This is a brief overview of the law concerning  Professional Counselor licensure. It is your responsibility to read the Laws and Rules for a full understanding of the requirements for Counselor licensure. 

Ohio’s Education Requirements for Counselor Licensure: 

Master’s degree from a clinical mental health counseling program, clinical rehabilitation counseling program, or addiction counseling program accredited by the council for accreditation of counseling and related educational programs “CACREP.” 

NCE Examination Preapproval

Exam preapproval is processed once an LPC application is received.  The LPC license application can be completed online at eLicense.ohio.gov, and the application fee is $80 (plus a $3.50 processing fee).

• If you attend a CACREP accredited school and are enrolled in your final term, include in the attachments a letter from school stating you will graduate during the term in which you are applying. If you have graduated, attach a copy of your official transcript.  
• Applicants enrolled in Non-CACREP programs must submit with their application a transcript showing the conferred degree and a completed course worksheet.

Please be prepared to take the exam when a letter of eligibility is requested. Exam approval is valid for twelve months. Applicants who pay for and register for the exam may forfeit fees if they do not take the exam by the expiration date of the letter of eligibility. When registering and paying for the exam, be sure you are on the NBCC/CCE State Licensure ProCounselor page to ensure you pay for the correct exam (NCE). If you believe you qualify for an accommodation when taking the exam, please visit this page for additional information. 

Failure to Meet Examination Requirements

If the Counselor Professional Standards Committee determines that your degree or license from another state does not meet the requirements of Rule 4757-13-01 or 4757-13-06, you will not be allowed to sit for the exam.

Documents/steps to complete prior to issuance of your LPC license:

The first step in the process is to complete the online LPC application at elicense.ohio.gov (see above link).  In addition to the application, you will need to submit:

1.) Internship Supervisor Evaluation Rating Form (Non-CACREP program graduates only)

2.) NCE test results (the Board pre-approves applicants to take the exam when the LPC application is issued) – please e-mail  a copy of your results to the License Examiner assigned to you based on your last name. Find the list of Examiners here: https://cswmft.ohio.gov/about-the-board/CSWMFT-staff.

3.) Official transcript, showing your conferred graduate degree in counseling, provided to the Board by the applicant or the applicant's college or university. The Board prefers email deliver to CSW-Transcripts@cswb.ohio.gov.  

4.) BCI & FBI Criminal Records Check  (Watch the Video)

5.) Watch the board’s online Laws and Rules video

After You Have Submitted Your Application

1. Be sure to submit any required documents. 
2. Complete the background checks.
3. Track the status of your application by clicking on Review Status under Options on your license application tile in eLicense. The review checklist indicates whether the Board has received your background checks, submissions such as your transcript or hours of supervision, and your exam score.