M.S. in Counseling: School Counseling in Florida

Earn your master's on the School Counseling track, aligned to the ASCA National Model and Florida's School Counseling Standards, with real-time Live-on-Line classes and a 600-hour supervised internship. Prepare to support PK-12 students across Florida.

  • 600-Hour School Internship
  • ASCA National Model Aligned
  • Florida School Counseling Standards
  • Live-on-Line + Tampa Florida Campus

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Our stunning Tampa Florida Campus is conveniently located on West Hillsborough Ave. just west of Tampa Airport

Map showing the campus location
Map showing the campus location

Why Choose NLU for Counseling?

ASCA Model
ALIGNED TO NATIONAL + FLORIDA STANDARDS

The School Counseling track is built on the ASCA National Model and Florida's School Counseling Standards, preparing you to serve every PK-12 student's academic, career, and social-emotional development.

ASCA
ACCREDITED, THE GOLD STANDARD

NLU's School Counseling track is built on the ASCA National Model and Florida's School Counseling Standards, preparing you to support PK-12 students in schools, districts, and community agencies.

600 Hours
SUPERVISED CLINICAL INTERNSHIP

Every student completes a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour supervised internship. You work with students and clients under licensed supervision, building the skills employers expect on day one.

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M.S. in Counseling at a Glance

CREDIT HOURS?
60 SH
Semester hours to graduate (20 courses)
EARNING POTENTIAL?
$65,140
Median salary, school and career counselors (BLS, 2024)
JOB GROWTH?
4%
Projected growth for school and career counselors, 2024 to 2034 (BLS)
INTERNSHIP?
600 Hours
Supervised clinical internship, plus a 100-hour practicum

What You'll Learn

  • Design comprehensive school counseling programs aligned to the ASCA National Model
  • Support PK-12 students' academic, career, and social-emotional development
  • Apply evidence-based counseling theories across individual and group modalities
  • Conduct assessments and use data to drive student outcomes
  • Navigate professional counseling competencies and ethical frameworks
  • Complete 600 hours of supervised clinical experience

Full Course List

Counseling Foundations
Build the core counseling skills of empathy, active listening, reflection, and session structuring through supervised practice.
Survey and apply the major counseling theories, including CBT, person-centered, psychodynamic, and solution-focused, and learn to match interventions to each student.
Practice the applied techniques that move a counseling relationship forward, from building rapport to setting goals and intervening effectively.
Apply the ACA and ASCA ethical codes to real scenarios: confidentiality, informed consent, boundaries, and mandatory reporting.
Facilitate counseling groups with confidence, covering group stages, therapeutic factors, leadership styles, and evidence-based interventions.
Human Development and Populations
Understand cognitive, social, and emotional development across the lifespan and how it shapes the needs of PK-12 students.
Counsel students from a range of cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds using responsive, ethical practice.
Adapt counseling approaches to the developmental realities of children and teens in school settings.
Learn family-systems concepts and techniques for engaging caregivers as partners in student success.
Address human sexuality and healthy development competently and ethically within a counseling context.
Assessment, Career, and Research
Conduct clinical assessments and understand the DSM-5 framework used across counseling and mental health settings.
Select, administer, and interpret the psychological and educational assessments school counselors rely on.
Guide students through career and college readiness using established career-development theory and tools.
Read, evaluate, and apply research so your counseling program is grounded in evidence and measurable outcomes.
School Counseling Specialization
Design and lead a comprehensive PK-12 school counseling program aligned to the ASCA National Model.
Respond to crisis and trauma in schools with proven models for intervention, safety, and recovery.
Recognize and address substance use among students, from prevention through referral and ongoing support.
Practicum, Internship, and Culminating Requirements
A minimum 100-hour supervised practicum in a PK-12 setting where you begin applying your skills with students.
The first half of a 600-hour supervised internship in a PK-12 school, counseling students under a licensed supervisor.
Complete your 600-hour PK-12 internship, taking on the full role of a school counselor before you graduate.
A culminating exam confirming mastery of the counseling and school counseling competencies (0 SH).
A required residency experience that connects your coursework, field practice, and professional identity (0 SH).

Next start: September 21, 2026 — seats filling fast.

Admissions Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Complete the online application at nl.edu (no application fee)
  • Official transcripts from all prior colleges and universities
  • Minimum grade of 'B' required in all program coursework
Request Info
Sherika Stennis

National Louis has an excellent Counseling program! The teachers are extremely supportive and provide real-world counseling experience.

Sherika Stennis M.S. in Counseling Graduate
Built for School Counseling

The School Counseling track is aligned to the ASCA National Model and Florida's School Counseling Standards, preparing you to support PK-12 students' academic, career, and social-emotional growth and to design comprehensive school counseling programs.

ASCA Model Aligned

Built on the ASCA National Model and Florida's School Counseling Standards, so you graduate ready to lead a comprehensive PK-12 school counseling program.

600 Hours of Supervised Experience

A 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour supervised internship in real school and counseling settings, building the assessment and intervention skills schools expect on day one.

Where Will Your M.S. in Counseling Take You?

$65,140
Median salary, school and career counselors (BLS, May 2024)
School Counselor (PK-12)
College and Career Counselor
Academic Advisor
Student Services Coordinator
Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
Guidance Department Lead

School counselors are in steady demand across Florida districts, supporting students’ academic success, career readiness, and social-emotional well-being. NLU’s School Counseling track is aligned to the ASCA National Model and Florida’s School Counseling Standards.

School and career counselors earn a median salary of $65,140 (BLS, May 2024). NLU’s 600-hour supervised internship produces graduates prepared to step into PK-12 counseling roles across Florida.

Get Started Now

Just 3 Steps to Your M.S. in Counseling

  1. Request Information

    Fill out the short form on this page. An NLU advisor will reach out within one business day to answer questions about the School Counseling track, curriculum, and upcoming start dates.

  2. Talk to an Advisor

    A 15-minute conversation. Ask anything about the Live-on-Line format, the Florida School Counseling pathway, the 600-hour internship, or financial aid. We'll be straight with you.

  3. Start Your M.S. in Counseling

    Begin your program on September 21, 2026. You're one decision away from your degree and a career supporting students across Florida.

Get Started

Take the Next Step in Your Counseling Career

No commitment required. An NLU advisor will reach out within one business day to answer your questions about the M.S. in Counseling program, concentrations, and licensure pathways.

Take the First Step
  • 600-Hour School Internship
  • ASCA National Model Aligned
  • Florida School Counseling Standards
  • Live-on-Line + Tampa Florida Campus

**Median annual wage for school and career counselors and advisors (SOC 21-1012). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2024 data. Job growth projection: 2024-2034.