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.

Becoming a professional counselor in Michigan (PDF, 146 KB) requires the completion of a 48 semester 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:

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.

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“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.

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LPC licensure in Michigan requires a passing score on either the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification 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.

Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) Exam

The CRC Exam consists of 175 multiple-choice questions across 10 subjects 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.

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LPCs in Michigan can expect to pay the following fees for their application, renewal, and examination:

LPC Application: $115

LPC License Renewal: $194.55

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LPC licenses in Michigan expire on May 31 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.

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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. This process is called “licensure by endorsement”.

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The following types of counselors in Michigan can expect to earn the corresponding average hourly and average annual wages, according to May 2021 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

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The following scholarships and loan repayment programs are available to aspiring LPCs and LLPCs in Michigan:

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*Licensure information including requirements, salaries, renewals, scholarships and fees were retrieved as of May 2022. Information may have changed since, check with the state’s board of licensing for more information.

Last Updated: May 2022