How to become a Counselor in Minnesota

Below are basic guidelines for those wishing to earn their counseling certification in Minnesota. Most of these requirements, such as earning your Master’s degree, completing 3200 hours of supervised experience and passing the NCE examination, are likely to continue to be mandatory in the Minnesota counseling licensure process. However, it is wise to contact the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health Counseling at (612) 617-2178 to make sure you are on the right track.

I’m a High School Graduate

Minnesota counseling certification requires candidates to possess a master’s level of education. This may feel a long way off, but you have already shown the motivation you need to get there simply by researching the Minnesota counseling career as a high school graduate. To continue, you should focus on how you can start earning your undergraduate college degree.

Click on the links below to browse schools offering programs in psychology or counseling.

Once you have enrolled in a program, take advantage of your school’s career services department and learn how you can find employment or volunteer opportunities that are related to the counseling career path.

Already Received Bachelor’s Degree

Once you have your bachelor’s degree, you can start looking for a school that offers a master’s or doctoral degree program in counseling.

Step One

  1. Minnesota Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensure requires candidates to have at least a masters degree in counseling from an accredited school.
  2. Minnesota Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) licensure requires candidates to have either a masters degree in counseling or a related field from an accredited school.

Request information from schools offering counseling programs in Minnesota.

Step Two:

  1. A LPC needs 2000 hours of supervised work experience that can be completed before licensure. Alternately, you can submit a plan along with your Minnesota counseling license application, explaining how you can complete your experience requirements once you are licensed.
  2. A LPCC needs 4000 hours of supervised work experience from a qualified supervisor after earning your master’s degree.

Information about both licensure work experience requirements can be found on the Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes website. Click here for LPC licensure requirements and Click here for LPCC licensure requirements.

Step Three:

The Minnesota counseling licensure examinations can be taken any time after receiving your graduate degree. An exam application is available online for download on the NBCC website. The exam can be taken before or after submitting an application. The exams are administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors.

  1. A LPC needs to pass the National Counseling Examination.
  2. A LPCC needs to pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination.

Step Four:

Now you can download the Minnesota counseling licensure application for full licensure and submit the application along with all other supporting documents and fees to the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy.

You may download the LPC application here and the LPCC application here.

Our Partner Listings