Counseling Licensure in Minnesota
Each state has its own unique process of steps to undertake for those seeking licensure in counseling. In the state of Minnesota there are two levels of licensure the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). You may want to begin your investigation into licensure in Minnesota by visiting the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy website here:
You will need to take the following steps in order to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in Minnesota:
- You will want to start by fulfilling the educational requirement by attaining your Master of Counseling degree from a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited university.
- Pass a criminal background check.
- Accumulate the necessary hours to complete the supervised experience requirement. This will vary depending on whether you want to become an LPC or an LPCC in Minnesota.
- Apply with the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy take your National Counselor Examination (NCE) as administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) title.
- Apply to the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy so you can take your National Mental Health Counselor Examination (NMCHE) as administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) title.
- Apply to the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy to receive your Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) title.
Educational Requirements
Minnesota regulations require that prospective Counselors must fulfill the following educational components as part of the licensure process.
- The safest and best undergraduate degree to earn is the Bachelor’s degree in Counseling. Most graduate of counseling programs consider the Bachelor of Counseling to be the most desirable degree for applicants. If you are not planning on getting your Bachelor of Counseling, then you will want to earn a Bachelor’s in a highly related Behavioral Science field such as Psychology, Social Work or Human Services.
- 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 program.
- You must have the following mandatory coursework for an LPC title: Find it here
- For the LPCC title you will need this coursework:
- During your graduate program you must complete 700 hours of supervised field experience.
Apply for and Take Your NCE or NCMHCE
The next step is to apply for and take your exam:
- Apply to the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy to take your National Counselor Examination (NCE) as administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) if you.
- Pass the NCE with a score acceptable under Minnesota law.
- To become a LPCC you will need to complete the steps for LPC and then apply to the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy to take your National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHE) as administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) if you.
Supervised Experience
There are two different levels of experience required for the LPC and LPCC titles. You will need to complete the following for the LPC and the LPCC additional requirements will be noted below:
- Pass a criminal background check.
- Submit to the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy your plan for supervised experience.
- For those working towards the LPC title, you will need to complete 2000 hours over a two year period.
- You are required to have two hours of supervision for every 40 hours of experience you earn, which is equivalent to 100 hours during your two year 2000 hour process.
- 75% of supervision must be in person and not through communications devices.
- 50% of your supervised hours must be one-on-one in person supervision.
- You will need to be supervised by someone who is authorized by the board to supervise.
- If you are earning your LPCC title you will need to have an additional 2000 hours of experience, of which 1800 hours must be direct client contact.
Apply for Your LPC or LPCC Title
Once you have passed the NCE or NCMHCE with a score acceptable to the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy you may apply to the board for your full LPC or LPCC title.
- Apply to the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy for your LPC title.
- You can find the appropriate form here:
- For the LPCC title you will also need to apply after meeting all the requirements for both LPC and LPCC.
- You can find the correct form here:
Continuing Education and License Renewal
You must renew your license every year. During every four years you must show that you have earned Continuing Education credits.
- You will need to complete 40 hours of continuing education credits as described here: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=148B.54#stat.148B.54
You will want to take the time to periodically review and refresh your understanding of current laws around licensure by visiting the Minnesota by visiting the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy website here: