How to Become a Counselor in Wisconsin

As in many other states, counselors in Wisconsin who have obtained their full license are known as licensed professional counselors (LPCs), and those who have not yet completed the supervision portion of the licensure process hold a professional counselor training license.

The state’s premier professional organization for LPCs is the Wisconsin 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, advocating for the professional practices in the profession of counseling, and promoting respect for human dignity and diversity.” Licensure for LPCs in Wisconsin is managed by the state’s Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board, a division of the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.

Licensure requirements for counselors in Wisconsin, including education, supervision, examination, fees, renewal, and licensure reciprocity, are examined in further detail below, along with salary information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and scholarships and loan-repayment programs available to LPCs in the state.

Counselor Education in Wisconsin

LCP Licensure in Wisconsin requires the completion of a master’s degree of 60 semester hours or a doctorate with emphasis in mental health counseling from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (updated January 2026). Alternatively, a non-CACREP-accredited counseling program that is content-equivalent may be accepted.

Course content in the acceptable programs routinely consists of the following areas:

• Professional Counseling Orientation & Ethical Practice
• Social & Cultural Diversity
• Human Growth & Development
• Career Development
• Counseling & Helping Relationships
• Group Counseling & Group Work
• Diagnosis and Assessment Treatment & Assessment and Testing
• Research and Program Evaluation
• Other Areas as Determined by the Wisconsin Counseling Compact Commission
• Supervised Internship/Practicum

Internship Requirements

In addition to the coursework listed above, LPC licensure in Wisconsin also requires the completion of a three-semester-hour supervised practicum and possibly up to six hours of supervised internship in providing counseling to clients. This requirement is distinct from post-graduate supervision, which is also necessary for licensure.

Supervision Hours

“Supervision” is shorthand for directed, post-graduate experience in professional counseling under supervision in a work setting. LPC licensure in Wisconsin requires 3,000 hours of supervision for holders of master’s degrees, including 1,000 hours of face-to-face client contact. Applicants with a doctoral degree must complete 1,000 hours.

Examinations

LPC licensure in Wisconsin requires a passing score on the Wisconsin Statutes and Rules Examination and one of the follow: the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification, the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Exam, or the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Exam.

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.

National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Exam (NCMHCE)

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.

Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Exam (CRCE)

The CRCE consists of 175 multiple-choice questions across 10 subjects underlying rehabilitation counseling. One portion of the exam tests knowledge regarding counseling, while the other pertains to rehabilitation and disability issues. It is administered by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC).

Wisconsin Statutes and Rules ExaminationThe Wisconsin Statutes and Rules Examination is drawn from applicable state statutes and administrative code chapters specific to professional counseling. It is online, untimed, open-book, and administered by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. The purpose of the exam is to familiarize you with locating the statutes and administrative code that regulate the practice of the profession.

LPC Licensure Fees

LPCs in Wisconsin can expect to pay the following fees for their license, application and renewal (PDF, 136 KB):

• LPC Training License: $60
• LPC License Application: $62
• LPC License Renewal: $62
• LPC Reciprocity Application: $62
• Wisconsin Statutes and Rules Exam: $75

LPC License Renewal

LPC licenses in Wisconsin expire biennially on February 28 of each odd-numbered year. License renewal requires payment of the appropriate fees and the completion of continuing education. First-time renewals are exempt from the Continuing Education requirement.

Continuing Education

Wisconsin LPCs are required to complete 30 hours of continuing education (CE) during each two-year renewal period. At least four of these hours must focus on ethics and professional boundaries.

CE hours may be earned through programs approved, sponsored, provided, endorsed, or authorized by the following organizations:

• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
• Wisconsin Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
• National Rehabilitation Counseling Association
• Wisconsin Rehabilitation Counseling Association
• National Board for Certified Counselors
• American Counseling Association
• Wisconsin Counseling Association
• Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification
• Association of Social Work Boards
• National Association of Social Workers
• Association of Baccalaureate Program Directors
• Counsel on Social Work Education
• National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling
• Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education
• Committee for the Approval of Continuing Education Sponsors of the American Psychological Association
• Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association
• American Osteopathic Association
• Any accredited college or university

CE may also be obtained through in-house training (up to 15 hours), presentations, and CE development.

Additional Information

For Counselors Licensed in Other States

The Wisconsin Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Social Work Examining Board has an alternative route to licensure (PDF 1,012 KB) for counselors who have already obtained their licenses in other parts of the United States. This process is called “licensure reciprocity”. Out-of-state applicants must submit proof of a valid, in-good-standing license. Requirement of a passing score on a counseling examination is required.

Additionally, Wisconsin joined the Counseling Compact in December 2023, offering a streamlined pathway for fully licensed LPCs from other Compact member states to obtain a privilege to practice in Wisconsin—and for Wisconsin LPCs to practice in other Compact states—without needing a separate full license. As of 2025, privileges to practice are being issued through counselingcompact.gov.

Counselor Salary in Wisconsin

According to wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Maps: Wisconsin, the following counselor occupations in Wisconsin report the following median annual wages:

Wisconsin Counseling Scholarships

The following scholarships and loan repayment programs are available to LPCs and LPC Trainees in Wisconsin:

Predoctoral Fellowship in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Program

• Type: Scholarships
• Amount: To Be Decided
• Description: The American Psychological Association (APA), with funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, offers assistance to students enrolled full-time in APA-accredited doctoral programs who have a strong commitment to a career in ethnic minority behavioral health services.

Violet and Cyril Franks Scholarship

• Type: Scholarships
• Amount: $1,000
• Description: This award from the American Psychological Foundation is available each year to full-time graduate students in good standing at accredited universities who have demonstrated a commitment to stigma issues.

National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program

• Type: Loan Repayments
• Amount: Up to $50,000 (full-time) or up to $25,000 (half-time) for behavioral health providers
• Description: Wisconsin LPCs are eligible to apply for loan repayment assistance in exchange for working in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) at a site approved by the National Health Service Corps. Funding is tied to HPSA score and is in exchange for two years of full- or half-time service.

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students

• Type: Scholarships
• Amount: To Be Decided
• Description: The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program provides funds to schools, which in turn offer scholarships to full-time, financially needy students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are studying professional counseling, among other health professions.

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