3,000 Experiential Hours:

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Total hours required for LPC-MHSP = 3,000 which is divided between two (2) categories

• 1,500 face-to-face client hours​​

• 1,500 ancillary activities such as: licensure supervision, trainings, workshops, etc. Better defined as “required activities outside of face-to-face hours necessary for completion of licensure requirements”

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60 Hours of Graduate Course Hours in Counseling or Related Field:

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• 9 of 60 hours must include courses involving assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning to be eligible for the Mental Health Service Provider (MHSP) designation

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150 Hours of Supervision: (Typically 1 hour of supervision per 10 clinical hours)​

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• 75 of the150 hours must conducted by an LPC/MHSP

• 100 hours of individual or triadic supervision (1:1 or 1:2)

• 50 hours of group supervision (3-8 supervisees) at most

• “Approved supervisor” must:

  • Be licensed a minimum of 5 years;

  • Have passed a graduate level course in supervision; OR hold a Supervision Certification from an approved organization; OR have completed 12 contact hours related to counseling supervision;

  • Maintain 3 CEUS in counseling supervision every 2 years

  • It is up to the applicant to show proof at the time of application that their supervisor meets these requirements. Entering into a contract with your supervisor to ensure requirements are met at the time of application is encouraged

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2 to 4 Years to Complete Process of Licensure:​

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• Licensure process begins when licensure supervision begins

• Minimum of 2 years post-master's experience to be eligible for licensure

• "Rolling timeline" for hours completion

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Complete the three exams:​

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• NCE (National Counselors Exam) – offered through NBCC (National Board for Certified Counselors)

  -Register for the exam online at https://www.nbcc.org/search/stateboarddirectory/tennessee.

  • At the bottom of the state page, you will find the Licensure Board Administrator’s contact information. On the right, you will find registration forms and instructions.​

1. NCMHCE (National Clinical Mental Health Exam) – offered through NBCC (using same link as above)​

2. Jurisprudence Exam – offered through NBCC

   1. Eligible to take only AFTER taking and passing NCE and NCMHCE;
      NOTE: You must contact Licensure Board Administrator to obtain permission to test; The exam is also offered through NBCC.

   2. Suggested study materials for exam: Current rules and regulations for LPC-MHSP licensure in Tennessee AND current American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics

   3. Exam is only offered online only through NBCC

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60 Days to complete application​

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• Total amount of time a submitted application will remain active—incomplete files will be purged 60 days after receipt

• Consideration—Do not apply until you have completed all required coursework, taken and passed all 3 exams, have completed required F2F hours and hours of supervision

• Note: If applying for temporary license, all that is needed is completion of the NCE exam before applying along with transcripts, etc.

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Licensure Board Application Approvals: 4 Times per Year:​

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• Licensure board meets 4 times each year to review complete applications

• Typically meet once per quarter. These meetings can change dates but usually do not.

• The LPC board usually meets January, April, July, and October.

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Application for Licensure:

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• Download the rules and regulations and applications for licensure from TN.gov/health. Click on ‘Health Professionals’, then on ‘Health Professional Boards.’ Scroll down until you see ‘Professional Counselors and Therapists.’

• List of required coursework is included

• List of required steps to complete licensure application and process for submission is included

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Completed Application Materials:

• Fees

• Passport Picture

• NCE Scores

• NCMHCE Scores

• Jurisprudence Scores

• 2 letters of recommendation (from mental health professionals)

• Transcripts from school showing 60 semester graduate hours

• Other States verification (if applicable) mandatory practitioner profile

• Copy of birth certificate

• Declaration of Citizenship form

• Criminal Background Check (find more information at the TN.gov website)​

• Mandatory Practitioner Profile form

• 2 years post masters supervision verification forms