State Licensing Requirements for Professional Mental Health Counselors
The Seattle School’s accreditation meets the requirements for licensing in Washington state, and it is recommended that students enrolled in the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology perform additional research about internship and elective requirements per state. Please note that some states have specific coursework requirements for licensure beyond educational components such as internship hours and elective classes.
We have linked to each state’s educational requirements for professional mental health counselors in the state column below and whether or not The Seattle School’s program meets that state’s educational requirements. While many states have joined the Counseling Compact (allowing for future pathways to practice in multiple member states 2 years after obtaining an independent license in a member home state), rules are still being determined for how the Compact will function, and students continue to be responsible for understanding the requirements for initial licensure in all states where they intend to pursue licensure.Students are encouraged to check their state’s requirements and contact Daniel Tidwell-Davis to receive advising. Prospective students are encouraged to ask admissions counselors any questions about licensure.
State Licensing Requirement Disclosures for Professional Mental Health Counselors
State | Credential | Meets Educational Requirements | Additional State Requirements |
Alabama | LPC | Yes | Program must have regional accreditation and student coursework must contain content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
Alaska | LPC | Yes | |
Arizona | LPC | Yes | Program must have regional accreditation and student coursework must contain content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
Arkansas | LPC | Yes | |
California | LMFT | Yes | Program must have regional accreditation and student coursework must meet state-specific content area requirements including 12 credits of Marriage and Family related coursework. |
California | LPCC | Yes | Program must have regional accreditations and student coursework must contain 15 credits of specialized content that must be completed prior to registration as an associate. |
Colorado | LPC | Yes | Program must have regional accreditation, with review for CACREP equivalency. |
Connecticut | LPC | Yes | |
Delaware | LPC | Yes | |
Florida | LMHC | No | Through June 30, 2025, program must have regional accreditation and student coursework must contain content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. Beginning July 1, 2025, program must have CACREP accreditation. |
Georgia | LPC | Yes | |
Hawaii | LMHC | Yes | |
Idaho | LPC | Yes | Program must have regional accreditation and student coursework must contain content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
Illinois | LPC | Yes | |
Indiana | LMHC | Yes | |
Iowa | LMHC | Yes | Program must have regional accreditation and student coursework must contain content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
Kansas | LPC | Yes | Program must have regional accreditation with accreditation standards equivalent to those met by Kansas colleges and universities, or program must not be below the accreditation standards of CACREP. |
Kentucky | LPC | No | Program must have regional accreditation and CACREP / CORE accreditation. |
Louisiana | LPC | Yes | |
Maine | LPC | Yes | Program must have regional accreditation and student coursework must contain content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
Maryland | LCPC | Yes | |
Massachusetts | LMHC | Yes | Program must have regional accreditation and student coursework must contain content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
Michigan | LPC | Yes | Program must be “accredited” and equivalent to CACREP accreditation standards. |
Minnesota | LPC | Yes | |
Mississippi | LPC | Yes | Program must have CACREP accreditation or have the word “counseling” in its title and student coursework must contain content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
Missouri | LPC | Yes | Program must have regional accreditation and student coursework must contain content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
Montana | LCPC | Yes | Program of student coursework must include CACREP core courses. |
Nebraska | LMPH and LIMPH | Yes | Program must have regional accreditation and student coursework must contain content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
Nevada | LCPC | Yes | Program must have regional accreditation and student coursework must contain content equivalent to CACREP accreditation as well as additional coursework, including 3 terms of internship. |
New Hampshire | LMCHC | Yes | Program must have regional accreditation and student coursework must contain content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
New Jersey | LPC | Yes | |
New Mexico | LPCC | Yes | Program must have regional accreditation and student coursework must contain content equivalent to CACREP accreditation as well as additional specified courses. |
New York | LMHC | Yes | Program must have CACREP or regional accreditation with student coursework content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
North Carolina | LCMHC/LPC | No | Program must have CACREP accreditation (as of July 1, 2022). |
North Dakota | LPC | Yes | Content of student coursework must be equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
Ohio | LPC | Yes | Program must have CACREP or regional accreditation with student coursework containing content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
Oklahoma | LPC | Yes | |
Oregon | LPC | Yes | Program must have CACREP or regional accreditation with student coursework containing content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
Pennsylvania | LPC | Yes | |
Puerto Rico | LPC | Yes | Program must have CACREP or regional accreditation with student coursework containing content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
Rhode Island | CMHC | Yes | Specific Core Curriculum requirements |
South Carolina | LPC | Yes | Program must have CACREP or regional accreditation with student coursework containing content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
South Dakota | LPC-MH | Yes | Program of student coursework must have content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
Tennessee | LPC | Yes | Program of student coursework must have content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
Texas | LPC | Yes | Program must have CACREP or regional accreditation with student coursework containing content equivalent to CACREP accreditation and requires 60 total credits of CSL coursework, including in specified content areas. |
Utah | CMHC | Yes | Program must have CACREP or regional accreditation with student coursework containing content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
Vermont | CMHC | Yes | Program must have CACREP or regional accreditation with student coursework containing content equivalent to CACREP accreditation and requires 60 total credits of CSL coursework, including in specified content areas. |
Virginia | LPC | Yes | Program must have CACREP or regional accreditation with student coursework containing content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
Washington | LMHC | Yes | |
Washington DC | LPC | Yes | Program must have student coursework containing content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
West Virginia | LPC | Yes | Program must have CACREP or regional accreditation with student coursework containing content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
Wisconsin | LPC | Yes | Program must have student coursework containing content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
Wyoming | LPC | Yes | Program must be substantially similar in content to CACREP accreditation / specific content areas identified. |