How to Become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Iowa
Iowa counselors are licensed as Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs). As of July 1, 2024, the former Iowa Board of Behavioral Science merged with the state's Boards of Social Work and Psychology to form the Iowa Behavioral Health Professionals Board, operating under the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL).
Step 1: Earn a Qualifying Master's Degree
You need a master's degree of at least 60 semester hours (45 hours if you entered your program before July 1, 2010) or a doctoral degree in mental health counseling, from a CACREP-accredited program or a content-equivalent non-accredited program under Iowa Administrative Code 481-891.6.
Step 2: Apply for a Temporary License
Apply online for a mental health counselor temporary license, which lets you begin accruing supervised hours. The application fee is $120. Official transcripts must be sent directly to the Board office from your college or university.
Step 3: Complete Your Supervised Experience
Iowa requires 3,000 hours of post-master's supervised clinical experience, with at least 1,500 hours of direct client contact.
Step 4: Pass the NCMHCE
Iowa accepts the NCE, NCMHCE, or CRC exam, but effective January 1, 2022, the NCMHCE is specifically required when applying for the full (permanent) license. Scores must be sent directly to the Board by NBCC.
Step 5: Apply for Your Full License
Submit your permanent license application with the $120 application fee, along with your supervised experience documentation and exam scores.
Renewing Your License
Iowa requires 40 hours of continuing education every two years, including 6 hours specifically in ethics.
Apply for Your License
Start or continue your application directly with Iowa Behavioral Health Professionals Board (DIAL), the official licensing authority. Applications submitted anywhere else won't be processed.
A Note on Accuracy
This post reflects information from Iowa's DIAL and the Behavioral Health Professionals Board, including its 2024 board consolidation. Licensing rules, fees, and statutes change. Verify current requirements directly at dial.iowa.gov before making any licensure decision.
Iowa's board merger and the 2022 NCMHCE requirement change are recent enough that older guides may describe a process that no longer matches current practice, so confirm directly with DIAL before assuming an older source is current.
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