Best Counseling Programs in Oklahoma (2026)
Top CACREP-accredited counseling programs in Oklahoma for 2026, with tuition, LPC Candidate and LPC licensure, NCE or NCMHCE plus the Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination (OLERE), Counseling Compact membership, and the OU/Tulsa healthcare pipeline.
Key Takeaways
- Oklahoma has roughly 3-6 CACREP-accredited counseling programs with three firmly confirmed: University of Oklahoma (Norman + OU-Tulsa, accredited through March 2032), Oklahoma State University (Stillwater + OSU-Tulsa), and East Central University (Ada). UCO, NSU, and OCU should be verified against the live CACREP directory before enrolling.
- Oklahoma uses a two-tier license structure. LPC Candidate is the post-master's supervised credential granted only after passing required exams and submitting a board-approved supervision agreement. LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) is the independent practice license.
- Becoming an LPC in Oklahoma requires a 60-credit master's, 3,000 supervised post-master's hours within 60 months ("full-time" defined as 20 hours/week), 350 direct client contact hours per 1,000 hours accrued, 45 minutes of supervision per 20 hours of work, and passing both the NCE or NCMHCE AND the Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination (OLERE) jurisprudence exam.
- Oklahoma enacted the Counseling Compact via SB 575, signed April 28, 2023. OK is a Compact member but is not yet operationally issuing privileges as of May 2026. Only Arizona, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Ohio are actively issuing Compact privileges.
- Oklahoma is home to 38 federally recognized tribes, the second-highest count of any state (after California). Roughly 9% of Oklahomans identify as American Indian/Alaska Native (the highest share of any state), and major tribal behavioral health systems including Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health Services, Choctaw Nation Health Services, Chickasaw Nation Department of Health, and the Kickapoo Tribal Health Center create distinctive employment pathways.
- Oklahoma counselor salaries run close to the national median. BLS Oklahoma OEWS estimates place the median around $58,610 for the combined occupation, near the national median of $59,190. Oklahoma City pays the highest metro medians at around $67,670 mean.
- The Oklahoma Health Corps Loan Repayment Program offers fully licensed LPCs up to $35,000 for 2 years of full-time service at approved sites. LPC Candidates are NOT eligible; you must complete the LPC before applying.
Oklahoma is one of the more distinctive LPC markets in the country because of two factors: the OLERE jurisprudence exam (Oklahoma is one of relatively few states requiring a state-specific legal/ethics exam in addition to the NCE or NCMHCE), and the 38 federally recognized tribes creating an unusually strong tribal behavioral health pipeline. The state has 3-6 CACREP-accredited counseling programs and a clear LPC Candidate to LPC pathway.
The OK licensing path: complete a 60-credit master's from a regionally accredited program with CACREP core content areas, apply to the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL), pass both the NCE or NCMHCE and the OLERE, submit a board-approved supervision agreement, then accumulate 3,000 supervised post-master's hours within 60 months (5 years) with 350 direct client contact hours per 1,000 hours accrued and at least 45 minutes of supervision per 20 hours of work. Total time from master's to LPC: typically 2 to 3 years.
What makes Oklahoma distinct beyond the OLERE exam and tribal pipeline: the tornado and disaster counseling demand. Oklahoma sits in Tornado Alley, and the 2013 Moore tornado plus ongoing severe weather drive sustained demand for crisis counseling, school-based trauma support, and SAMHSA Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) funding. Rural Oklahoma counties outside OKC and Tulsa carry severe Mental Health HPSA designations, creating strong loan repayment leverage for LPCs willing to serve underserved areas.
CACREP-Accredited Counseling Programs in Oklahoma
All 6 programs ranked in this guide, with tuition, format, and accreditation at a glance.
| # | School | In-State Tuition | Format | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Oklahoma | $295.56/credit (~$17,733 total) | On-campus | |
| 2 | Oklahoma State University | ~$395/credit (~$23,700 total) | On-campus | |
| 3 | East Central University | ~$295/credit (~$17,700 total) | On-campus | |
| 4 | University of Central Oklahoma | ~$310/credit (~$18,600 total) | On-campus + fully online synchronous | |
| 5 | Northeastern State University | ~$285/credit (~$17,100 total) | On-campus | |
| 6 | Oklahoma City University | ~$765/credit (private, flat rate, ~$45,900 total) | Online |
University of Oklahoma
In-State
$295.56/credit (~$17,733 total)
Out-of-State
$845/credit (online MCMHC, ~$50,700 total)
Length
2.5 to 3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
700 (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- CACREP-accredited MEd in Professional Counseling and online MCMHC at OU's Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education
- <strong>Most affordable CACREP CMHC program in Oklahoma</strong> at $295.56/credit for in-state residents (~$17,733 total)
- Available at Norman main campus and OU-Tulsa for placement variety
- Online Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling option for working adults
- CACREP accreditation through March 31, 2032 (long horizon)
Oklahoma State University
In-State
~$395/credit (~$23,700 total)
Out-of-State
~$1,065/credit
Length
2.5 to 3 years (60 credits, 66 with thesis)
Field Hours
700 (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- CACREP-accredited MS in Counseling at OSU's College of Education and Human Sciences
- Available at Stillwater main campus and OSU-Tulsa for placement variety
- Two CACREP-accredited tracks: Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling
- <strong>No GRE or MAT required</strong>
- 66 credits available with thesis option for students considering doctoral pathway
East Central University
In-State
~$295/credit (~$17,700 total)
Out-of-State
~$705/credit
Length
2.5 to 3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
700 (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- CACREP-accredited MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Located in Ada in South Central Oklahoma
- Affordable in-state public university tuition
- Strong tribal nation placement opportunities with Chickasaw Nation Department of Health (HQ in Ada)
- Smaller cohort sizes for personalized faculty mentoring
University of Central Oklahoma
In-State
~$310/credit (~$18,600 total)
Out-of-State
~$735/credit
Length
2.5 to 3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
700 (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- CACREP-accredited MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at UCO
- On-campus and fully online synchronous options
- Located in Edmond in the Oklahoma City metro
- Affordable in-state public university tuition
- Verify current CACREP cycle directly against the CACREP directory before enrolling
Northeastern State University
In-State
~$285/credit (~$17,100 total)
Out-of-State
~$675/credit
Length
2.5 to 3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
700 (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- Counseling MS at NSU's College of Education (verify current CACREP accreditation status)
- Located in Tahlequah, home of the Cherokee Nation, with Broken Arrow campus serving Tulsa metro
- <strong>Strong tribal nation placement with Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health Services</strong>
- Affordable in-state public university tuition
- Verify current CACREP cycle directly against the CACREP directory before enrolling
Oklahoma City University
In-State
~$765/credit (private, flat rate, ~$45,900 total)
Out-of-State
~$765/credit (private, flat rate)
Length
2 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
700 (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- MEd in CMHC at OCU's Petree College of Arts and Sciences
- Online delivery format with 2-year full-time completion
- Methodist-affiliated private university with values-integrated curriculum welcoming students of all faiths or none
- Located in Oklahoma City with placement access to OU Health and Integris
- Verify current CACREP status with CACREP directory before enrolling
LPC Candidate and LPC Licensure Requirements in Oklahoma
The licensing board, exam pathway, and supervised hours you'll need to practice independently.
Licensing Board
Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL)
(405) 522-3696
Oklahoma regulates LPCs through the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL). The LPC board moved from the Oklahoma State Department of Health to a standalone agency in November 2019; the legacy "OSDH Professional Counselor Licensing" name still appears on some CE vendor pages but the current authority is the BBHL.
You'll move through two stages in OK. First, the LPC Candidate, the post-master's supervised credential. LPC Candidate status is granted only after passing required exams, submitting a board-approved supervision agreement, and receiving BBHL permission to begin accruing hours. Second, the full LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor), the independent practice license earned after 3,000 supervised hours and additional exam requirements.
Two OK-specific items: the OLERE (Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination), a state-specific jurisprudence exam required in addition to the NCE or NCMHCE. And the 60-month (5-year) limit on accumulating 3,000 supervised hours from the supervision agreement start date. Continuing education is 20 hours per year (including 3 ethics) with a $80 annual renewal fee due June 30.
Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate
Supervised post-master's counseling practice while accumulating hours toward LPC. Granted after passing exams and submitting board-approved supervision agreement.
Hours
N/A
Duration
Associate
Exam: NCE or NCMHCE + OLERE required to begin accruing hours
Licensed Professional Counselor
Independent clinical practice, mental health diagnosis and treatment, private practice, third-party billing
Hours
3,000
Duration
Up to 60 months (5 years) from supervision agreement start (350 direct hours per 1,000 accrued; 45 min supervision per 20 hours of work)
Exam: NCE or NCMHCE + OLERE
Oklahoma offers endorsement for LPCs licensed at the independent level in another state with substantially equivalent requirements; case-by-case BBHL review. Oklahoma enacted the Counseling Compact via SB 575, signed April 28, 2023, making it a Compact member. As of May 2026, OK is not yet operationally issuing privileges; only Arizona, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Ohio are actively issuing Counseling Compact privileges. Once OK activates, OK LPCs will gain practice portability across other member states.
Counselor Salary in Oklahoma
BLS state median wages by counseling specialty, with national comparison and top-paying metros.
Oklahoma counselor salaries run close to the national median in nominal terms. The BLS Oklahoma OEWS estimates place the median around $58,610 for the combined occupation, near the national median of $59,190. Oklahoma City pays the highest metro medians; Tulsa, Lawton, and the rest of the state pay somewhat below state median. Oklahoma's lower cost of living means real purchasing power tracks favorably compared to higher-wage coastal states.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
National median: $59,190
Top metro: $67,670 (Oklahoma City)
Mental Health Counselors (excluding substance abuse)
National median: $59,610
Top metro: $65,820 (Oklahoma City)
Marriage and Family Therapists
National median: $63,780
Top metro: $62,640 (Tulsa)
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors (School Counselors)
National median: $64,210
Top metro: $60,820 (Oklahoma City)
Oklahoma Counseling Job Market and Workforce
Major employers, mental health shortage context, and loan repayment programs that erase debt for service.
Oklahoma has two distinct healthcare hubs and three major workforce themes: Oklahoma City (OU Health, the state's only academic health system) and Tulsa (Saint Francis, Hillcrest, OU-Tulsa and OSU-Tulsa Center for Health Sciences). Rural Oklahoma counties carry severe Mental Health HPSA designations.
Major employers include OU Health (academic medical center anchoring OKC), Integris Health, SSM Health (Oklahoma operations), Saint Francis Health System (Tulsa's largest health system), Hillcrest HealthCare System (Tulsa), the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS), regional Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs), the VA Oklahoma City Health Care System and VA Eastern Oklahoma Health Care System (Muskogee), and substantial tribal behavioral health systems.
Three workforce dynamics shape practice in OK:
Tribal behavioral health pipeline: 38 federally recognized tribes operate in Oklahoma (second-highest of any state), with roughly 9% of Oklahomans identifying as American Indian/Alaska Native (highest share nationally). Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health Services (Tahlequah), Choctaw Nation Health Services, Chickasaw Nation Department of Health (Ada), Citizen Potawatomi Nation, and Kickapoo Tribal Health Center are major tribal LPC employers. IHS Oklahoma City Area office funds substance abuse and suicide prevention projects across these systems. NSU (Tahlequah, near Cherokee Nation HQ) and ECU (Ada, near Chickasaw Nation HQ) are natural feeders.
Tornado Alley disaster counseling: Oklahoma sits in Tornado Alley. The 2013 Moore tornado and ongoing severe weather drive sustained demand for crisis counseling, school-based trauma support, and disaster behavioral health. SAMHSA Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) routinely funds OK after federally declared disasters.
Rural HPSA shortages: Counties outside the OKC and Tulsa metros are heavily designated Mental Health HPSAs. Rural FQHCs and Community Mental Health Centers are major employers for new LPC Candidates and offer strong NHSC loan repayment leverage.
Loan Repayment & Scholarship Programs
Oklahoma Health Corps Loan Repayment Program: Administered by ODMHSAS and OK State Department of Health. Up to $35,000 for 2 years of full-time service (32+ hrs/week) at an approved site; equivalent hours over 2-4 years also accepted with 20+ hrs/week. LPC Candidates are NOT eligible; fully licensed LPCs only. Authorized under HB 2175 Behavioral Health Workforce Development Fund.
NHSC Loan Repayment Program: Federal program. LPCs are eligible at NHSC-approved sites in OK Mental Health HPSAs. Up to $50,000 for 2 years full-time service or $25,000 for half-time.
NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce LRP: Up to $75,000 over 3 years for LPCs at SUD-focused NHSC sites. Strong fit for LPCs working in OK's opioid crisis response.
STAR Loan Repayment Program: Up to $250,000 over 6 years full-time for substance use disorder treatment providers. The most generous federal LRP for behavioral health.
Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program: Up to $50,000 for 2-year service at IHS, tribal, or urban Indian health facilities. With 38 federally recognized tribes in OK, IHS LRP eligibility is unusually broad.
Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): LPCs employed at OK state agencies (ODMHSAS), county mental health authorities, VA hospitals, tribal facilities, OU Health and Saint Francis nonprofit affiliates, and other qualifying nonprofit health systems all qualify for federal PSLF after 10 years of qualifying payments under an income-driven repayment plan.
How to Choose a Counseling Program in Oklahoma
Decision factors that actually matter, not generic checklist filler.
Choosing a counseling program in Oklahoma comes down to three questions: Oklahoma City vs Tulsa vs rural/tribal placement pipeline, on-campus vs online delivery, and proximity to specific tribal nations if you want tribal behavioral health employment. OK's 60-month limit on accumulating supervised hours and the required OLERE jurisprudence exam are important planning considerations.
If you want the strongest Oklahoma City pipeline: University of Oklahoma (Norman/OU-Tulsa) and University of Central Oklahoma (Edmond) both feed the OKC metro. OU Health is the state's only academic medical center and the dominant OKC behavioral health employer.
If you want the strongest Tulsa pipeline: Oklahoma State University at OSU-Tulsa, OU at OU-Tulsa, and Northeastern State University at Broken Arrow all serve the Tulsa metro with Saint Francis Health System and Hillcrest HealthCare placement networks.
If you want Cherokee Nation tribal placement: Northeastern State University (Tahlequah, home of the Cherokee Nation) is the natural feeder into Cherokee Nation Behavioral Health Services.
If you want Chickasaw Nation tribal placement: East Central University (Ada, home of Chickasaw Nation HQ) is the natural feeder into Chickasaw Nation Department of Health.
If you want the most affordable option: University of Oklahoma at $295.56/credit (~$17,733 total), Northeastern State University at ~$285/credit, East Central University at ~$295/credit, and University of Central Oklahoma at ~$310/credit are the most affordable CACREP options for OK residents.
If you want fully online delivery: OU's online MCMHC ($845/credit), Oklahoma City University's online MEd CMHC, and UCO's online synchronous option are the three main online CACREP-aligned options. Verify current CACREP status before enrolling.
If you want school counseling alongside CMHC: Oklahoma State University offers both Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling CACREP-accredited tracks under one program.
If you plan to leverage Counseling Compact portability: OK is a Compact member (since April 2023) but not yet operational. Once OK activates Compact privilege issuance, OK LPCs will gain practice portability across other member states.
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 Oklahoma
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
- Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL)
- BBHL LPC Academic Requirements
- Oklahoma License Verification
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS Oklahoma Estimates
- NBCC, National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)
- Oklahoma Health Corps Loan Repayment Program
- Counseling Compact, Member States