence in the field and knowledge that will help them become more successful at their job. And that is knowledge and experience that can only be gained through on-the-job learning. A minimum of 3,000 hours of supervised clinical training or work experience in the field of professional counseling is required. This must take place under the direct supervision of a qualified clinical supervisor. Wyoming law (Chapter 11 – Licensed Professional Counselor) requires that all 3,000 of those hours are to be completed after the future counselor obtains the master’s degree. Furthermore, 1,200 of those hours should be what is called “direct client contact hours,” meaning that the future counselor is working directly with patients during those hours. Finally, 100 of those 3,000 hours should be direct, face-to-face supervision by a qualified clinical counselor. This does not include group supervision.

What Are the Examination Requirements to Become a Counselor in Wyoming?

The Mental Health Professions Licensing Board will accept a passing score on a few different examinations, including:

• The National Board of Certified Counselors’ (NBCC) National Counselor Examination (NCE)
• The National Clinical Mental Health Examination (NCHME)
• The Certification Examination administered by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC).

The National Counselor Examination, administered by the NBCC consists of 200 multiple choice questions designed to assess knowledge, skills, and abilities of licensure candidates. You will receive your score within eight weeks of the examination. Study guides are available via the NBCC. The National Clinical Mental Health Examination, also administered by the NBCC, is for licensing clinical counselors and includes 10 simulated clinical mental health cases which gauge the candidate’s knowledge and skill level. Finally, the Certification Examination administered by the CRCC consists of 175 multiple choice questions that determine skill and knowledge level across ten different categories of counseling. You should receive your test results within five weeks of the testing date. Note: For more information on how to become a counselor in the state of Wyoming, please visit the Mental Health Professions Licensing Board.

Counseling Career Outlook in Wyoming

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the annual median wage for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Wyoming is $59,760. This salary can increase depending upon the experience you have as well as where you live in the state of Wyoming and what organization or company you work for. As of May 2022, there were 630 substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors employed in the state.

Schools with Degree Programs Accepting Students from Wyoming 

Additional Resources for Wyoming Applicants:

• Wyoming Psychologist Licensing
• Wyoming Social Work Licensing
• Wyoming Marriage and Family Therapist Licensing
• Explore Additional Counseling Careers

2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET (a website sponsored by the US Department of Labor) job market trends and salary figures for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors are based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2023.