LCMHC License by Reciprocity

The North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors is pleased to offer LCMHC License by Reciprocity for South Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee licensees. Current licensees from South Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee have the option to apply for licensure in North Carolina through Reciprocity if they meet all the following requirements.

Kentucky

• Must submit verification of an active, independent LPCC license in Kentucky that is in good standing.
• Shall pass the LCMHC Jurisprudence Exam for North Carolina.
• Shall consent to criminal background check.
• Individuals applying for a license by reciprocity must pay the $238 application fee.
• Shall provide two (2) letters of good character.

Apply Now

South Carolina

• Must submit verification of an active, independent LPC license in South Carolina that is in good standing.
• Shall pass the LCMHC Jurisprudence Exam for North Carolina.
• Shall consent to criminal background check.
• Individuals applying for a license by reciprocity must pay the $238 application fee.
• Shall provide two (2) letters of recommendation (upon request from the Board.)

Apply Now

Tennessee

• Must submit verification of an active, independent LPC/MHSP license in Tennessee that is in good standing.
• Must demonstrate three (3) years of full-time experience or equivalent to three (3) years of full-time counseling experience working as an LPC/MHSP, verified by a mental health professional.
• Shall pass the LCMHC Jurisprudence Exam for North Carolina.
• Shall consent to criminal background check.
• Individuals applying for a license by reciprocity must pay the $238 application fee.
• Shall provide two (2) letters of good character.

Please note individuals who possess the standalone LPC license issued by the state of Tennessee are not eligible for the LCMHC license by reciprocity in the state of North Carolina.

Apply Now

---

Application

Applicants must complete all requirements before license can be issued. (G.S. § 90-336)

NCBLCMHC does not accept paper applications and/or application documents. Applicants must apply using the application portal. Application Processing Timeframe (provided there are no legal/ special considerations) 4-6 weeks from completed application submission.

• General Information
• Credentials
• Legal & Ethics History
• References/Good Character Form
• Professional Counseling Experience
• Application Fee ($238, which includes the $38 criminal background check fee)
• Other Required Application Documents
  • Criminal Background Check
  • LCMHC Jurisprudence Exam
  • Verification of Professional Counseling Experience
  • Licensure Verification

Jurisprudence Exam (Rules .0305(c) and .0307)

• The jurisprudence exam is required for licensure application at each level and must be taken within six months prior to application to the Board.

Jurisprudence Exam Instructions

Professional Counseling Experience

Verification of Professional Counseling Experience (Reciprocity)

• Verification of Professional Counseling Experience
• General information of person verifying
  • Experience must be verified by a licensed mental health professional, which may include the following individuals: (Rule .0213)
    • Licensed Professional Counselors (LCMHC).
    • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT).
    • Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) with a master's degree in social work from a school of social work accredited by the Council of Social Work Education.
    • Licensed Psychologists.
    • Licensed Medical Doctors with a Medical Board certification in psychiatry.
    • Nurse Practitioners approved to practice in North Carolina and certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as an advanced practice nurse practitioner and certified in psychiatric nursing; and
    • Clinical Nurse Specialists certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Psychiatric Nurse Association as an Advanced Practice Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS).
• Location of experience
• Verification that licensed experience occurred
• Dates and hours
  • Must separate full-time and part-time hours
  • Must document direct client contact hours

Licensure Verification

Reciprocity applicants must have an active, independent, unrestricted license that does not require supervision, and be in good standing as a licensed clinical mental health counselor in their home state. Please see each state’s individual requirements for years of experience requirements.

For applicants whose "home state" or "original license" is currently issued by North Carolina, you will need to visit the website for the state for which you will be applying for reciprocity. The North Carolina Reciprocity application is for individuals whose home state is KY, TN or SC.

• Original License — The license held by an individual in the home state. The license upon which an individual bases his or her qualification for a license by reciprocity in the reciprocating state.
• Home state — The party state in which an individual holds an active [independent] license.