Mental Health Professionals: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of mental health professionals about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for mental health professionals to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of mental health professionals expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for mental health professionals.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Mental Health Professionals?
Do mental health professionals need a degree? What kind of experience do mental health professionals typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for mental health professionals to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Mental Health Professionals
Jobs Postings for Mental Health Professionals By Education
- Master's degree: 64,926 (36%)
- Bachelor's degree: 43,074 (24%)
- No Education Listed: 31,033 (17%)
- High School or GED: 21,174 (12%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 19,617 (11%)
A master's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of mental health professionals. According to job data, a master's degree was required for 36% of positions. In 24% of job listings a bachelor's degree was required and in 17% of postings no education level was listed.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Mental Health Professionals
Jobs Postings for Mental Health Professionals By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 24,596 (37%)
- 2-3 Years: 34,229 (51%)
- 4-6 Years: 6,965 (10%)
- 7-9 Years: 358 (1%)
- 10+ Years: 435 (1%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for mental health professionals. In 51% of job postings for Mental Health Professionals, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 37% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 10% of job postings for mental health professionals.
What Kind of Degree Do Mental Health Professionals Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for mental health professionals, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 12 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective mental health professionals, and in 2021 a total of 242,141 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective mental health professionals.
Top Degree Programs for Mental Health Professionals
Top 5 Degree Programs for Mental Health Professionals (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 140,792 |
| Social Work. | 56,801 |
| Human Services, General. | 13,224 |
| Mental Health Counseling/Counselor. | 7,598 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis. | 5,428 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 140,792 |
| Social Work. | 56,801 |
| Human Services, General. | 13,224 |
| Mental Health Counseling/Counselor. | 7,598 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis. | 5,428 |
| Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling. | 5,416 |
| Behavioral Sciences. | 4,169 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions, Other. | 4,069 |
| Clinical/Medical Social Work. | 2,202 |
| Applied Psychology. | 2,058 |
| Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling. | 328 |
| Trauma Counseling. | 56 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Mental Health Professionals
Leverage advances in positive psychology and executive coaching to impact the development of individuals, teams, and communities.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
What Skills Do Mental Health Professionals Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by mental health professionals to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for mental health professionals, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Mental Health Professionals
Based on 145,263 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Mental Health Professionals
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health | 65,656 | 45% |
| Social Work | 48,342 | 33% |
| Treatment Planning | 48,051 | 33% |
| Psychology | 47,447 | 33% |
| Case Management | 31,110 | 21% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Mental Health Professionals
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 42,433 | 29% |
| Management | 20,682 | 14% |
| Planning | 18,167 | 13% |
| Coordinating | 15,993 | 11% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 15,711 | 11% |
Based on 145,263 job postings related to mental health professionals, mental health was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 45% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for social work, treatment planning, psychology, case management and substance abuse were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for mental health professionals, followed by management, planning, coordinating, ethical standards and conduct and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health | 65,656 | 45% |
| Social Work | 48,342 | 33% |
| Treatment Planning | 48,051 | 33% |
| Psychology | 47,447 | 33% |
| Case Management | 31,110 | 21% |
| Substance Abuse | 28,964 | 20% |
| Crisis Intervention | 28,403 | 20% |
| Behavioral Health | 27,856 | 19% |
| Family Therapy | 18,472 | 13% |
| Human Services | 17,550 | 12% |
| Psychiatry | 15,217 | 10% |
| Psychotherapy | 14,784 | 10% |
| Mental Diseases | 13,730 | 9% |
| Discharge Planning | 11,842 | 8% |
| Electronic Medical Record | 11,772 | 8% |
| Group Therapy | 11,732 | 8% |
| Trauma Care | 10,611 | 7% |
| Medical Records | 10,201 | 7% |
| Community Mental Health Services | 10,082 | 7% |
| Mental Health Counseling | 9,762 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 42,433 | 29% |
| Management | 20,682 | 14% |
| Planning | 18,167 | 13% |
| Coordinating | 15,993 | 11% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 15,711 | 11% |
| Writing | 14,946 | 10% |
| Leadership | 14,293 | 10% |
| Problem Solving | 12,398 | 9% |
| Advocacy | 12,161 | 8% |
| Computer Literacy | 10,793 | 7% |
| Customer Service | 10,287 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 10,239 | 7% |
| Multilingualism | 10,058 | 7% |
| Professionalism | 8,578 | 6% |
| Time Management | 8,172 | 6% |
| Scheduling | 8,095 | 6% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 7,910 | 5% |
| Detail Oriented | 7,625 | 5% |
| Microsoft Office | 7,574 | 5% |
| Good Driving Record | 7,300 | 5% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about mental health professionals? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for mental health professionals.
What do mental health professionals do?
How much do mental health professionals make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.