Non-Behavioral Health Degrees:

Non-traditional paths lead here too

Behavioral Health as a Second Career

Pursuing behavioral health as a second career is a meaningful and achievable goal, especially if you're passionate about mental health, helping others, or community work. Your path will depend on your background, interests, and how clinical you want the role to be (e.g., therapist vs. coach vs. case manager).

Here's a step-by-step guide tailored to adults making a career transition:

Clarify Your Target Role.

Decide if you want a licensed clinical role (more education, more autonomy) or a non-clinical/supportive role (quicker entry, still impactful).

Assess Your Current Background.

Evaluate your: 

  • Previous degree(s),

  • Work experience (human services, education, corporate, etc.),

  • Transferable skills (communication, empathy, crisis management, etc.),

  • Time and money available for retraining.

Knowing these answers will help you choose the right educational path and career tier.

Choose the Right Education Path.

For example, if You Want to Become a Licensed Counselor/Therapist:

  • Earn a Master's Degree in Counseling (MA, MS), Social Work (MSW), Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT)

  • Consider online or part-time programs designed for working adults.

If You Want a Quicker Entry (non-licensed), consider a certificate or associate's degree in: Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse Counseling, Case Management, Peer Support Specialist training.


Gain Practical Experience.

This can be done through:

  • Internships or practicum (required in licensed programs), or

  • Volunteering with crisis lines (e.g., 988), community behavioral health nonprofits, and rehab or group homes, or

  • Entry-level jobs like behavioral health technician, case aide, peer support worker.

Get Licensed or Certified (If Needed).

For more information, visit the Licensure and Certifications page.

*Please note that educational requirements or prerequisites may vary by college/university. Our recommendations are general guidelines. Check each school’s admission requirements for details. 

An Associate degree is a two-year degree, usually earned from a Community College or 2-Year College. Associate degrees usually focus on general education courses. Coursework taken during an Associate degree can often be transferred to a 4-Year College and applied toward a Bachelor degree.

Ohio has three programs that help students transfer credit:

A bachelor’s degree is a four-year degree, usually earned from a college or university. Bachelor students usually have to pick a “major” (area of study). They take a combination of general education coursework and specialized courses for their major. 

If you do not yet have a degree and you are interested in careers in behavioral health, consider getting an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a behavioral health field. 

If you already have a degree in a non-behavioral health field, you still have many options for behavioral health careers. 

Next Steps

For information about how to plan and apply for a college degree, please visit the Next Steps page.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. If you notice any errors or outdated information, please contact accounts@mhaadvocacy.org so we can make the necessary corrections.