At a Glance
To meet Alaska LPC requirements, you need a 60-credit master’s degree in counseling or a related field, 3,000 hours of supervised post-graduate experience over at least two years, and a passing score on either the NCE or NCMHCE exam. The Alaska Board of Professional Counselors (BPC) issues the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential.
Alaska consistently ranks among the highest-paying states in the country for mental health counselors, with a median annual wage of $71,400 according to Bureau of Labor Statistics state data — well above the national median of $59,190 (May 2024). That earning potential, combined with the continued need for behavioral health professionals across a geographically remote state, makes Alaska LPC licensure worth understanding in detail before you start your graduate program.
This page walks you through every requirement set by the Alaska Board of Professional Counselors (BPC): the degree you’ll need, how supervised hours work, which exams qualify, how reciprocity works if you’re already licensed elsewhere, and what it takes to renew. There’s also a note on a new Associate Counselor license the BPC is actively developing — important context if you’re just starting your post-graduate hours now. If you’re still deciding whether the LPC is the right credential for you, our Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) career guide covers the role in depth.
Steps to LPC Licensure in Alaska
The path to becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor in Alaska follows four main stages. Here’s how they fit together before we go into the details of each.
Step 1: Earn a qualifying graduate degree
Complete a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling or a related professional field from a regionally or nationally accredited institution. The program must include at least 60 semester credits and cover the required subject areas outlined by the BPC.
Step 2: Gain supervised post-graduate experience
Accumulate at least 3,000 hours of supervised professional counseling experience over a minimum of two years, including 1,000 hours of direct client contact and 100 hours of face-to-face supervision with a BPC-approved supervisor.
Step 3: Pass a qualifying exam
Pass either the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), both administered through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). You must apply for licensure within three years of passing.
Step 4: Apply for your LPC license
Submit your completed application to the BPC along with official transcripts, your exam scores, two letters of recommendation, and your supervisor’s verification form. Per the official application (form #08-4910, revised July 2025), the non-refundable application fee is $200, and the initial license fee is $250, for a total of $450 due at submission. Note: a proposed regulation update to BPC fees was open for public comment as of May 2026 — confirm current fee amounts directly with the BPC before submitting.
Education Requirements
To qualify for LPC licensure, you need a graduate degree in counseling or a related professional field — including psychology, marital and family therapy, social work, or applied behavioral science. Per Alaska statute (AS 08.29.110) and BPC regulations, the degree must come from a regionally or nationally accredited institution and include at least 60 semester credits. If your credits fall short of 60, you can make up the difference with additional qualifying coursework.
If your degree is in a related field rather than counseling directly, you’ll also need to submit an Educational Course Work Check Sheet confirming your graduate program covered at least eight of the following subject areas:
- Professional counseling ethics and orientation
- Evaluation and research
- Family and marriage counseling and therapy
- Principles of diagnosis, treatment planning, etiology, and prevention of emotional and mental disorders and dysfunctional behavior
- Cultural and social foundations, including multicultural issues
- Appraisal, assessment, and testing of individuals
- Group processes, dynamics, consulting, and counseling
- Career and lifestyle development
- Human growth and development
- Helping relationships, including counseling practice and theory
Note that Alaska’s BPC does not currently require a practicum or internship as a standalone condition for licensure — the supervised experience requirement is fulfilled post-degree, not during your program. That said, most accredited counseling programs include practicum and internship components as part of the degree, and hours accumulated during supervised internships may count toward your post-graduate total depending on your program structure and supervisor arrangements.
Supervised Experience Requirements
Before you can apply for your LPC, you need to complete at least 3,000 hours of post-graduate supervised professional counseling experience. Those hours must be spread over a minimum of two years — you can’t compress them into a shorter period. Within that total, 1,000 hours must involve direct counseling with clients (individuals, couples, families, or groups), and 100 hours must be face-to-face supervision with your BPC-approved supervisor.
One detail worth flagging early: per the official application (form #08-4910, revised July 2025), your supervisor must be approved by the board, in accordance with 12 AAC 62.200, before supervision begins. Supervision hours only count after you’ve earned your degree and under a supervisor who held board approval at the start of your supervised period. If you’re choosing a supervisor now, confirm their BPC approval status upfront — don’t assume it.
Your supervisor needs to be a licensed mental health care provider, such as an LPC. You can find the current list of BPC-approved supervisors on the BPC’s website. When your supervised hours are complete, your supervisor submits a Post-Graduate Experience Verification form (included in the licensure application) directly to the BPC.
If you’re an LPC yourself and have five or more years of counseling experience, you can apply to become a BPC-approved supervisor. You’ll need to submit a supervisor application along with a written statement covering your supervision philosophy, experience, and orientation. The BPC lists applicable fees in its current fee schedule — confirm the amount directly with the division before applying, as fees are subject to regulatory updates. You’ll also need to have completed six hours of continuing education related to supervising mental health professionals within the two years prior to applying.
Required Exams
Alaska accepts either of the following exams administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC):
- National Counselor Examination (NCE): a 200-question multiple-choice exam covering content from your graduate counseling program. You have at least three hours to complete it.
- National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE): a simulation-based exam presenting 10 clinical scenarios. Rather than multiple-choice questions, it evaluates how you respond to real counseling situations.
The NBCC contracts exam administration through the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE). To register, create an account through the CCE’s online ProCounselor portal. You don’t need pre-approval from the BPC before registering — you can sit for the exam while you’re still accumulating supervised hours. Just make sure to designate the BPC as a score recipient so your results are sent directly. Per the official BPC application, an applicant who has not been issued an initial license within three years of passing the examination must retake it.
Alaska recognizes one important distinction between the two exams: applicants who passed the NCE before completing supervised clinical hours, and applicants who passed the NCMHCE after completing supervision, both qualify for licensure. If you’re unsure which exam fits your timeline, check the current BPC guidelines before registering.
Associate Counselor License (Authorized but Not Yet Available)
In 2024, the Alaska Legislature passed House Bill 126, which created a new Associate Counselor license type and shifted supervisor certification requirements from statute to regulation. The bill had a statutory effective date of July 1, 2025. However, as of May 2026, the Associate Counselor license is not yet available to applicants.
The hold-up is regulatory: Administrative Order 358 froze the promulgation of new regulations across state agencies, and the regulations needed to define Associate Counselor requirements and fees have not yet been finalized. The BPC has confirmed that until those regulations are in place, the license type cannot be issued. Prospective counselors in the post-graduate hours stage should continue following current LPC requirements — including the rule that supervised hours must be earned under a BPC-approved supervisor certified before supervision begins.
If you’re currently accumulating supervised hours, monitor updates directly from the Alaska Board of Professional Counselors, as this license type could affect how your supervised work is structured and documented once regulations are finalized.
License Renewal and Continuing Education
Alaska LPC licenses expire every two years on October 31st. Per the official application, the BPC will send one renewal notice via email or mail at least 30 days before your expiration date, to your last known email or mailing address of record. You can also renew online through the state’s MY LICENSE self-service portal. Failure to receive a notice doesn’t relieve you of the responsibility to renew on time — no grace period applies after October 31st.
To be eligible for renewal, you need to complete 40 hours of continuing education (CE) during each two-year renewal period, including at least three hours in professional ethics, three hours in suicidality, and three hours in cultural competency (for renewal periods beginning on or after November 1, 2023). During your first renewal cycle, the required hours are prorated based on when you were initially licensed.
Two optional scope expansions are also available to licensed counselors:
- Distance professional services: The BPC defines distance services as counseling delivered via audio, visual, or data communications with a client who is physically separated from you (for example, telehealth sessions). To add this to your LPC scope of practice, complete six hours of CE specifically covering distance professional services.
- Approved supervisor status: As described above, LPCs with five or more years of experience can apply to supervise post-graduate counselors toward their own licensure.
Reciprocity (Licensure by Credentials)
If you’re weighing the LPC against other credential types before committing to a licensure path, our page comparing the LPC to the LCSW breaks down the key differences in scope, education, and career options. If you’re already licensed as an LPC in another state, Alaska offers licensure by credentials — a reciprocity pathway that doesn’t require you to start the supervised experience process from scratch. To qualify, your out-of-state LPC license must be in good standing with no disciplinary actions, and the licensing requirements in your home state must be substantially similar to or more stringent than Alaska’s.
In addition to a complete LPC application, the BPC needs to receive:
- Official exam scores from the NBCC
- Official transcripts from the institution where you earned your graduate degree
- Documentation of your state’s licensing requirements
- Verification that you’ve completed 40 hours of continuing education
The application also includes an out-of-state Verification of Licensure form that your current state’s Board of Counseling needs to complete and send directly to the BPC.
How Long Does It Take to Become an LPC in Alaska?
Plan for roughly eight years from the start of your undergraduate education to full licensure:
- Four years for a bachelor’s degree
- Two years for a qualifying master’s degree in counseling
- Two years of accumulating the required 3,000 supervised hours post-graduation
That timeline assumes full-time progress at each stage. Part-time graduate programs or longer supervised experience periods can extend it. If you’re entering with an existing bachelor’s degree in a related field, you’re looking at roughly four years to licensure — two for the master’s and two for supervised practice.
Counselor Salaries in Alaska
Alaska is one of the strongest-paying states for counselors in the country. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics state data, mental health counselors in Alaska earn a median annual wage of $71,400 — roughly 20 percent above the national median of $59,190 (May 2024). The higher pay reflects both the state’s elevated cost of living and continued need for behavioral health professionals in a state where many communities are geographically isolated from services.
| Occupation |
Alaska Median Annual Wage |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors |
$71,400 |
| National Median (same occupation) |
$59,190 |
Nationally, employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 17 percent from 2024 to 2034 — much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. That outlook is even more pronounced in states like Alaska, where mental health infrastructure is still expanding, and workforce shortages persist in rural and remote communities.
Alaska LPCs may also be eligible for loan repayment assistance through federal programs in exchange for working in designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). Much of rural Alaska qualifies under Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) designations, making this a real financial consideration for new licensees weighing practice locations.
If you’re also exploring behavioral health careers that don’t require full LPC licensure, our guide to Alaska substance abuse counselor certification covers the separate credentialing path for addiction counselors in the state.
Professional Resources
Alaska Counseling Association (AKCA) — The state’s primary professional association for counselors, hosting annual workshops and conferences to support ongoing development across specialties.
Alaska School Counselor Association (ASCA) — Focused on school-based counselors, this association offers annual awards, a scholarship program, and licensing resources for professionals working in K–12 settings.
Alaska Behavioral Health Association (ABHA) — Established in 1996, ABHA works to improve mental health and substance abuse treatment services statewide. Its leadership includes more than 60 local community health providers.
Alaska Addiction Professionals Association (AAPA) — The Alaska chapter of the National Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC), offering certification programs and professional networking resources.
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority — A state corporation that administers Alaska’s perpetual mental health trust, benefiting Alaskans living with mental illness, developmental disabilities, chronic addiction, traumatic brain injury, or dementia.
Career Opportunities in Alaska
Alaska Division of Behavioral Health — Part of the Alaska Department of Health, this division provides resources and services for those facing substance abuse, psychiatric disorders, and mental health challenges.
Juneau Alliance for Mental Health, Inc. (JAMHI) — Founded in 1985 as a grassroots advocacy organization, JAMHI gained state designation as a community behavioral health center in 2000 and now provides a full range of general mental health services.
Alaska Behavioral Health — A comprehensive mental and behavioral health agency serving children, families, the elderly, and veterans. Staff benefit from retirement plans, medical coverage, and paid time off.
Alaska Community Mental Health Centers — Also part of the Alaska Department of Health, this statewide network of community mental health centers and crisis hotlines ensures that no Alaskan is far from help. In addition to serving as first points of contact for people experiencing crises, these resources connect clients with professionals offering needed services.
Fairbanks Memorial Hospital — Opened in 1972, this 152-bed hospital provides specialized care across more than 27 service areas, including a Behavioral Health Unit offering inpatient treatment for adults through a multi-disciplinary team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do I need to become an LPC in Alaska?
You need a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling or a related professional field (such as psychology, social work, or marital and family therapy) from a regionally or nationally accredited institution. The program must include at least 60 graduate semester credits. If your degree is in a related field rather than counseling specifically, your program must have covered at least eight of the ten subject areas listed in the BPC requirements.
How many supervised hours are required for Alaska LPC licensure?
Alaska requires 3,000 hours of post-graduate supervised professional counseling experience accumulated over a minimum of two years. Within that total, at least 1,000 hours must be direct counseling with clients and at least 100 hours must be face-to-face supervision with a BPC-approved supervisor. Your supervisor must hold board approval before your supervised hours begin — hours under an unapproved supervisor won’t count.
Which exams qualify for Alaska LPC licensure?
Alaska accepts either the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), both administered through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). You don’t need BPC pre-approval to register. Once you pass, you have three years to apply for licensure before your scores expire.
Can I transfer my LPC from another state to Alaska?
Yes. Alaska offers licensure by credentials for out-of-state LPCs whose licenses are in good standing and whose state’s requirements are substantially similar to or more stringent than Alaska’s. You’ll need to submit official exam scores, transcripts, documentation of your state’s requirements, proof of 40 CE hours, and a verification form completed by your current state licensing board.
How often does an Alaska LPC license need to be renewed?
Alaska LPC licenses renew every two years on October 31st. You need to complete 40 hours of continuing education during each renewal period. The BPC sends a renewal notice via email or mail at least 30 days before your expiration date, and you can also renew online through the MY LICENSE portal.
Key Takeaways
- Degree first: You need a 60-credit master’s or doctoral degree in counseling or a related field from an accredited institution before you can begin the supervised experience process.
- Supervisor approval matters: Your BPC-approved supervisor must have board authorization before your supervised hours begin. Hours under an unapproved supervisor don’t count toward the 3,000-hour requirement.
- Two exam options: Alaska accepts both the NCE and the NCMHCE. You have three years after passing to apply for licensure.
- Above-average pay: Alaska mental health counselors earn a median of $71,400 annually, about 20% above the national median, with strong long-term job growth projected nationally at 17% through 2034.
- New license type authorized, not yet active: Alaska’s Associate Counselor license was created by House Bill 126 (2024) but is not yet available as of May 2026 due to a regulatory freeze. Monitor BPC updates if you’re in your post-graduate hours stage.
Ready to take the first step toward Alaska LPC licensure? Browse accredited counseling programs and find the right degree to meet BPC requirements.
Find Schools Near You
Laura Bennett, MPH is a public health professional with over 12 years of experience in community health education and program coordination. She specializes in helping aspiring professionals explore flexible education pathways, including online and hybrid public health degree programs. Laura is passionate about making public health careers more accessible through practical, accredited training
2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market figures for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors represent state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2026.
