2B - LPCC Application Requirements for Out-of-State Individuals
Who May Apply?
- If you gained experience in another jurisdiction or are licensed in another jurisdiction for less than two years, then you must submit the following applications, in order:
- Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Intern Registration
- Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Examination Eligibility Application for Applicants Who Gained ANY Experience Outside California
- If you hold a valid license in another jurisdiction and your license has been valid for the two years immediately preceding the date you submit your application, then you must submit the following application:
- Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Examination Eligibility Application for Applicants Who Gained ANY Experience Outside California
Education Requirements
As long as an individual has out-of-state experience, he or she may apply through the out-of-state pathway, regardless of whether education was gained in-state or out-of-state. The out-of-state application pathway depends on where the experience was gained, not the education.
Refer to Education Requirements Prior to Registration as a Professional Clinical Counselor for an overview of the requirements for education gained in-state and out-of-state. Degrees earned outside of California will be evaluated for substantial equivalency with California's requirements.
Applicants with out-of-state degrees must submit syllabi for all coursework listed on the Degree Program Certification form and the Remedial Coursework Certification form, except as specified below.
- If your degree was conferred in 1983 or later AND at the time of conferral, the degree program was CACREP accredited, then you DO NOT have to submit syllabi EXCEPT for coursework listed as meeting the "Diagnosis" core content area, however, the Board may require submission of syllabi after evaluating your application.
WHAT YOU CAN DO WHEN THE BOARD REQUESTS COURSE SYLLABI
Experience Requirements
Supervised work experience requirements will differ depending on whether the applicant holds a license equivalent to the California LPCC license in another state and has held that license for at least two years and. If a person has been licensed in another state for at least two years, and the supervised work experience requirements for that state are substantially equivalent to California's requirements, the applicant has met the supervised work experience requirements required for licensure.
However, if a person has not held a license for at least two years in another state, that individual will have to register with the BBS as a professional clinical counselor intern and gain at least 250 hours of supervised work experience in direct counseling in California. The qualifying supervised work experience gained out-of-state can be combined, if needed, with the work experience gained in California to meet the minimum 3,000 hours of counseling experience and 104 weeks of supervision.
Examination Requirements
Once all education and experience is approved, the applicant will be eligible for the licensure examinations. All licensure paths require examinations. The applicant must first pass the California Law and Ethics Examination and then pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination, or submit proof of passing the NCMHCE.
(Sources: Business and Professions Code Section 4999.52)
Fingerprinting Requirements
All applicants must be fingerprinted with the BBS. Please click here for more information on the fingerprinting process.
The LPCC Licensure Pathway Overview may assist you as well.
