Mental Health Counselor Licensure by State

LMHC, LPC, LCPC and more

Federal regulations require William James College to disclose whether its programs meet the educational requirements for professional licensure in every state and U.S. territory. All William James College professional licensure programs meet the educational requirements for licensing in Massachusetts.

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling MA program meets the requirements for licensure in the states indicated below. We have also identified states in which the WJC program does not meet the academic program licensure requirements and those where a determination has yet to be made.

If you are or will be a William James College student and have questions, please do not hesitate to contact Ariana Schreibman, Department Coordinator, Counseling and Behavioral Health Department, at ariana_schreibman@williamjames.edu, who will direct you to the appropriate person to answer your question.

For your reference, below are links to the professional licensing agency in all states.

Mental health counseling licensure is handled at the state level in the US, which is why you will see different terms and acronyms for licensed professional counselors. While the path to licensure is similar in most states--a master's in counseling, extensive supervised clinical experience, passing an examination, application to a state board for licensure, and continuing education to keep the license current--there are variations among the states and always the possibility that licensure requirements will change.

If you are on the path to licensure, or thinking about getting on the path, it's best to familiarize yourself with the licensure requirements for the state where you intend to practice.

The table below includes links to each state's licensing board, where you can find the most accurate and up-to-date information on application requirements, and gives the acronyms for licenses conferred.

License Acronym
ALC Associate Licensed Counselor
LAC Licensed Associate Counselor
LACMH Licensed Associate Counselor of Mental Health
LAPC Licensed Associate Professional Counselor
LCMHC Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor
LCPC Licensed Clinical Practice Counselors, or Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
LIMHP Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner
LMHCA Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate
LMHP Licensed Mental Health Practitioner
LPC Licensed Professional Counselor
LPC-MH Licensed Professional Counselor Mental Health
LPC-MHSP Mental Health Services Provider
LPCA Licensed Professinal Counselor Associate
LPCC Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
LPCMH Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health
LPCS Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor

We’ve also included the definitions of the various acronyms used, so if you've ever wondered about the difference between LMHC and LPC, or where they are used, here is your answer. Please keep in mind that states may change this information at any time, and while we try to keep the information updated, you should refer to the state boards' own websites for the most up-to-date information.

Last Updated: June 10, 2022


State Licensing Boards

State Licenses Granted Board Name Licensure Requirements Status Notes
Alabama LPC, ALC Board of Examiners in Counseling Meets Requirements  
Alaska LPC Board of Professional Counselors Meets Requirements  
Arizona LPC, LAC Board of Behavioral Health Examiners Meets Requirements  
Arkansas LPC, LAC Board of Examiners in Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy Meets Requirements  
California LPCC Board of Behavioral Sciences Meets Requirements  
Colorado LPC State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners Meets Requirements  
Connecticut LPC Department of Public Health On-Campus Does Not Meet Requirements*

Online Meets Requirements*
*If practicum and internship faculty supervisor is counselor; the online CMHC program meets criteria, and the on-campus does not.
Delaware LPCMH, LACMH Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals Meets Requirements  
Florida LMHC Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling Does Not Meet Requirements Students entering in 2022 and forward will not meet FL criteria for licensure as LMHC; CACREP degree required for applicants July 1, 2025.
Georgia LPC, LAPC Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists Meets Requirements  
Guam LPC Guam Board of Allied Health Examiners Meets Requirements  
Hawaii LMHC Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Meets Requirements  
Idaho LPC, LCPC Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists Meets Requirements  
Illinois LPC, LCPC Professional Counselor Licensing and Disciplinary Board Meets Requirements  
Indiana LMHC, LMHCA Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board Meets Requirements  
Iowa LMHC Board of Behavioral Science Meets Requirements  
Kansas LPC, LCPC Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board Does Not Meet Requirements  
Kentucky LPCC, LPCA Board of Professional Counselors Does Not Meet Requirements Requires CACREP Accredited Degree
Louisiana LPC Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners Meets Requirements  
Maine LPC, LCPC Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure Meets Requirements  
Maryland LCPC Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists Meets Requirements  
Massachusetts LMHC Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions Meets Requirements  
Michigan LPC Board of Counseling Meets Requirements  
Minnesota LPC, LPCC Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy Meets Requirements  
Mississippi LPC Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors Meets Requirements  
Missouri LPC, PLPC Committee for Professional Counselors Meets Requirements  
Montana LCPC Board of Behavioral Health Meets Requirements  
Nebraska LMHP, LIMHP DHHS Licensure Unit - Mental Health and Social Work Practice Meets Requirements  
Nevada LCPC Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors Meets Requirements  
New Hampshire LCMHC Board of Mental Health Practice Meets Requirements  
New Jersey LPC, LAC Professional Counselor Examiners Committee Meets Requirements  
New Mexico LMHC, LPCC Regulation and Licensing Dept: Counseling and Therapy Practice Meets Requirements  
New York LMHC Office of the Professions: Mental Health Practitioners Meets Requirements  
North Carolina LPC, LPCA, LPCS Board of Licensed Professional Counselors Does Not Meet Requirements Requires CACREP Accredited Degree
North Dakota LPC, LAPC Board of Counselor Examiners Meets Requirements  
Ohio LPC, LPCC Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board Meets Requirements  
Oklahoma LPC Board of Behavioral Health Licensure Meets Requirements  
Oregon LPC Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists Meets Requirements  
Pennsylvania LPC Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Meets Requirements  
Puerto Rico LPC Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors Meets Requirements  
Rhode Island LCMHC Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage/Family Therapists Meets Requirements  
South Carolina LPC Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists and Psycho-Educational Specialists Meets Requirements  
South Dakota LPC, LPC-MH Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapist Examiners Meets Requirements  
Tennessee LPC, LPC-MHSP Board of Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists and Licensed Pastoral Therapists Meets Requirements  
Texas LPC Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors Meets Requirements  
Utah LCMHC Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing Meets Requirements  
Vermont LCMHC Allied Mental Health Meets Requirements  
Virginia LPC Board of Counseling Meets Requirements  
Washington LMHC, LMHCA Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Social Workers Advisory Committee Meets Requirements  
West Virginia LPC Board of Examiners in Counseling Meets Requirements  
Wisconsin LPC Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling and Social Work Examining Board Meets Requirements  
Wyoming LPC Mental Health Professions Licensing Board Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling Meets Requirements  
US Virgin Islands LPC Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs Meets Requirements  

NOTE: This information is correct as of February 14, 2022 and it is reviewed annually. It is the responsibility of applicants, students and graduates to look up the regulations in the state where they intend to practice.

For more information on becoming a licensed mental health counselor, visit: