Licensed Professional Counselor - Mental Health (LPC-MH)

The first step towards licensure as a professional counselor-mental health is to submit an application for a Plan of Supervision.  To be approved for a Plan of Supervision, an applicant must:

• Hold a valid Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license;
• Provide transcripts showing graduation from a CACREP program or a 48-hour master’s degree in counseling from an accredited institution; and
• Propose a Board Approved Supervisor to oversee the required supervision and direct client contact hours for full licensure.

No supervision or direct client contact hours will be counted towards licensure before the date of an approved Plan of Supervision.  A non-refundable application fee of $100 must accompany an application for a Plan of Supervision.

Passing the National Counselor Examination (NCE) is required prior to the approval of a Plan of Supervision. The examination is computer based. An applicant for a Plan of Supervision should contact the National Board of Certified Counselors to register for the exam and/or request an official score report to be sent to the South Dakota Board office to evidence passing the examination.

How to access and register online for the exam.

Following the completion of the required hours under an approved Plan of Supervision and passage of the NCMHCE exam, an applicant for full licensure must complete an application for licensure.  A refundable license fee of $225 must accompany an application for licensure.

An LPC-MH license must be renewed by November 30th in even-numbered years.
 
A licensee must show 40 hours of continuing education, including at least 4 hours of ethics, biennially. Continuing education is due in even-numbered years.

• Find Applications
• Instructions for Registering for NCMHCE Exam
• LPC-MH Tracking Form
• Administrative Rule 20:73
• State Statute Chapter 36-32

The LPC-MH must abide by the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.