Counseling Licensure in Rhode Island

Rhode Island only has one level of licensure for counseling and requires the usual graduate level education as well as work experience and passing a national counseling examination. Rhode Island’s counseling license title is known as the Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC).

The steps to become licensed as a counselor with the title Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) is as follows:

Featured Programs:

Sponsored School(s)

Sponsored School(s)

All school search, finder, or match results, as well as colleges and universities displayed as "Featured School(s)" or "Sponsored Content" are advertisers that compensate us for placement on this site. The resources, editorial content, and school evaluations published on this site are developed independent of the schools that advertise here.

Southern New Hampshire University

Featured Program: Earn your BA in Human Services with concentrations in Child and Family Services; Substance Abuse and Gerontology.

Request Info

Grand Canyon University

Featured Program: Choose from a variety of online counseling degree programs at GCU, from our Bachelor of Science in Counseling to our counseling master's degrees, including the Christian-focused online counseling and addiction counseling degrees.

Request Info

Walden University

Featured Program: Earn you BA, MS or PhD degree in Human Services in various concentrations.

Request Info

Liberty University

Featured Program: Our 100% online master’s in human services counseling degree is designed to give you a solid foundation in the study of human behavior and equip you with the practical helping skills you need to make a lasting impact on those around you.

Request Info

Purdue Global

Featured Program: Courses in Purdue Global’s social and behavioral sciences programs are reviewed by professionals and industry leaders to help ensure your education keeps you competitive.

Request Info

Rasmussen University

Featured Program: Human Services Associate Degree; Human Services Bachelors Degree-Completion Program

Request Info

1. Complete the necessary educational background of a Master of Counseling from a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited program.
2. Complete a practicum as well as an internship element.
3. Apply with the state board to sit for your NCE.
4. Take the National Counselor Examination (NCE) as administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC).
5. Apply for your LMHC license.

Educational Requirements

Rhode Island has the following educational requirements for licensure.

• You will first need to acquire your Bachelor’s degree in Counseling or a highly related Social or Behavioral Science field such as Psychology, Social Work or Human Services. Counseling degrees are preferred.
• The next step is to apply to and get accepted into a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited Master of Counseling or Council on Counseling Rehabilitation (CORE in the case of rehabilitation counselors) program.

Practicum and Internship

Rhode Island law requires you complete a practicum and internship during your graduate studies.

• You must complete a 12 semester hour practicum during your graduate studies.
• You will then need to complete a full year internship with a minimum of 20 hours per week of clinical experience.
• The internship and practicum must be supervised by a board approved supervisor.

Supervised Experience

You must now accumulate the required supervised experience.

• The supervised experience element in Rhode Island requires two years of supervised experience.
• You need to accrue 2000 hours of supervised direct client care practice.
• You will need at least 100 hours of direct supervision from a board approved supervisor.
• Your supervisor must meet Rhode Island Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists standards for qualification.

Apply for and Take Your NCMHCE

You are now ready to apply for and take the NCMHCE.

• Apply with the Rhode Island Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists to take your National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE) as administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC).
• Pass the NCMHCE with a score acceptable under Rhode Island law.

Apply for Your LMHC License

You are finally ready to complete your application and receive your LMHC title.

• Apply with the Rhode Island Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists to receive your LMHC title
  • You can find the appropriate form here:

License Renewal and Continuing Education

Rhode Island law states that you must renew your license every 2 years. You must also present evidence of continuing education at that time.

• You must complete 20 hours per year of continuing education for a total of 40 per biennium.
• This must include at least on20 hours from formal CE classes.

You will always want to stay abreast of changes by ensuring that every so often you visit the Rhode Island Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists website: