As in many other states, counselors in Minnesota who have obtained their licensure are known as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs)—although those who have continued their education and further developed their clinical skills can also obtain licensure as Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs). The state’s premier professional organization for LPCs and LPCCs is the Minnesota Counseling Association, which traces its roots to 1970, when it was founded to “provide information and resources about the counseling profession and to provide networking, education, legislative, and other support for Minnesota’s professional counselors.”

Licensure for LPCs and LPCCs in Minnesota is managed by the state Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy, a division of the Minnesota Health Licensing Boards. Licensure requirements for counselors in Minnesota, including those relating to education, supervision, examination, fees, renewal, and “licensure by reciprocity,” 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 and LPCCs in the state.

LPCC licensure in Minnesota requires the completion of a master’s degree in counseling or a related field, or a doctorate from a program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or an accrediting agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Appropriate degree programs will be at least 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours with a supervised field experience in counseling that is not fewer than 700 hours, and include instruction in the following core content areas:

In addition to the coursework listed above, LPC or LPCC licensure in Minnesota requires completing an internship as part of the degree program. This internship must include at least 700 hours of supervised field experience.

The internship requirements are distinct from post-graduate supervision, which is also a requirement for LPC licensure in Minnesota.

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“Supervision” is shorthand for post-degree, directed experience in professional counseling under supervision in a work setting. Minnesota requires aspiring LPCs to complete at least 2,000 hours of supervision following a plan arranged by the applicant and approved by the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy. LPCCs must complete 4,000 hours of supervised clinical practice which includes 1,800 direct client contact hours.

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LPC licensure in Minnesota requires a passing score on the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification. For LPCC licenses, a passing score on the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Exam is required.

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. It assesses knowledge, skills, and abilities in effective counseling services.

National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Exam (NCMHCE)

The NCMHCE tests knowledge of assessment, diagnosis, counseling, psychotherapy, administration, consultation, and supervision. It consists of 10 cases of clinical mental health counseling and assesses clinical problem-solving ability by testing identification, analysis, and treatment. It is administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors.

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LPCs and LPCCs in Minnesota can expect to pay the following fees for their applications, licenses, renewals, and examinations.

Applicants who have previously submitted a state or national criminal history records check for a license issued by BBHT are exempt from the background check fee.

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LPC and LPCC licenses in Minnesota expire annually for early-stage supervised LPCs and every two years for all others. License renewal requires payment of the appropriate renewal fee and completion of continuing education.

During the first four years of licensure, licensees must provide evidence satisfactory to the Board of completion of 60 graduate-level semester credits and/or 40 continuing education (CE) units. 

After the fourth renewal period, all licensees report CE every two years and must present evidence satisfactory to the Board of completion of 40 continuing education hours at the time of license renewal.  

Any educational activity approved by the American Counseling Association, the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs, the American Association of State Counseling Boards, or the National Board for Certified Counselors is automatically approved for CE by the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy.

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For Counselors Licensed in Other States

The Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy has an alternative route to licensure for counselors who have already obtained their licenses in other states. This process is called “licensure by reciprocity”.

LPC Versus LPCC

In 2007, the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health & Therapy was commissioned with the Department of Human Services and other licensing board to review the requirements for mental health practitioners to receive reimbursement by medical assistance programs (PDF, 1,089 KB). The Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor license was a result of this meeting.

Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor Requirements

Licensure in Minnesota as an alcohol and drug counselor can be completed in one of three ways: education requirements, supervision requirements, or reciprocity. The Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy outlines the application for this licensure with specific coursework requirements.

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The following types of counselors in Minnesota can expect to earn the corresponding median average annual wages, according to May 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

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The following scholarships and loan repayment programs are available to aspiring LPCs and LPCCs in Minnesota:

National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students

NBCC Foundation Minority Fellowship Program

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

Last Updated: March 2026