Below are basic guidelines for those wishing to earn their counseling certification in North Dakota. Most of these requirements, such as earning your Master’s degree, completing 3000 hours of supervised experience and passing the NCE examination, are likely to continue to be mandatory in the North Dakota counseling licensure process. However, it is wise to contact the North Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners at (701)-255-3622 to make sure you are on the right track.
I’m a High School Graduate
North Dakota counseling certification requires candidates to possess a master’s degree in counseling or a related field. You may be a little ways away from completing a master’s degree program, but you are in a great position to use your momentum to learn how you can begin chipping away at these educational requirements by starting a college degree program. So, keep it up and take the next step… learn how you can enroll in an Associate’s degree program or Bachelor’s degree program.
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 begin looking for a school that offers a master’s or doctoral degree program in counseling. Request information from additional schools offering counseling programs in North Dakota.
Step One:
To practice as a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in North Dakota, first earn a two year license as a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor (LAPC), which requires a master’s degree from an accredited institution.
Step Two:
After completing your master’s level of education, download the North Dakota counseling license application for LAPC and submit the application to the North Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners. Included in the application is a two year plan of supervision to help you obtain the necessary work experience.
You may download the application from the following North Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners webpage.
Step Three:
When the application has been approved by the Board, you should become eligible to take the National Counselor Examination.
More information about the exam is available on the NBCC website.
Step Four:
As a LAPC, you can begin the required supervised professional experience that you have outlined in the LAPC application. During your two years of supervised experience, you must complete 100 hours of direct supervision by an approved supervisor.
More details about the required professional experience and qualifying supervisors can be found in the Code section of the North Dakota Board’s website.
Step Five:
Once the supervised experience has been completed, submit the North Dakota counseling licensure application to the North Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners. You should also have your supervisor send the forms documenting your completed supervision to the Board.
All documents need to be received by the Board before your LAPC license expires. Download the application from the following North Dakota Board’s webpage.
North Dakota Clinical Professional Counseling License
Follow the steps to learn how to acquire your Licensed Professional Counselor Licensure in North Dakota.
Step One:
To practice as a licensed professional clinical counselor in North Dakota, start by earning at least a master’s degree from an accredited school. – Counseling programs in North Dakota
Step Two:
Part of your graduate degree should include a 800 hour practicum or internship. Two years of supervised clinical experience can be earned after receiving your masters degree.
More details about the work experience and qualifying supervisors can be found here.
Step Three:
Download the North Dakota Clinical Counseling licensure application and submit the application along with all supporting documents and fees to the North Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners. The Board also requires that you include a 30 minute videotaped counseling session.
Details about the videotape are included in the application. You may download the application from this webpage.
Step Four:
The Board is responsible for reviewing your application and notifying you when you are eligible to take the National Mental Health Clinical Counseling Examination developed by the National Board of Certified Counselors.
Information about the exam can be found on the NBCC website.