Nebraska offers three counseling credentials for professionals pursuing practice in the state. For many aspiring certified professional counselors (CPCs), the first goal is to become a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP). Nebraska also offers a Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (PLMHP) credential for applicants who still need to complete supervised experience before qualifying for full licensure. For counselors seeking a broader scope of practice, the state offers the Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP) credential.

The main difference between the LMHP and LIMHP is the authority to diagnose and treat major mental illnesses or disorders. An LMHP may provide these services only with the supervision or consultation of a qualified physician or licensed clinical psychologist. A LIMHP may diagnose and treat independently, without supervision or consultation.

Licensure requirements for counselors in Nebraska are managed through the Department of Health and Human Services, 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 licensed professional counselors in Nebraska.

The state’s premier professional organization for counselors is the Nebraska Counseling Association, whose mission is to “enhance human development throughout the lifespan and to promote the counseling and human development profession.” Licensure for counselors in Nebraska is managed by the state Department of Health and Human Services.

Licensure as a licensed mental health practitioner (LMHP) requires the completion of a master’s or doctoral degree from an approved educational program that includes a practicum or internship. 

Noted acceptable accreditation pathways include: 

Qualifying programs must also include 60 semester hours, and Nebraska will accept additional graduate-level credit hours after graduation to meet this requirement. 

For aspiring CPCs seeking the independent-practitioner scope of practice, Nebraska offers multiple pathways to meet the educational requirements. 

To qualify for the Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP) license in Nebraska, applicants must first earn a master’s or doctoral degree in mental health practice. The degree can come from an approved accredited program, a board-approved equivalent program, or, in some cases, a nonqualifying program with additional practice experience. Applicants must also hold an LMHP or provisional mental health practitioner license and pass a board-approved exam. Most candidates need 3,000 hours of supervised experience under a licensed physician, psychologist, or LIMHP, with half of those hours involving clients diagnosed with major mental illness or disorders. Applicants whose education does not meet the first two pathways may still qualify if they have completed 7,000 supervised hours over at least 10 years.

As a participating state in the Licensed Professional Counselors Interstate Compact, Nebraska requires applicants to complete coursework in the following areas: professional counseling orientation and ethical practice; social and cultural diversity; human growth and development; career development; counseling and helping relationships; group counseling and group work; diagnosis, assessment, and testing; research and program evaluation; and any additional areas required by the commission.

In Nebraska, the practicum or internship must be completed as part of the qualifying graduate program. State regulations require a supervised, mental health-focused practicum or internship that includes at least 300 clock hours of direct client contact. Applicants should note that simulated activities, such as role-playing, do not count toward those hours. For applicants pursuing the professional counselor pathway, Nebraska also recognizes programs that meet educational standards substantially equivalent to those adopted by CACREP.

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After graduation, applicants complete supervised experience under a provisional license, but the requirements differ depending on whether they are pursuing the LMHP or LIMHP. 

For LMHP licensure, Nebraska requires 3,000 hours of supervised mental health practice, including at least 1,500 hours of direct face-to-face client contact, and at least 1 hour of face-to-face supervision each week. Supervision may be provided by a Nebraska-licensed LMHP, LIMHP, psychologist, or qualified physician. 

For LIMHP licensure, applicants must also complete 3,000 hours of supervised experience, but at least 1,500 of those hours must involve clients diagnosed with major mental illness or disorders. In addition, LIMHP supervision must be provided by a Nebraska-licensed LIMHP, psychologist, or qualified physician and includes more focused oversight of diagnosis and treatment for clients with major mental disorders. Applicants working toward LIMHP licensure must continue receiving supervision for services involving major mental disorders until they are fully licensed for independent practice.

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To become licensed in Nebraska, counselor candidates must pass a board-approved examination. Depending on the licensure or certification path, this may include an exam commonly used for counselor credentialing, such as the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). The NCE is a multiple-choice exam that measures knowledge of core counseling topics, while the NCMHCE uses clinical case studies to assess skills in areas such as assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning. Nebraska law allows a board-approved exam; applicants should review current state materials, such as the Nebraska Mental Health Practice Act (PDF, 487 KB), to confirm which examination applies to their specific pathway.

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Nebraska applicants can expect to pay the following fees for mental health practice licenses and related certifications:

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Both CPC and LMHP licenses in Nebraska expire biennially on September 1 of each even-numbered year. License renewal requires payment of the appropriate fees and the completion of continuing education.

To renew an active Nebraska counseling license, LMHPs and LIMHPs must complete at least 32 hours of continuing education during each renewal period, including 2 hours in ethics. Nebraska accepts CE earned through academic coursework, workshops, seminars, home study, publications, teaching, dissertations, and educational videos, although some formats have hour limits. The state also allows waivers in certain situations, including recent initial licensure, military service, illness or disability, non-practice in Nebraska, or legal residence in another state without providing services in Nebraska during the renewal period.

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For Counselors Licensed in Other States

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services continues to offer a reciprocity pathway for counselors already licensed in other states who have practiced under that license for at least 5 years. Additionally, all reciprocity applicants must also take and pass the Nebraska jurisprudence exam. 

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The following types of counselors in Nebraska may earn the corresponding annual median wage, according to May 2024 U.S.Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): Nebraska, data:

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The following scholarships and loan repayment programs are available to aspiring LMHPs, CPCs, and LIMHPs in Nebraska:

BHECN Graduate Trainee Support Program

NBCC Foundation Rural Scholarship

NBCC Foundation Military Scholarship

NBCCF Minority Fellowship Program for Mental Health Counseling

Nebraska Loan Repayment Program (NLRP)

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

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

Information Last Updated: March 2026