How to become a professional counselor in Idaho
Requirements for Idaho Counseling License
What types of counseling licenses does Idaho offer?
The Idaho State Licensing Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists (BPCMFT) regulates counseling services in Idaho. This is the entity that you must be licensed by to practice counseling in Idaho. The board offers four types of licenses for counselors:
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Licensed Clinical Practice Counselor (LCPC)
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LAMFT)
What are the requirements to become a counselor in Idaho?
Professional counselor applicants must:
- Have good moral character.
- Complete a graduate program that is primarily counseling in nature.
- Complete 1,000 hours of supervised experience in counseling.
- Pass the National Counselor Examination.
Clinical counselor applicants must:
- Hold a current professional counselor license.
- Provide verification of meeting at least one thousand (1,000) hours of supervised experience.
- Pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination.
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist Applicants must:
- Obtain a graduate degree.
- Complete a one year practicum of supervised marriage and family therapy experience.
- Pass the National Marital and Family Therapy Examination.
Marriage and Family Therapy Applicants must:
- Obtain the appropriate graduate degree.
- Complete a 1 year practicum of supervised marriage and family therapy experience.
- Complete 3,000 hours of supervised experience in marriage and family therapy.
- Pass the National Marital and Family Therapy Examination.
All applicants must certify that they have reviewed and will abide by the applicable rules, laws, and ethics. They may become licensed by endorsement or examination.
How do I get a license to practice counseling in Idaho?
Complete the Idaho Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists Application for License and submit it to the BPCMFT. Be sure to include any documents requested on the application such as fees and addendums.
Send your documents to:
Bureau of Occupational Licenses
700 West State Street
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0063
How much does the counselor license cost?
A $75 application fee and an additional $75 license fee must be submitted with the application for licensure. The annual renewal fee for each type of license is $100.
Are there any continuing education requirements for social workers and counselors in Idaho?
Licensees are required to complete 20 hours of continuing education prior to each annual renewal.
Is there anything else I should know about starting an Idaho counseling practice?
In addition to becoming licensed, you may want to form a business entity with the Idaho Secretary of State. Idaho does not require counselors to set up any type of entity, except that counselors are not among the professions allowed to form professional corporations or LLCs. Business entities such as corporations and LLCs offer benefits and protections to licensed counselors.
Idaho does not require businesses to indicate the type of business they perform (such as “counseling” or “LMFT”) in the business name.
Resources
Idaho Licensing Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists