Frequently Asked Questions 
MS in Mental Health Counseling

Our Mental Health Counseling program stands out both locally and nationally in that we are one of a few MS Counseling programs embedded in a medical school. This connection is evident through our Interprofessional Education (IPE) experiences. You will engage in three IPE experiences during your first year and at least six IPE experiences during your second year with us. First year IPE experiences involve having DO students attend skills courses alongside you, debriefing relevant movies, and shadowing in the OMM lab. Second year IPE experiences involve you engaging in a three hour encounter in which you work collaboratively with a PsyD, PA and DO student.

We also have the opportunity for you to engage in a Standardized Patient (SP) experience.

Mentorship is also something the faculty do above and beyond just advising you. We also assign you a student mentor who is a second year student who meets with you to help you navigate our program.

Usually two years if attending full time, three years if attending part time.

Most classes are scheduled from 5:15-8:45 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and meet once a week in the fall, winter, spring, and summer terms. We also offer a few hybrid and online courses.

Over the past five years, our graduates have achieved a 100 percent pass rate on the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE).

Here are a few comments from our students:

• “The program provides a safe environment for students to speak up and be heard, as we trust and respect our professors and know they have a mutual respect for us.”
• “Faculty accessibility; enthusiastic faculty; classes that foster community and provide safe learning spaces.”
• “The workload coordination between courses. I also appreciate how assignments are meant to stimulate different type of learners.”
• “I really appreciate how understanding and caring all faculty and professors of this program are. Coming into the program, I was confused why self care was so emphasized. After going through this semester, I fully understand and appreciate how this also helped me learn more about myself.”
• “I appreciated the support and mentoring shown by my professors.”
• “My practicum experience made me marketable to reputable and clinically relevant mental health agencies.”
• “My training at PCOM (specifically through STEPPS, the Standardized Training and Evaluation of Psychologists and Psychotherapists program) helped me to achieve my dream job in the field of child trauma years earlier than I ever thought possible.”

Any student who wants to be licensed in the state of Pennsylvania must complete a 60 credit-hour MS degree, pass a licensure examination and complete at least two years of 3,000 hours of supervised work experience (i.e., a paid position). Licensure requirements often differ by state. For more information on licensure requirements for professional counseling in all 50 states, visit Counseling.org - American Counseling Association.

Neither MAT or GRE scores are required for admission.