Loading
Tennessee licenses Mental Health Counselors/Therapists as Licensed Professional Counselor – Mental Health Service Provider (LPC-MHSP). 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 Tennessee Board for Professional Counselors, Marital and Family Therapists and Clinical Pastoral Therapists.
A master's degree or higher in counseling from an accredited institution comprising at least 60 graduate semester hours of qualifying coursework (degrees under 60 hours do not qualify for LPC licensure in Tennessee), including required clinical/practicum content. Verify current requirements with the Tennessee Board for Professional Counselors, Marital and Family Therapists and Clinical Pastoral Therapists.
The National Counselor Examination (NCE) and, for the Mental Health Service Provider designation, the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), plus the Tennessee Jurisprudence Examination on state statutes and rules. Verify current requirements with the Tennessee Board for Professional Counselors, Marital and Family Therapists and Clinical Pastoral Therapists.
3,000 hours of supervised post-master's experience over a minimum of two years, of which 1,500 hours are clinically related, with at least 150 hours of face-to-face supervision; for the Mental Health Service Provider designation at least half the supervision must be by an approved LPC-MHSP supervisor. Verify current requirements with the Tennessee Board for Professional Counselors, Marital and Family Therapists and Clinical Pastoral Therapists.
Tennessee has enacted Counseling Compact legislation, but per the Board it is not yet operational — there is no start date and counselors cannot yet obtain a compact privilege. License portability is otherwise available by endorsement. Verify current requirements with the Tennessee Board for Professional Counselors, Marital and Family Therapists and Clinical Pastoral Therapists.
Telehealth practice is governed by state law and board rules. Verify current telehealth requirements with the Tennessee Board for Professional Counselors, Marital and Family Therapists and Clinical Pastoral Therapists.
Other licensed behavioral-health professions in Tennessee. 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.