Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CACREP) – North Dakota
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
North Dakota requires that applicants for this licensure have a master’s degree counseling program of the accredited school or college. These programs include counseling, counselor education, counseling and guidance, and counseling and development. In addition to the master’s degree in counseling, the applicant’s graduate transcript(s) must indicate a minimum of sixty (60) semester credits (or ninety quarter hours) related to counseling, including coursework in the following areas:
- Counseling theories
- Counseling methods
- Group counseling
- Individual appraisal, assessment or testing
- Counseling related research methods including content on statistical analysis of data sets
- Human growth and development
- Multicultural counseling
- Career and lifestyle development
- Professional orientation and ethics, must be three semester credits and include content on the profession of counseling and the ACA Code of Ethics
- Counseling practicum (minimum 100 hrs.) and internship (minimum 600 hrs.) in supervised settings relevant to the practice of counseling
The North Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners can accept sixty (60) semester hour master’s degree counseling programs offered through a distance education format, provided that (1) the Internship is done locally on-site, (2) the Counseling Practicum is approved and supervised by the educational institution, and (3) the applicant meets all other board education requirements (see above).
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
Applicants for the LPCC must hold a valid LPC license.
In addition, these requirements must be satisfied:
- A total of 60 graduate semester credits that must include abnormal psychology and psychopathology, and clinical counseling skills. (See application for qualifying coursework in mandatory areas.)
- Must have completed 700 hours of training in supervised practicum and/or internships relevant to the practice of counseling.
- Two years (3000 hours) of post-masters supervised clinical experience in a clinical setting. All applications received after 7-1-16 must show 100 hours of supervision by an LPCC.
- Three letters of reference from clinical professionals, including a form to be filled out by the clinical supervisor. (See LPCC app for this form.)
- A passing score on the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination.
Additional Information
Students planning to pursue the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor should seek guidance as to which required or elective courses would count towards required core coursework to be completed during the 60-credit hour program that is required for the LPCC, but not the LPC.
For more information: