After Graduation, What Is the Process for Applying for Licensure?
Getting a counseling license is a vital step toward a career with promising growth. The field projects 17% growth and offers a median annual salary of $59,190. New graduates see licensure as a milestone that opens doors to better opportunities and career goals. Licensed counselors deliver vital services. They help people deal with substance abuse, address marital and family problems, work through self-esteem challenges, and support aging-related concerns.
The path to becoming a licensed counselor has several requirements. You need a master’s degree with at least 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours from a CACREP-accredited program or institutionally accredited institution. You must also complete 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience. This takes a minimum of 24 months and includes at least 100 hours of supervision. State requirements can vary substantially, as each state sets its own scope of practice and diagnostic authority for licensed counselors. You need to understand both general and state-specific requirements to navigate the licensure process successfully, as we’ll cover in this FAQ.
Educational Requirements for Counseling Licensure
Getting the right educational credentials sets the foundation for counseling licensure. Your academic choices will affect your future career options. This becomes even more important if you plan to practice in different states.
Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
A master’s degree in counseling or a related field from an accredited institution starts your journey toward licensure. Every state requires degrees from institutions with regional accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Your program’s accreditation status proves it meets quality educational standards that licensing boards will accept.
CACREP vs. non-CACREP program differences
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) has accredited over 983 master’s and doctoral counseling programs at 473 U.S. colleges and universities. Your choice between CACREP and non-CACREP programs is a vital decision that shapes your professional mobility.
CACREP accreditation gives you these advantages:
- Better license portability between states
- Direct qualification for licensure in states that need CACREP degrees (Kentucky, North Carolina, and Ohio now, with Florida joining in 2025)
- Better chances for federal employment with agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs
You can still get licensed with non-CACREP programs, especially in states without CACREP requirements. Notwithstanding that, CACREP credentials become more valuable as the profession moves toward standardization.
Required credit hours and field experience
Most states now need 60 semester credit hours (or 90 quarter hours) of graduate coursework. Some states still accept 48 semester hours. Your coursework typically covers 10 core content areas such as counseling theory, human development, psychopathology, and ethics.
Field experience plays a key role in your education beyond classroom learning. Standard requirements include:
- A practicum lasting at least 100 clock hours, with about 40 hours of direct client contact
- An internship lasting at least 600 clock hours, with about 240 hours of direct client contact
These experiences need regular supervision from qualified professionals. You’ll get both individual and group supervision to prepare for independent practice.
Supervision, Endorsement, and Work Experience
Your path to counseling licensure continues after earning your master’s degree. You’ll need supervised clinical experience to bridge your academic knowledge with ground application under professional guidance.
Post-master’s supervised experience: 3,000 hours minimum
Most states require 3,000 hours of supervised post-master’s experience. This requirement needs a minimum of 24 months (104 weeks). Some states give you up to six years to complete these hours. The hours split into two main categories:
- Direct client contact: 1,500-1,900 hours of face-to-face therapeutic work
- Indirect work: 1,000-1,500 hours that include case notes, treatment planning, and consultation
You must register as an Associate Professional Counselor (or your state’s equivalent title) to accumulate these hours in many jurisdictions. Some states let you count hours earned within 90 days after graduation if you register quickly.
100 hours of clinical supervision over 24 months
Your 3,000 hours of experience must include at least 100 hours of direct clinical supervision. Supervision comes in these formats:
Individual or triadic supervision (one-on-one or with one other supervisee) Group supervision (usually limited in size)
Weekly supervision is required by most states. This means one hour of individual/triadic supervision or two hours of group supervision each week while you collect hours. Some states require supervision for a minimum number of weeks (often 52) to ensure steady professional growth.
Professional endorsement from a licensed colleague
You’ll need professional endorsement from a qualified colleague as the final step. This endorsement should come from someone who has a graduate degree in a mental health field and can confirm you’re ready for independent practice. The person can’t be related to you and usually can’t be your supervisor.
Your supervisor needs specific qualifications. These typically include an active license for at least two years and recent experience in psychotherapy or supervision (usually within five years). You should check your state’s requirements for supervision and endorsement before applying for counseling licensure.
Exams, Ethics, and Application Materials
The counseling licensure process concludes with examination requirements, background verification, and comprehensive documentation. These steps validate our professional competence and ethical standards.
Passing the NCE or NCMHCE exams
State boards require candidates to pass either the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) administers both tests. The NCE features 200 multiple-choice questions, and 160 of these questions count toward the final score. The NCMHCE structure differs with 11 case studies that each contain 9-15 multiple-choice questions.
Candidates pay registration fees between $195-$375 based on their application type. The testing center sends authorization to schedule the exam about four weeks after registration.
Ethics attestation and background disclosures
Licensure candidates must sign ethics attestations that confirm their commitment to professional standards. The forms require candidates to report:
- Criminal convictions (felony or misdemeanor)
- Disciplinary actions by professional organizations
- Legal matters related to professional activities
Most states require fingerprint-based criminal background checks that cost around $32. Results typically arrive within 2-3 weeks.
Application fees and required documentation
State boards charge application fees ranging from $150-$250, plus initial licensure fees of $105-$250. The application package must include:
- Official graduate transcripts sent directly from your institution
- Verification of any existing licenses or certifications
- Official exam score reports
- Criminal background check results
Some state boards ask candidates to disclose medical conditions that could affect their practice. These disclosures need documentation from qualified healthcare providers.
State-Specific Licensure Requirements and Portability
New counselors face major challenges when dealing with state licensure regulations. Professional mobility requires a clear understanding of how requirements vary from state to state.
Counseling licensure requirements by state
States have the power to set their own counseling practice scope and diagnostic authority. This autonomy creates substantial differences in licensing standards, including:
- More than 45 different counselor licensure titles across the country
- Graduate credit hour requirements that range from unspecified to 60
- Supervision requirements varying between 500 and 4,500 hours
States use different professional titles like Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), or Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC).
Understanding the Counseling Compact
The Counseling Compact offers a breakthrough solution to interstate practice barriers. Licensed counselors can now practice in member states without getting additional licenses.
Arizona and Minnesota became the first operational Compact states in September 2023. Currently, 37 additional states and Washington DC have passed the required legislation. Qualified counselors must meet these requirements:
- Maintain an unencumbered license for independent practice
- Have diagnostic authority
- Clear FBI background checks
- Complete 60-hour graduate degrees
- Pass nationally recognized examinations
Transferring licensure across states
Counselors moving to non-member states still face traditional licensure portability challenges until the Compact becomes fully operational. Most counselors need to:
- Check their home state’s reciprocity agreements with the destination state
- Provide proof of education, supervised experience, and examination scores
- Take state-specific jurisprudence exams
- Pay required application and licensure fees
Planning ahead and knowing these requirements helps counselors avoid practice delays after relocation.
Get Started
Getting licensed as a counselor marks a defining moment for new graduates like us. This piece outlines the key steps needed to earn this vital credential. Most states now require 60 semester credit hours from regionally accredited institutions. CACREP-accredited programs are ideal because they offer maximum portability.
New graduates must log 3,000 hours of supervised experience over at least 24 months. This includes 100 hours of direct clinical supervision. Hands-on experience helps develop our clinical skills under qualified guidance. Passing either the NCE or NCMHCE exam shows licensing boards nationwide that we’re ready to practice.
State-specific licensure requirements create hurdles for counselors who want to practice in different areas. The Counseling Compact could solve this biggest problem, though work on it continues. Until then, we need to research each state’s requirements before planning any moves.
The path to licensure might look overwhelming at first. Breaking it into smaller steps makes everything manageable. Countless counselors have walked this path before us. With good planning and attention to detail, we’ll join them as licensed professionals serving our communities.
The journey to licensure reinforces our steadfast dedication to the field. These requirements ensure we have the right knowledge, skills, and ethical foundation to help others effectively. This process isn’t just about reaching a career milestone – it shows our commitment to upholding our profession’s highest standards.