American International College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

The curricula in the MA in CMHC and the EdD in MHC are aligned with the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP) to prepare you for licensure in most states. (Students are responsible for ensuring they meet all state licensing requirements.)

Field placement is the required hands-on learning component of American International College’s (AIC’s) online mental health counseling programs. Whether you enroll in the master’s or doctorate program, you will apply what you learn in the classroom to real-world situations to prepare you for your future in mental health counseling or academia.

Your dedicated AIC field placement team collaborates with you to secure quality field learning sites that reflect your educational goals. They ensure all experiences meet the College’s standards and that the agencies and field instructors are approved before you start your fieldwork.

Concurrent coursework and field experiences connect theory with practice. Field placement provides real-world, hands-on counseling experience in the form of practicum hours. Your Field Placement Coordinator helps identify quality placement sites within your local community so you can focus on your coursework and build your skills.

No. Support to find field placement sites in your community that align with your career goals is integrated into the program cost and saves you time.

Your Field Placement Coordinator will guide you through the entire process. They will give you a realistic idea of the field experience to ensure you are ready to work with supervision and independently.

Students are strongly encouraged to list agency referrals on the field intake form for the Field Placement Coordinator to arrange. Mental health counseling faculty are required to review and approve the agency before the start of any field work.

Completing the field placement intake form initiates the field placement search process. Upon completion of the form, you will be required to complete all field clearance requirements (by the College and agency) prior to the start of your first field experience. Most agencies have additional requirements for the College and/or interviews that students must complete prior to starting. As active participants in the placement process and to help focus the placement team’s search, students are encouraged to provide any local sites where they would prefer to complete their field hours.

Typically, students complete their field practicum hours at: 

• Community centers/organizations 
• Human service agencies 
• Counseling and therapy centers 
• Addiction and mental health treatment facilities 
• Adoption agencies 
• Senior care facilities, such as nursing homes 
• Correctional facilities 
• Hospitals/clinics

You will receive a notification from your dedicated Field Placement Coordinator prior to each field experience start date.

No. Due to the educational nature of the fieldwork, sites do not pay students. You are responsible for your transportation and travel expenses.

The online MA in CMHC and EdD in MHC programs cost $830 per credit hour + fees* for a total investment of $49,800 and $54,780, respectively. There are no student fees. Financial aid may be available to our online students.

*Please speak with your enrollment advisor about additional program fees.

Yes. A dedicated AIC Placement Coordinator works with you to secure a site and preceptor near you. Learn more.

It depends on your schedule, and the choice is yours. You can take the MA in CMHC program on a full-time basis and earn your degree in two years (six trimesters). Or, you can enroll in the program part-time and earn your degree in three years and three months (ten trimesters).

You can take the EdD in MHC program full-time and earn your degree in two years and three months (seven trimesters). Or, you can enroll in the program part-time and earn your degree in three years and seven months (eleven trimesters).

The MA in CMHC admission requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in any field
• 2.75 GPA 
• 2 Letters of recommendation 
• Personal statement 

The EdD in MHC admission requirements:

• Master’s degree in psychology or closely related field
• 3.0 GPA 
• 3 Letters of recommendation 
• Personal statement 

You can find more information on this page.