National University offers a broad counseling-related portfolio that spans California LMFT and LPCC preparation, marriage and family therapy, clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, community college counseling, addiction counseling, graduate certificates, and advanced MFT doctorates. The university is a private nonprofit institution headquartered in San Diego and is institutionally accredited by WSCUC. Readers comparing institutions can also browse the directory of California counseling schools.
The programs fall into two main academic units. The JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences houses counseling psychology, clinical mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, addiction counseling, and MFT certificates and doctorates. The Sanford College of Education offers the school counseling and community college counseling pathways.
The programs do not all lead toward the same professional objective. The MA in Counseling Psychology and the California track of the MA in Marriage and Family Therapy are the clearest California behavioral health licensure pathways. The school counseling programs lead toward a California Commission on Teacher Credentialing authorization rather than a Board of Behavioral Sciences license. The community college counseling degree is expressly non-licensure. Certificates provide targeted education but do not substitute for a qualifying graduate degree.
National University counseling programs at a glance
| Program | Credits | Format | Primary purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| MA in Counseling Psychology | 60 | Online, mostly asynchronous with some scheduled live meetings | California LMFT or combined LMFT/LPCC academic preparation |
| MA in Marriage and Family Therapy, California track | 60 | Primarily online with community-based clinical training | California LMFT preparation |
| MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 60 | Online coursework with practicum and internship | Graduate clinical mental health counseling education; California LPCC alignment not established in the reviewed disclosures |
| MS in Educational Counseling with PPS credential | 48 | Online coursework with California field training | California school counselor preparation |
| MS in Educational Counseling, Community College Counseling | 48 | Online | Community college counseling and student-support careers |
| PPS School Counseling credential-only option | At least 24 | Four-week courses with practicum and fieldwork | Additional PPS authorization for narrowly eligible professionals |
| Undergraduate Certificate in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling | 30 | Online or in person, with live practicum participation | California-focused addiction counselor education |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in MFT | 12 | Online | Focused MFT study and possible transfer into the MAMFT |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate MFT Dual Licensure | 12 | Online | Supplemental counseling coursework; California LPCC alignment not established |
| Post-Master’s Certificate in MFT | 18 | Online | Advanced MFT study after a master’s degree |
| PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy | At least 63 | Primarily online with practicum and research | Research, teaching, supervision, and advanced MFT scholarship |
| Doctorate of Marriage and Family Therapy | 60 or 63 minimum, depending on the page section | Online | Applied leadership and advanced systemic practice |
Published costs below are from National University’s tuition table updated September 3, 2026. They are estimates rather than fixed total-price guarantees and can exclude living expenses, placement-related costs, liability insurance, local supervision charges, and other incidental expenses.
MA in Counseling Psychology
The 60-credit MA in Counseling Psychology is National University’s most direct California-specific option for applicants comparing counseling psychology programs that lead toward clinical practice. Students select either an MFT option or a combined MFT/LPCC option. The combined sequence adds three courses in areas that include career counseling, research, and assessment.
National University describes the program as meeting the applicable California academic requirements for the selected route. Clinical practicum training must take place in California at a university-approved site, and students must reside in California throughout the program. Coursework is online and mostly asynchronous, although some courses include scheduled live meetings.
The university publishes a $43,775 estimated total for the 60-credit degree. Its program page gives a 22-month average completion figure, while the FAQ describes 20 months for the standard MFT sequence and three additional months for the combined option. Those figures reflect different descriptions of the course sequence rather than one definitive completion promise.
This degree provides academic preparation, not a professional license at graduation. An MFT graduate normally proceeds toward AMFT registration, while a graduate who completes the applicable LPCC curriculum may pursue APCC registration. California requires additional supervised experience and examinations before full licensure.
National University also has a restricted transition route for eligible students completing its BA in Psychology. Qualifying NU undergraduates with at least a 3.0 GPA near the end of the bachelor’s program can reduce the MA curriculum from 20 courses to as few as 18. That option is limited to the specified undergraduate population and is not the standard master’s curriculum.
MA in Marriage and Family Therapy, California 60-Credit Track
The MA in Marriage and Family Therapy is a separate degree from the California MA in Counseling Psychology. It uses a systemic and relational MFT curriculum and is delivered primarily online, with community-based practicum, internship, and clinical supervision.
National University states that California residents seeking LMFT preparation must enroll in the 60-credit California track. The California plan includes California law and professional ethics and the additional coursework needed to reach 60 credits. The general degree requires at least 45 credits, but that shorter base curriculum is not the California licensure track.
The published tuition table estimates $43,335 for 45 credits. Because California students need 60 credits, that estimate understates the academic cost of the California route. The reviewed tuition table does not publish a complete 60-credit California-track total.
National University reports a recommended completion time of 33 months. Clinical requirements include community placements, supervision, professional liability insurance, and clinical-hour tracking. Some placements can also require students to pay for local supervision.
The MA program is COAMFTE accredited, with its status documented through an official COAMFTE accreditation action. That is programmatic accreditation specific to marriage and family therapy, separate from National University’s WSCUC institutional accreditation. California LMFT applicants still must complete the post-degree process described by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, including AMFT registration, examinations, and 3,000 supervised hours accrued over at least 104 weeks. The full pathway is explained further in the guide to California LMFT requirements.
The MAMFT is a logical comparison point for applicants focused specifically on systemic family therapy. The MA in Counseling Psychology provides a California-defined MFT option and a combined MFT/LPCC sequence, while the MAMFT centers the entire degree on marriage and family therapy and carries verified COAMFTE accreditation.
MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
National University’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a 60-credit, 20-course online program. Its curriculum covers counseling theory, diagnosis, ethics, legal standards, evidence-based treatment, advocacy, and culturally responsive practice. Most courses run for eight weeks, while practicum and internship courses run for 12 weeks.
The university publishes an estimated program cost of $44,090. General graduate admission standards apply, and the program page does not identify an entrance examination requirement.
Two accreditation and licensure limits require a precise reading. First, National University does not present the program as currently CACREP accredited. The university says it is working toward compliance with the 2024 CACREP standards in preparation to pursue accreditation. Preparing for accreditation is not the same as holding accreditation.
Second, the MS did not appear in the reviewed National University licensure-disclosure table as a program meeting California LPCC requirements. Its title and 60-credit structure establish that it is a clinical mental health counseling degree, but the available official evidence does not establish California LPCC educational eligibility.
Applicants whose primary objective is California LPCC preparation have stronger published alignment in the combined MFT/LPCC option of the MA in Counseling Psychology. This conclusion is based on National University’s current California licensure disclosures, not on the general quality or subject matter of the MS curriculum. Readers comparing accreditation routes can review how CACREP accreditation applies to counseling education.
MS in Educational Counseling with PPS School Counseling Credential
This 48-credit program combines a Master of Science in Educational Counseling with preparation for the California Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling credential and Child Welfare and Attendance authorization. It is available only to California residents.
Coursework addresses school counseling theory, culturally responsive counseling, college and career counseling, assessment, ethics, research, program development, and trauma-informed counseling. The degree also includes practicum and substantial fieldwork. Internship eligibility can involve employment as a school counselor, an agreement with a district or agency, fingerprint clearance, and required academic progress.
National University lists an estimated total of $34,083, based on a $696 per-credit tuition rate and a $45 course material fee. Applicants need an accredited bachelor’s degree, California Certificate of Clearance documentation, and tuberculosis documentation, in addition to later fieldwork and internship conditions.
This is a credential pathway governed through California educator preparation, not a BBS clinical license program. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing maintains the controlling approved-program resources. National University’s PPS School Counseling preparation was also reviewed in the CTC’s 2022 accreditation report.
The program fits applicants planning to work as K-12 school counselors in California. It is materially different from an LMFT or LPCC degree, even though the curriculum includes counseling theory, trauma-informed practice, and student mental health topics. The broader route is covered in the guide to California PPS School Counseling credential requirements.
MS in Educational Counseling, Community College Counseling Emphasis
The Community College Counseling emphasis is an online, 48-credit master’s program with a published average completion time of 23 months. National University estimates a total cost of $33,783, using a $696 base per-credit rate and a $25 course material fee.
The curriculum includes counseling theories, ethics, culturally conscious counseling, trauma, assessment, research, college and career counseling, equity-focused leadership, and two community college counseling emphasis courses. A California Certificate of Clearance is listed as a prerequisite before the first educational counseling course.
This degree is designed for counseling, advising, and student-support work in community colleges and other educational organizations. The current catalog expressly says that it is not designed to lead to a state license or credential. It therefore serves a different objective from the PPS School Counseling master’s, which is structured around a California K-12 credential.
The current program page does not clearly identify a California clinical licensure practicum. Its value is the focused preparation for postsecondary counseling and student services rather than an LMFT, LPCC, or PPS authorization.
PPS School Counseling Credential-Only Option
National University’s credential-only option is not a general entry route into school counseling. It is restricted to applicants who already hold a master’s degree and a valid California PPS credential in school social work or school psychology.
The pathway requires at least 24 graduate semester credits and includes coursework, practicum, and fieldwork. Courses run in four-week terms. National University publishes an estimated total of $16,740 based on a $683 per-credit rate and a $45 course material fee.
This option allows an already credentialed pupil-personnel professional to add school counseling preparation without completing National University’s full educational counseling master’s. Applicants who do not already hold one of the specified PPS credentials belong in the master’s-plus-credential pathway rather than this restricted option.
Undergraduate Certificate in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling
The Undergraduate Certificate in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling is a 30-credit California-focused program available online or in person. Its curriculum covers addiction assessment, treatment planning, counseling skills, case management, client education, ethics, and related substance-use counseling topics.
Clinical preparation is substantial for an undergraduate certificate. Students complete a 255-hour approved practicum and participate in live practicum classes during the clinical training period. Malpractice insurance and an addiction counseling student agreement are required before client work.
National University publishes an estimated total cost of $17,250. The certificate is designed around California addiction counselor education standards, a pathway distinct from BBS-regulated LMFT and LPCC licensure. It does not independently qualify a graduate to become an LMFT or LPCC. Readers focused on this field can compare broader California addiction counseling programs.
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy
This online certificate requires 12 credits and has a published completion estimate of 10 months. Applicants must hold a conferred bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, and the certificate requires a 3.0 graduation GPA.
Students choose four to six courses from MFT subject areas that can include child and adolescent family therapy, couple therapy, general family therapy, LGBTQ couple and family therapy, medical family therapy, and military family therapy. National University indicates that corresponding coursework may transfer into its MAMFT under applicable rules.
The September 2026 tuition table estimates $11,926 for the 12-credit certificate. The certificate provides focused MFT education, but it is not a standalone California LMFT-qualifying degree. No independent clinical practicum or complete licensure sequence was verified for it.
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Marriage and Family Therapy Dual Licensure
National University separately lists this 12-credit online specialization within its MFT certificate portfolio. The four courses are Career and Lifestyle Development, Group Therapy, Theories of Psychotherapy and Counseling, and Psychological Tests and Measurements. The program page gives a 12-month estimated completion time and a possible minimum of 10 months.
The title requires careful interpretation in California. National University’s page uses the broader Licensed Professional Counselor or LPC terminology. California licenses professional clinical counselors as LPCCs, and the reviewed page does not establish that these four courses satisfy California LPCC educational requirements.
The certificate page also does not identify a practicum or internship. It is best understood as supplemental counseling coursework within the post-baccalaureate MFT certificate family, not as a verified California dual LMFT/LPCC pathway.
National University’s tuition table does not publish a separate price for this specialization. Although the broader post-baccalaureate MFT certificate is also 12 credits, its $11,926 estimate does not establish the price of the dual-licensure specialization.
Post-Master’s Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy
The Post-Master’s Certificate in MFT is an 18-credit online program for applicants who already hold a master’s degree or higher. Students complete six advanced MFT courses, with subject matter determined by their selections.
National University gives a 12-month completion estimate and a published total cost of $21,354. The certificate supports advanced professional study after graduate education. It does not replace a qualifying licensure degree, AMFT registration, supervised experience, or California examinations.
No initial licensure practicum was identified for this certificate. Its role is therefore narrower than that of the 60-credit California MAMFT or MA in Counseling Psychology.
PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy
National University’s PhD in MFT is a COAMFTE-accredited advanced program with at least 63 credits. The curriculum includes MFT theory, research, diversity, ethics, specialization coursework, doctoral practicum, portfolio requirements, and dissertation research.
The university publishes a 78-month average completion time and an estimated total of $74,969 for 63 credits. Additional dissertation enrollment can raise the final amount.
The PhD is oriented toward research, clinical scholarship, teaching, supervision, and leadership. It is not the ordinary entry degree for California LMFT practice. Applicants need the appropriate prior graduate preparation and must complete the doctoral admissions process.
Doctorate of Marriage and Family Therapy
The DMFT is a 100% online professional doctorate focused on advanced systemic practice, program development, organizational leadership, grant writing, clinical education, ethics, research, and an applied doctoral project. National University offers clinical and nonclinical specialization options and publishes a 54-month average completion time.
The current page contains a credit discrepancy. One section describes a minimum of 60 credits, while the program-at-a-glance section states at least 63 credits. The September 2026 tuition table does not list the DMFT, so a current total program estimate is unavailable.
Unlike the research-oriented PhD, the DMFT emphasizes applied professional leadership and systemic practice. Current COAMFTE accreditation was not established for the DMFT, and the degree is not documented as an initial California LMFT-qualifying program.
Admissions and choosing the right National University pathway
National University’s general graduate admission standard calls for an accredited bachelor’s degree with either a 2.5 overall GPA or a 2.75 GPA in the final 60 semester credits. Applicants below that threshold can face testing or probationary-admission conditions. Individual counseling, MFT, credential, and doctoral programs can impose additional requirements, including interviews, background checks, clearance documents, prior credentials, or previous graduate education.
Career objective provides the clearest way to narrow the portfolio:
- California LMFT or combined LMFT/LPCC preparation: The MA in Counseling Psychology publishes the most direct California-specific options. Select the MFT sequence for LMFT preparation or the combined sequence for the university’s identified LMFT/LPCC academic route.
- Systemic family therapy with verified COAMFTE accreditation: The 60-credit California track of the MAMFT provides this structure, but its full California-track cost is higher than the published 45-credit estimate and is not specified in the current tuition table.
- Clinical mental health counseling education: The online MS offers a 60-credit counseling curriculum with practicum and internship. Current CACREP accreditation and California LPCC alignment were not established.
- California K-12 school counseling: The MS in Educational Counseling with PPS credential is the applicable entry pathway. The credential-only option is limited to applicants already holding specified PPS credentials.
- Community college counseling and student services: The 48-credit Community College Counseling emphasis is designed for this employment area and is expressly non-licensure.
- Addiction counseling: The undergraduate certificate combines California-focused coursework with a 255-hour practicum and belongs within the substance-use counselor certification pathway.
- Supplemental MFT education: The post-baccalaureate and post-master’s certificates provide focused study but do not replace a qualifying LMFT degree.
- Research, teaching, supervision, or advanced leadership: The PhD and DMFT serve post-master’s professional goals rather than ordinary entry into licensed practice.
National University’s program names can appear similar while leading toward different authorities and careers. Start by identifying whether the objective is BBS licensure, a CTC school counseling credential, addiction counselor certification, non-licensure educational counseling work, or advanced MFT practice. That distinction narrows the relevant options and allows a direct comparison of curriculum, clinical requirements, accreditation, published cost, and professional outcome.