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  • Contact Counselor Licensing Coordinator
  • Counselor Licensing Forms

    Ohio revised Code Chapter 4757 defines Counseling as follows:


    "Practice of professional counseling" means rendering or offering to render to individuals, groups, organizations or the general public a counseling service involving the application of clinical counseling principles, methods or procedures to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational or career development and adjustment, including the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.

    "Clinical counseling principles, methods, or procedures" means an approach to counseling that emphasizes the counselor's role in systematically assisting clients through all of the following: assessing and analyzing background and current information, diagnosing mental and emotional disorders, exploring possible solutions and developing and providing a treatment plan for mental and emotional adjustment or development. "Clinical counseling principles, methods or procedures" includes at least counseling, appraisal, consulting and referral.

    Requirements for Licensure as a Professional Counselor

    LPC
  1. A "graduate degree in counseling" (degrees in other disciplines i.e., Psychology, Social Work and Marriage and Family Therapy are not considered counseling degrees).
  2. All core areas taken within the master's program; core areas are defined by paragraph (A)(4) of rule 4757-13-01 of the Ohio Administrative Code.
  3. All clinical course work completed from a properly accredited school and are defined by paragraph (A)(5) of rule 4757-13-01 of the Ohio Administrative Code.
  4. Pass exam.
  5. Applicants are required to have an official college transcript, showing conferred degree(s), sent directly to the Counselor, Social Worker & Marriage and Family Therapist Board. Student copies are not acceptable for licensure, but can be used to review needed course work.
    Use the following link for more details for Ohio students: In-State Counselor Information

PCC

  1. A "graduate degree in counseling" (degrees in other disciplines i.e. Psychology, Social Work and Marriage and Family Therapy are not considered counseling degrees).
  2. 90 quarter or 60 semester hours of graduate work with coursework to satisfy the content requirements and a minimum of 30 quarter or 20 semester hours in clinical coursework. Once a course is used to satisfy a content area it may not be reused for another.
  3. Exam - Professional Counselor Licensure Exam - PCLE through January 2006. Effective February 1, 2006 require the NBCC NCMHCE Examination.
  4. 3000 hours (1500 yr. maximum) post PC supervised experience registered with the Board and at least two years. Hours and years may be accepted prior to receipt of the PC, if they occurred post-degree and were registered with the Board prior to January 1, 1998.
  5. Clinical Field Evaluation.
  6. Applicants are required to have an official college transcript, showing conferred degree(s), sent directly to the Counselor, Social Worker & Marriage and Family Therapist Board. Student copies are not acceptable.
    Use the following link for more details for Ohio students: In-State Counselor Information

Licensure Under Endorsement

  1. Out-of-State Counselor Information

Supervising Counselor Designation

In June of 2000 the Supervising Counselor designation was added to the PC and PCC. The requirements were modified in January 2008. This designation allows qualified counselors to provide training supervision for those working toward licensure. To be designated as a supervising counselor you must meet the following requirements:

  1. Hold a PC or PCC for three years and after 8/31/08 at least one year post PCC experience for PCC applicants.
  2. Document 2 years full time direct counseling services under supervision.
  3. Document 2 quarter hours of academic work or ten (becomes 24 hours after 8/31/2008) clock hours of continuing education hours in clinical supervision.
  4. After 8/31/08 document at least one supervision of supervision experience providing at least ten hours of supervision and receive five hours of supervision in that process.
  5. Agree to comply with current and future "ACES" & "ACA" ethical standards for supervision.
  6. After 8/31/08 document familiarity with significant legal, ethical and clinical issues relevant to the supervisory relationship.
  7. Supervision Designation Application - For PC to apply for supervisory designation

Click on the forms link at the top for an application for the Supervising Counselor designation.