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. Students are encouraged to check their state’s requirements and contact Daniel Tidwell-Davis to receive advising from the Office of Students and Alumni. 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 | PC | 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. (LMFT is the preferred option for CA licensure — see LPCC below) |
California | LPCC | Yes | Program must have regional accreditations and student coursework must contain 15 credits of specialized content that must be completed prior to full licensure (but not required for 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 | Yes (only through June 30, 2025) | 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 for on-campus/ No for low-residency | |
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 | LPC | Yes | Program of student coursework must include CACREP core courses. |
Nebraska | LMPH | 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. |
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 | Uncertain | Program must have regional accreditation and student coursework must contain content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
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 | |
Rhode Island | CMHC | Yes | Specific Core Curriculum requirements |
South Carolina | LPC | Yes | |
South Dakota | LPC | 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. |
Utah | CHMC | Yes | Program must have CACREP or regional accreditation with student coursework containing content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
Vermont | CHMC | Uncertain | Program must have CACREP or regional accreditation with student coursework containing content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
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 | Uncertain | Program must have CACREP or regional accreditation with student coursework containing content equivalent to CACREP accreditation. |
Wisconsin | LPC | Uncertain | 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. |