Counseling Licensure and Certification

State licensure/certification is required for most counseling practitioners. Exceptions include some entry level positions and supportive administrative counseling positions, such as a case worker. However most counseling fields require a license or certification to practice and accept insurance payments. Counseling licensure/certification requirements vary depending on the type of counseling you are practicing and the state in which you practice.

Many states have two counseling license tiers – one for Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) or the equivalent, and one for counselors who have completed their master’s degrees, but have not yet completed the required hours of counseling supervision and, in some cases, additional course work or required examinations.

Typical state counseling licensing/certification requirements include:

A master’s degree in counseling from a regionally accredited university, to include a minimum number of credit hours in a counseling career, marriage and family therapy, or a related mental health field. Some states also require that the program of study be recognized by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

A minimum number of supervised work hours in a clinical setting under the guidance of a licensed/certified counselor.

A background check including fingerprinting and proof of identification. Some states will also require references.

A passing score on a state-administered or state-recognized counselor exam. Most states require either one or both of the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) or National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE), both available from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). Some concentrations do not require completion of a NBCC exam but rather defer to a certification upon application to the state in which the counselor wishes to practice, i.e. school and college counseling

Additionally, some states accept or require the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Examination (CRC) for counselors seeking to work with individuals who have physical, mental, development, and/or emotional disabilities. Several states require examination supplements for ethics or jurisprudence. For more details on counseling licensure necessities, see your state counseling licensure requirements.

Certification in your specialized area may be required. The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) offers specialty certifications – Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC), Master Addictions Counselor (MAC) or National Certified School Counselor (NCSC). In order to hold a specialty certification, you must also hold the general National Certified Counselor (NCC) designation. Even if you do not require specialized certification, the NCC and NCSC is a helpful credential as it demonstrates that you have voluntarily met national counseling standards.

Continuing education courses are often necessary to maintain certification or licensure. A minimum number of continuing education units (CEUs) is set according to each state’s standards. Convenient online courses are offered through the American Counseling Association and other professional counseling organizations.

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A major component of obtaining state licensure as a professional counselor is the counseling exam. While you will register for the exam through your state licensing board and it may be administered by the state, it is actually a national counselor exam. Most states require either the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE). Some states, however, require both for licensure. The NCE and the NCMHCE are both available from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). In some states, you have the option to choose which exam you wish to take.

Additionally, some states accept or require the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Examination (CRC) for counselors interested in working with individuals with physical, mental, development, and/or emotional disabilities. Several states require examination supplements for ethics or jurisprudence. For detailed requirements in your state, see state requirements above.

The National Counselor Exam for Licensure and Certification (NCE) features 200 multiple-choice questions to assess your counseling knowledge. The NCE is required for counselor licensure in many states and for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) certification. The NCE is also utilized to determine practice eligibility within military health systems, including the Army Substance Abuse Program and TRICARE. Since 1983, the NCE has been administered to many practicing professionals and has been periodically reviewed and revised.

The NCE is currently organized around six work-behavior domains identified by NBCC job analysis, and NBCC also states that the exam is aligned with the original eight CACREP curriculum areas. The NCE currently covers six domains:

The NCE includes 200 multiple-choice questions, with 160 scored items and 40 unscored field-test items that are embedded throughout the exam for future test development. Because only 160 questions count toward the final result, the maximum possible score is 160. The passing score may vary by exam form. Exam scores are not automatically released to third parties; candidates who need scores sent to a state board or other agency must request an official score verification report through NBCC. 

The National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Exam (NCMHCE) currently uses 11 case studies designed to reflect real clinical mental health counseling practice. Each case study includes one narrative and 9 to 15 standard multiple-choice questions.

Each simulation includes five to eight sections classified as either information-gathering or decision-making. The current NCMHCE no longer uses the old information-gathering and decision-making section format. NBCC’s current exam uses standard multiple-choice questions tied to case studies and scores candidates based on the total number of correct responses. Decision-making sections assess your ability to solve clinical problems by using the data to make judgments and decisions. The current NCMHCE content outline is organized around six domains:

The current NCMHCE does not use the older +3-to– 3 weighted scoring model. Under the current format, candidates are scored on the total number of correct responses, with no penalty for guessing. To pass the examination, candidates must score at or above the cut score for that exam form, based on the total number of correct responses. NBCC notes that the cut score can vary slightly across forms because of statistical equating. For state licensure candidates, official scores are reported to the candidate’s state licensing agency after the exam administration cycle. Candidates may also request an official score report separately through NBCC/CCE. 

Administered by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC), the CRC Exam is recognized by more than 11 states in some form for counselor licensure or rehabilitation counseling pathways. CRCC’s current state licensure board directory identifies states that recognize the CRCE by rule, regulation, or departmental policy; applicants should still verify requirements directly with their state board.

The CRC Exam features 175 multiple-choice questions covering 12 recognized knowledge areas:

The CRC Exam is divided into two sections: Counseling (C) and Rehabilitation and Disability (R). Candidates must achieve a passing score on both sections in a single exam administration to pass the exam overall. The exam is administered in 3½ hours, and candidates receive a score report at the test site after completion.

To register and prepare for a counseling exam, first confirm which examination your state board requires for licensure or certification. For NBCC exams, registration procedures vary by jurisdiction, so candidates should begin with their state board’s licensure page and the related NBCC/CCE exam registration information. Once eligible, candidates register via the appropriate exam process and schedule testing with Pearson VUE, often with the option of in-person or online administration. For the CRC Exam, candidates apply through CRCC and take the exam during the published exam windows. Because fees and procedures can change, candidates should always review the current official handbook, registration page, and fee schedule before applying. Both NBCC and CRCC also provide official preparation resources, including exam handbooks and study guidance.

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Practicing counselors and counselors-in-training refer to it simply as “supervision”. What they are referring to are the hours set aside for counselors and counselors-in-training to meet with their supervisor to discuss their sessions, seek guidance with clients, or generally make comments or express concerns about their work or professional development. Whether in pursuit of a master’s degree or a state license, this requirement involves placement in a clinical setting where you will work with clients under the supervision of a licensed/certified counselor. These hours are documented and signed off by the designated supervisor, then reported to the university or state licensing/certifying board to fulfill graduation requirements and/or licensure/certification.

In addition to the required course credit hours, accredited universities and their counseling programs require additional practicum and internship hours. Practicum is a field experience that allows students to observe and learn from established counselors in a clinical setting while interacting with clients on a limited basis. Internship training places master’s students in clinical or school settings to assist with counseling and gain hands-on experience.

Accredited academic programs require and help facilitate the number of supervised hours required to complete their master’s program. However, in some cases, these are separate from the supervision hours necessary to meet state licensure requirements. In some cases, you can request additional training hours through your university program for additional tuition fees. Check with your department administration.

Your supervised hours as a student may or may not count toward the number of clinical hours required by your state for licensure/certification. For details, refer to your state’s licensing board. If you plan to attend a university in a different state from where you plan to practice, you may need to coordinate training hours between the university and your state’s licensing board.

Counseling supervision not only meets state licensure requirements but also provides a fertile training ground in a mentorship setting. Throughout a counselor-in-training’s experience at a clinical site, they are supervised by a licensed or certified counselor to best guide their learning and applied skills practice. Counselors-in-training can experience firsthand the assessment and appraisal of clients’ presenting concerns, treatment planning, goal development, how sessions unfold with different clients, group process, and how to develop an empathetic working relationship with clients. Throughout the process counselors-in-training absorb valuable knowledge through practice, observation and discussion.

State licensing boards determine the required amount of supervised training hours for an applicant to be eligible for licensure/certification. Every state has specific requirements of hours, settings and how the hours are documented and submitted. For details, refer to your state’s licensing board.

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