LPC: Degree & Coursework
To meet the educational requirements for licensure, a licensed professional counselor (LPC) applicant must hold a graduate degree (master's or doctorate) from:
- A counseling program accredited by CACREP or CORE*;
- A program at an institution of higher learning accredited by a regional accrediting agency**; or
- A foreign program that has been evaluated by a credentialing body recognized by the Board**.
The program must have been approved/accredited as of the date the degree was conferred.
*CACREP and CORE programs must have included at least 2 semester credit hours or 3 quarter credit hours of coursework in the diagnosis of mental disorders.
LMFT Degree & Coursework
To meet the educational requirements, a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) applicant must hold a graduate degree (master's or doctorate) from:
- A marriage and family therapy program accredited by COAMFTE or fully accredited by CACREP in the marriage, couple, and family specialty area*;
- A program at an institution of higher learning accredited by a regional accrediting agency**; or
- A foreign program that has been evaluated by a credentialing body recognized by the Board**.
The program must have been approved/accredited as of the date the degree was conferred.
*COAMFTE and CACREP programs must have included at least 2 semester credit hours or 3 quarter credit hours of coursework in the diagnosis of mental disorders.
Regional Accreditation
The following six Regional Accrediting Agencies are recognized by the US
Secretary of Education, established to accredit senior institutions of
higher education:
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)- New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
- New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)- Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
- Higher Learning Commission (HCL)-
Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio,
Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)- Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)- Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
- WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)- California, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Micronesia, Palau, and Northern Marianas Islands.
egional Accreditation
The following six Regional Accrediting Agencies are recognized by the US
Secretary of Education, established to accredit senior institutions of
higher education:
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)- New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.
- New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)- Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
- Higher Learning Commission (HCL)-
Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio,
Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)- Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)- Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
- WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)- California, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Micronesia, Palau, and Northern Marianas Islands.