Earn Your MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MACMHC) is a fully online program that trains students to apply counseling techniques while recognizing the profoundly spiritual core of persons.
CMHC Program Mission Statement
North Park University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program provides comprehensive academic and clinical training in professional counseling, equipping students to be ethically skilled counselors serving culturally and spiritually diverse communities. The CMHC program prepares counselors for lives of significance and service throughout their professional careers.
Students will receive a strong foundation in counseling theory, understand the profession’s legal and ethical responsibilities, and master the skills necessary for effective client assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Upon program completion, students can apply to take the National Counselor Examination (NCE) to become licensed professional counselors. The CMHC program meets the educational and internship requirements for licensure in 39 out of 50 states (excludes Arkansas, California, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, and South Dakota).
Professional Counseling Careers
- Counselor with a community mental health agency
- Youth counselor in outpatient or residential treatment centers
- Grief counselor at a hospital or hospice center
- Couples and family counselor
- Counselor working with veterans and active military members
- Group counselor in college counseling centers
- Addictions or rehabilitation counselor
- Spiritual counselor affiliated with a church, denomination, or community agency
- Outpatient practice, working with couples, families, or individuals
Continuing Education Workshops 2025
Intimacy Through Play – Creative Interventions with Couples
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | February 1, 2025 | Virtual
Emotion-Focused Therapy for Trauma – A Compassionate Approach
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | March 1, 2025 | Virtual
Continuing Education credits, required by the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, are available for licensed professional counselors and licensed clinical professional counselors.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Kara Wolff
Dr. Kara Wolff is the Director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. In addition to teaching experience she brings an extensive background in mental health practice as a counselor. Wolff believes that good counselors are genuinely curious about the world. “I hope that my students develop a life-long goal of satisfying that curious spirit. Human beings are incredibly interesting and there is so much more to know about why we do the things that we do.”
Pre-Licensure Preparation
The MACMHC program aligns with Illinois’s eligibility requirements for licensed professional counselors. Candidates must pass the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE). All candidates must also complete the application process, which may include fees and/or a background check.
Admission Requirements
Along with our free online application, you’ll need:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- An electronic copy of your current resume.
- Two professional and/or academic recommendations. Log in to the supplemental items list in your account at npu.force.com/app to send a recommendation request through our online system.
- An essay, as described in the application.
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended, sent directly to North Park University.
2023–24 Annual Report
View our annual report here.
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