How to Become a Counselor in Michigan
As in many other states, licensed counselors in Michigan are known as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). Counselors who are still in the supervision portion of the licensure process are alternately known as Limited Licensed Professional Counselors (LLPCs). The state’s largest professional organization dedicated exclusively to LPCs and LLPCs is the Michigan Counseling Association, which was founded in 1965 to “enhance human development throughout the lifespan and to promote the counseling profession.”
Licensure for LPCs in Michigan is managed by the state Board of Counseling, a division of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Licensure requirements for counselors in Michigan, including those relating to education, supervision, examination, fees, renewal, and “licensure by endorsement,” are examined in further detail below, along with salary information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as well as scholarships and loan repayment programs available to aspiring LPCs in the state.
Northwestern University • Evanston, IL
Master of Arts in Counseling
Enrollment Type
Accelerated and Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
As few as 18 months
Credits
60
Admission Requirements
- Transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- Resume
- Statement of purpose
- Supplemental essay
- Recent photo
New York University • New York, NY
master of arts in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
As few as 21 months
Credits
60
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Statement of purpose
- Current resume
- Transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation
Counselor Education in Michigan
Becoming a professional counselor in Michigan (PDF, 146 KB) requires the completion of a 48 semester hour (or 72 quarter hour) degree in counseling or a related field from a program meeting the standards of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE), or a regionally accrediting body.
Appropriate degree programs will include instruction in all of the following content areas:
- Career development
- Consulting
- Counseling techniques
- Counseling theories
- Counseling philosophy
- Group techniques
- Professional ethics
- Research methodology
- Multicultural counseling
- Testing procedures and assessment
- Practicum
- Internship
Internship Requirements
In addition to the coursework listed above, LPC licensure in Michigan requires the completion of both a practicum and an internship as part of the degree program. The practicum is a supervised curricular experience that gives students the opportunity to perform some of the activities that an LPC would be expected to perform. The internship is similar, although it allows students to perform all of the activities an LPC would. It must also be at least 600 hours.
Both the practicum and internship requirements are distinct from post-graduate supervision, also a requirement for LPC licensure in Michigan.
Supervision Hours
“Supervision” is shorthand for post-degree, directed experience in professional counseling under supervision in a work setting. Michigan requires aspiring LPCs to complete at least two years of full-time or equivalent part-time supervision totaling a minimum of 3,000 hours. Of those hours, at least 100 must be in the immediate physical presence of the supervisor.
Examination
LPC licensure in Michigan requires a passing score on either the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification, the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination, or the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Exam.
National Counselor Examination (NCE) for Licensure and Certification
The NCE is a 200-question, multiple-choice examination administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors. It assesses knowledge, skills, and abilities in effective counseling services.
National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)
The NCMHCE exam consists of 130-150 items, only 100 of which are scored. There are six domain areas that are weighed differently. The topic areas include Professional Practice and Ethics (15%), Intake, Assessment and Diagnosis (25%), Areas of Clinical Focus (assessed through case studies), Treatment Planning (15%), Counseling Skills and Interventions (30%), and Core Counseling Attributes (15%).
Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) Exam
The CRC Exam consists of 175 multiple-choice questions across 12 domains underlying rehabilitation counseling. One portion of the exam tests knowledge regarding counseling, while the other pertains to rehabilitation and disability issues. It is administered by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.
LPC Licensure Fees
As of October 2025, LPCs in Michigan can expect to pay the following fees for their application, renewal, and examination:
- LPC Application: $115
- LPC License Renewal: $198.45
LPC License Renewal
LPC licenses in Michigan must be renewed every three years. License renewal requires payment of the appropriate renewal fee (see “Fees” above) and completion of an application. Unlike many other states, Michigan does not require any Continuing Education for renewal.
Additional Information
For Counselors Licensed in Other States
The Michigan Board of Counseling has an alternative route to licensure (PDF, 118 KB) for counselors who have already obtained their licenses in other states.
Average Counselor Salary in Michigan
The following types of counselors in Michigan can expect to earn the corresponding average hourly and average annual wages, according to May 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Type of Counselor | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $29.79 | $61,960 |
Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselor | $31.74 | $66,020 |
Rehabilitation Counselor | $22.51 | $46,820 |
All Other Counselors | $24.94 | $51,870 |
Michigan Counseling Scholarships
The following scholarships and loan repayment programs are available to aspiring LPCs and LLPCs in Michigan:
National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program
- Type: Loan Repayments
- Amount: Varies
- Description: Michigan 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 three years of service.
Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students
- Type: Scholarships
- Amount: To Be Decided by School
- Description: The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program provides funds to schools, which in turn offer scholarships to full-time, financially needy students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are studying professional counseling (amongst other health professions).
*Licensure information, including requirements, salaries, renewals, scholarships, and fees, was retrieved as of October 2025. Information may have changed since then; check with the state’s board of licensing for more details.
Information last updated: October 2025