Best Counseling Programs in New Jersey (2026)
Top CACREP-accredited counseling programs in New Jersey for 2026, with tuition, LAC and LPC licensure requirements, NCE prep, NYC and Philadelphia metro placement access, and the supervised hours pathway through accelerated or standard routes.
Key Takeaways
- New Jersey has roughly ten CACREP-accredited counseling programs, including Rider University, Rowan, Montclair State, TCNJ (CACREP since 1991), Kean (most affordable), Monmouth, Caldwell, Stockton (newest, since 2022), William Paterson, and NJCU. Felician University runs an MPCAC program (not CACREP); Centenary offers only School Counseling.
- New Jersey uses a two-tier license structure. LAC (Licensed Associate Counselor) is the post-master's supervised credential. LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) is the independent practice license. NJ also separately licenses LCADC (Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor) for substance use specialization.
- Becoming an LPC in New Jersey offers two routes. Standard route: up to 4,500 hours of supervised counseling experience over 3 calendar years (max 1,500 pre-degree, min 3,000 post-master's). Accelerated route: 3,000 post-master's hours over 2 years as an LAC, plus 30 additional post-master's graduate credits. Both require passing the NCE.
- New Jersey is a Counseling Compact member. Compact bill A5311/S3061 became effective January 16, 2024, making NJ the 32nd state to enact. NJ Compact privilege issuance depends on Compact Commission rollout; as of early 2026, Arizona, Minnesota, and Ohio are the only states actively issuing.
- NJ supervised experience requires 50 hours of face-to-face supervision per year (about 1 hour per week), with no more than 10 hours in group format. Hour caps: 1,500 per year, 30 per week, 125 per month. You have 6 years from your LAC date to complete the experience requirement.
- Continuing education runs 40 hours every 2 years, more than most states. Required topics include 5 hours ethics, 3 hours social/cultural competence, and 1 hour opioid education. Maximum 10 hours carryover (the opioid hour does not carry).
- New Jersey has one of the highest median household income states in the country, supporting private-pay LPC practice and commercial insurance reimbursement above Medicare baselines. The NJ Behavioral Healthcare Provider Loan Redemption Program offers LPCs up to $50,000 per 2-year service period, max $180,000 across multiple awards. Supplemental $5,000/year for those serving children/adolescents.
New Jersey is one of the most distinctive LPC markets in the country, primarily because of geographic adjacency to NYC and Philadelphia. North Jersey counselors commute into NYC; South Jersey draws from Philadelphia metro. Combined with Counseling Compact membership (effective January 2024) and NJ's high median income, NJ LPCs have access to one of the strongest combined-market opportunities in the country.
The NJ licensing path: complete a 60-credit CACREP-accredited master's, apply for LAC status with the NJ Professional Counselor Examiners Committee (a sub-committee of the Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners), accumulate supervised hours through one of two routes (standard 4,500 over 3 years or accelerated 3,000 over 2 years plus 30 extra grad credits), and pass the NCE. Total time from master's to LPC: 2 to 3 years depending on route.
What makes New Jersey distinct: the two-route supervised experience structure. The accelerated route is rare and lets motivated CACREP graduates earn LPC in 2 years instead of 3, in exchange for completing 30 additional post-master's graduate credits in counseling-related areas. This is a meaningful planning consideration for prospective students. If you're targeting the accelerated route, work with your master's program to confirm post-grad credit availability before enrollment.
CACREP-Accredited Counseling Programs in New Jersey
All 10 programs ranked in this guide, with tuition, format, and accreditation at a glance.
| # | School | In-State Tuition | Format | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rider University | ~$985/credit (private, flat rate, ~$59,100 total) | On-campus | |
| 2 | Rowan University | ~$725/credit (~$43,500 total) | On-campus | |
| 3 | Montclair State University | ~$795/credit (~$47,700 total) | On-campus + evening | |
| 4 | The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) | ~$715/credit (~$42,900 total); online ~$535/credit | On-campus + online options | |
| 5 | Kean University | $493.09/credit (~$29,585 total) - most affordable NJ CACREP option | On-campus | |
| 6 | Monmouth University | ~$1,170/credit (private, flat rate, ~$70,200 total) | On-campus | |
| 7 | Caldwell University | ~$1,030/credit (private, flat rate, ~$61,800 total) | On-campus | |
| 8 | Stockton University | ~$917/credit (~$55,020 total) | On-campus | |
| 9 | William Paterson University | ~$705/credit (~$42,300 total) | On-campus | |
| 10 | New Jersey City University (NJCU) | ~$685/credit (~$41,100 total) | On-campus |
Rider University
In-State
~$985/credit (private, flat rate, ~$59,100 total)
Out-of-State
~$985/credit (private, flat rate)
Length
2.5 to 3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
700+ (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- CACREP-accredited through March 31, 2031 (clean accreditation horizon)
- Distinctive Dance/Movement Therapy concentration rare in CACREP programs nationally
- Addictions and advanced psychopathology required coursework
- Located in Lawrence Township between Princeton and Trenton
- Strong placement pipeline with Capital Health and Princeton House Behavioral Health
Rowan University
In-State
~$725/credit (~$43,500 total)
Out-of-State
~$1,275/credit
Length
2.5 to 3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
700+ (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- CACREP-accredited MA in Counseling at Rowan's Department of Psychology
- Located in Glassboro with strong South Jersey and Philadelphia metro placement access
- Explicit alignment with NJ Professional Counselor Examiners statute
- 600+ practicum and internship hours
- Affordable public university tuition compared to private alternatives
Montclair State University
In-State
~$795/credit (~$47,700 total)
Out-of-State
~$1,295/credit
Length
2.5 to 3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
700+ (3 semesters of fieldwork)
Concentrations
- CACREP-accredited MA in Counseling with CMHC and School concentrations
- 3 semesters of fieldwork experience built into the program
- Evening classes available for working adults
- Located in Montclair with strong North Jersey and NYC metro placement access
- Affordable public university tuition for NJ residents
The College of New Jersey (TCNJ)
In-State
~$715/credit (~$42,900 total); online ~$535/credit
Out-of-State
~$1,165/credit
Length
2.5 to 3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
700+ (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- CACREP-accredited continuously since 1991, one of the longest accreditation horizons in NJ
- Online program offers ~48% discount off standard rate; HPSA paraprofessionals and HBCU graduates ~$535.50/credit
- Generalist or addictions track for CMHC concentration
- Located in Ewing with placement access throughout Central NJ
- Strong long-tenured faculty engagement in counselor preparation research
Kean University
In-State
$493.09/credit (~$29,585 total) - most affordable NJ CACREP option
Out-of-State
$765.21/credit (~$45,913 total)
Length
2.5 to 3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
700+ (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- <strong>Most affordable CACREP-accredited counseling program in New Jersey</strong> at $493/credit for residents
- Total in-state tuition runs roughly $29,585 for the full 60-credit master's
- CACREP-accredited at Kean's Nathan Weiss Graduate College
- Located in Union with strong Central and North NJ placement access
- Hispanic-Serving Institution with diverse student body
Monmouth University
In-State
~$1,170/credit (private, flat rate, ~$70,200 total)
Out-of-State
~$1,170/credit (private, flat rate)
Length
2.5 to 3 years (60 credits including 12 elective credits)
Field Hours
700+ (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- CACREP-accredited since 2007, recently reaffirmed for 10 years through 2034
- 12 elective credits built into the 60-credit curriculum for specialization flexibility
- Located in West Long Branch with strong Jersey Shore and Central NJ placement access
- Strong placements with Monmouth Medical Center and Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore
- Smaller cohort sizes for personalized faculty mentoring
Caldwell University
In-State
~$1,030/credit (private, flat rate, ~$61,800 total)
Out-of-State
~$1,030/credit (private, flat rate)
Length
2.5 to 3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
700+ (3-credit practicum + 6-credit internship)
Concentrations
- CACREP-accredited MA with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) emphasis
- Catholic Dominican university with values-integrated curriculum welcoming students of all faiths or none
- Located in Caldwell with strong North Jersey and NYC metro placement access
- Smaller cohort sizes for personalized faculty mentoring
- 3-credit practicum and 6-credit internship structure
Stockton University
In-State
~$917/credit (~$55,020 total)
Out-of-State
~$1,395/credit
Length
2.5 to 3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
700+ (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- Newest CACREP-accredited counseling program in NJ (August 2024, retroactive to July 11, 2022)
- 8-year CACREP accreditation cycle
- No GRE required for admission
- Located in Galloway serving Atlantic County and South Jersey placement access
- Strong placements with AtlantiCare and Inspira Health
William Paterson University
In-State
~$705/credit (~$42,300 total)
Out-of-State
~$1,205/credit
Length
2.5 to 3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
700+ (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- CACREP-accredited MEd with CMHC concentration in the Counselor Education department
- Located in Wayne with strong Bergen and Passaic County placement access
- Affordable public university tuition for NJ residents
- Active counselor education department coordinated CACREP self-study
- Evening course schedules built around working adults
New Jersey City University (NJCU)
In-State
~$685/credit (~$41,100 total)
Out-of-State
~$1,055/credit
Length
2.5 to 3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
700+ (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- CACREP-accredited since 2014 at NJCU's Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe College of Education
- Located in Jersey City with urban placement pipeline into Hudson County and NYC commuter belt
- Hispanic-Serving Institution with strong bilingual practice emphasis
- Affordable public university tuition for NJ residents
- Strong placements with Jersey City Medical Center and Hoboken University Medical Center
LAC and LPC Licensure Requirements in New Jersey
The licensing board, exam pathway, and supervised hours you'll need to practice independently.
Licensing Board
NJ Professional Counselor Examiners Committee (Division of Consumer Affairs)
(973) 504-6582
New Jersey regulates LPCs through the NJ Professional Counselor Examiners Committee, a sub-committee of the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners, within the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs under the Attorney General's office. The structure is unusual; the counselor licensing function sits under a marriage and family therapy board rather than a profession-specific counseling board.
You'll move through two stages in NJ. First, the LAC (Licensed Associate Counselor), the post-master's supervised credential issued after passing the NCE. Second, the full LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor), the independent practice license. NJ separately licenses LCADC (Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor) for substance use specialization, distinct from the LPC pathway.
What makes New Jersey distinct: the two-route supervised experience structure. The standard route requires 4,500 hours over 3 calendar years (max 1,500 pre-degree, min 3,000 post-master's). The accelerated route requires only 3,000 post-master's hours over 2 years as an LAC, plus 30 additional post-master's graduate credits in counseling-related areas. Most large states have only one route. The accelerated option lets motivated CACREP graduates with continuing education appetite earn LPC in 2 years instead of 3.
Licensed Associate Counselor
Supervised post-master's counseling practice while accumulating hours toward LPC
Hours
N/A
Duration
Associate
Exam: NCE
Licensed Professional Counselor (Standard Route)
Independent clinical practice, mental health diagnosis and treatment, private practice, third-party billing
Hours
4,500
Duration
3 calendar years (50 hrs face-to-face supervision/yr minimum)
Exam: NCE
Licensed Professional Counselor (Accelerated Route)
Same as standard LPC
Hours
3,000
Duration
2 years (50 hrs face-to-face supervision/yr minimum)
Exam: NCE
New Jersey offers streamlined endorsement for LPCs licensed in other states for at least 3 years with 4,500 hours of experience and either the NCE or NCMHCE, with equivalent education. New Jersey is a Counseling Compact member, having enacted A5311/S3061 effective January 16, 2024 (N.J.S.A. 45:8B-114) as the 32nd state. NJ Compact privilege issuance depends on Compact Commission rollout; as of early 2026, Arizona, Minnesota, and Ohio are the only states actively issuing privileges. Once NJ goes live, NJ LPCs will gain Compact privilege portability across other member states.
Counselor Salary in New Jersey
BLS state median wages by counseling specialty, with national comparison and top-paying metros.
New Jersey counselor salaries run above the national median, driven by the state's high median household income (top-5 nationally), high cost of living, and geographic adjacency to NYC and Philadelphia metro markets. The BLS New Jersey OEWS estimates reflect these dynamics, with North Jersey (Newark, Hudson County) commanding premium wages tied to the NYC commuter belt and South Jersey drawing from Philadelphia market pricing.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
National median: $59,190
Top metro: $69,540 (Newark)
Mental Health Counselors (excluding substance abuse)
National median: $59,610
Top metro: $67,890 (New York-Newark-Jersey City NJ portion)
Marriage and Family Therapists
National median: $63,780
Top metro: $72,640 (New York-Newark-Jersey City NJ portion)
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors (School Counselors)
National median: $64,210
Top metro: $84,820 (New York-Newark-Jersey City NJ portion)
New Jersey Counseling Job Market and Workforce
Major employers, mental health shortage context, and loan repayment programs that erase debt for service.
New Jersey has one of the most distinctive counselor workforces in the country, primarily because of geographic adjacency. North Jersey counselors commute into NYC; South Jersey draws from Philadelphia metro. This dual-market dynamic creates unusually deep employment opportunities for NJ LPCs, especially those willing to commute or hold dual-state licensure.
Major employers include Hackensack Meridian Health (the largest NJ-based health system with extensive behavioral health programs), RWJBarnabas Health, Atlantic Health System, Cooper University Health Care (Camden), Inspira Health, Virtua Health, St. Joseph's Health, the NJ Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (which operates state psychiatric hospitals and community-based behavioral health services), the VA NJ Health Care System, and a deep private group practice sector concentrated in Bergen, Morris, Somerset, Essex, and Monmouth counties.
Three workforce dynamics shape practice in NJ:
NYC and Philly adjacency: North Jersey LPCs can hold NJ + NY dual licensure for cross-state practice. South Jersey LPCs can hold NJ + PA dual licensure for Philadelphia practice. The Counseling Compact (effective January 2024 for NJ) will eventually streamline this once Compact privilege issuance rollout completes.
High median income: NJ is consistently a top-5 state by median household income, supporting private-pay LPC practice and commercial insurance reimbursement above Medicare baselines. Private practice in Bergen, Morris, and Somerset counties commands premium rates.
High cost of living: Especially Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Morris, and Somerset counties. Nominal salary premiums vs. national medians reflect this; net pay after cost of living can be tighter than nominal wage suggests.
Loan Repayment & Scholarship Programs
NJ Behavioral Healthcare Provider Loan Redemption Program (HESAA): Up to $50,000 per 2-year service period at approved nonprofit/educational/government sites, up to 6 years total with $180,000 maximum cumulative cap. Supplemental $5,000/year for those serving children/adolescents. LPCs qualify. Launched 2024 with renewed funding rounds in 2024 and 2025.
NHSC Loan Repayment Program: Federal program. LPCs are eligible at NHSC-approved sites in NJ Mental Health HPSAs. Up to $55,000 for 2 years full-time service or $30,000 for half-time. Stackable with NJ Behavioral Healthcare Provider Loan Redemption.
NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce LRP: Up to $75,000 over 3 years for LPCs at SUD-focused NHSC sites. Strong fit for LPC/LCADC dual-licensed counselors in NJ.
Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): LPCs employed at NJ state agencies, VA hospitals, county behavioral health authorities, Hackensack Meridian Health nonprofit affiliates, and other qualifying nonprofit employers qualify for federal PSLF after 10 years of qualifying payments under an income-driven repayment plan.
NJ Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program: Note: this program targets physicians, dentists, CNMs, NPs, and PAs in state-designated underserved areas. LPCs and LACs are NOT eligible for this specific program (they qualify for the Behavioral Healthcare Provider Loan Redemption Program instead).
How to Choose a Counseling Program in New Jersey
Decision factors that actually matter, not generic checklist filler.
Choosing a counseling program in New Jersey mostly comes down to two questions: North Jersey (NYC commuter belt) vs South Jersey (Philly commuter belt), and standard vs accelerated LPC route. NJ's unique two-route supervised experience structure means program choice can materially affect time-to-LPC.
If you want maximum affordability: Kean University at $493/credit ($29,585 total) is the most affordable CACREP-accredited counseling program in New Jersey, by a wide margin. TCNJ's online option at ~$535/credit for HPSA paraprofessionals and HBCU graduates is also exceptionally affordable.
If you want North Jersey NYC commuter belt placement: Montclair State, William Paterson (Wayne), Caldwell, NJCU (Jersey City), and Kean (Union) all serve the NYC commuter belt with placement access to Hackensack Meridian, RWJBarnabas, Atlantic Health, and St. Joseph's.
If you want South Jersey Philadelphia commuter belt placement: Rowan (Glassboro) and Stockton (Galloway) serve South Jersey with placement access to Cooper University Health Care, Inspira Health, Virtua Health, and AtlantiCare.
If you want Central NJ placement: Rider (Lawrence Township), TCNJ (Ewing), Monmouth (West Long Branch), and Kean (Union) all serve Central NJ with placement access to Capital Health, RWJBarnabas, and Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore.
If you want a distinctive specialization: Rider's Dance/Movement Therapy concentration is rare in CACREP programs nationally. TCNJ's addictions track aligns with the LCADC pathway for dual-credentialing.
If you want to take the accelerated LPC route: The accelerated route requires 30 additional post-master's graduate credits in counseling-related areas. Programs with strong post-master's certificate offerings (TCNJ, Caldwell, Montclair) align best with this strategy.
If you want the longest CACREP accreditation horizon: Monmouth (through 2034) and TCNJ (continuous since 1991, through 2030) have the strongest accreditation continuity records in the state.
If you plan to leverage Counseling Compact portability: All NJ CACREP programs prepare you for NJ LPC, which will carry Compact privilege portability once NJ implementation completes (NJ enacted January 2024). Stockton (newest CACREP) and Rider (clean accreditation through 2031) are strong choices for forward-looking students.
Related Pages
Best Online Counseling Programs
National ranking of the top CACREP-accredited online counseling programs
Best Online Master's in Psychology
If you're still weighing psychology vs counseling at the master's level
Counselor Career Guide
What LPCs, LMHCs, and LPCCs actually do day-to-day
MSW Programs in New Jersey
If you're weighing the social work pathway instead
Counseling Programs by State
Compare counseling programs across all 50 states
Sources
- CACREP, Directory of Accredited Programs
- NJ Professional Counselor Examiners Committee
- N.J.S.A. 45:8B-114 Counseling Compact
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS New Jersey Estimates
- NBCC, National Counselor Examination (NCE)
- NJ Behavioral Healthcare Provider Loan Redemption Program
- Counseling Compact, Member States