As in many other states, counselors in Oklahoma who have obtained their licensure are known as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). The state’s premier professional organization for LPCs is the Oklahoma Counseling Association, a branch of the American Counseling Association. Licensure for LPCs in Oklahoma is managed by the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure.

Licensure requirements for counselors in Oklahoma, 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.

Oklahoma LPC licensure requires the completion of a master’s degree in counseling or a related mental health graduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university recognized by the United States Department of Education.

Appropriate degree programs will be at least 60 semester credit hours or 90 quarter credit hours, Board-approved, including internship, from a regionally accredited college or university.  Credit hours must  include at least one course of at least three semester credit hours in each of the following content areas:

An additional five, three-semester-credit-hour courses should be completed in the following knowledge areas:

In addition to the coursework listed above, LPC licensure in Oklahoma also requires completion of a practicum, also known as an internship. This must be at least 300 clock hours long, with planned experiences that provide classroom and field experiences with clients under the supervision of college- or university-appointed counseling professionals.

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“Supervision” is shorthand for directed, post-graduate experience in professional counseling under supervision in a work setting. LPC licensure in Oklahoma requires three years or 3,000 clock hours of full-time supervision (PDF, 283 KB). Included in the 3,000 hours, at least 1,000 hours must be direct client contact, and 100 hours must be from face-to-face or technology-assisted supervision.

Candidates must receive at least 45 minutes of face-to-face or technology-assisted supervision every week.

Before pursuing supervised counseling hours, applicants must have a completed application on file, passing results on the jurisprudence and national exams, a completed Supervision Agreement, and a W-4 confirming employee status at the site where supervised experience will be accrued.

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Oklahoma LPC licensure requires a passing score on the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification and the Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination.

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.

Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination (OLERE)

The OLERE is a one-hour, multiple-choice jurisprudence exam covering the LPC Act and Regulations. It is administered by Oklahoma CareerTech.

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

Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination (OLERE): $55 onsite or $70 online

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Unlike other states, Oklahoma LPC licenses expire in three consecutive periods: initial, interim, and annual. The initial license period expires two years after issuance, on the last day of the month. The interim renewal period expires on the following June 30 of the following year. After the interim period, renewals expire on June 30 each year.

License renewal in Oklahoma requires completing the renewal application, paying renewal fees, and, for interim and annual license periods, completing the required hours of continuing education.

LPCs in Oklahoma who are in an interim or annual license period are generally required to complete 20 hours of continuing education (CE), prorated for the interim period when applicable. Three of those CE hours must be in counseling ethics. The State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure maintains information on acceptable continuing education and approved distance-learning programs.’

LPCs in Oklahoma, in their initial annual licensing period, are required to complete 40 hours of CE. Home-study and technology-assisted distance-learning courses must be board-approved. The current rules do not state a 10-hour cap on those formats for LPC renewal in Oklahoma.

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For Counselors Licensed in Other States

The State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure offers a licensure-by-endorsement route for counselors already licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction. This process is known as “licensure by endorsement”.

Applicants by endorsement must submit the application and related documents requested by the Board, licensure fees, official transcript(s), a criminal background check, verification that the out-of-state license is active and in good standing, and a passing score on the Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination.

Oklahoma Counseling Compact Status in 2026

Oklahoma is actively working toward participation in the Counseling Compact in 2026. The Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure says it is preparing its systems, training staff, testing data-sharing processes, and developing an application pathway for counselors who may need to convert a privilege to practice into a home state license, while the Counseling Compact Commission continues broader implementation through draft rules and public comment in 2026.

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Oklahoma counselors can expect to earn the following median annual wages, according to May 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Maps. 

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The following scholarships and loan repayment programs are available to LPCs in Oklahoma:

National Board for Certified Counselors Foundation (NBCCF) Rural Scholarship

Predoctoral Fellowship in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (MHSAS-Doc)

National Health Service Corps State Loan Repayment Program

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students

Oklahoma Health Corps Loan Repayment Program

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*Licensure information, including requirements, renewals, scholarships, and fees, was reviewed against available official sources in March 2026. Salary content was intentionally not reviewed in this edit.