How to Become a Counselor in Arizona

As in many other states, counselors in Arizona are known as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC). While practicing under supervision, counselors are referred to as Licensed Associate Counselors (LAC).

The Arizona Counseling Association (AzCA) is a statewide professional association for counselors in Arizona. LPC licensure in the state is administered by the Arizona State Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, which sets all requirements for education, supervision, examination, and renewal. Those details are examined further below, along with salary information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and scholarships available to aspiring LPCs in Arizona.

Counselor Education in Arizona

An application for Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) licensure in Arizona requires a master’s degree or higher with a major emphasis in counseling from a regionally accredited college or university. The program must include at least 60 semester credit hours or 90 quarter credit hours and must be either CACREP-accredited, accredited by the National Council on Rehabilitation Education, a board-approved curriculum, or a curriculum that otherwise meets board rule requirements.

Arizona requires a counseling degree of at least 60 semester credit hours or 90 quarter credit hours. For programs that are not CACREP-accredited or accredited by the National Council on Rehabilitation Education, the curriculum must include 24 semester hours or 32 quarter hours in eight core content areas set by state law.

1. Professional Orientation & Ethical Practice
2. Social & Cultural Diversity
3. Human Growth & Development
4. Career Development
5. Helping Relationship
6. Group Work
7. Assessment
8. Research & Program Evaluation

Internship Requirements

Arizona requires a supervised counseling practicum, fieldwork experience, or an internship as part of the qualifying degree program. The practicum must include 700 clock hours in a professional counseling setting. Direct client contact hours must equal at least 240 of the 7000 cumulative hours. Practicum experiences must provide the student with the opportunity to perform all activities expected of a regularly employed professional counselor. It must also be supervised by a faculty member and an on-site supervisor approved by the college or university.

Supervision Hours

After earning their degree, aspiring LACs in Arizona must complete supervised counseling experience. This supervision must be offered by an LPC, licensed clinical social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed psychologist, or allopathic or osteopathic medical doctor with a specialty in psychiatry.

Examination

LPC licensure in Arizona requires a passing score on a counseling examination offered by the National Board for Certified Counselors: the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification, or the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Exam, or by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification: the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor exam.

National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)

The NCE is a 200-question multiple-choice examination administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). It assesses knowledge, skills, and abilities in effective counseling services.

The National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Exam (NCMHCE)

The NCMHCE tests knowledge of assessment, diagnosis, counseling, psychotherapy, administration, consultation, and supervision. It consists of 11 clinical case studies and assesses clinical problem-solving ability by testing identification, analysis, and treatment. It is also administered by the NBCC.

The Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) Exam

The CRC Exam consists of 175 multiple-choice questions across 12 knowledge domains underlying rehabilitation counseling. One portion of the exam tests knowledge regarding counseling, while the other pertains to rehabilitation and disability issues.

LAC and LPC Licensure Fees

Applicants seeking licensure in Arizona as a professional counselor can expect to pay the following counseling licensure fees for their application, renewal, examination, and other licensure expenses:

Application by Examination/Endorsement: $250

Licensed Association Counselor Issuance: $250

Licensed Professional Counselor Application: $250

Application for Temporary License: $50

Fingerprint Background Check: $40

License Renewal: $325

Late Renewal: $100

Inactive Status Request: $100

Duplicate License: $25

LPC License Renewal

Arizona licensure for professional counseling must be renewed every two years. Renewal involves paying the renewal fee, completing 30 clock hours of continuing education, and submitting the renewal application through the Board’s BOARDAL licensee portal.

Continuing Education for LPCs

For license renewal, Arizona LPCs must complete 30 clock hours of continuing education (CE). All CE activities must relate to the scope of professional counseling. The Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners determines whether continuing education meets the standard for maintaining or improving a licensee’s skills and competency. A maximum of 10 CE hours may be reported for first-time presentations by the LPC that address current developments, skills, procedures, or treatments related to behavioral health. At most, 6 hours may be reported for attendance at Board of Behavioral Health Examiners meetings or credentialing committee meetings, and 10 hours for service on such committees.

Additional Information

For Applicants Already Licensed in Other States

The Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners may grant counseling licensure by endorsement to applicants who are licensed in another state or federal jurisdiction at a substantially equivalent or higher practice level and who meet Arizona’s endorsement requirements. For more details on licensure by endorsement, see the Arizona State Board of Behavioral Health Examiners.

Average Counselor Salary in Arizona

According to the May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics, the following types of counselors in Arizona can expect to earn the corresponding average hourly wage and average annual wage:

Arizona Counseling Scholarships

The following scholarships are available to aspiring LPCs in Arizona:

Arizona School Counselors Association (AzSCA) Student Scholarship

• Type: Scholarship
• Amount: $2,000
• Description: Each year, the Arizona School Counselors Association awards three $2,000 non-renewable scholarships to high school seniors in Arizona. AzSCA also offers a separate $2,000 scholarship for student members pursuing a master’s degree in school counseling.

National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program

• Type: Loan Repayment
• Amount: Up to $50,000 for behavioral health clinicians serving full-time for two years at an NHSC-approved site.
• Description: LPCs are eligible to apply for loan repayment assistance in exchange for working in a health professional shortage area (HPSA) at a site approved by the National Health Service Corps. Funding is tied to HPSA score and is in exchange for two years of full-time service. A half-time service commitment option is also available.

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students

• Type: Scholarship
• Amount: To Be Decided by School
• Description: The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program provides funds to eligible schools, which then award scholarships to full-time students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have financial need and are enrolled in qualifying health professions programs.

*Licensure information, including requirements, salaries, renewals, and fees, was retrieved as of March 2026. Information may have changed since; check with the state’s board of licensing for more information.