As in many other states, counselors in North Dakota who have obtained their licensure are known as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). Those who have yet to complete the supervision portion of the licensure process are called Licensed Associate Professional Counselors (LAPCs), and those who have continued their education and further developed their clinical skills can obtain licensure as Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs).

The state’s premier professional organization for LPCs, LAPCs, and LPCCs is the North Dakota Counseling Association, whose mission is to “provide quality professional development opportunities, facilitate networking, advocate for the counseling profession, and promote leadership activities and encourage active involvement in the organization.” Licensure for LPCs, LAPCs, and LPCCs in North Dakota is managed by the state’s Board of Counselor Examiners.

Licensure requirements for counselors in North Dakota, including 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 LPCs in the state.

North Dakota professional counselor licensure requires the completion of a master’s degree in counseling, counselor education, counseling and guidance, counseling and development, and counseling psychology (PDF, 66.8 KB).

Appropriate degree programs will be at least 60 semester credits, with coursework in each of the following core content areas:

The professional orientation and ethics coursework must be at least 3 semester credits or 5 quarter credits and include content on the counseling profession and the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics.

In addition to the coursework listed above, counseling licensure in North Dakota requires 700 total hours of supervised practicum and internship experience as part of the graduate training. This training must be relevant to professional counseling practice, and, for clinical licensure pathways, it should include hands-on experience in assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and counseling. These graduate internship hours are separate from the post-master’s supervised experience required for full licensure.

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“Supervision” is shorthand for directed, post-graduate experience in professional counseling under supervision in a work setting. LPC licensure in North Dakota requires a two-year LAPC supervisory period, including 100 hours of direct supervision, with at least 60 hours of individual, face-to-face supervision, plus 400 hours of client counseling contact.

For LPCC licensure, applicants must complete 3,000 hours of post-master’s clinical supervised experience in a clinical setting. First-time applicants must also document 100 hours of supervision by an LPCC.

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Before applying to become an associate professional counselor (LPC), applicants must obtain a passing score on the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification, a 200-question, multiple-choice examination administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors. It assesses knowledge, skills, and abilities in effective counseling services. (PDF, 450 KB).

The National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) is required for licensure as an LPCC (PDF, 248 KB). The NCMHCE tests knowledge of assessment, diagnosis, counseling, psychotherapy, administration, consultation, and supervision. It consists of 10 cases in clinical mental health counseling and assesses clinical problem-solving ability by testing the identification, analysis, and treatment of clinical problems. It is also administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors.

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Counselors in North Dakota can expect to pay the following fees (PDF, 450 KB) for their license application, renewal, and examination:

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In North Dakota, LPC licenses are renewed every two years. LPCC licenses are also renewed every two years and expire on the same date as the licensee’s LPC license. Renewal requires submitting the renewal application, paying the required renewal fee, and documenting completion of the required continuing education hours.

North Dakota LPCs must complete 30 continuing education hours every two years. LPCCs must complete an additional 10 clinical continuing education hours, for a total of 40 hours each renewal period. Counselors must complete at least 3 hours in ethics. The board also states that no more than 15 continuing education hours may come from any one source, event, or topic during a two-year licensure period. 

North Dakota does not consider webinars and other online methods as equivalent to face-to-face unless the webinar is live and allows questions, dialogue, and immediate interaction.

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For Counselors Licensed in Other States

North Dakota offers licensure by reciprocity for counselors licensed in other states whose licensing standards are at least as stringent as North Dakota’s. Applicants must submit reciprocity materials, including verification from their current licensing board and a statement of professional intent. (PDF, 218 KB) 

North Dakota has enacted the Counseling Compact, an interstate agreement that allows eligible licensed professional counselors to practice in other participating states through a privilege-to-practice rather than obtaining a separate license in each state.

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North Dakota counselors can expect to earn the following median annual wages, according to May 2024 data from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook:

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The following scholarships and loan repayment programs may be relevant to counseling students or licensed counselors in North Dakota, depending on the program’s current eligibility rules:

North Dakota Counseling Association (NDCA) Graduate Scholarship Program

NBCC Foundation scholarships and fellowships

Predoctoral Fellowship in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Program

National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students

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