How to Become a Licensed Professional Counselor in Oklahoma

Becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor in Oklahoma runs through the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure, which also oversees Licensed Marital and Family Therapists and Licensed Behavioral Practitioners.

Step 1: Earn a Qualifying Master's Degree

You need a Board-approved master's degree of at least 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) in counseling from a regionally accredited college or university, following a planned, sequenced mental health program of study. Your program must include at least one course of 3 semester hours (4 quarter hours) in each of 10 core counseling areas and a practicum/internship of 300 clock hours.

Step 2: Apply for LPC-Candidate Status

Individuals may be granted licensure as an LPC-Candidate to practice under the direct supervision of an approved LPC supervisor while accruing hours.

Step 3: Complete Your Supervised Experience

Oklahoma requires 3 years (3,000 hours) of full-time post-application professional counseling experience, with 350 hours of direct face-to-face contact for every 1,000 hours. Face-to-face supervision must total 45 minutes for every 20 hours of experience. Up to 2 years of the requirement may be reduced at a rate of one year credited for every 30 graduate semester hours beyond the master's, provided you still complete at least 1 year of supervised full-time experience regardless.

Step 4: Pass the NCE and the OLERE

Oklahoma requires two exams:

• National Counselor Examination (NCE), 200 multiple-choice questions

• Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination (OLERE): a 1-hour, multiple-choice jurisprudence exam covering the LPC Act and Regulations, administered by Oklahoma CareerTech for a $40 fee, requiring a 70% passing score

Step 5: Apply for Full LPC Licensure

Submit your LPC application with your supervised experience documentation and both exam results.

Renewing Your License

Oklahoma LPCs complete 40 hours of continuing education in their initial annual licensing period; home-study and technology-assisted distance learning courses must be Board-approved.

Apply for Your License

Start or continue your application directly with Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure, the official licensing authority. Applications submitted anywhere else won't be processed.

Apply on the Board's Website

A Note on Accuracy

This post reflects information from Oklahoma's State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure. Licensing rules, fees, and statutes change. Verify current requirements directly at oklahoma.gov/behavioralhealth before making any licensure decision.

Oklahoma's coursework-substitution rule for supervised hours is more generous than most states', but it still requires at least one full year of supervised full-time experience no matter how much extra coursework you complete, so don't plan around skipping supervision entirely.