In the state of Michigan, you are required to have a minimum of a Master’s degree from a CACREP accredited program or equivalent, and a minimum of 48 semester hours and an internship of 600 hours. State licensure is permission from a particular state government to practice counselor or identify oneself as a licensed counselor. In the state of Texas, you are required to have a minimum of a Master’s degree and a minimum of 48 graduate semester hours from an accredited school with courses in specific areas. In the state of North Dakota, you are required to have a minimum of a Master’s degree, a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours from an accredited school with courses in specific areas, and 800 supervised clinical training. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other information published on this site. You must have 2 years or 3,000 hours of supervised experience with a minimum of 2,000 hours being client facing. You must pass the NCE, NCMHCE, CRCE, or another approved exam as well as the Oregon Law and Rules exam. Credentialing Title(s): LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor). In the state of West Virginia, you are required to have a minimum of a Master’s degree from a CACREP or CORE accredited program or equivalent, and a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours from an internship or practicum. You must have 2 years or 2,000 hours of supervised experience with a minimum of 100 hours. Counselor-License.com is an advertising-supported site. You must pass the NCE, NCMHCE, or CRCE exam. Should you receive your initial credential in the months leading up to this date, you are still required to renew your license by the statutorily defined date. LPC (or variation, e.g. Topping the list is Massachusetts, with Hawaii and Connecticut close behind in second and third. Becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor can be such a rewarding career. In the state of Arizona, you are required to have a minimum of a Master’s degree from a CACREP or CORE accredited program or equivalent, or a minimum of 60 semester hours of coursework in 14 specific areas. You must pass the NCE, NCMHCE, or CRCE exam. You must have 3 years or 3,000 hours of supervised counseling experience, and 1 year of experience can be earned by 30 semester hours you take after earning your Master’s up to 2 years. You must pass the NCE or other approved national exam. You must pass the NCE and TX Jurisprudence exams. You must pass the NCMHCE exam. You must pass the NCE and NCMHCE exams. Credentialing Title(s): LPCMH (Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health) or LACMH (Licensed Associate Counselor of Mental Health). You must pass the NCE exam. In the state of Utah, you are required to have a minimum of a Master’s degree from a CACREP accredited program or equivalent, and a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours from an accredited school with courses in specific areas. 1,600 of those hours has to be professional direct supervision with 100 of those being face-to-face. In the state of South Carolina, you are required to have a minimum of a Master’s degree and a minimum of 48 graduate semester hours from an accredited school with courses in 10 specific areas, as well as a practicum of 10 hours. In the state of Washington, you are required to have a minimum of a Master’s degree in a field related to counseling from an accredited school. Most licensure boards, however, impose these common prerequisites: a master's degree in counseling or a related field from an accredited school; completion of a program that fulfills the requisite practicum and internship hours; a passing score on the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and the state's jurisprudence exam; and completion of state-mandated postgraduate clinical hours. To practice as a licensed Counselor in California you must fulfill all of the requirements set out by the California Board of Behavioural Sciences to become a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. Your email address will not be recorded or stored. If you are a currently licensed as a professional counselor or provisionally licensed as a professional counselor, please click on the link below and take a few moments to complete a brief survey. Your privacy is important to us. In the state of Pennsylvania, you are required to have a minimum of a Master’s in a field related to counseling and a minimum of 48 graduate semester hours from an accredited school with courses in specific areas. State boards rely on national testing for counselors, including national program accreditation, to ensure uniformity of knowledge and standards. In the state of New Mexico, you are required to have a minimum of a Master’s degree and a minimum of 48 graduate semester hours from an accredited school with courses in specific areas. In the District of Columbia, you must have a minimum of a Master’s degree with 10 core areas making up your coursework and at least 60 semester hours. You must have 4,000 hours of supervised experience with a minimum of 2,000 client facing. You must pass the NCE exam. In the state of New Hampshire, you are required to have a minimum of a Master’s degree from a CACREP accredited program or equivalent, and a minimum of 2 academic years related to counseling with 60 graduate semester courses in 9 specific areas. Education and training requirements for becoming an LPC are similar to those for other mental health providers including marriage and family therapists and clinical social workers. If you have been licensed at least five years in an… You must pass the NCE, CRCE, ATCB, CBMT, PEPK, AAODA, or EMAC exam. You must have 3,000 hours of supervised experience with a minimum of 1,500 hours being after you have graduated. In the state of Hawaii, you are required to have a minimum of a Master’s in a field related to counseling, and a minimum of 48 graduate semester hours from an accredited school with courses in specific areas. In the state of Colorado, you are required to have a minimum of a Master’s degree from a CACREP accredited program or equivalent, and a minimum of 48 graduate semester hours from an accredited school with courses in specific areas. You must pass the NCE or CRCE exam. Credentialing Title(s): LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor) or LPCA (Licensed Professional Counselor Associate). You must have 2 years or 3,000 hours of supervised experience under an LPCC. You must pass the NCE or NCMHCE exam. For details about each state licensing board's expectations, explore the map below. Credentialing Title(s): LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) or LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor). You need 3 years or 3,000 hours of supervised experience with 1,200 being client facing. Under licensure laws enacted in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, there are over 120,000 licensed professional counselors in the United States. You can help protect yourself with the right insurance to include: The first step is to check with your state to see what their licensing guidelines are to be a counselor. With such a rewarding job, though, comes some major risks and responsibilities. Section 1903. It only takes a few minutes. Board for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists, and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapists Licensed Professional Counselor Policy … In the state of Tennessee, you are required to have a minimum of a Master’s degree from a CACREP accredited program or equivalent, and a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours from an accredited school with courses in specific areas. Please visit our Portal Webpage for more information.. Beginning March 24, 2020, the Mental Health Regulatory Agency office is closed to the public.Please contact us via phone or email. In the state of Mississippi, you are required to have a minimum of a Master’s degree from an accredited program or equivalent, and a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours from an accredited school with courses in 10 specific areas. Credentialing Title(s): LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor) or Clinical Counselor Intern or Clinical Counselor Trainee. Credentialing Title(s): LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) or ALPC (Associate Professional Counselor). In the state of Minnesota, you are required to have a minimum of a Master’s degree from a CACREP accredited program or equivalent, and a minimum of 48 graduate semester hours from an accredited school with courses in 10 specific areas and 700 counseling hours. You must pass the NCE exam. Licensed professional counselors (or in some states, "licensed clinical professional counselors" or "licensed mental health counselors") provide mental health and substance abuse care to millions of Americans. We’ve identified 11 states where the typical salary for a Licensed Professional Counselor job is above the national average. In the state of Iowa, you are required to have a minimum of a Master’s degree from a CACREP accredited program or equivalent, and a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours from an accredited school with courses in specific areas. Credentialing Title(s): LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) or Registered Intern. In the state of Massachusetts, you are required to have a minimum of a Master’s degree in a field related to counseling, and a minimum of 48 graduate semester hours including an internship of 600 hours and 100 hours of practicum along with 60 graduate semester hours. School counselors may also need to complete a program accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. You must have 2 years or 3,000 hours of supervised experience with a minimum of 1,500 hours client-facing and 200 hours of clinical supervision. You must pass the NCMHCE exam. You must have 3 years or 4,500 hours of supervised experience. State Credentialing Title(s): LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) or LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Mental Health Counselor) or LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor). You must pass the NCE and CO Jurisprudence exams. The supervisor must be an LPC. Supervision Requirements 4. Most states require some combination of a master's degree, counseling experience and supervision, as well as passing a national examination, such as the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and/or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). Credentialing Title(s): LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) or LAC (Licensed Associate Counselor). CORE accredited program or equivalent, and a minimum of 48 graduate semester hours from an accredited school. In the state of Nebraska, you are required to have a minimum of a Master’s degree from a CACREP accredited program or equivalent. As always, you should check with your state licensing offices and an attorney or legal representative. You must pass the NCMHCE and an essay exam. California is one of the most recent states to begin licensing professional Counsellors. You must pass the NCE exam. Because state boards -- rather than national organizations -- mandate and confer LPC credentials, licensed counselor requirements vary by jurisdiction. In the state of Connecticut, you must have a minimum of a Master’s degree in counseling or mental health field from an accredited school and at least 60 semester hours. You must have 2 years or 3,000 hours of supervised experience with a minimum of 100 hours direct. The flagship certification offered by NBCC is the National Certified Counselor (NCC), and it is the largest national certification in the world. From helping people work through their mental health issues to assisting those with substance abuse issues get clean and stay clean, there is a lot to be proud of. Virginia Counselor Credential Titles Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Licensed Professional Counselor – resident (LPCresident) An applicant practicing under supervision Virginia Counselor Educational Requirements Master’s degree or higher in counseling that includes 60 semester hours (or 90 quarter hours) of graduate study in counseling. You must have 3 years or 3,600 hours of supervised experience with minimum supervision requirements. You must pass the NCE exam. You must pass the NCE exam. To apply by reciprocity, you must hold a current Professional Counselor of Mental Health license in another jurisdiction (state, District of Columbia or U.S. territory), and the license must be in good standing. You must pass the NCE, NCMHCE, or CRCE exam. You must pass the NCE exam. All professional counseling positions will also require a master's in counseling, and in some cases, a doctorate. Some states have a single license and some have a two-tiered system. You must pass the NCMHCE exam. You must pass the NCE exam. Credentialing Title(s): LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor). Welcome to the California Board of Behavioral Sciences website. 1-5 Counselors in New Jersey enjoy a good range of job opportunities and excellent competitive salaries. In the state of Louisiana, you are required to have a minimum of a Master’s degree in a mental health field, and a minimum of 48 graduate semester hours from an accredited school with courses in 8 specific areas or complete a CACREP program. Seth Olson, Kathleen Brown-Rice, Andrew Gerodias. Master’s degree or higher in professional counseling or related field from an accredited college/university consisting of 48 graduate semester hours. Required Examination 3. This guide provides information for licensed professional counselor (LPC) requirements by state. The information provided is for direction and educational purposes only and is not all-inclusive. Thanks! Credentialing Title(s): LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) or LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) or CC (Certified Counselor) or CA (Certified Advisor) or AAC (Agency Affiliated Counselor) or Registered Counselor. In the state of Georgia, you are required to have a minimum of a Master’s degree with the courses primarily consisting of counseling or psychology, and a minimum of 300 hours of supervised internship or practicum. You must have 2 years and at least 1,500 hours of supervised experience. Validating email. You must have 3 years or 3,000 hours of supervised experience with a minimum of 350 hours being face-to-face per every 1,000. The requirements for obtaining licensure as an LPC are set forth in 22 TAC 681.72. From being accused to improper treatment, misdiagnosis, to someone tripping and falling in your office all of these things can result in a lawsuit against you. You must pass the NCE or NCMHCE exam. Credentialing Title(s): LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) or Certified Professional Counselor Intern or Certified Professional Counselor Extern. Credentialing Title(s): LCPC (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor) or Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Intern. Credentialing Title(s): LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) or Counselor Intern. You must pass the NCMHCE exam. In the state of Indiana, you are required to have a minimum of a Master’s degree from a CACREP or CORE accredited program or equivalent, and a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours from an accredited school with courses in specific areas. You must pass the NCE, NCMHCE, CRCE or equivalent exam as well as the Wisconsin Jurisprudence exam.