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South Dakota licenses Mental Health Counselors/Therapists as Licensed Professional Counselor – Mental Health (LPC-MH). 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 South Dakota Board of Examiners for Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists.
Applicants must first hold a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license and show graduation from a CACREP-accredited program or a 48-semester-hour master's in counseling with required clinical coursework, plus an approved LPC-MH Plan of Supervision (South Dakota's Counseling Compact adoption references a 60-hour standard for newer applicants, so the hour count may depend on application date). Verify current requirements with the South Dakota Board of Examiners for Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists.
The National Counselor Examination (NCE) before the Plan of Supervision is approved, and the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) before applying for full LPC-MH licensure; no separate state jurisprudence exam is listed. Verify current requirements with the South Dakota Board of Examiners for Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists.
Under a board-approved Plan of Supervision, at least 2,000 hours of direct client contact in a clinical setting and at least 100 hours of supervision using at least two documented supervision methods. Verify current requirements with the South Dakota Board of Examiners for Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists.
South Dakota participates in the Counseling Compact. It is codified at SDCL chapter 36-32A and took effect July 1, 2024, allowing eligible licensees a privilege to practice in member states (subject to an FBI background check). License portability is also available by endorsement. Verify current requirements with the South Dakota Board of Examiners for Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists.
Telehealth practice is governed by state law and board rules. Verify current telehealth requirements with the South Dakota Board of Examiners for Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists.
Other licensed behavioral-health professions in South Dakota. 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.