As in many other states, counselors in South Dakota who have obtained their licensure are known as licensed professional counselors (LPCs), although those who have continued their education and further developed their clinical mental health skills can also obtain licensure as licensed professional counselors of mental health (LPC-MH).

The state’s premier professional organization for LPCs is the South Dakota Counseling Association, a local branch of the American Counseling Association, whose mission is to “enhance the quality of life in society 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 South Dakota LPCs is managed by the state Board of Examiners for Counselors & Marriage and Family Therapists, a division of the South Dakota Department of Social Services. Licensure requirements for counselors in South 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 selected scholarships and loan repayment programs that may be relevant to counseling students or licensees in the state.

Licensure as a professional counselor in South Dakota requires graduation from a CACREP-approved program or a 48-credit master’s degree in counseling from an accredited institution. Alternatively, degree programs that include all of the coursework listed below may be acceptable.

Appropriate degree programs will include graduate-level courses in each of the following core content areas:

In addition to the coursework listed above, South Dakota LPC licensure also requires the completion of a practicum and an internship. The practicum must be a supervised training experience of at least 100 hours with a minimum of 40 hours in direct client service. It should be under the direction of a graduate faculty member.

The internship is an on-the-job experience in professional counseling under the supervision of an on-site supervisor who is a licensed professional counselor or a certified or licensed mental health therapist. It should be at least 600 hours with a minimum of 240 hours in direct client service.

The practicum and internship requirements are distinct from post-graduate supervision, which is also necessary for LPC licensure in South Dakota.

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“Supervision” is shorthand for directed, post-graduate experience in professional counseling under supervision in a work setting. South Dakota requires aspiring LPCs to complete 2,000 hours of supervision under a board-approved post-graduate supervision plan, obtained after the counseling degree is granted. Current board rules require at least 1,000 hours of direct client contact and at least 100 hours of supervision with a board-approved supervisor, with at least one hour of supervision for every 20 hours of direct client contact.

Supervision may be individual or group and may take place synchronously by electronic means under board rules; 400 direct client contact hours may be acquired through electronic means. A supervision plan must be approved before hours begin.

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South Dakota LPC licensure requires 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.

To become licensed as a professional counselor in mental health (LPC-MH), applicants must pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE). The NCMHCE is a case-study-based exam that measures an entry-level clinical mental health counselor’s ability to apply knowledge, analyze clinical concerns, diagnose, and develop treatment plans.

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South Dakota LPCs can expect to pay the following fees:

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The South Dakota Department of Social Services provides information on LPC license renewal and continuing education. License renewal requires payment of the appropriate fees and completion of necessary continuing education.

LPCs in South Dakota are required to complete 40 hours of continuing education (CE) during each even-numbered year, as reported during the renewal process. Four of these hours must focus on ethics as it relates to counseling.

Other hours can be obtained by attending coursework, workshops, clinics, forums, lectures, programs, seminars, distance learning programs, or other activities previously approved by the board.

Pre-approved sponsors of CE activities include the National Board for Certified Counselors, American Psychological Association, American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, National Association of Social Workers, Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, American Medical Association Physician’s Recognition Award, and Joint Commission for Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.

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For Counselors Licensed in Other States

South Dakota has a licensure-by-endorsement route for counselors who already hold a license in another state. Current law generally requires at least three continuous years of licensure in good standing, active practice during the preceding three years, and passage of the required national examination.

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The following types of South Dakota counselors can expect to earn these average annual wages, according to the May 2024 U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Maps: South Dakota 

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The following funding opportunities may be relevant to some South Dakota counseling students or licensed professionals:

Type: Scholarship Resource Portal
Amount: Varies by scholarship
Description: The South Dakota Board of Regents maintains a scholarship portal and a statewide scholarship bulletin board that can help South Dakota students identify institution-based and outside scholarship opportunities. While these are not counseling-specific awards, they are among the main official starting points for South Dakota students seeking funding for graduate education, including counseling-related study at public institutions in the state.

NBCC Foundation Rural Scholarship

Type: Scholarship
Amount: Varies by award cycle
Description: The NBCC Foundation Rural Scholarship is a strong fit for South Dakota counseling students because it supports master’s-level counseling students who are committed to serving rural populations. That aligns well with South Dakota’s rural workforce needs and can be especially relevant for students planning to practice in smaller or underserved communities after graduation. The NBCC Foundation’s scholarship materials indicate the program is designed for students in CACREP-accredited master’s counseling programs who plan to serve rural communities.

NBCC Foundation Military Scholarship

Type: Scholarship
Amount: Varies by award cycle
Description: The NBCC Foundation Military Scholarship supports service members, veterans, and military spouses who are pursuing counseling degrees and plan to serve military-connected populations. For South Dakota students, this can be especially relevant given the state’s military and veteran communities. It is a national counseling scholarship rather than a South Dakota-only award, but it is available to eligible students regardless of state if they meet the program requirements. 

NBCC Foundation Minority Fellowship Program for Mental Health Counseling

Type: Fellowship
Amount: Varies by award cycle
Description: The NBCC Foundation’s Minority Fellowship Program for Mental Health Counseling is one of the most relevant national funding opportunities for counseling graduate students who plan to serve underserved communities. It supports master’s-level counseling students and is especially useful for South Dakota students whose career goals include community mental health, work with marginalized populations, or practice in shortage areas. The Foundation currently lists this fellowship among its active or recurring counseling funding programs, subject to SAMHSA funding.

South Dakota State Loan Repayment Program

Type: Loan Repayment Program
Amount: Varies by award cycle and available funding
Description: The South Dakota State Loan Repayment Program is one of the most directly relevant state-run funding options for future counselors who plan to practice in underserved areas. South Dakota’s Department of Health says the program supports eligible providers who commit to two years of service at an eligible practice site in a federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area in South Dakota. The state specifically lists licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and alcohol/substance abuse counselors among the eligible disciplines.

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students

Type: Scholarships
Amount: Varies by school award
Description: The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program provides funds to eligible schools, which then award scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds with financial need. Students do not apply directly to HRSA, and counseling availability depends on whether their school participates and offers an eligible program.

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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.

Last updated: March 2026