MinerAlert
MinerAlert
The Mental Health Counseling program prepares graduate students for professional counseling roles with individuals, groups, and diverse populations. Applicants are reviewed by the counseling program admissions committee based on the completion and quality of the application requirements and the applicant’s potential for success in the program.
Mental Health Counseling accepts admission applications only for Fall and Spring semesters. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all required documents are submitted by the appropriate deadline.
The Post-Master Graduate Certificate Program is designed to provide the necessary coursework for individuals seeking to meet the educational requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor LPC credential in Texas.
This certificate is intended for individuals who already hold a master’s degree in counseling or a related mental health field and need additional coursework for licensure.
Only complete applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed for admission. Applications missing any required document or information will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed by the admissions committee.
Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA on their cumulative undergraduate record, or on the previous 60 hours completed as evaluated by the counseling admissions committee, prior to admission. Applications are screened, reviewed, and assessed based on the completion and quality of the requirements and the applicant’s potential for success in the program.
Students must include the following required documents in their application. All documents must be in English.
The statements of intent, counseling diverse populations, and interpersonal relationships must be written separately and address the questions in each statement.
The Post-Master Graduate Certificate Program is designed for individuals who already hold a master’s degree in counseling, psychology, or a related mental health field and need additional coursework to meet LPC licensure requirements in Texas.
Applicants must submit the following:
Test of English as a Foreign Language TOEFL, International English Language Testing System IELTS, or Duolingo English Test DET: International applicants’ official TOEFL, IELTS, or DET test scores must be sent to and received by the Graduate School before the application deadline. UTEP’s school code is 6829.
An English proficiency test is not required if international applicants received a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited English-speaking country. Please review the List of English Language Proficiency Exempt Countries.
TOEFL, IELTS, and DET scores older than two years are expired and will not be accepted. However, scores previously filed with UTEP’s Graduate School before the two-year expiration may be used for one more year if the application was deferred. Applicants with expired test scores, or applicants who have never taken an English proficiency test, must take one of these exams.
In general, it takes about three to four weeks for UTEP to receive official scores depending on whether scores were mailed or sent electronically. Applicants should take the test at least one month before the deadline to avoid delays.
The TOEFL test and DET are offered at UTEP’s Student Assessment and Testing Office. For more information, call 915-747-5009, email testing@utep.edu, or visit UTEP Student Assessment and Testing.
The TOEFL test is also offered by the Thompson Prometric Testing Center, 8550 Boeing Drive, Suite 200, 915-881-8359, and at additional testing locations. Practice exams and tutorials are available through ETS TOEFL. Applicants can learn more about IELTS at IELTS and more about DET at Duolingo English Test.
Mental Health Counseling accepts admission applications for the Fall and Spring semesters only.
| Applying For | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall Semester | May 15 |
| Spring Semester | October 15 |
Important: A complete application must include all required documents listed in the Admission Requirements tab above. Only complete applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed for admission. Applications missing any required document or information will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed by the admissions committee.
1. Is there any prerequisite to apply for the UTEP Mental Health Counseling program?
No, there is no prerequisite course.
2. Is the UTEP Mental Health Counseling program online?
No. The UTEP Mental Health Counseling program is a face-to-face program. Students are required to attend classes on campus in El Paso, Texas. Although some courses may be offered online or in hybrid formats, students are required to come to campus to take courses and complete the program.
3. What time are classes offered?
Most courses are offered after 5 p.m.
4. Is the GRE required?
No, the GRE is not required to apply for the UTEP Mental Health Counseling program.
5. Does my application need to be completed in English?
Yes. The application and all supporting documents must be in English.
6. What happens if my application is not complete?
It is the applicant’s responsibility to submit a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
7. My reference is unable to provide their recommendation letter before the deadline. Will you accept their reference after the deadline?
No. Applications and all supporting documents must be submitted by the deadline. Applicants are encouraged to ask another reference to write and submit the letter on time.
8. Can I submit my application after the deadline date?
Applications completed and submitted after the deadline will be considered for the next cycle of admission. For example, if you complete or submit your application one day after the Fall deadline, your application will be considered for Spring admission.
9. I am still confused about the three statements. Can you explain further?
Yes. Applicants must submit one PDF file for each statement: Statement of Intent, Statement of Diversity, and Statement of Interpersonal Relationships. Please read the specific instructions and questions listed for each statement and make sure you answer and address all questions. Your statements will be evaluated based on the quality of your responses and the quality of your writing. Each statement should be written in English, formatted using APA 7th edition, and should be no more than 2 pages and no less than 1 page.
10. I am a student in a counseling program at another institution. Can I transfer credits?
Transfer of graduate credits from a CACREP-accredited program within a regionally accredited institution is limited to 9 hours for the master’s degree. All transfer credit must have been completed with a grade of B or better, completed within the last six years, and approved by the Counseling program faculty and The University of Texas at El Paso.
Transfer credits should be evaluated and approved by program faculty during the student’s first semester. The course being transferred into a degree program should be a direct equivalent to the course within the certification or degree program. Students should work with their advisors to have courses evaluated for transfer. Transfer credit is not guaranteed and is subject to Counseling faculty review and approval. Previous work experience is not accepted as transfer credit into the program.
*Recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
11. I submitted my application. When should I hear about the admission decision?
The admission decision email will be sent by the Department in July for Fall semester admission and in December for Spring semester admission. Thank you for your patience.
Interested in this program? Click here to start your application today!
