How to Get Licensed as a Counselor in Every US State

by Zencare team

Originally Published: March 4, 2022
Last Updated: April 19, 2022

This article is the second in our series of how to get licensed as a therapist in every US state. For more context on the pros and cons of seeking cross-state licensure and how this series was developed, read the series introduction here!

Counseling licensure is widely variable by state, and many states unfortunately do not have reciprocity processes. We  recommend applicants visit the state's website at the time of application, as requirements for licensure may have changed

There is hope, though! Similarly to how PSYPACT provides cross-state credentialing for psychologists, the Counseling Compact is an inter-state agreement that will allow licensed counselors to practice across state lines without seeking additional licensure. On April 19, 2022 Nebraska became the 10th state to join the Compact, thus facilitating the Compact's reaching of the 10-state threshold it required to pass! Once Compact member states establish rules and information sharing guidelines, member states will be able to grant Compact licenses and individuals residing in those states will be able to take advantage of the Compact benefits. In the meantime, we'll continue tracking its progress, and send updates as they become available!

Table of Contents
Click on any state to jump to that section.

Alabama

License types:

  • Associate Licensed Counselor (ALC)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Counselors licensed in another state may be eligible to apply for their Alabama LPC license via an Endorsement Review, which "seeks to establish an equivalency of the requirements under which your current license was originally issued" and the requirements for licensure in place in Alabama at that same time.

  • Requirements for licensure for any given year in which an original licensure was obtained can be found on page 7 of the application packet
  • Those who meet the equivalency requirements are eligible for licensure in Alabama via this endorsement process

Applicants who hold a license that does not meet the equivalency requirements can still apply but will be subject to greater "scrutiny of content review" to verify sufficient education and training, according to the Board's licensure FAQ document. Applicants are responsible for providing the Board with adequate documentation that their academic course work and hours of supervised experience are sufficient to obtain their counseling license in Alabama.

For applicants who need to return to school to meet the state's equivalency requirements, Alabama offers a one-year provisional license which allows endorsement applicants to practice counseling in the state as long as they are making progress toward completing academic requirements for licensure.

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Alaska

License type:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

There are two primary paths to licensure in Alaska: Licensure by Examination and Licensure by Credentials, the latter of which is for those who hold a license in another state and are looking to become licensed in Alaska.

Upon applying for Licensure by Credentials, applicants must show that their original state's licensure requirements "specifically meet or exceed the Alaska state LPC requirements," including the requirement for 60 graduate semester hours in counseling.

  • Applicants from a state the does not require licensees to obtain 60 graduate semester hours in counseling must include a transcript with their application showing proof that they individually have obtained a minimum of 60 semester hours
  • More information regarding licensure application materials and qualifications can be found on pages 1-3 of the application packet.

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Arizona

License types:

  • Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

There are two paths to licensure in Arizona for counselors currently licensed in another state—Universal Recognition and Endorsement. Therapists who seek to become licensed in Arizona but not establish residency within the state can apply via the state's Endorsement process as long as they meet the minimum licensure requirements below and submit the required documentation showing sufficient education/training.

Universal recognition: 1 year minimum licensure period in another state

  • Proof of Arizona residency required for application

Endorsement: 3 year minimum licensure period in another state

  • Arizona residency not required

Applicants who do not meet the 3 year experience requirement can still apply for their Arizona license but must do so via Licensure by Examination instead.

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Arkansas

License types:

  • Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Arkansas offers a Licensure by Endorsement process for out-of-state applicants who have held a full license in another state for a minimum of 3 years (not under supervision) that has remained active and in good standing without a history of disciplinary action.

  • Applicants who do not have 3 years of experience must apply through the regular application process and are not eligible for endorsement.
  • While applicants by endorsement must still provide extensive documentation of education and training, including 4 letters of recommendation, a transcript, etc. (a checklist of application requirements can be found at the bottom of this page), the process is slightly streamlined compared to the normal licensure process.
  • All applicants must also pass the Arkansas Jurisprudence Exam prior to obtaining their license.

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California

License types:

  • Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC)
  • Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)

Counselors who hold a license in another state looking to obtain their California license may do so along one of two paths to counseling licensure in the state, which vary based on applicant experience.

Path A: Licensure by credential - For applicants who meet all of the following requirements:

  1. Have held a license as a Professional Clinical Counselor license (or equivalent) that is active and unrestricted in another state for at least 2 years
  2. The license held must be the highest level for independent clinical practice in that jurisdiction
  3. Have obtained a master’s or doctoral degree from a school holding a regional or national institutional accreditation

Path B: Licensure by education/experience - Applicants who do not meet the above criteria can instead apply for their California license by education/experience; however, this is a more intensive process that requires more documentation of education and training—including two examinations, additional California-specific coursework, sufficient verification of supervised experience, among other requirements (outlined starting on page 3 here).

All applicants—regardless of application path—must take the California Law and Ethics Exam prior to obtaining their license. Those applying via the Licensure by Education/Experience path must also take the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Exam (NCMHCE).

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Colorado

License types:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Counselors "Licensed as an LPC at the highest level in another state" can apply for their LPC license in Colorado via the state's Licensure by Endorsement process. In addition to submitting the normal documents required of all applicants (including transcript submission, a juriprudence exam, a screening questionaire, etc.) endorsement applicants also must:

  1. Attest to passing a national or state examination that tested competence to practice professional counseling, including special knowledge and skills in psychotherapy
  2. Attest to one of the following:
  • At least 2 years of post-master’s or 1 year of post-doctoral practice in psychotherapy or professional counseling
  • Active practice of psychotherapy or professional counseling for at least 2 years before applying

Counselors who do not meet the above requirements but are licensed in another state may apply for a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC) license while accruing the post-degree experience hours needed for full licensure

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Connecticut

License type:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPCA)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Connecticut has no formal processes for counselors already licensed in another state to pursue a distinct path to licensure. Thus, out-of-state applicants must meet and submit proof of meeting all the same licensure requirements as normal applicants, with one important exception:

  • Applicants currently licensed as a professional counselor or its equivalent in another state may substitute 3 years of licensed or certified work experience in lieu of the state's postgraduate supervised experience (3000 hours postgraduate over at least one year with a minimum of 100 hours of direct supervision).

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Delaware

License types:

  • Licensed Associate Counselor of Mental Health (LACMH)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPCMH)

Applicants licensed in another state may pursue their Delaware LPC license via the state's Licensure by Reciprocity process, a fairly straightforward and streamlined process compared to many other states!

All applicants must be background checked, submit proof of licensure, and submit national examination scores (as outlined in the "Requirements for All Applicants" section here). However—unlike the traditional Licensure by Examination process for applicants who do not hold a license in another state—Delaware reciprocity applicants do not have to provide any additional documentation as long as they meet one of the following criteria:

  • The applicant has been licensed at least 5 years in another state; or
  • The applicant has been licensed less than 5 years in another state BUT the applicant submits copies of the licensing law/rules and regulations for their current license and the Board rules that at least one other state in which the applicant is licensed possesses "substantially similar standards" to those in Delaware

If the applicant's current license is deemed as not having "substantially similar requirements" to Delaware's, as determined by the Board, the applicant cannot be licensed by reciprocity. However, such applicants can still apply for a Delaware Associate Counselor of Mental Health license in order to gain the necessary experience to apply for full licensure.

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Florida

License types:

  • Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern (RMHC)
  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

There are two primary paths to licensure in Florida: Licensure by Examination and Licensure by Endorsement, the latter of which is a streamlined path to licensure for applicants who currently hold an "unencumbered license" in another state and have been actively practicing at the highest level in that state for at least 3 of the last 5 years.

  • Licensure by Endorsement applicants are waived from submitting certain licensure requirements, such as official transcript submission and supervised experience requirements.

Applicants who do not qualify for Licensure by Endorsement may apply for their Florida counseling license via Licensure by Examination, which requires more extensive documentation, including submission of a transcript as well as documentation of meeting the state's supervision requirements.

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Georgia

License types:

  • Associate Professional Counselor (APC)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Applicants licensed in another state looking to obtain their Georgia counseling license may apply via the state's Licensure by Endorsement process. To be considered for endorsement, an applicant must:

  • Provide verification of a minimum of 2 years of unrestricted licensure (immediately preceding application) at the level of a Georgia licensed professional counselor (from the licensure Board of every state in which the applicant is currently, or has ever been, licensed)
  • Provide an official or copy of an official passing score on the NCE or NCMHCE
  • Request an official transcript for your master’s or doctorate degree to be sent to the Georgia Board directly from the Registrar of the school

Applicants who do not meet the Licensure by Endorsement qualifications due to having <2 years of experience in another state may apply for their Georgia counseling license via the traditional application process, which requires that applicants submit a more extensive application, providing evidence of sufficient postgraduate supervised experience and references in lieu of the experience requirements required for endorsement. An application checklist and overview of such requirements can be found of pages 1-2 of the license application.

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Hawaii

License type:

  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

The state of Hawaii has no established endorsement or reciprocity processes in place for counselors who hold a license in another state and are looking to become licensed in Hawaii as well. Thus, all applicants are subject to the same standards and requirements of licensure as traditional applicants and must provide evidence of meeting all requirements of licensure when submitting their license application. Requirements for licensure include specific Master's coursework, a sufficient practicum experience, 3,000 hours of post-graduate experience, among other requirements (outlined on pages 1-3 of the application packet).

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Idaho

License types:

  • Registered interns - license granted to those still completing their supervised experience or supplemental practicum hours required for licensure
  • LPC licensure - license granted to those who have at least 1,000 hours of supervised experience in counseling
  • LCPC licensure - the highest level of counseling licensure in Idaho; requires 2,000 hours of direct client contact experience under supervision accumulated in no less than 2 years after licensure

Idaho offers Licensure by Endorsement to applicants who provide evidence to the Board that they "Hold a valid and current license in good standing" issued by another state that the Idaho Board deems has "substantially equivalent licensing requirements" (rules and requirements for Idaho licensure can be found here).

  • The application process for licensure by endorsement for those who qualify is very straightforward—requiring simply an application, associated licensure fees, proof of age, and certification of current licensure (checklist found on first page of application)

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Illinois

License types:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
  • Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

Note that the LCPC license in Illinois is the state's independent licensure while the LPC license is the state's preliminary counseling license. This is different from many states in which an LPC is fully independent license.

Applicants licensed in another state may apply for their Illinois counseling license via an Endorsement process, the specifics of which vary by applicant credentialing and experience. There are three general ways in which an applicant can show eligibility for endorsement:

  1. The applicant holds an active, equivalent license in another state whose standards at the date of licensure were "substantially equivalent" to current Illinois requirements
  2. The applicant, at the time of licensure, possesses individual qualifications that are "substantially equivalent" to the state's requirements
  3. The applicant has been licensed at the independent level in another state for 10 consecutive years without discipline. Such applicants are eligible for a streamlined application process, as they are not required to submit proof of completion of the supervised employment or experience requirements. However, all other applicant requirements must be met.

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Indiana

License type:

  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA)
  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

Indiana offers two paths to LMHC licensure: by examination and by reciprocity, the latter of which is a significantly streamlined process for those who hold an active counseling license in another state and have passed the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE).

  • While reciprocity applicants do not have to submit the same supervision verification forms as applicants applying by the traditional examination process, they do still need to take the Indiana Juriprudence examination after application approval from the Board and prior to becoming licensed.

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Iowa

License type:

  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

Applicants licensed in another state can apply for their Iowa counseling license via the Board's Licensure by Endorsement process, which requires applicants show sufficient evidence that their current licensure was obtained under "licensure requirements that are similar to those required in Iowa."

  • Applicants licensed less than 5 years at the independent level in another state must submit an official transcript that documents meeting the state's curriculum requirements and providing evidence/documentation of sufficient supervised experience (among other requirements—found here).
  • Applicants licensed in another state for at least 5 years at the independent level (who have no disciplinary history and possess at least a master's degree) may submit verification of their experience in lieu of the official transcript and supervision documentation required of applicants with less than 5 years of experience.

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Kansas

License types:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
  • Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC; fully independent license in Kansas)

Applicants licensed in another state seeking a counseling license in Kansas may apply via a reciprocity process, the specifics of which depend on the applicant's education and experience.

All LPC/LCPC reciprocity applicants must follow one of the below paths:

Path 1 - Show that the "Requirements of licensure for your state are substantially equivalent to Kansas requirements for licensure;" OR

Path 2 - Meet all of the following requirements:

  • Have held a license for at least 48 of the 54 months immediately preceding the date of application
  • Have no history disciplinary action of a serious nature brought by a registration, certification, or licensing board
  • Have a master’s degree in your profession from a regionally accredited university or college

Applicants applying for their LCPC license must submit additional documentation (such as passing a national clinical examination or completing specific clinical graduate courses) demonstrating their "ability to diagnosis and treat mental disorders." All options of what an applicant may use to fulfill this requirement can be found on the front page of the reciprocity application packet.

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Kentucky

License types:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPCA)
  • Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)

Counselors who hold an active license in another state are able to apply for licensure in Kentucky via a reciprocity process that renders qualifying applicants exempt from the supervision and examination requirements of the state. In order to be eligible for reciprocity, applicants must submit an application (and fees) and meet all of the following requirements:

  1. Hold a master's, specialist, or doctoral degree in counseling or a related field with sufficient coursework (as outlined here)
  2. Hold an active, valid license or certificate from another state to practice as a professional counselor (and be "of good moral character")
  3. Provide the Board with evidence of a minimum of 5 years experience as a certified or licensed professional counselor

Applicants licensed in another state who do not have a minimum of 5 years of experience must meet all supervision and examination requirements as traditional licensure applicants in the state (requirements for licensure found here).

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Louisiana

License types:

  • Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Louisiana offers an Endorsement process in which they will directly license applicants who meet either one of the following criteria:

Criteria 1 - The applicant has actively practiced mental health counseling for at least 5 years in another jurisdiction

Criteria 2 - The applicant has less than 5 years of practice experience in another state but holds a license in a state in which the requirements for licensure are "substantially equivalent to or exceed the requirements of the state of Louisiana"

Applicants following either criteria for endorsement must submit an application, pay associated fees, and provide proof of having passed the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE).

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Maine

License types:

  • Conditional LPC - for those still in the process of completing supervision requirements
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) - for those who have completed 2,000 hours of supervised experience
  • Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) - the highest level of counseling licensure in Maine; for those who have completed 3,000 hours of supervised experience

Applicants licensed in another state applying for their counseling licensure in Maine can do so along one of the three following pathways: (outlined by the Board here)

  • Pathway 1 - Reciprocal agreements: Applicant is licensed in a state in which the State of Maine has a reciprocal agreement (currently no such agreements exist)
  • Pathway 2 - Substantially Equivalent Licensure: Applicant submits evidence of actively practicing for at least 5 years with a substantially equivalent license (in good standing) immediately preceding application
  • Pathway 3 - Substantially Similar Qualifications: Applicant holds a license in good standard and has individal qualifications that are substantially similar to Maine's licensing requirements

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Maryland

License type:

  • Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC)
  • Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

Applicants licensed in another state seeking a counseling license in Maryland can do so along one of two paths, depending on the requirements of their current license. Both paths use the same out-of-state application but vary by the additional documentation required of the applicant.

Path 1: A path for applicants licensed in another state whose requirements "Are equivalent to or exceed the requirements of Maryland." Path 1 applicants may be entitled to direct licensure as a clinical professional counselor in Maryland.

Path 2: A path for applicants whose current licensure requirements are not equivalent to Maryland’s requirements. The Board may waive traditional application educational and/or experiential requirements in certain circumstances, such as in the case that an applicant individually meets one of the following (for full details, refer to pages 1-2 of the application):

  1. The applicant holds a master’s degree with a minimum of 60 graduate credit hours and has 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience in professional counseling;
  2. The applicant holds a master’s degree with less than 60 graduate credit hours BUT has 3+ years of experience as a professional counselor and has 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience in professional counseling
  3. The applicant holds a doctoral degree, has at least 2 years experience practicing as a professional counselor

All applicants must pass the National Counselors Exam (NCE) and the Maryland Law Assessment, the latter of which is a 36-question no-fail assessment on content specific to the Code of Maryland Regulations.

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Massachusetts

License type:

  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

Applicants who hold an equivalent counseling license in another state may apply for licensure in Massachusetts by reciprocal recognition. Reciprocal recognition applicants can follow a streamlined path to licensure in Massachusetts, as they do not need to submit the Pre-Master’s Degree Experience Form, the Education Form, or the Post-Master’s Degree Clinical Experience Form required of normal applicants. Instead, reciprocity applicants must meet and provide documentation of the following reciprocity requirements:

  • The applicant has worked full-time for 3 years as a licensed counselor in another jurisdiction (must submit an official verification of all licenses held)
  • The applicant has passed and submits an official score report for the NCMHCE (other exams not accepted)
  • The applicant submits a transcript that demonstrates the state's degree and education requirements have been met

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Michigan

License type:

  • Limited Licensed Professional Counselor (LLPC)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Applicants licensed in another state may apply for their Michigan counseling license via an endorsement process, in which there are two primary paths that vary based on the applicant's experience level:

Path 1 - Applicants who have been licensed in another state and have practiced counseling for a minimum of 5 years at the time of application are eligible for a streamlined path to licensure in Michigan, as they are waived from many traditional application components—including the submission of an official transcript and supervision forms. Instead, applicants submit a self-written Professional Disclosure Statement verifying their current practice, education, and experience (requirements found on page 5 of the licensing guide).

Path 2 - Applicants who have been licensed and practicing in another state for less than 5 years at the time of application may still apply for their Michigan counseling license. However, they are not waived from any application components and thus must submit the same requirements as non-endorsement/standard applicants in the Professional Counselor License by Exam process (requirements can be found on pages 2-3 of licensing guide).

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Minnesota

License type:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
  • Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)

Minnesota offers license reciprocity to applicants who currently hold a counseling license in another state with substantially similar requirements to those of Minnesota. The Board has helpfully compiled a list of all state licenses and their eligibility for reciprocity in Minnesota.

  • Unless otherwise noted, applicants from states that the Board has deemed as equivalent are directly eligible for licensure as long as they submit the reciprocity application and fees, as well as verification of a current license and an official graduate transcript.

Applicants who hold a license in a state not deemed eligible for reciprocity must apply for their Minnesota counseling license via the state's Licensure by Exam process, meeting and providing documentation of all of the traditional licensure requirements.

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Mississippi

License type:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

While Mississippi does not have any official reciprocity processes, applicants who hold an equivalent license in another state may apply for their LPC license in Mississippi via Licensure by Comity, a streamlined process to licensure for applicants who have met all of the following requirements:

  • Has met the pre-application requirements (includes obtaining a passing score on the Mississippi Jurisprudence Examination)
  • Has a current license in good standing as a Licensed Professional Counselor or its equivalent in another state
  • Has practiced independent counseling for at least the past 5 years without supervision

Applicants currently licensed in another state who are moving to Mississippi may obtain their license in the state via a Licensure by Universal process—which requires only 1 year of counseling experience (instead of 5) but requires applicants submit proof of Mississippi residency for eligibility.

  • More details on this process can be found here

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Missouri

License type:

  • Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Out-of-state counselors seeking licensure in Missouri may do so via the state's reciprocity process, a considerably streamlined pathway to licensure in which applicants are not responsible for submitting the significant supervision and education documentation required of regular applicants. To be eligible for reciprocity, applicants must:

  • Currently hold an active and full license in another state
  • Have held a full license in this state for 1 year or more
  • Have no license discipline history or pending complaints

Applicants who do not meet the above requirements for reciprocity may apply for their Missouri counseling license via the Full Licensure process, which requires more extensive documentation of sufficient supervision and training. Furthermore, all applicants—regardless of path to licensure—must pass the Missouri Jurisprudence Exam, an open-book exam administered online.

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Montana

License type:

  • Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

Montana has no official reciprocity or endorsement procedures, so only applicants who have substantially equivalent education and training as that required of traditional licensure applicants are eligible to apply. These requirements can be verified either by the state in which the applicant holds a license (if it has equivalent requirements) or by an applicant's individual training/credentials.

Applicants who are licensed in a state that meets Montana's minimum requirements for licensure must very that they:

  1. Hold a current, active license in good standing in another state or jurisdiction that has current licensing requirements that are substantially equivalent to Montana standards
  2. Have completed supervised post-degree work that meets the state's supervision requirements (3000 hours)
  3. Have passed either the National Counselor Exam (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Exam (NCMHCE)

Applicants licensed in a state in which the licensing requirements do not meet the requirements of Montana must meet and provide documentation of all requirements for licensure and can not use their current state license as proof of meeting some licensure requirements.

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Nebraska

Licensure types:

  • Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (PLMHP) - held by those in the process of obtaining supervised experience in mental health practice (3,000 hours)
  • Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP) - a counselor who can practice independently but is unable to diagnose major mental illnesses or disorders without consultation by a licensed independent mental health practitioner (LIMHP), qualified physician, or licensed clinical psychologist
  • Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP) - the highest counseling licensure in Nebraska; can diagnose and treat major mental illness/disorders without supervision or consultation

Nebraska offers a "5 year reciprocity process" for counselors who:

  1. Hold a license in another state that is the same or similar to the license type that they are applying for in Nebraska (for LIMHP licensure, one's current license must allow them to diagnose and treat major mental illnesses or disorders)
  2. Have practiced under this license for at least 5 years
  3. Have passed the online Nebraska jurisprudence examination

Applicants who do not meet the above requirements may still apply for their Nebraska counseling license but must follow the traditional licensure process (licensing requirements found here) or possess a license in a state with substantially equivalent requirements.

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Nevada

License types:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor Intern
  • Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

There are no official processes in which out-of-state applicants seek a more streamlined path to licensure in Nevada based on their existing licensure or years of experience. Thus, all out-of-state applicants must verify that they hold an active license in another state and meet all of the regular LCPC licensure requirements in order to obtain their Nevada license.

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New Hampshire

License type:

  • Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)

According to New Hampshire Law, any applicant who holds an active license in another state with "substantially equivalent" licensure requirements to New Hampshire is directly eligible for a New Hampshire counseling license.

Applicants licensed in a state not deemed equivalent, however, must provide evidence of meeting all of New Hampshire's traditional licensure requirements—with one exception:

  • Counselors who present proof of an active license in good standing in another state and have practiced for a period of 5 years or more may be eligible to have the state's "supervised work experience and practical training requirements" waived, thus streamlining the licensure process for those with sufficient experience.

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New Jersey

License type:

  • Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Counselors licensed in another state may apply for their LPC license in New Jersey via the state's Licensure by Endorsement process if they:

  1. Have held an active license and practiced in another state for a period of 3 years immediately preceding the date of application
  2. Register with the National Credentials Registry
  3. Hold a hold a master's degree or doctorate in counseling with sufficient credentialing and coursework (as outlined on pages 19-20 of the state's LPC regulations)
  4. Have 4,500 hours of work experience obtained over a period of time between three and six years
  5. Have passed either the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (CMHCE).

Applicants without three years of experience may still apply for their LPC license in New Jersey but must do so via the traditional application process instead of via the endorsement process.

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New Mexico

License types:

  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHCs) - counselors still in the process of fulfilling their supervised hours
  • Licensed Professional Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LPCC) - highest-level independent license in New Mexico

Counselors licensed in another state may apply for their New Mexico counseling license via a Licensure by Credential process (found in Board rules here), a streamlined path to LPCC licensure in New Mexico for applicants who meet all of the following:

  1. Have held a current license in another state for 5 years with no disciplinary action pending or brought against the applicant within the past five years
  2. Hold a master's or doctoral degree in counseling or a counseling-related field from an accredited institution
  3. Submit an application and the related fees

Applicants with <5 years of experience may still apply for a New Mexico counseling license but must to so along the traditional path to licensure—meeting and provide documentation of meeting all current licensure requirements, as outlined in the state's rules regarding LPCC licensure.

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New York

License type:

  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

Applicants licensed in another state seeking licensure in New York may be eligible for Licensure by Endorsement, a path to licensure in which certain New York license application requirements are waived (e. g. official transcript, verification of supervised experience).

To be eligible for Licensure by Endorsement, applicants must:

  1. Have completed 5 years of licensed practice in the 10 years prior to applying for licensure in New York State
  2. Be at least 21 years of age
  3. Hold a graduate degree in counseling or a related field
  4. Have completed supervised experience in mental health counseling sufficient for initial licensure in the other jurisdiction
  5. Have an examination acceptable to the New York State Education Department for the practice of Mental Health Counseling (the NCMHCE)

Applicants who cannot certify 5 years of acceptable experience are not eligible for licensure by endorsement. However, such applicants can apply for their licensure along the same path as applicants for initial licensure, providing documentation that they have qualifications that "are substantially similar to New York State’s licensure requirements."

  • Applicants with <5 years of experience and who do not meet New York's licensure requirements may also apply for a limited permit license if they have "satisfied all the requirements for licensure as a Mental Health Counselor except the examination and/or experience requirements." Limited permit licenses are active for 2 years and allow a counselor to practice under supervision in New York until they fulfill the requirements of full licensure.

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North Carolina

License types:

  • Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA)
  • Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)

Out-of-state applicants seeking to become licensed in North Carolina are eligible to apply for their LCMHC license via an endorsement process if they meet the following requirements:

  1. Have an active independent license in good standing as a counselor in another state for a minimum of 2 years directly prior to application
  2. Have a minimum of 5 years of full time counseling experience (or 8 years of part time counseling experience) within 10 years directly prior to application
  3. Have a minimum of 2,500 hours of direct client contact
  4. Comply with all other applicable rules for licensure as a counselor in North Carolina (state rules found here; additional specifications for licensure by endorsement applicants found here)

Applicants who do not meet the requirements for Endorsement can apply for their LCMHC license via the traditional LCMHC licensure process in North Carolina. Such applicants must meet all of North Carolina's education, examination, and experience requirements for LCMHC licensure (requirements found here).

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North Dakota

License types:

  • Licensed Associate Professional Counselor (LAPC)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
  • Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)

Counselors licensed in another state seeking licensure in North Dakota may apply for their counseling license in the state via a reciprocity process if their current license is from a state whose requirements are "equal to or substantially similar to North Dakota." To be equivalent, an applicant's current license must require:

  1. A 60-hour Master's in Counseling degree
  2. A minimum 100 hour practicum and 600 hour internship in counseling
  3. A passing score on the NCE (NCMHCE does not apply)
  4. A minimum 100 hours of direct supervision (done only by a licensed counselor)

Applicants whose current state license does not require the above qualifications must apply for licensure via the standard application process, which requires documentation that the applicant has individually met all of North Dakota's licensure requirements despite being previously licensed in a state in which such requirements are not necessary for licensure.

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Ohio

License types:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) - in Ohio, unlike many other states, the LPC license is not independent and LPCs are still in the process of accruing hours
  • Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) - independent license in Ohio

Applicants licensed in another state for at least 5 years may be eligible to obtain their Ohio counseling license via an Endorsement process. The Board will evaluate whether each endorsement applicant's education, coursework, previous examination, and supervised experience is substantially similar to Ohio's licensure requirements and may grant a license to those with sufficient credentialing.

Applicants with <5 years of licensed experience in another state must apply for their Ohio license via the traditional LPCC licensure process (instructions found here).

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Oklahoma

License type:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Counselors licensed in another state may apply for their Oklahoma LPC license via an Endorsement process if they meet all of the following requirements:

  1. Hold an active, independent professional counselor license (no history of suspension or revocation) in another jurisdiction with similar licensure requirements
  2. Fulfill the basic requirements to be considered for licensure in Oklahoma (filling out an application, paying related fees, being of good moral character, and being at least 21 years of age)
  3. Have at least a master's degree in a counseling or a mental health related field from a regionally accredited college or university
  4. Successfully complete the Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination.

Endorsement applicants must also provide the Board with an official transcript, a completed criminal background check, and a letter from their current licensing agency stating that they hold an active license in good standing.

Following the submission of these materials, the Board will license applicants on a case-by-case basis who they deem as having met or exceeded all licensure requirements.

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Oregon

License type:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Applicants who ​​​are currently licensed as an LPC or comparable license in another state may apply for their Oregon LPC license via a Reciprocity process, which requires that the applicant document that the current license is "equivalent to the standards required for Oregon licensure as a professional counselor." This means that an applicant's degree, educational coursework, supervised experience, and examination history must at least equal Oregon's requirements.

Applicants who have been licensed in another state for at least 5 years may be eligible to substitute this experience for "A maximum of 15 semester or 20 quarter credits of academic education required for licensure" or to make-up "Deficiencies in the supervised experience requirement." Otherwise, reciprocity applicants must meet the same licensure requirements as standard applicants, regardless of experience.

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Pennsylvania

License type:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

In order to obtain their Pennsylvania LPC license via the state's reciprocity process, applicants licensed in another state must demonstrate that their qualifications are at least equal to the qualifications required by Pennsylvania.

According to Pennsylvania Code, reciprocity applicants must do both of the following:

  1. Satisfy the general requirements for licensure
  2. Provide a letter from the other jurisdiction in which they are licensed, certifying licensure and reporting any violations

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Rhode Island

License type:

  • Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)

Rhode Island has an Licensure by Endorsement process through which counselors from other states whose requirements for licensure are at least equivalent to those in Rhode Island can apply for licensure.

Endorsement applicants must submit verification of their current state license in addition to the other required documentation for licensure, including:

  1. A completed application and accompanying fees
  2. An official transcript(s) from an accredited college or university (60 credits required)
  3. A passing score on the NCMHCE
  4. Statement(s) of supervised practice (endorsement applicants may have their original state of licensure send a copy of original supervised practice form or have the state verify their supervision)

Applicants from states whose requirements for licensure are not equivalent to those in Rhode Island must apply for their counseling license via the state's Licensure by Examination process instead.

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South Carolina

License types:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC/A)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Applicants are eligible to apply for their South Carolina counseling by endorsement if they hold an active, unrestricted license in good standing in another state with "Requirements that were, at the date of initial licensure, substantially equivalent to or higher than the requirements in effect in South Carolina at the date of initial licensure."

  • With one exception: Substantially equivalent education may instead be met by documenting 5 years of active unrestricted licensure, in good standing, within the 10 years immediately preceding the application

LPC licensure requirements and necessary supplemental application documents for endorsement applicants can be found on the bottom of this page under the "Requirements" heading.

Applying for licensure: SC has a contract with the Center for Credentialing and Education, Inc. (CCE), so all "Applicants will submit completed applications to CCE, pay the required application fee to them, have all application documents sent to CCE." No applications are submitted directly to the Board.

  • To request an application, applicants need to contact CCE via their toll free number, e-mail, or their website to request an application for licensure.

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South Dakota

License types:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor – Mental Health (LPC-MH) - highest level of counseling licensure in the state; requirements focus on demonstrating clinical knowledge specifically

Out-of-state applicants may apply for either license type outlined above by a licensure by endorsement process. Endorsement applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

  1. Licensed in another state as a counselor
  2. Have been in active practice for at least 3 years before the time of submitting an application to the board
  3. Have taken one of the national examinations required for licensure in South Dakota (the NCMHCE for the LPC-MH license or the NCE for LPC license)

Applicants who do not meet the necessary 3-year experience requirement for endorsement may still apply for their South Dakota counseling license but must do so along the traditional path to licensure, meeting and providing documentation of all licensure requirements (for either LPC-MH licensure or for LPC licensure).

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Tennessee

License types:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) - LPCs are considered independent practitioners in Tennessee, but they may not assess or diagnose under the DSM, nor may they treat those with a diagnosis under the DSM. They may only provide counseling on "normal social and family dysfunctions."
  • Licensed Professional Counselor - Mental Health Service Provider (LPC-MHSP) - fully independent clinical licensure in Tennessee; LPC-MHSPs may assess and diagnose under the DSM

Applicants licensed in another state may apply for their Tennessee license via reciprocity by following one of two reciprocity paths:

Path 1 - Reciprocity by experience/credentials: According to the state's reciprocity policy that took effect in 2019, applicants who are licensed at the highest level of licensure for independent practice in another state and satisfy all of the following are eligible for their LPC-MHSP license via reciprocity if they:

  1. Have maintained an active license from another jurisdiction for at least 3 of the 5 years immediately preceding the application
  2. Have passed Tennessee Jurisprudence exam
  3. Have met all of the state's minimum requirements for licensure (found on page 4 of application)

Path 2 - Reciprocity though state reciprocal agreement: Applicants who hold a current LPCC license in Kentucky are eligible to apply for a LPC-MHSP due to the existence of a reciprocal agreement between Tennessee and Kentucky

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Texas

License types:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC-A)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

While not officially called licensure via reciprocity or licensure via endorsement, Texas does offer a streamlined path to licensure for applicants who hold an equivalent current license in another state. According to the Texas Consolidated Rulebook for Professional Counseling (pg. 104), such applicants can apply for licensure by:

  1. Submitting an application and all applicable fees
  2. Providing official examination results from the NCE or NCMHCE exam
  3. Completing the Texas jurisprudence exam (dated no more than six months before the date the application was received)
  4. Submiting an official graduate transcript(s)
  5. Providing official verification of the license they currently hold, including official verification of any supervised experience recognized by the issuing jurisdiction

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Utah

License types:

  • Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselor (ACMHC)
  • Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)

Utah offers a licensure by endorsement process for counselors from virtually all states. However, the exact process and documentation required varies depending on whether the requirements of the state in which the applicant currently holds a license are equivalent to those in Utah.

Fortunately, the Utah licensing division has put together a PowerPoint that includes a map of equivalent and non-equivalent state licenses (to the LCMHC Utah license):

  • Applicants from states that are considered equivalent (green on map) must have held the license type indicated on the map for at least 1 year, and the license must be active and in good standing. In addition to a complete application for licensure and the appropriate fees, applicants from equivalent states must also submit an official verification of their license.
  • Applicants from states that are not considered equivalent (yellow and blue on map) may still apply for licensure by endorsement and may still be able to use their current license to satisfy some of the requirements for licensure. However, such applicants will need to provide further documentation than those from equivalent states. This may include the submission of an official transcript and/or documentation of passing the NCMHCE. Exact documentation required for endorsement by state can be found on page 2 of the PowerPoint.

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Vermont

License type:

  • Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)

To qualify for Vermont licensure by endorsement, an applicant must be licensed or certified in good standing in another jurisdiction in which the standards and qualifications required for licensure in that jurisdiction are substantially equivalent to Vermont's requirements. Such applicants must provide verification of their license as well as a copy of the statutes and rules from their current state state to verify equivalency.

Exception: The Five Year Rule

  • Applicants who have been licensed as a counselor and have been in good standing for at least 5 years in another state may be eligible to obtain their Vermont license by endorsement, regardless of licensing standards of the other state

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Virginia

License type:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Counselors licensed in another state may apply for their Virginia counseling licensure via an endorsement process, which allows some applicants to use their previous practice experience to facilitate the licensure process. There are two different paths to licensure by endorsement, which vary depending upon the applicant's experience level:

Path 1 - Applicants who have at least 2 years of post-licensure active practice with an independent clinical counseling license must:

  • Provide evidence of post-licensure clinical practice in counseling for 24 of the last 60 months immediately preceding your application in Virginia.
  • Provide documentation of education and supervised experience that satisfactorily met the requirements of the jurisdiction in which you were initially licensed (as verified by an official transcript and a certified copy of the original application materials)

Path 2 - Applicants with less than 2 years of post-licensure active practice can still apply for licensure via endorsement but must meet the education and supervision experience consistent with that required of traditional applicants (a handbook containing such requirements can be found here).

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Washington

License types:

  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA)
  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

All applicants must meet the Washington state requirements for licensure to become licensed as an LMHC in the state, regardless of the requirements of their current state licensure or the length of time they have been in practice.

However, Washington does have a reciprocity program that issues probationary licenses (a one year temporary license) to qualifying applicants. This license allows applicants to work in Washington while the state is evaluating their full application and/or while the applicant is making up any potential differences in education, experience, or examination requirements between their current state requirements and those of Washington. The Department maintains a list of approved states, where applicants who hold a license are eligible to apply for this probationary license under the reciprocity program.

  • Probationary license holders, however, must practice in a behavioral health agency, as no independent practice is permitted. Upon verification of all requirements by the Department, applicants can then obtain full licensure in the state and enter private practice if desired.

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Washington DC

License types:

  • Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGCP) - permit license for those still accruing supervised hours
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) - fully independent license

Washington DC offers no reciprocity recognition to applicants licensed in other states. Thus, such applicants must meet the same requirements and provide the same documentation as those who apply via the traditional path to licensure, in addition to verification of their existing state license. This process of application for applicants already licensed elsewhere is known as Licensure by Endorsement. A checklist of required documents for a complete Endorsement application can be found here.

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West Virginia

License type:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Applicants who hold an active active license in another state seeking licensure in West Virginia may do so along the Board's Licensure by Endorsement process, which has two primary paths depending on the applicant's experience level.

Path 1 - For applicants who have maintained an active counseling license and have been in clinical practice in another state for at least 5 of the 7 years preceding application

  • Professional recommendation forms and education transcript components of the application are waived for applicants with this experience

Path 2 - For applicants who have been licensed <5 years in another state

  • Applicants with <5 years of experience must submit all license application components outlined in the endorsement licensure packet in order to show that one's education and training is "greater than or equal to" the standards of counseling licensure in West Virginia; this includes graduate transcripts and professional recommendation forms, among other requirements.

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Wisconsin

License types:

  • Professional Counselor Trainee
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Wisconsin offers a straightforward path to Licensure via Reciprocity for applicants who "Have a current credential as a Professional Counselor or the substantial equivalent in another state or territory of the United States."

With the exception of Illinois, Minnesota, and Montana, the licensing authority in Wisconsin has found that all other states' counseling licensure requirements are at least equivalent to those in Wisconsin, thus allowing applicants from these states to likely qualify for Licensure by simple reciprocity.

  • The state does note that it is possible a comparison of requirements for every state may not have be completed—thus it is critical that applicants verify their current state license is sufficient prior to application
  • Illinois, Minnesota, and Montana applicants may still apply but must do so via the traditional path to licensure (by exam), showing evidence of meeting Wisconsin's specific education and training requirements.

Reciprocity applicants are also required to take an open book examination on the Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Code prior to obtaining the licensure in the state.

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Wyoming

License type:

  • Provisional Professional Counselor (PPC)
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Unlike many other states, Wyoming offers a very straightforward Licensure by Reciprocity process for applicants licensed in another state looking to become licensed in Wyoming. According to the state's Board, any individual who meets the following requirements are able to obtain their Wyoming license via reciprocity:

  1. Applicant has a master's degree or higher in professional counseling (official transcript must be submitted)
  2. Applicant has passed the NCE or the NCMHE exam (official Exam Score Report must be submitted)
  3. Applicant holds a license that is free from discipline and in good standing in another state (current license verification required)

Applicants can refer to the Licensure by Reciprocity checklist to ensure that they have submitted all required documentation for licensure.

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