As in many other states, counselors in Missouri who have obtained their licensure are known as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). Those counselors still in the supervision portion of the licensure process are known as Provisional Licensed Professional Counselors (PLPCs). The state’s premier professional organization for LPCs and PLPCs is the Missouri Mental Health Counselor Association, whose mission is to “enhance quality of life in the state of Missouri by promoting the development of professional counselors, advancing the counseling profession, and using the profession and practice of counseling to promote respect for human dignity and diversity.”

Licensure for LPCs and PLPCs in Missouri is managed by the state Committee for Professional Counselors, a branch of the Missouri Division of Professional Registration. Licensure requirements for counselors in Missouri, including those relating to education, supervision, examination, fees, and renewal, 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 PLPCs in the state.

Licensure as a professional counselor in Missouri requires the completion of a 48 semester-hour master’s degree in counseling or a related field.

Appropriate degree programs will include a three-semester-hour, graduate-level course in the following core areas of study:

Like many other states, LPC licensure in Missouri requires the completion of a practicum, also sometimes referred to as an internship. This practicum must be at least six credit hours of 600 supervised graduate hours and is a distinct requirement from post-graduate supervision, which is also necessary for LPC licensure in Missouri.

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“Supervision” is shorthand for post-degree, directed experience in professional counseling under supervision in a work setting (PDF, 70 KB). After completion of graduate degree requirements, individuals apply to become a provisional licensed professional counselor (PLPC) while pursuing supervised counseling hours for licensure. The requirement for full licensure as a licensed professional counselor includes 3,000 hours of supervision in at least two years, with a minimum of 15 hours per week. At least 1,200 of those hours must be in direct counseling services for clients, and there must be one hour per week of face-to-face supervision from an approved supervisor, with a minimum of two weeks of individual supervision.

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Licensure first as a PLPC requires a passing score on both the National Counselor Examination for Licensure. Application for licensed professional counselors requires the completion of the Missouri Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination.

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.

Missouri Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination

The Missouri Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination is an online, open-book exam with no time limit. In 20 two-part, true-or-false and identification questions, it tests knowledge of the laws and regulations that govern LPC practice in Missouri.

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LPCs in Missouri can expect to pay the following fees for their application, renewal, and examination (PDF, 63 KB):

PLPC Registration for Supervision: $75

LPC Application: $100

LPC License Renewal: The pdf claims “Biennial Renewal $ 50.00”

LPC License Renewal Late Fee: $50-$100

Missouri Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination: $45

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LPC licenses in Missouri expires biennially. License renewal requires payment of the appropriate renewal fee and completion of continuing education.

Missouri LPCs are required to complete 40 hours of continuing education (PDF 456 KB) (CE) during each two-year renewal period, which includes two hours of suicide prevention for license renewal. At least 20 of these hours must consist of formal CE and at least 20 of formal, self-study, or a combination of both. Formal CE may include post-graduate coursework, research presentations at professional meetings, attendance at verified professional meetings, attendance at workshops or seminars relevant to counseling, written contributions to relevant professional books, journals, or periodicals, instruction as a faculty member at an accredited institution, and instruction of continuing education (up to 4 hours). Acceptable providers of CE include the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, American Counseling Association, American Medical Association, American Mental Health Counselors Association, national psychology associations, national social work associations, National Board for Certified Counselors, regionally accredited colleges and universities, or any of their affiliates.

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

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The following scholarships and loan repayment programs are available to aspiring LPCs and PLPCs in Missouri:

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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