An applicant for initial licensure as a professional counselor associate must:

1. (1) submit an application on forms approved by the Board, along with the required fee; and
2. (2) show evidence of graduation from a minimum sixty (60) graduate semester hours Clinical Mental Health counseling program accredited by CACREP at the time of graduation; or
3. (3) submit evidence of successful completion of a master’s degree, specialist’s degree or doctoral degree with a minimum of sixty (60) graduate semester hours primarily in counseling from a program accredited by a national educational accrediting body such as CACREP or one that requires and follows substantially similar educational standards, and from a college or university accredited by the Commission on the Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, one of its transferring regional associations, the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, or a regionally-accredited institution of higher learning subsequent to receiving the graduate degree. A school may submit a program to the Board for review and determination as to whether it meets substantially similar education standards;
4. (4) submit evidence of a passing score on examinations approved by the Board; and
5. (5) submit a supervision plan, satisfactory to the Board, designed to take effect after notice of licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate. The supervision plan can be submitted with the application, or after the applicant obtains employment; however, an associate cannot begin providing counselor services until a completed supervision plan is submitted to and received by the Board; and

HISTORY: Added by State Register Volume 25, Issue No. 5, Part 2, eff May 25, 2001. Amended by State Register Volume 30, Issue No. 5, eff May 26, 2006; State Register Volume 37, Issue No. 6, eff June 28, 2013; SCSR 42-5 Doc. No. 4795, eff May 25, 2018; SCSR 43-5 Doc. No. 4850, eff May 24, 2019; SCSR 46-5 Doc. No. 5075, eff May 27, 2022; SCSR 49-5 Doc. No. 5354, eff May 23, 2025.