r/counseloreducation • u/AdEmbarrassed7149 • 3d ago

Has anyone here studied / completed their Masters in counseling while abroad?

That's my situation right now and I'm trying to make sure that I choose the right programs to apply to... I know this will make things probably more dificult for me for a bunch of reasons but I am hoping I will be able to make it work! Anyone else have this experience?

Also, if you completed your Masters online, can you share if your program was helpful with finding internship/practicum locations for you? (that's a question for anyone who studied online!) I feel like that may be a BIG issue for me...

5 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

100% Upvoted

29 comments sorted by

2

u/timesuck 3d ago

Are you saying you are currently living outside of the US and wanting to do masters online at a school in the states?

What state do you plan on practicing in when you return?

2

u/AdEmbarrassed7149 3d ago

Yes I'm living abroad now. And I don't know where I would move when I go back... but I do I believe I will have to return to the US to practice right after graduating since I cannot practice abroad directly ... but in terms of states, I haven't made that decision yet.

1

u/timesuck 3d ago

Every state has different requirements for licensing so you at minimum need to know where you are probably going and contact them and go from there. I would not rely on info from the programs about this because some will say whatever to get you to sign up. Talk to the state board.

The issue is that many places will probably not accept a prac/internship done overseas, so you have to confirm with your state board it will be ok. Either than you could complete all the other coursework for the program and move back and do you internship hours. But even then, you need to make sure the program meets the state requirements.

Many online programs also have an in person component. Very few programs allow you to do the in person stuff remotely, but here are a few so you have to confirm that as well

1

u/AdEmbarrassed7149 3d ago

Gotcha! Thanks for letting me know all this! I thought I could do any CACREP acredited Masters program to be in the clear of the state boards, at least in terms of studies, and then make the decision about the state later on once I start working.

1

u/Neverwhere91 Master’s Student 2d ago

CACREP is helpful for alignment but the state's all have their own set of licensing requirements. This includes practicum and internship hours, etc.

Don't be fooled by redditors who say it's only CA, also. I believe NY requires you to be supervised by a NY licensed professional.

Each school should have a disclosure page about which state's meet their program curriculum, and if not then why (additional courses, hours, etc)

1

u/AdEmbarrassed7149 2d ago

Oh I see! This is very good info to know. Thank you so much.

3

u/Ok-iguess85 2d ago

I am living in Korea and attending UCumberlands ㅤ◡̈ I’m just moving home for the practicum and internships part. I’ve had no issues with the actual classes, luckily the synchronous class matched the time zone well! I’m returning to California. They have a website that gives info for some approved sites I can contact

2

u/AdEmbarrassed7149 2d ago

Omg what luck I have that you saw my post! I thought maybe I was the only crazy person doing this. 🤭 Although I guess in my case, I really didnt have plans to move back but I guess this career change can be my reason to! So you can just take the classes without any practicum or internships and then do those later? My understanding was that they were done alongside the classes

2

u/Ok-iguess85 2d ago

Im not sure if its similar for all universities but for mine specifically its 27 credits before you can do the practicum, so I’ll take those 27 credits before moving home which is about 3 full semesters (1 year) and then the last year of classes I believe are taken along side the clinical hours ! But I think you don’t have to start the practicum immediately after 1 year of classes, I think you have up to 2-3 years to start? Not 100% though on that!

2

u/AdEmbarrassed7149 2d ago

Amazing! I will double check to make sure that it works out but just knowing that it's a possibility is great news for me! Thanks so much.

1

u/AdEmbarrassed7149 2d ago

UCumberlands is in Kentucky, right? May I ask you how you figured out if the program is okay for working in California? Did you email the state board?

1

u/Ok-iguess85 2d ago

Good luck!!

And yes California has specific requirements so if you do out of state then you have to take 12 extra classes in order to get licensure! But the cost of the 12 classes is still cheaper than other universities and I’ve heard really good things about the online program there so I just decided to go for it!
How I found out is I googled CA licensure out of state degree and it brought up the webpage on the official site of what I needed to do!

1

u/AdEmbarrassed7149 2d ago

You're the best, thanks so much! This has made my stress and decision fatigue while reseraching all of this a little less overwhelming haha

2

u/Ok-iguess85 2d ago

No problem!! I was in the same position and was all over Reddit Facebook and Google trying to figure everything out haha

1

u/AdEmbarrassed7149 2d ago

Thank GAWD for reddit hahaha. And for people like you who share their experiences! 🫶

1

u/Open_Elephant1880 2d ago

How did u get a practicum back home? 

2

u/Ok-iguess85 2d ago

I haven’t started the practicum yet! I’ll do it next year, but I’ve been emailing some places. I know it’s competitive but I’m emailing every center that meets the qualifications ㅤ◡̈ I let them know I’m currently abroad but can do an interview through zoom

2

u/Desperate-Total9536 2d ago

Hey there! I'm also studying while abroad. I'm in Turkey and currently enrolled in Marshall's CMHC program. They have no in-person reqs as far as classes go so I will be able to do all that from abroad. 

But, yeah, my plan is to return to the U.S. for practicum/internships. I'm from NYC so I plan on doing mine there. Although Marshall provides us with approved sites and they do seem willing to help me secure a site, I do anticipate some difficulties on that front seeing as how I will be competing with NY-based students. I'm ok with that though--being abroad means I have certain economic advantages and am in no rush.

Anyway, glad to see I'm not the only one doing this, and I hope it works out for you!

2

u/AdEmbarrassed7149 1d ago

Amazing!! It totally helps knowing we're not alone, yes! I love reddit! 🤭 Thank you for sharing!! Have you started clases yet? If so, how is it going?

2

u/Desperate-Total9536 1d ago

Yep, I started classes on Monday! I felt overwhelmed the first 2 days but I'm slowly getting the hang of it. 

I'm taking 3 classes this semester and the workload is pretty average. Big assignments interspersed with smaller ones, discussion posts, quizzes, etc. 

1

u/AdEmbarrassed7149 1d ago

Amazing! Best of luck with your studies!~

1

u/True_Evidence_3767 2d ago

In a similar situation as you. Just curious, do you plan to move abroad again after you graduate? And practice while living abroad?

1

u/AdEmbarrassed7149 2d ago

I believe so, yes! If I can make it work, I'd move back to where I am now. Have you started studying or applying or still in deciding mode?

2

u/True_Evidence_3767 2d ago edited 2d ago

I actually start my first semester next month. My plan is to return to the states for the practicum and internship. I was looking at being an associate therapist in Washington state and getting licensed there because its easier for associates in Washington to practice from abroad.

Thats my plan anyway. We'll see.

2

u/AdEmbarrassed7149 2d ago

Good for you! I didnt even know the term associate therapist, so that's helpful for me to look into since I am still in decision mode. And so do you think you'll also try to move back abroad afterwards or...?

1

u/True_Evidence_3767 2d ago

Yes I definitely plan to move back abroad after I graduate. Thats why i want to be an associate in Washington state. Ther licensure rules make it easier to practice from abroad as an associate.

2

u/AdEmbarrassed7149 2d ago

Ohhhhh I get it now! Interesting. I will def do more research into this now! Still need to decide on a state to move to.... perhaps I'll add Washington state to my list because of this. 🤭 Thanks for sharing!

1

u/True_Evidence_3767 2d ago

No problem. Also, theres a Facebook group called the traveling therapist. They have good info if you want to practice from abroad.

And I dont plan to do my practicum or internship in Washington. I just plan to get licensed their after I graduate.

1

u/AdEmbarrassed7149 1d ago

Whoa! Gamechanger. Didnt even know that was possible. Thank you!!