Differences Between Counseling and Psychology Degrees

Published on: November 19, 2025

When it comes to choosing a profession in mental health, how do you decide between a counselor vs. psychologist, and what does that mean for your education and career? Many students find themselves seeking answers to questions like, “What is the difference between a counselor and psychologist?” only to discover overlapping responsibilities and confusing terminology.  

Below, we break down the core differences between a counseling degree vs. psychology degree, including typical degree requirements at each level and how they shape your training. We also look at how options like a master's in counseling compare with graduate psychology programs, along with key psychology career options and the job outlook for each path so you can make a confident, informed decision about your future. 

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What Is Counseling? 

Counseling is a collaborative process that helps people address emotional challenges, life transitions and mental health concerns through purposeful conversation and evidence-based strategies. A professional counselor focuses on helping clients set goals, build coping skills and improve daily functioning in specific areas of their lives (such as relationships, work or school). While overlap can exist in counselor vs. psychologist roles, counseling is often more focused on short to mid-term support that is practical and skills-based. 

Common Work Settings 

Counselors work in a wide range of settings that reflect the diverse needs of clients across the lifespan. Many provide mental health services in community agencies, private practices, hospitals and integrated healthcare systems. Others may work in K–12 schools, colleges, rehabilitation centers or employee assistance programs where they support students and workers with academic, career and personal concerns. 

H3: Types of Counseling Degrees 

Students interested in becoming counselors typically begin with a bachelor’s degree in a related field, then pursue a graduate counseling degree or psychology degree, depending on their goals and state degree requirements. The most common path is a master's in counseling, which can include specializations such as clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, or marriage and family counseling. Some professionals proceed to earn doctoral degrees in counseling or counselor education to work in advanced practice roles, supervision or higher education. 

What Is Psychology? 

Psychology is the scientific study of thoughts, emotions and behavior, with applications that range from basic research to direct mental health treatment. Psychologists explore how people think and feel, why they act the way they do and how life experiences or biological factors shape wellbeing over time. Depending on their training they might conduct research, provide therapy, perform assessments or consult with organizations on human behavior. 

Common Work Settings 

Psychologists work in many of the same environments as other mental health professionals, but their roles can look different depending on specialization. Many are based in private practice, hospitals and outpatient clinics where they provide assessment and therapy to individuals, couples and families. Others work for schools, universities, government agencies or businesses where they might focus on learning, performance or organizational issues. Some divide their time between clinical work and research or teaching.  

Types of Psychology Degrees 

Students interested in psychology can pursue degrees at several levels, from associate and bachelor’s programs that provide a broad foundation to graduate degrees that lead to clinical or research roles. Common options include:  

• Bachelor’s degrees in psychology 

• Master’s programs that prepare graduates for certain applied roles  

• Doctoral degrees like the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) that are usually required for independent clinical practice as a psychologist 

Doctoral programs in clinical, counseling or school psychology are often accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and combine advanced coursework, research and supervised clinical training.  

Key Differences Between Counseling and Psychology Degrees 

Although both paths prepare you to support people’s mental health, there are essential distinctions in how each field trains students and what day-to-day work looks like. In general, a counseling degree vs. psychology degree differs in coursework focus, research expectations and typical practice settings. Understanding those differences can make it easier to answer, “What is the difference between a counselor and psychologist?” in practical terms, not just on paper. 

Coursework 

Counseling programs tend to emphasize therapeutic skills that can be applied directly in sessions, such as counseling theories, helping relationships, multicultural counseling, ethics and extensive practicum and internship experiences that meet state degree requirements.  

Psychology programs tend to include more work in statistics, research methods, biological and cognitive bases of behavior, along with specialized courses in assessment and diagnosis. 

At the graduate level, this means a master's in counseling is often more practice-focused, while many psychology programs build toward research, testing and theory in addition to clinical skills. 

Focus and Approach 

One helpful way to think about the roles of counselors versus psychologists is how they approach client care:  

• Counselors are often trained in person-centered, strengths-based approaches that focus on current concerns, practical coping skills and short-term to mid-term goals like improving relationships or managing stress.  

• Psychologists, especially those in clinical roles, are more likely to integrate psychological testing, in-depth assessment and long-term treatment planning for complex or chronic conditions, drawing heavily on research evidence to guide care. 

Educational Pathways 

For clinical practice, counseling usually culminates in a master's in counseling or a closely related degree that meets state criteria for licensure as a professional counselor or similar title. Psychology pathways are more layered: Students might complete a bachelor’s, a master’s, then a doctoral degree such as a PhD or PsyD in clinical, counseling or school psychology to qualify for independent practice as a licensed psychologist. Because of this structure, a counseling degree vs. psychology degree often differs in length and cost, with psychology requiring more years of graduate study and supervised training. 

Licensure Requirements 

Licensure is another key factor that distinguishes a counselor from a psychologist.  

• To become a licensed professional counselor, most states require an accredited master's in counseling or related degree, a set number of supervised clinical hours after graduation and passing one or more exams (although exact degree requirements vary).  

• Licensure as a psychologist typically requires completion of a doctoral program plus extensive supervised experience that can total 3,000 to 4,000 hours across internship and postdoctoral training, along with a national exam and any state-specific tests.  

Career Outcomes 

Graduates of counseling programs often work as licensed professional counselors, school counselors or specialists in areas like substance use, trauma, or marriage and family therapy. They provide ongoing support to clients in community agencies, schools, hospitals and private practices.  

Psychology graduates have a wider range of psychology career options that may encompass clinical or counseling psychologist roles, school psychologist positions, research and academic jobs, or applied roles in business and industry (such as industrial organizational psychology).  

Both paths make significant contributions to mental health services. Still, psychologists are more likely to split their time between assessment, research and consultation, whereas counselors focus primarily on talk therapy and applied support.  

Earning Potential 

Because psychology usually requires a longer educational pathway and a doctoral degree, psychologists tend to garner higher earnings than counselors overall. Data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that clinical and counseling psychologists earn median annual wages around the mid to upper $90,000 range as of 2024. Dependent on setting and experience, substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors show a media salary of nearly $60,000 per year. Both professions benefit from steady job outlook projections as demand for mental health services continues to grow faster than the average for all occupations. 

Counseling Degree vs. Psychology Degree: Which Is Right For You? 

Choosing between a counseling or psychology degree boils down to the kind of work you want to do, how long you want to be in school and the balance you want between hands-on practice and research. There is no single right answer — only a better match for your goals, strengths and interests.  

Ponder some key questions that can help you determine which path feels like a good fit:  

Consider Your Career Goals 

Start by picturing the work you want to do most days. If you see yourself providing talk therapy, building strong one-to-one relationships and focusing on practical change in clients’ lives, a counseling path may make more sense. If you are drawn to psychological testing, diagnosing complex conditions, or combining therapy with research, teaching or consultation, a psychology route with broader psychology career options might be a better fit. 

Educational Commitment 

Think honestly about how many years of school you are willing to complete and what that means for your finances and timeline. Counseling programs that lead to licensure can often be completed with a master's in counseling in two to three years beyond a bachelor’s degree. Psychology programs that lead to independent practice usually require a doctorate, which can add five to seven years of graduate study plus supervised experience — so it is important to weigh that commitment against your long-term goals.  

Licensing and Salary Considerations 

Licensing rules affect how quickly you can begin practicing independently and what titles you can use. Counselors are typically able to pursue licensure sooner because their training ends at the master’s level, while psychologists need to complete doctoral training and additional supervised hours before full licensure. When you compare counselor vs. psychologist roles, keep in mind that psychologists often have higher earning potential over time, but counselors may enter the workforce sooner and still benefit from a strong job outlook.  

Personality and Interests 

Finally, consider your natural strengths and what energizes you. People who thrive on direct client interaction, practical problem solving and creating a safe space for others to share often feel at home in counseling roles. Those who enjoy data, theory and complex assessment in addition to client work may gravitate toward psychology, where there is more emphasis on research and testing as part of everyday practice. 

Take the Next Step Toward Your Psychology or Counseling Career 

If this guide helped you sort through the roles of counselors and psychologists and their respective educational paths, the next step is choosing a program that supports your goals in mental health care. Husson University’s online Bachelor of Science in Psychology provides a strong foundation in human behavior. The program’s flexible coursework can prepare you for a variety of psychology careers or for graduate study in counseling and related fields. 

For students ready to move into direct clinical work, Husson’s CACREP-accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling programs are designed to meet professional degree requirements for licensure — offering a rigorous master's in counseling program with a focus on ethical practice, real-world learning and client well-being.  

Ready to move from research to action and turn your interest in helping others into a rewarding career? Explore our undergraduate psychology and graduate counseling programs today.