Counseling licensure in the state of Arkansas is managed by the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling, which maintains the state’s requirements for education, supervision, and examination. Arkansas offers two pathways to licensure: first, the Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) for applicants who meet the educational requirements and pass the NCE, and second, the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) for applicants who meet the requirements and pass the NCMHCE. 

Arkansas’ professional association for LPCs is the Arkansas Counselors Association, which provides organizational listings, a leadership development institute, and career resources.

An application for LAC licensure as a professional counselor in Arkansas requires completion of an accredited master’s degree program in counseling, primarily focused on professional counseling or therapy, from a regionally accredited institution.  A graduate degree program must consist of a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours completed with a “B-” or better grade. Arkansas also requires specific core curriculum areas, including:

In Arkansas, counseling students typically complete both a practicum and an internship as part of their graduate training. The practicum must be at least 100 total clock hours and include at least 40 hours of direct client service, with experience in both individual counseling and group work. During practicum, students also receive regular supervision, including about one hour each week of individual or triadic supervision and about 1.5 hours each week of group supervision, along with ongoing performance evaluations. 

After the practicum, students enter an internship requiring at least 600 supervised clock hours, including 240 hours of direct client service. The internship also includes weekly individual or triadic supervision, weekly group supervision, and hands-on experience with core professional responsibilities, such as recordkeeping, referrals, staff meetings, assessment tools, and other counseling resources. Together, these experiences help students build practical skills and prepare for professional counseling work in real-world settings.

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Aspiring LPCs in Arkansas must complete supervised client contact under the oversight of a state-approved supervisor. Supervision must be provided by a practitioner who is an LPC, holds approved supervisor status from the Arkansas Board, and has a valid, current license.

Arkansas now organizes post-degree supervision into two levels rather than three phases. Associate counselors must complete 3,000 Client Contact Hours (CCH), including at least 2,200 direct client contact hours, under a board-approved supervisor.

Group supervision may not exceed half of the 175 supervision hours. Technology-assisted supervision may not exceed 50% of supervision hours at Level 1.  

In Arkansas, an aspiring LPC may reduce CCH/Supervision hours by completing additional graduate semester hours earned beyond the master’s degree. Up to two thousand (2000) CCH may be gained for each sixty (60) graduate semester hours. 

Many states, including Arkansas, require board approval of a supervision plan before applicants begin earning credit towards their hours.

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After completing Level 1, licensed associate counselors may petition the Board to take the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) with a supervisor recommendation. A passing score reduces the total CCH requirement by 500 according to Arkansas’s board rules.

National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification

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

The NCMHCE tests knowledge of assessment, diagnosis, counseling, psychotherapy, administration, consultation, and supervision. It uses clinical case studies to assess an entry-level clinical mental health counselor’s ability to identify, analyze, diagnose, and develop treatment plans. It is also administered by the NBCC.All applicants must provide verification of a successful passing score on the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling Jurisprudence Exam.

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LPCs in Arkansas can expect to pay the following fees for their application, renewal, examination, and other licensure expenses:

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All licenses expire every two years on May 31 of the renewal year. Renewal requires payment of the applicable fee and evidence of at least 24 clock hours of continuing education completed during the previous 24 months. LPCs must also complete and submit 3 clock hours of ethics relevant to the license being renewed. Remaining hours must be counseling-related and support the licensee’s statement of intent. 

License renewal requires documentation of at least 24 clock hours of continuing education (CE) for each renewal period. If a licensee has not accumulated the required CE hours, the Board permits a passing score on the NCE or NCMHCE as a substitute.

Three of the 24 CE hours must be in ethics. Board-recognized CE can include graduate coursework, workshops and conferences, publishing, providing supervision, and service in professional organizations.

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Additional Licensure Requirements

Arkansas applicants should expect to submit a statement of professional intent and references, and to complete a criminal background check. Current rules also allow the Board to require an oral interview and other additional materials if questions remain about an applicant’s qualifications.

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According to the May 2024 US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Maps: Arkansas, the following types of counselors in Arkansas can expect to earn the corresponding median annual wage:

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The following scholarships are available to aspiring LPCs in Arkansas:

Arkansas Rehabilitation Association Scholarships

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS)

National Health Service Corps State Loan Repayment Program (NHSC SLRP)

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

Information Last Updated: March 2026