Michigan is tied for fewest behavioral health vocational programs in the nation, with only two
In Michigan’s schools, the counselor-to-student ratio is 573:1 — more than twice the national recommendation
A new research report recommends expanding courses, credentials and financial incentives to grow the pipeline
Michigan does not have enough opportunities for students to train to become behavioral health care workers, according to a new research report developed in partnership with the Michigan Department of Education.
That lack of education is contributing to an “urgent shortage” of certified school-based mental health professionals in the state, according to the Michigan Health Council. The health care research nonprofit says the ratio of counselors, psychologists and social workers to students in Michigan is two to three times higher than national recommendations.
Improving vocational programs could “introduce thousands of high school students each year to fulfilling careers,” according to Michigan Health Council president and CEO Craig Donahue.
“Michigan’s behavioral health workforce crisis demands innovative solutions, and Career and Technical Education represents one of our most promising yet underutilized tools,” Donahue said in a statement. “These careers are desperately needed in our communities and will help ensure every Michigan student has access to the mental health support they need to thrive.”
The report notes there were 573 students per school counselor in Michigan in the 2023-2024 school year, 1,354 students per school psychologist, and 458.5 students per school social worker.
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Michigan offers just two behavioral health Career and Technical Education, or CTE, programs across its high schools, technical centers and community colleges, placing it in the bottom five nationally, according to the report. Oklahoma leads the country by offering 11 pathways for students to work in professions like certified nursing assistants and home care aides.
The state’s credentials are also limited in scope — most are variations of the Child Development Associate, a certification that typically leads to careers in education, not mental health.
Behavioral health CTE programs in Michigan are not “easy to find,” according to the report, as they are often housed under broader categories that can limit awareness. Those pathways are available in the state’s Health Sciences/Allied Health; Health Sciences, General; and Education career clusters.
About 18,000 Michigan students were enrolled in health sciences and education CTE programs in the 2024-2025 school year, according to a Bridge Michigan analysis of state data. The state figures don’t specify how many of those students were on the behavioral health track.
The Michigan Health Council recommends the state expand the availability of its specialized behavioral health career and technical education courses and more clearly identify the programs that can lead to a career in behavioral health care.
Offering a more diverse field of non-degree credentials in behavioral health could set more students on career pathways, the council says, and financial incentives, like paying teachers bonuses for their student’s credentialing as used in states like North Carolina and Florida, could also improve enrollment.
“The promising practices highlighted in this report strongly align with Michigan’s goals to expand and enhance Career and Technical Education programs that meet both student aspirations and industry needs,” said Celena Mills, Director of Career and Technical Education at the Michigan Department of Education, in a statement.
“By increasing visibility, diversifying behavioral health courses, and expanding credential opportunities, we can better prepare students for high-demand careers in counseling, psychology, and social work.”
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