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Mississippi licenses Mental Health Counselors/Therapists as Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Applicants generally complete a qualifying graduate degree, accrue post-degree supervised clinical experience, and pass a national examination. Verify current education, supervised-experience, examination, renewal, and continuing education requirements directly with the Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors.
A master's degree or higher in counseling or a closely related field totaling 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of graduate study, including twelve specified core counseling courses (degrees conferred after January 1, 2017 are evaluated against CACREP-aligned standards). Verify current requirements with the Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors.
Either the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), plus the Mississippi Jurisprudence Exam administered by the Board. Verify current requirements with the Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors.
3,000 post-master's supervised hours over not less than 18 months in a clinical setting, of which at least 1,200 hours must be direct client services, plus 100 hours of individual face-to-face supervision by a Mississippi Board-qualified LPC-S; experience must be within the seven years prior to application. Verify current requirements with the Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors.
Mississippi participates in the Counseling Compact. It was enacted via House Bill 1056 (2022), codified at Miss. Code Ann. § 73-30-51; the Compact Commission is in active rulemaking, so confirm when the privilege to practice becomes available. License portability is also available by endorsement. Verify current requirements with the Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors.
Telehealth practice is governed by state law and board rules. Verify current telehealth requirements with the Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors.
Other licensed behavioral-health professions in Mississippi. Each links to its own full state guide — always verify current requirements with the relevant official board.
This guide is for general informational purposes only and should not be treated as legal, licensing, or employment advice. Counselor licensing laws, board rules, education and supervised-experience requirements, examinations, and renewal requirements vary by state and may change. Always verify current requirements directly with the official state counseling licensing board or applicable regulatory agency.