Find your route
Jump to a state
Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming
The short answer
- There is no automatic reciprocity. To practice in a new state, you apply to that state’s board. Your current state has no say in it.
- Most states have a shortcut. Endorsement can make the application simpler, though some boards still review your education and supervised hours. What varies is how much experience it takes, which exam it accepts, and whether it adds a state law exam.
- The Counseling Compact can be faster. If you live in and are licensed by a live Compact state, you can get a privilege to practice in another live one without a new license. See the Counseling Compact page.
- Still an associate? When a state asks for years of practice, it almost always means years holding a full, independent license. Years under an associate or supervised license usually do not count.
How the states compare, as of October 18, 2026:
- 20 states set no minimum years of practice, at least for counselors from states with comparable rules.
See the 20 states
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.
- At least 20 want 1 to 5 years of licensure or practice first.
- At least 11 add a state law exam.
- Texas has no shortcut at all.
Which route each state has
- Reciprocity agreements, state to state: North Carolina with Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee Source. These are the only boards that accept a specific state's license as such.
- Counseling Compact, live in 10 states: Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Wyoming. A privilege to practice, no new license, if you live in and are licensed by one of them.
- Joined the Compact, not live yet (30):
See the 30 states
Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
- Everywhere else: licensure by endorsement under that board's own rule, listed state by state below, except Texas, which has no shortcut at all. For Hawaii, Indiana, Nebraska, Utah and Wisconsin we could not confirm the rule on the board's own pages.
All states at a glance
Tap a state for its full rule and sources. “Check” means we could not confirm that detail on the board’s own pages. Compact: “Live” means the state issues privileges now; “Joined” means it is a member but not live yet.
On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| State | Shortcut | Experience needed | State law exam | Practice while you wait | Compact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes | None set; a current license comparable to Alabama's LPC | No | No | Joined |
| Alaska | Yes | None set; your state's requirements must be the same or higher | No | No | No |
| Arizona | Yes | Licensed 1+ year at a substantially equivalent level | Check | Yes | Live |
| Arkansas | Yes | None set; full licensure held continuously, in good standing | Yes | Yes | Live |
| California | Yes | Independent license held 2+ years, active and unrestricted for the 2 years before applying | Yes | Yes | No |
| Colorado | Yes | 2 years of post-master's practice (1 year post-doctoral), or 2 years of active practice before applying | Yes | Yes | Joined |
| Connecticut | Yes | 4 years of practice, every license in good standing | No | No | Joined |
| Delaware | Yes | 5 years licensed in one state; under 5, your state's standards must be substantially similar | No | Yes | Joined |
| District of Columbia | Yes | 5 years of independent clinical practice, or 3 years independently licensed plus the NCC | Check | No | Joined |
| Florida | Yes | Active practice for 2 of the 4 years before applying, with an active, unencumbered license | No | Yes | Joined |
| Georgia | Yes | 2 years of unrestricted licensure and 2 years of active practice, immediately before applying | Check | No | Live |
| Hawaii | Check | Check | Check | Check | No |
| Idaho | Yes | Check | Check | Yes | No |
| Illinois | Yes | None set; 5 consecutive years independently licensed without discipline skips education and experience proof | No | Check | No |
| Indiana | Check | Check | Check | Check | Live |
| Iowa | Yes | None set; license verified by your most recent state | No | No | Joined |
| Kansas | Yes | Licensed 12 months immediately before applying, or from a substantially equivalent state; clinical license adds competence proof | Check | Yes | Joined |
| Kentucky | Yes | 5 years of experience as a certified or licensed professional counselor | No | No | Joined |
| Louisiana | Yes | Check | Check | Check | Live |
| Maine | Yes | None set; your state's requirements must be substantially equivalent | No | No | Joined |
| Maryland | Yes | None if your state's requirements equal Maryland's; otherwise 2 to 3 years, depending on degree | Yes | No | Joined |
| Massachusetts | Yes | License in good standing for the 3 years before applying | No | No | No |
| Michigan | Yes | None set; 5+ years of full licensure skips proof of degree and exam | No | No | No |
| Minnesota | Yes | 5+ years of active practice; under 5, your state's requirements must be substantially similar | No | No | Live |
| Mississippi | Yes | 5 years of counseling work since first licensed, license held continuously, no substantiated complaints or discipline ever | No | No | Joined |
| Missouri | Yes | Full licensure for 1+ year, no discipline or pending complaints | Yes | No | Joined |
| Montana | Yes | None set; your state must be rated substantially equivalent | No | Yes | Joined |
| Nebraska | Check | Check | Check | Check | Joined |
| Nevada | Yes | Check | Check | No | Joined |
| New Hampshire | Yes | None set; your state must be on the qualifying list | Yes | Yes | Joined |
| New Jersey | Yes | Check | Check | Check | Joined |
| New Mexico | Yes | 2 consecutive years of licensed practice immediately before applying, no discipline in the past 2 years | No | No | No |
| New York | Yes | 5 years of licensed practice in the 10 years before applying | No | No | No |
| North Carolina | Yes | Independent license held 2+ years, plus 5 years full-time (or 8 part-time) experience in the last 10 years and 2,500 client hours | Yes | Yes | Joined |
| North Dakota | Yes | None set; your state's requirements must be equal or stricter | Check | No | Joined |
| Ohio | Yes | None set; a similar license in good standing | No | No | Live |
| Oklahoma | Yes | None set; an independent license in good standing, never suspended or revoked | Yes | No | Live |
| Oregon | Yes | None set; under 3 years fully licensed, also verify education and supervised experience | Yes | Yes | No |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Active practice for 5 of the last 7 years, or 2 of the last 5 years on the Act 41 route | No | Yes | Joined |
| Rhode Island | Yes | Check | Check | Check | Joined |
| South Carolina | Yes | None set; an active, unrestricted license, no pending investigations | No | Yes | Joined |
| South Dakota | Yes | Highest independent license held 3+ years, with 1,500 clinical hours in the last 3 years | No | Yes | Joined |
| Tennessee | Yes | Highest independent license, active for 3 of the 5 years before applying | Yes | No | Live |
| Texas | No | Full application, including 3,000 supervised hours | Yes | No | No |
| Utah | Check | Check | Check | Check | Joined |
| Vermont | Yes | Independent license held 3+ years immediately before applying (Fast Track) | Check | Yes | Joined |
| Virginia | Yes | None set; an unrestricted independent license, now or in the past | No | Yes | Joined |
| Washington | Yes | Licensed 2+ years immediately before applying, in a substantially equivalent state | No | Yes | Joined |
| West Virginia | Yes | None set; a current top-level independent license in good standing | No | Yes | Joined |
| Wisconsin | Check | Check | Check | Check | Joined |
| Wyoming | Yes | None set; your state's requirements must be substantially similar | No | Yes | Live |
Moving to a state that wants the NCMHCE? Try one case in the real format, free, with every answer explained.
Try a free caseDocuments boards commonly request
- License verification from every state where you have been licensed, sent straight to the new board.
- Your national exam score, sent by NBCC. A few states want the NCMHCE in particular, which catches counselors who passed only the NCE.
- Proof of experience, where the state asks for it. Years under an associate or supervised license usually do not count.
- A background check and the fee. Some states add a short, open-book exam on their own law.
If you don’t meet a state’s shortcut, you apply the standard way: the board checks your degree, supervised hours and exam against its own rules. Keep your transcripts, supervision logs and syllabi. LPC requirements by state lists those rules.
Each state’s rule
States are in alphabetical order. Jump to a state.
Alabama LPC reciprocity
Shortcut available
| Route | LPC Endorsement License Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | None stated; must hold a current mental health license comparable to the Alabama LPC. Source |
| Exam accepted | NCE; applicants who took another licensure exam must document it (date and score) or take and pass the NCE. Source |
| State law exam | None required Source |
| Practice while you wait | None found; the endorsement application says you may not practice in Alabama until your license is issued. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
The base license cannot itself be by endorsement; applicants must document 3,000 supervised hours and coursework equivalent to Alabama rules.
Board: Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling · Back to state list
Alaska LPC reciprocity
Shortcut available
| Route | License by credentials Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | None stated; current license from a jurisdiction with substantially the same or higher requirements. Source |
| Exam accepted | Original state must have required a nationally recognized counselor exam; no specific exam is named. Source |
| State law exam | None required Source |
| Practice while you wait | Temporary military courtesy license only: 180 days, renewable once, for active-duty members and spouses stationed in Alaska. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Not a member |
Original state must require 60 graduate semester hours and 3,000 supervised hours over 24 months; telehealth also needs Telemedicine Business Registry registration.
Board: Board of Professional Counselors Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing · Back to state list
Arizona LPC reciprocity
Shortcut available
| Route | Licensure by endorsement Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Licensed for at least one year in another state at a substantially equivalent practice level. Source |
| Exam accepted | Check with the board |
| State law exam | Check with the board |
| Practice while you wait | Non-residents authorized in their home state may practice up to 90 days per calendar year, disclosing they are not Arizona-licensed. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Live |
The endorsement law lists no exam. A separate universal recognition route (A.R.S. 32-4302) requires Arizona residency and the exam your first state required.
Board: Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners · Back to state list
Arkansas LPC reciprocity
Shortcut available, plus a state law exam
| Route | Licensure by endorsement Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | None stated; must have continually maintained full LPC (or equivalent) licensure in good standing. Source |
| Exam accepted | NCE or NCMHCE; the board may waive it if another exam is equivalent or endorsement rules are met. Source |
| State law exam | Required: Arkansas Jurisprudence Exam, taken online through CCE. Source |
| Practice while you wait | Non-residents licensed 3+ years may consult or do research up to 30 days per year, with prior board approval. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Live |
New residents licensed for at least one year elsewhere can also use Act 457 automatic licensure.
Board: Arkansas State Board of Examiners in Counseling · Back to state list
California LPC reciprocity (LPCC)
Shortcut available, plus a state law exam
| Route | Licensure by Credential (Path A) Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Licensed at the highest independent level for at least 2 years, active and unrestricted for the 2 years before applying. Source |
| Exam accepted | No national exam listed for Path A; only the California Law and Ethics Exam is required. Source |
| State law exam | Required: LPCC California Law and Ethics Exam, plus a separate 12-hour California law and ethics course. Source |
| Practice while you wait | One 30-consecutive-day allowance per calendar year to treat an existing client located in California; free application via Breeze. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Not a member |
Path A also requires California coursework: child abuse reporting (7 hrs), California cultures (15 hrs) and suicide risk assessment (6 hrs).
Board: California Board of Behavioral Sciences · Back to state list
Colorado LPC reciprocity
Shortcut available, plus a state law exam
| Route | Licensure by endorsement Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | At least 2 years post-master's (or 1 year post-doctoral) practice, or 2 years of active practice before applying. Source |
| Exam accepted | Attest to passing a national or state exam that tested competence to practice professional counseling. Source |
| State law exam | Required: Colorado Mental Health Professions Jurisprudence Exam (open book, online), passed before applying. Source |
| Practice while you wait | Telehealth-only LPC license for non-residents with an active LPC license elsewhere, jurisprudence exam and a Colorado registered agent. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
Degree must be CACREP, a listed Denver or Naropa program, or found equivalent by a CCE education review.
Board: Colorado State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners · Back to state list
Connecticut LPC reciprocity
Shortcut available
| Route | Applicants Licensed in Another US State for at Least 4 Years Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Practiced for not less than four years, with every current or past license in good standing. Source |
| Exam accepted | No examination required on the four-year route; other applicants need the NCE or NCMHCE. Source |
| State law exam | None required; the board says no examination is required. Source |
| Practice while you wait | None found for out-of-state licensees; Connecticut's temporary practice rule covers only new graduates. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
With under four years, three years of licensed out-of-state work can replace supervised experience, but degree and NCE/NCMHCE rules still apply.
Board: Connecticut Department of Public Health · Back to state list
Delaware LPC reciprocity (LPCMH)
Shortcut available
| Route | Reciprocity Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Five years licensed in any one jurisdiction; under five, the Board checks whether that state's standards are substantially similar. Source |
| Exam accepted | NCE, NCMHCE, or another exam the Board accepts. Source |
| State law exam | None required; reciprocity requirements list only background check, license verification and exam scores. Source |
| Practice while you wait | Interstate Telehealth Registration lets out-of-state licensees in good standing provide telehealth after a provider-patient relationship is established. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
Statute (24 Del. C. § 3034) also grants reciprocity to NBCC-certified counselors from substantially similar states; a Delaware and FBI background check is required.
Board: Delaware Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals · Back to state list
District of Columbia LPC reciprocity
Shortcut available
| Route | Licensure by endorsement Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Five years of independent clinical practice, or three years independently licensed plus the NCC credential; others follow the full checklist. Source |
| Exam accepted | NCE, or a licensure exam passed in another US jurisdiction, CRCC, or NACMHC exam. Source |
| State law exam | Check with the board |
| Practice while you wait | None found; DC Health states the temporary licensure waiver period has ended. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
Five-year applicants submit an attestation of post-licensure independent practice plus a resume instead of supervision forms; $230 fee and background check apply.
Board: District of Columbia Board of Professional Counseling · Back to state list
Florida LPC reciprocity (LMHC)
Shortcut available
| Route | License by MOBILE Endorsement Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Actively practiced at least 2 years during the 4 years before applying, with an active, unencumbered license. Source |
| Exam accepted | Passing score on a national licensure exam, or a national certification recognized by the board. Source |
| State law exam | Board page lists none for MOBILE endorsement; statute lets the board require a Florida laws-and-rules exam. Source |
| Practice while you wait | Out-of-state telehealth registration with the Department of Health; non-residents may also practice up to 15 days per calendar year. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
No discipline in the past 5 years and Livescan fingerprints required; a 24-month provisional license exists for those missing other Florida requirements.
Board: Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling · Back to state list
Georgia LPC reciprocity
Shortcut available
| Route | Licensure by Endorsement Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Two years of unrestricted LPC-level licensure and two years of active practice immediately before applying. Source |
| Exam accepted | NBCC NCE or NCMHCE. Source |
| State law exam | Check with the board |
| Practice while you wait | None found Source |
| Counseling Compact | Live |
Endorsement is considered state by state; applicants still submit transcripts, practicum verification and a background check. The board's policy statement is marked 'pending amendments'.
Board: Georgia Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists · Back to state list
Hawaii LPC reciprocity (LMHC)
Check with the board
| Route | Check with the board |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Check with the board |
| Exam accepted | Check with the board |
| State law exam | Check with the board |
| Practice while you wait | Check with the board |
| Counseling Compact | Not a member |
We could not confirm Hawaii's rules for counselors licensed elsewhere on the board's pages. Contact the board before you apply.
Board: Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division · Back to state list
Idaho LPC reciprocity (LCPC)
Shortcut available
| Route | License by endorsement Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Check with the board |
| Exam accepted | Check with the board |
| State law exam | Check with the board |
| Practice while you wait | No temporary licenses; a $35 non-renewable Interstate Mental or Behavioral Telehealth Registration is offered. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Not a member |
Idaho's endorsement form dates from 2021 and cites a rule no longer in Idaho's current rules; confirm the current requirements with the board.
Board: Idaho Licensing Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists · Back to state list
Illinois LPC reciprocity (LCPC)
Shortcut available
| Route | Endorsement licensure method Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Independent-level license for 5 consecutive years without discipline replaces education and experience proof; otherwise full documentation. Source |
| Exam accepted | CRCE, or both NCE and NCMHCE; anyone with only one must pass the missing exam. Source |
| State law exam | None required Source |
| Practice while you wait | Check with the board |
| Counseling Compact | Not a member |
Send a Certification of Licensure from each state. The 5-year shortcut waives proof of education and experience, not the exams.
Board: Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR) · Back to state list
Indiana LPC reciprocity (LMHC)
Check with the board
| Route | Check with the board |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Check with the board |
| Exam accepted | Check with the board |
| State law exam | Check with the board |
| Practice while you wait | Check with the board |
| Counseling Compact | Live |
We could not confirm Indiana's rules for counselors licensed elsewhere on the board's pages. Contact the board before you apply.
Board: Indiana Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board · Back to state list
Iowa LPC reciprocity (LMHC)
Shortcut available
| Route | Licensure by endorsement Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | None stated; verification of license from the most recent jurisdiction. Source |
| Exam accepted | No exam listed for endorsement applicants. Source |
| State law exam | None required Source |
| Practice while you wait | None found; Iowa's temporary license is only for completing postgraduate supervised clinical experience. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
Iowa Code 154D.8 requires the other state's requirements be similar; otherwise apply by verification (481 IAC 501.1), issued without exam if original exam passed.
Board: Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals · Back to state list
Kansas LPC reciprocity (LCPC)
Shortcut available
| Route | Licensure of individuals licensed in another jurisdiction (K.S.A. 65-5807). Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Licensed at least 12 months immediately before applying, or from a substantially equivalent state; LCPC adds clinical competence proof. Source |
| Exam accepted | Optional: a board-approved national clinical exam is one of three LCPC competence options; two are required. Source |
| State law exam | Check with the board |
| Practice while you wait | Temporary permit: up to 30 days per year for clinical-level licensees with 2 years' practice; valid one year. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
For the clinical license, show competence two of three ways: clinical coursework or exam, 3 years diagnosing and treating, or a licensed clinician's attestation.
Board: Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board · Back to state list
Kentucky LPC reciprocity (LPCC)
Shortcut available
| Route | LPCC by endorsement Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | At least five years' experience as a certified or licensed professional counselor. Source |
| Exam accepted | Exempt: endorsement applicants do not provide NCE or NCMHCE scores. Source |
| State law exam | None required for endorsement; the 3-hour Kentucky law course applies to North Carolina reciprocity and supervisor transfer. Source |
| Practice while you wait | No temporary permit found; the FAQ points those under five years to the Counseling Compact privilege to practice. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
Needs a 60-hour counseling degree (CACREP if begun Summer 2015 or later) and FBI fingerprints; separate reciprocity agreements exist with North Carolina and Tennessee.
Board: Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors · Back to state list
Louisiana LPC reciprocity
Shortcut available
| Route | Endorsement Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Check with the board |
| Exam accepted | Check with the board |
| State law exam | Check with the board |
| Practice while you wait | Check with the board |
| Counseling Compact | Live |
A September 2024 proposed rule would cut the endorsement requirement from five years of practice to one. Confirm the current rule with the board.
Board: Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners · Back to state list
Maine LPC reciprocity (LCPC)
Shortcut available
| Route | Licensure by endorsement Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | None stated; active, full license in good standing in a state with substantially equivalent requirements. Source |
| Exam accepted | NCMHCE. Source |
| State law exam | None required Source |
| Practice while you wait | None found; statute exempts only visiting lecturers and occasional consultants from outside Maine. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
Other state's licensure path must require a 60-credit counseling master's, the NCMHCE and supervised clinical experience.
Board: Maine Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure · Back to state list
Maryland LPC reciprocity (LCPC)
Shortcut available, plus a state law exam
| Route | Out-of-state applicants (licensure waiver for clinical counselors licensed elsewhere) Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | None if the other state's requirements equal Maryland's; otherwise 2 to 3 years of experience depending on degree. Source |
| Exam accepted | NCE or NCMHCE. Source |
| State law exam | Required: Maryland Law Assessment (no-fail, 36 questions). Source |
| Practice while you wait | Only a no-fee recognition for service members and spouses under military orders in Maryland. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
Must also show 3 graduate credits each in ethics, diagnosis and psychopathology, and psychotherapy.
Board: Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists · Back to state list
Massachusetts LPC reciprocity (LMHC)
Shortcut available
| Route | Licensure by reciprocal recognition Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | License in good standing for the three years before applying. Source |
| Exam accepted | NCMHCE only; no other exam accepted. Source |
| State law exam | None required Source |
| Practice while you wait | None found in 262 CMR 2.00. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Not a member |
Must meet Massachusetts degree rules and take free domestic and sexual violence training. The board's older guide says three years of full-time work; the October 2026 rule says three years in good standing.
Board: Massachusetts Board of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions · Back to state list
Michigan LPC reciprocity
Shortcut available
| Route | Licensure by endorsement Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | None required; 5 or more years of full licensure waives proof of degree and exam. Source |
| Exam accepted | NCE, NCMHCE or CRC exam passed for the other state's license; presumed met after 5 years licensed. Source |
| State law exam | None required Source |
| Practice while you wait | None found in the counseling rules or licensing guide. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Not a member |
Must complete one-time human trafficking training and 2 hours of implicit bias training before licensure.
Minnesota LPC reciprocity (LPCC)
Shortcut available
| Route | Reciprocity Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | 5 or more years of active practice; under 5 years, the other state's requirements must be substantially similar. Source |
| Exam accepted | No exam listed for reciprocity; the general LPCC route requires the NCMHCE. Source |
| State law exam | None required Source |
| Practice while you wait | One-year temporary license only for active military, spouses and recent veterans. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Live |
Board decides LPC or LPCC based on experience. Degrees under 60 semester credits need extra graduate credits within four years.
Board: Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy · Back to state list
Mississippi LPC reciprocity
Shortcut available
| Route | Licensure by comity (board states it has no reciprocity agreement with any state) Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | At least 5 years of counseling work since initial licensure, license held continuously, no substantiated complaints or discipline ever. Source |
| Exam accepted | Check with the board |
| State law exam | Board may require an exam specific to counseling practice in Mississippi (Rule 4.7 B). Source |
| Practice while you wait | None found; telehealth (Rule 7.5) requires an active Mississippi license plus a license where the client is located. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
The board also lists a universal licensure route for Mississippi residents; we could not confirm its terms.
Board: Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors · Back to state list
Missouri LPC reciprocity
Shortcut available, plus a state law exam
| Route | Licensure by reciprocity Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Full licensure status in another state for one year or more, with no discipline or pending complaints. Source |
| Exam accepted | No national exam listed on the reciprocity checklist. Source |
| State law exam | Required: Missouri Jurisprudence (Legal and Ethical Responsibilities) Exam, open book, online. Source |
| Practice while you wait | None found; board says out-of-state counselors seeing Missouri clients by telehealth must hold a Missouri license. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
Checklist also requires 2 hours of suicide prevention training, a fingerprint background check and a $100 fee.
Board: Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors · Back to state list
Montana LPC reciprocity (LCPC)
Shortcut available
| Route | Equivalent out-of-state license (substantial equivalency) Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | None stated; current, active license in good standing from a substantially equivalent state. Source |
| Exam accepted | No exam proof needed if licensed in a state Montana rates substantially equivalent. Source |
| State law exam | None required Source |
| Practice while you wait | 21-Day Temporary Registration for out-of-state licensees giving education, continuity of care, underserved or highly specialized care. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
States Montana has not rated substantially equivalent get an individual review of education, experience and exams. The board FAQ (September 9, 2026) says the 21-day registration is not live yet; its homepage says it is.
Board: MT Board of Social Work Examiners & Professional Counselors; Dept of Commerce Professional & Occupational Licensing Div · Back to state list
Nebraska LPC reciprocity (LMHP)
Check with the board
| Route | Check with the board |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Check with the board |
| Exam accepted | Check with the board |
| State law exam | Check with the board |
| Practice while you wait | Check with the board |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
We could not confirm Nebraska's rules for counselors licensed elsewhere on the department's pages. Contact the board before you apply.
Board: Department of Health & Human Services; Division of Public Health · Back to state list
Nevada LPC reciprocity (CPC)
Shortcut available
| Route | Licensure by reciprocity Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Check with the board |
| Exam accepted | Check with the board |
| State law exam | Check with the board |
| Practice while you wait | None found; board says seeing Nevada clients by telehealth requires a Nevada license (NRS 629.515). Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
The board's reciprocity page lists fingerprints, a $75 application fee, ID, license verification, a self-query and a $30 registration fee.
Board: Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors · Back to state list
New Hampshire LPC reciprocity (LCMHC)
Shortcut available, plus a state law exam
| Route | Licensure by endorsement (reciprocity under RSA 310:17, HB 594) Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | None stated; active license in good standing from a qualifying (substantially similar) jurisdiction. Source |
| Exam accepted | CMHC application says all applicants must pass the NCMHCE; reciprocity page lists no exam. Source |
| State law exam | Required: board says jurisprudence exam (proctored by Prov) is required for all initial license applicants. Source |
| Practice while you wait | 120-day temporary license for out-of-state licensees in good standing, $40, one time only. Source |
| Depends on your state | Counselor licenses from these jurisdictions are not on New Hampshire's list of qualifying states for licensure by endorsement. (Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Wisconsin and District of Columbia) Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
Counselor licenses from FL, GA, ID, MD, MI, PA, SC, SD, WI and DC are not on the qualifying list. A provisional license is possible while the background check is pending.
Board: New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice · Back to state list
New Jersey LPC reciprocity
Shortcut available
| Route | Licensure by reciprocity Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Check with the board |
| Exam accepted | A nationally recognized exam of comparable scope and rigor to New Jersey's; license verification must include national test scores. Source |
| State law exam | Check with the board |
| Practice while you wait | Check with the board |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
New Jersey's general reciprocity law asks that you practiced within the five years before applying; the counselor board's own endorsement rule could not be read on an official site.
Board: New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs State Board of Marriage & Family Therapy Examiners Professional Counselor Examiners Committee · Back to state list
New Mexico LPC reciprocity (LPCC)
Shortcut available
| Route | Expedited licensure (the online application calls it reciprocity) Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Licensed practice for at least two consecutive years immediately before applying, license in good standing, no discipline in the past two years. Source |
| Exam accepted | No exam listed at application; licensees not originally required to pass New Mexico's exams (NCE and NCMHCE) must pass them before renewal. Source |
| State law exam | None required; the rule's application list is the form, proof of a current license in good standing, and the fee. Source |
| Practice while you wait | None found for out-of-state licensees; a temporary license exists only for applicants who meet education rules while awaiting the exam. Source |
| Depends on your state | Expedited licensure as an LPCC is open only to licensees from the jurisdictions listed in 16.27.24.8(B)(2) NMAC. (Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Vermont) Military service members and veterans have a separate expedited route (16.27.24.11 NMAC) that does not use this list. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Not a member |
Only licensees from AK, AR, ID, IL, IN, KS, ME, MN, MS, ND, OH, SD or VT qualify for expedited LPCC; a master's in counseling or related field is required.
Board: New Mexico Counseling and Therapy Practice Board · Back to state list
New York LPC reciprocity (LMHC)
Shortcut available
| Route | Licensure by Endorsement Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | 5 years of licensed practice in the 10 years before applying for licensure in New York. Source |
| Exam accepted | NCMHCE only; the board states no other examination is acceptable. Source |
| State law exam | None required; child abuse identification and reporting coursework (or an exemption) is required. Source |
| Practice while you wait | None found; the board says practice without a license or permit is not allowed. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Not a member |
Your degree and supervised experience must have qualified you for licensure in the other state; a licensed colleague must attest to your post-licensure experience.
Board: New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions · Back to state list
North Carolina LPC reciprocity (LCMHC)
Shortcut available, plus a state law exam
| Route | Licensure by endorsement (separate reciprocity route for Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee licensees) Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Independent license held 2+ years, plus 5 years full-time (or 8 part-time) experience in the last 10 years and 2,500 client hours. Source |
| Exam accepted | NCE, NCMHCE or CRC exam, or another state's exam the Board judges equivalent. Source |
| State law exam | Required: no-fail jurisprudence exam, taken within six months before applying. Source |
| Practice while you wait | Nonresidents licensed in another state may practice up to 30 days a year in North Carolina (G.S. 90-332.1(a)(6)). Source |
| Depends on your state | Independently licensed counselors in South Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky can apply for the LCMHC license by reciprocity. From Kentucky: An active, independent Kentucky LPCC in good standing; North Carolina's jurisprudence exam, taken within six months before applying; a background check; two letters of good character; $238 fee. From South Carolina: An active, independent South Carolina LPC in good standing; North Carolina's jurisprudence exam, taken within six months before applying; a background check; two letters of recommendation if the board asks; $238 fee. From Tennessee: An active, independent Tennessee LPC/MHSP in good standing (a standalone LPC does not qualify); 3 years of full-time experience, or equivalent, working as an LPC/MHSP, verified by a mental health professional; North Carolina's jurisprudence exam, taken within six months before applying; a background check; two letters of good character; $238 fee. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
Kentucky LPCC, South Carolina LPC and Tennessee LPC/MHSP holders can use the reciprocity route instead; Tennessee applicants need 3 years of full-time experience, or equivalent, as an LPC/MHSP.
Board: North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors · Back to state list
North Dakota LPC reciprocity (LPCC)
Shortcut available
| Route | Licensure by reciprocity Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | None stated; current LPCC-level license from a state whose requirements are equal to or stricter than North Dakota's. Source |
| Exam accepted | Proof of passing a counselor exam approved by the board; North Dakota's own LPCC applicants must pass the NCMHCE. Source |
| State law exam | Check with the board |
| Practice while you wait | None found in the counselor licensing law. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
Board: North Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners · Back to state list
Ohio LPC reciprocity (LPCC)
Shortcut available
| Route | Licensure through reciprocity (reciprocal license) Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | None stated; a similar license in good standing in another state, a national exam, and no disqualifying criminal offences. Source |
| Exam accepted | A national examination; counselors submit NBCC exam scores with the application. Source |
| State law exam | No exam; applicants must watch the Board's Laws and Rules video and attest they viewed it. Source |
| Practice while you wait | Counseling Compact privileges, issued in Ohio since January 5, 2026; no separate temporary permit listed. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Live |
Independently licensed counselors apply for the LPCC.
Board: Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board · Back to state list
Oklahoma LPC reciprocity
Shortcut available, plus a state law exam
| Route | Licensure by endorsement Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | None stated; active, good-standing license allowing independent practice, with no suspension or revocation history. Source |
| Exam accepted | No national exam listed; rule 86:10-25-3 and the board page name only the Oklahoma legal and ethics exam. Source |
| State law exam | Required: Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination (board page calls it the Oklahoma Jurisprudence exam). Source |
| Practice while you wait | Counseling Compact privilege to practice issued since October 1, 2026; no other temporary permit found. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Live |
Must hold at least a master's in counseling or a mental health field from a regionally accredited school; FBI and OSBI fingerprint checks required.
Board: Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure · Back to state list
Oregon LPC reciprocity
Shortcut available, plus a state law exam
| Route | Reciprocity Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | None required; applicants fully licensed under 3 years must also verify education and supervised experience. Source |
| Exam accepted | NCE, NCMHCE or CRC; scores 10+ years old may be replaced by 40 hours of continuing education. Source |
| State law exam | Required: Oregon Laws and Rules Exam (open book, untimed, online, taken after application approval). Source |
| Practice while you wait | Limited permit for out-of-state licensees: up to 30 days in 12 months, $100, not renewable. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Not a member |
The other state's license must be equivalent to Oregon standards; expired or inactive licenses do not qualify.
Board: Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors & Therapists · Back to state list
Pennsylvania LPC reciprocity
Shortcut available
| Route | Licensure by endorsement Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Active practice for 5 of the last 7 years; the Act 41 route needs 2 of the last 5 years. Source |
| Exam accepted | Endorsement license issued without examination under 49 Pa. Code 49.18. Source |
| State law exam | None required Source |
| Practice while you wait | No telehealth exemption; under Act 41 boards may issue a provisional license while applicants finish remaining requirements. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
Also needs 3,000 supervised hours and Pennsylvania's education rules. The board's summary page says exam rules apply, which differs from the regulation.
Board: Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors · Back to state list
Rhode Island LPC reciprocity (LCMHC)
Shortcut available
| Route | Endorsement for Licensure Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Check with the board |
| Exam accepted | Rule lists the NCMHCE or another Board exam, or applying under the endorsement statute (5-63.2-15) as an alternative. Source |
| State law exam | Check with the board |
| Practice while you wait | Check with the board |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
A licensed counselor with a 60-credit CACREP clinical mental health degree is treated as meeting the education standard.
Board: Rhode Island Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists · Back to state list
South Carolina LPC reciprocity
Shortcut available
| Route | Licensure by Endorsement Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | None stated; current, active, unrestricted license in good standing with no pending investigations. Source |
| Exam accepted | None named in the endorsement rule (Reg. 36-14). Source |
| State law exam | None required; applicant certifies having read the Board's statutes, regulations and Code of Ethics. Source |
| Practice while you wait | Nonresident licensees may practice up to 5 days a month and 30 days a year; telehealth needs board registration ($10). Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
From South Carolina's statute and regulations; the board may ask for other documents.
Board: South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists · Back to state list
South Dakota LPC reciprocity (LPC-MH)
Shortcut available
| Route | Licensure by endorsement Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Licensed at the highest independent level for at least 3 years, with 1,500 clinical hours in the last 3 years. Source |
| Exam accepted | Passing national exam required (NCE, CRC or NCMHCE listed); board exam page says LPC-MH requires the NCMHCE. Source |
| State law exam | None required Source |
| Practice while you wait | Temporary license up to 90 days, renewable once, for out-of-state licensees who have not passed the national exam. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
Telehealth to a client in South Dakota counts as practicing in South Dakota.
Board: South Dakota Board of Examiners for Counselors and Marriage & Family Therapists · Back to state list
Tennessee LPC reciprocity (LPC-MHSP)
Shortcut available, plus a state law exam
| Route | Licensure by reciprocity Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Active license at the highest independent level for at least 3 of the 5 years before applying (board policy). Source |
| Exam accepted | Reciprocity checklist asks only for Tennessee Jurisprudence exam results; no national exam listed. Source |
| State law exam | Required: Tennessee Jurisprudence exam. Source |
| Practice while you wait | None found: board FAQ says treating or telehealth with Tennessee clients requires a Tennessee license, except in a free clinic. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Live |
The board's paper application (revised July 2020) says only Kentucky licensees with 5 years qualify; its 2019 reciprocity policy is wider. Ask the board which applies.
Board: Tennessee State Board of Licensed Professional Counselors, Marital and Family Therapists, and Licensed Pastoral Therapists · Back to state list
Texas LPC reciprocity
No shortcut: full application
| Route | No endorsement or reciprocity; apply as an LPC already licensed out of state, meeting full requirements. Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | None; all documents are required regardless of years licensed, including 3,000 supervised hours. Source |
| Exam accepted | NCE or NCMHCE scores sent directly by NBCC. Source |
| State law exam | Required: Texas Jurisprudence exam (online), completed within six months of applying. Source |
| Practice while you wait | None: Texas offers no temporary license; a Texas license is required whenever the client is physically in Texas. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Not a member |
Must meet Texas academic rules (Board Rules 681.82 and 681.83) and submit fingerprints and an NPDB self-query.
Board: Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors · Back to state list
Utah LPC reciprocity (CMHC)
Check with the board
| Route | Check with the board |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Check with the board |
| Exam accepted | Check with the board |
| State law exam | Check with the board |
| Practice while you wait | Check with the board |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
We could not confirm Utah's rules for counselors licensed elsewhere on the division's pages. Contact the division before you apply.
Board: Utah Division of Professional Licensing · Back to state list
Vermont LPC reciprocity (LCMHC)
Shortcut available
| Route | Fast Track Endorsement (3+ years) or Endorsement under the Five Year Rule. Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Fast Track: licensed to practice independently in another state for 3 or more years immediately before applying. Source |
| Exam accepted | No exam stated for Fast Track or Five Year Rule; standard applicants need both NCMHCE and NCE. Source |
| State law exam | Check with the board |
| Practice while you wait | Interim Telehealth Registration for out-of-state licensees in good standing; telehealth only, no in-person care. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
Five Year Rule: five years of active practice (over 20 hours a week, 48 weeks a year). A 90-day provisional license may issue while license verification is pending.
Board: Vermont Board of Allied Mental Health Practitioners · Back to state list
Virginia LPC reciprocity
Shortcut available
| Route | Licensure by endorsement Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | None stated; must hold or have held an unrestricted independent counselor license in another US jurisdiction. Source |
| Exam accepted | Passing score on the exam your licensing state required (NCE, NCMHCE, or a state exam). Source |
| State law exam | None required Source |
| Practice while you wait | Out-of-state licensees may continue telehealth with existing Virginia clients for continuity of care for up to one year. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
Also requires an NPDB self-query, official graduate transcripts, and verification of every license held; fee $175.
Board: Virginia Board of Counseling; Dept of Health Professions · Back to state list
Washington LPC reciprocity (LMHC)
Shortcut available
| Route | Substantial equivalency (full license) or probationary license via reciprocity. Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Substantial equivalency: licensed in a substantially equivalent state for at least two years immediately before applying. Source |
| Exam accepted | Exam waived for substantially equivalent applicants; otherwise NCE or NCMHCE. Source |
| State law exam | None required Source |
| Practice while you wait | Probationary license for licensees from reciprocity-list states: valid one year, renewable once. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
Washington checks where you were first licensed; first licensure in a universal-licensure state may make you ineligible. No discipline in the past two years allowed.
Board: Washington State Department of Health · Back to state list
West Virginia LPC reciprocity
Shortcut available
| Route | Licensure by endorsement Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | None stated; must be currently licensed at the highest level for independent clinical practice, in good standing. Source |
| Exam accepted | NCE, NCMHCE, or another counseling certification exam approved by the board. Source |
| State law exam | None required Source |
| Practice while you wait | Nonresidents licensed elsewhere may practice up to 30 days per calendar year if the board deems their state's standards as stringent. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
The April 2026 rule replaced the older form's 5-of-7-years option; the other state's licensing requirements must still equal or exceed West Virginia's.
Board: West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling · Back to state list
Wisconsin LPC reciprocity
Check with the board
| Route | Check with the board |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | Check with the board |
| Exam accepted | Check with the board |
| State law exam | Check with the board |
| Practice while you wait | Check with the board |
| Counseling Compact | Joined, not live yet |
We could not confirm Wisconsin's rules for counselors licensed elsewhere on the department's pages. Contact the department before you apply.
Board: Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services · Back to state list
Wyoming LPC reciprocity
Shortcut available
| Route | Licensed Professional Counselor by Reciprocity Source |
|---|---|
| Experience needed | None stated; license in good standing from a state whose current requirements are substantially similar to Wyoming's. Source |
| Exam accepted | NCE, NCMHCE, CRCC certification exam, or another board-approved exam; scores transferred from the testing agency. Source |
| State law exam | None required Source |
| Practice while you wait | Nonresidents authorized in their home state may practice up to 30 days per calendar year without a Wyoming license. Source |
| Counseling Compact | Live |
The board compares state requirements, not your personal background, and will not pre-review; if your state does not qualify, a provisional license exists.
Board: Wyoming Mental Health Professions Licensing Board · Back to state list
LPC reciprocity FAQ
Is there LPC reciprocity between states?
Not in the way most people mean it. No state automatically accepts another state's counseling license. Most offer licensure by endorsement, a shorter application for counselors already licensed elsewhere, and the 10 live Counseling Compact states let counselors living in one of them practice in the others with a privilege.
Which states are easiest for LPC reciprocity?
The ones that set no minimum years of practice, at least for counselors from states with comparable rules: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming, according to their boards as of October 18, 2026. Each still checks your license and exam, and some add a state law exam.
Does Texas have LPC reciprocity?
No. Texas's board offers no reciprocity or endorsement for counselors. A counselor licensed elsewhere applies under the full requirements, including supervised hours, the national exam and Texas's jurisprudence exam, as of October 18, 2026.
Do I have to retake the NCE or NCMHCE to move states?
Usually not. Most boards accept the national exam you passed for your first license. A few ask for the NCMHCE in particular, so a counselor who passed only the NCE may have to sit it. Each state's rule above shows which exam it accepts.
Do years as an associate count toward endorsement?
Usually not. When a state asks for years of practice, it almost always means years holding a full, independent license. Time under an associate, provisional or supervised license counts toward your first license, not toward endorsement.
Can I see clients in another state by telehealth while I apply?
Only if that state allows it. The rule follows the client: you need a license, privilege or permit for the state where the client is during the session. Some states offer temporary or telehealth permits; the table shows which ones we could confirm.
Is there MFT reciprocity or an MFT compact?
No. There is no compact for marriage and family therapists. An LMFT moving states applies to the new state's board, usually by endorsement, much as counselors do. The Counseling Compact helps an LMFT only if they also hold a qualifying counseling license.
What is the difference between reciprocity and endorsement?
Reciprocity, strictly, is an agreement between two states to accept each other's licenses. Counseling has very few of these. Endorsement is a route one state offers to anyone licensed elsewhere who meets its rules. Boards use the words loosely, so read the rule, not the name.
Which states are not in the Counseling Compact?
As of October 17, 2026, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Texas have not joined. In those states, endorsement or a standard application is the only way to get licensed.
Sources
Every fact above links to the page it was read on: the state board’s site, its application forms, or the state’s statutes and rules, all checked October 18, 2026. Compact status comes from the Counseling Compact page. Boards change these rules; confirm with the board before you apply.
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