M.S. in Counseling

• Before reapplying for admissions, former students must contact their Department of Counseling Academic Adviser.
• The readmissions review process takes about 4 weeks once the Department has received all required documents.
• Dismissed students are ineligible to return until a minimum one-year separation from the program has occurred. Applicants seeking to re-apply should complete the re-application process during the term immediately preceding eligible return date and before deadline.
• To graduate from this program, your program and cumulative GPA must be 3.0 or higher.
• Only those courses, previously completed in the College of Psychology master’s program within the past five years with grades of B- or better and that are equivalent will be applied toward the master’s degree. Applications must be received by the deadlines posted on the College of Psychology website.

Transfer students must meet the program admissions criteria. Up to six graduate credits may be transferred into this program abiding by the program’s policy for Transfer of Credit. All transfer credit must be awarded during the student’s first academic year in the master’s program. The courses that may be transferred into the program will be determined on a case by case basis and must be deemed comparable in level, content and rigor to those within the M.S. in Counseling program. Courses considered for transfer credit must be completed no longer than five years prior to the student’s first enrollment in the program. No transfer credit may be applied to practicum or internship courses. It is the student’s responsibility to verify that courses transferred are applicable toward the educational requirements for certification and licensure.

Get help obtaining your I-20

Our Office of International Students and Scholars page guides you through the requirements to obtain your I-20 and other international admissions details.

English Proficiency

International applicants who reside outside the U.S. at the time of application, and whose native language is not English, must present evidence of proficiency in English by satisfactorily completing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Score requirements are the same as undergraduate admission and are as follows: minimum paper score =550; minimum computerized score = 213; minimum internet score=79). A score of 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (ILETS) exam is accepted in lieu of the TOEFL. 

Proof of English language competency can also be achieved by successfully completing a degree at a regionally accredited U.S. institution of higher education.

Credential Evaluation

Applicants who have attended colleges/universities, outside of the United States, must have their official transcripts evaluated by a NACES credential evaluation agency. The selected service must be a "course by course" evaluation.

International students are encouraged to contact the Office of International Student Services at (954) 262-7240 or 800-541-6682, ext. 27240, or by email at intl@nova.edu, or visit www.nova.edu/internationalstudents.

1. Complete the non-degree online application. (Select the "Non-degree" option for the question, "What level of Degree are you seeking".)
2. Submit a non-refundable application fee of $50 (in U.S. dollars). Once the application is completed and the application processing fee has been received by NSU, applicants will be able to upload supplemental documents to Supplemental Documents on their user profile. 
3. Submit two letters of recommendation with completed forms from professors, employers, supervisors, or similar persons most familiar with your work.
4. Submit official transcripts from all regionally accredited colleges / universities and/or agency evaluation of foreign degree.
5. For the Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration: Submit a letter from the Florida Department of Health specifying desired course work.
6. For the School Counseling concentration: Submit Florida Department of Education Statement of Eligibility for Certification, indicating course work required. Include a copy of your teaching certificate (school counseling applicants only). Applicants may request a waiver of this requirement by contacting the Department of Recruitment and Admissions at (954) 262-5760.
7. International applicants should submit official proof of English proficiency.
8. An interview or additional documentation may be required for purposes of screening or advisement. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their file is complete and received by the announced deadline. Check on the status of your file with the Department of Recruitment and Admissions, (954) 262-5760, prior to the application deadline.
9. ABA candidates must have a minimum of a Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution to apply for the non-degree seeking ABA concentrations.

For Florida School Counseling Certification, the ten courses/content areas are as follows:

• PYCL 0503 - Counseling Theories for School Counselors*
• PYCL 0511 - Introduction to Counseling Techniques*
• PYCL 0510 - Career Development and College Planning
• PYCL 0512 - Human Growth & Development*
• PYCL 0515 - Principles of School Counseling* 
• PYCL 0550 - Contemporary Clinical Interventions*
• PYCL 0571 - Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues for School Counselors*
• PYCL 0560 - Appraisal & Evaluation in School Counseling
• PYCL 0585 - Psychology of Exceptional and At-Risk Children
• PYCL 0635 - Group Theory and Practice*
• PYCL 0665 - School Consultation Skills*
• PYCL 0685 - School Counseling Practicum* 
• PYCL 0688 / PYCL 0689 - School Counseling Internship / Continuing School Counseling Internship

*These courses must be completed before applying for internship.

Application Deadlines

Applicants may be admitted to main campus programs for fall, winter, or summer sessions. Specific application information related to site(s) are included in a separate application packet available from the College of Psychology or through this webpage. Please be aware that requirements for supervision hours cannot be completed as a non-degree seeking student. 

How to Apply

To access a step-by-step guide on the application process, click here.

To promote academic focus, professional success, and efficient use of university resources, NSU limits the number of degrees a student may earn:

• Up to three master’s degrees, regardless of major or program

• Up to two education specialist (EdS) degrees

• Only one of each type of doctoral or professional degree (e.g., PhD, MD, JD, DO) — multiple degrees of the same type are not allowed, even if they have different majors or come from different colleges within NSU

Degrees earned at other institutions do not count toward this policy. However, NSU does consider an applicant's full academic background — including the number and types of degrees already earned — during the admissions process.

Please note that NSU reserves the right to rescind or place conditions upon admissions offers should information become available that calls into question an admitted student’s academic performance or character, including that which reflects a violation of NSU’s Code of Student Conduct.

NSU’s College of Psychology’s clinical, school, and counseling programs maintain affiliation agreements with health care and community agencies and may also place students within the NSU Psychology Services Center (PSC). These affiliations allow for student clinical training experiences required in the programs. Trainees may be required to undergo Level 2 background and drug screenings.

Please note that the university and affiliate sites have a zero-tolerance policy for drug use. Testing positive for illegal or illicit drugs, including marijuana (even if prescribed or certified by a physician), or a controlled substance for which the individual does not have a prescription, would constitute a failed test and as such, could invalidate the placement/match and result in a referral for further action. (Updated May 2025)

It is important to note that many agencies with whom the NSU College of Psychology partners for practicum/internship/post-doctoral residency program placements require that students show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (including recommended boosters).

Not being vaccinated may eliminate some placements as an option and in turn disrupt the sequence of training, delay program progression, and/or timely degree completion.

Questions may be directed to the appropriate program office. (Updated Feb 2022)