At a Glance
Becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Colorado requires a CACREP-accredited master’s degree, registration as a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC), 2,000 hours of supervised post-degree experience over at least two years, and passing both the National Counselor Examination and the Colorado Mental Health Jurisprudence Exam. The full process typically takes six to eight years from your bachelor’s degree.
Colorado has seen continued growth in demand for mental health services, and the LPC credential sits at the center of that work. It’s the license that lets you practice counseling independently, working with clients on anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, and more, whether in an agency setting or private practice. For a full picture of what the LPC credential actually opens up for you, see our LPC career guide. The Colorado State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners, housed within the Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO) at the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), sets and enforces all requirements for licensure in the state.
Steps Toward LPC Licensure in Colorado
Colorado uses a two-stage licensing system. You first register as a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC), which authorizes you to practice under supervision. Once you’ve completed your supervised hours and passed both required exams, you apply for full LPC licensure. There’s also a third credential, the Licensed Professional Counselor Provisional (LPP), for counselors who plan to work exclusively in residential child care facilities.
Here’s the full pathway from graduate degree to independent practice.
Step 1: Become a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC)
Step 1: Meet the Education Requirement
Earn a master’s or doctoral degree in professional counseling from a program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Programs enrolled after August 31, 2014, must include at least 60 semester credit hours. Your program must also include a supervised practicum or internship. CACREP-accredited programs automatically satisfy this requirement.
Step 2: Pass the Colorado Mental Health Jurisprudence Exam
As of August 7, 2024, when Colorado’s Senate Bill 24-115 took effect, you must pass the Colorado Mental Health Jurisprudence Exam before your LPCC registration is approved. This is an open-book, online, multiple-choice exam covering Colorado mental health statutes, confidentiality rules, prohibited activities, board rules, and disciplinary procedures. You can begin the LPCC application during the final semester of your graduate program, but the jurisprudence exam must be passed before the State Board will issue your registration.
Step 3: Apply for LPCC Registration Through DORA
Create an online account through the DPO Online Services portal and submit your LPCC application. You’ll need to upload official transcripts, a form verifying CACREP accreditation, and documentation of your jurisprudence exam results. Once the State Board approves your application, it will issue your LPCC registration.
Under SB 24-115, LPCC registrations now expire on December 31 of every third year and are renewable. There’s no longer a fixed non-renewable term. You can renew your LPCC as many times as needed while accumulating your supervised hours.
Step 2: Earn Your LPC License
Step 1: Complete 2,000 Hours of Supervised Experience
As an LPCC, you must complete at least 2,000 hours of post-degree supervised practice in counseling, with a minimum of 1,500 of those hours involving direct client contact. The 2,000 hours cannot be completed in fewer than 24 months. Of the 100 required supervision hours, at least 50 must be individual face-to-face supervision; the remainder can be in group or triadic format (maximum 1:10 supervisor-to-supervisee ratio). Your supervisor must hold an active Colorado license as an LPC, licensed psychologist, licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed addiction counselor, or psychiatrist. Once you’ve completed your hours, have your supervisor complete the Post-Degree Experience and Supervision Form and upload it with your LPC application.
Step 2: Pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE)
Register with the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) for the National Counselor Examination (NCE), a 200-question multiple-choice computer-based test administered at testing sites throughout the state and country. You can find registration details in the NCE handbook. Note: Your passing score cannot be more than five years old at the time you apply for LPC licensure.
Step 3: Apply for LPC Licensure
Submit your LPC application through your DORA online account, including your official transcripts, jurisprudence exam results, NCE scores, completed supervision form, and the applicable application fee. Fee amounts are set by the State Board and subject to periodic change; confirm the current fee in the DPO Online Services portal before submitting. Once the State Board approves your application, it will issue your LPC license, authorizing you to practice professional counseling independently in Colorado.
Licensed Professional Counselor Provisional (LPP)
The LPP credential is designed for counselors who plan to work exclusively in residential child care facilities under supervision. You can apply for this registration through your DORA online account once you meet the same education requirements as the LPCC. Your application must include documentation identifying your supervisor and employer.
The LPP registration expires if you stop working for your residential child care facility or if your supervisor changes. You can reapply for a new LPP at any time based on a new supervisor or employer.
Education Requirements
To qualify for LPCC, LPC, or LPP registration in Colorado, you must hold a master’s or doctoral degree in professional counseling from a CACREP-accredited program. Colorado has multiple CACREP-accredited programs across clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, rehabilitation counseling, and related specializations, offered by universities across the state in both on-campus and online formats. For a current list of accredited programs, use the CACREP program directory. Program counts change as new programs earn accreditation or existing ones lapse.
If you earned your degree from a non-CACREP-accredited program, you’ll need to have it evaluated by the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE) to determine whether it’s substantially equivalent. Note that DORA no longer accepts in-house education equivalency review packets. CCE handles all equivalency evaluations for LPC applicants.
How Long Does It Take to Become an LPC in Colorado?
The typical path runs six to eight years from your bachelor’s degree. A four-year undergraduate degree, a two- to three-year master’s program, and then at least two years of supervised post-degree experience before you can apply for full licensure. Some candidates complete the process closer to the six-year mark. Others take longer depending on program length, part-time enrollment, or time needed to accumulate supervised hours.
Renewing Your LPC License
LPC licenses in Colorado expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years and are renewed through your online DORA account. Renewal requires completing 40 hours of continuing professional competency education during each two-year cycle, including ethics coursework. The renewal fee is currently $193, though fees are subject to periodic change by DORA. Confirm the current amount in your renewal application. The continuing professional competency system requires a self-assessment, development and implementation of a learning plan based on that assessment, and documentation of activities showing you maintain minimal ability to safely practice as an LPC. More information is available through DORA’s Professional Counselor CPC page.
Counseling Compact
Colorado is a member of the Counseling Compact, an interstate licensure agreement that allows LPCs licensed in one member state to practice in other member states without obtaining a separate license in each. If you hold an active Colorado LPC license in good standing and meet the compact’s eligibility requirements, you may be able to practice in other compact member states. The compact is administered by the Counseling Compact Commission; rules and member states are updated periodically at counselingcompact.gov. For a comparison of counseling licensure requirements by state, see our full state guide index.
Reciprocity and Endorsement
Colorado licenses counselors from other states by endorsement. To qualify, you must have passed a licensure examination testing specialized knowledge and skills in psychotherapy, meet Colorado’s education requirements, and have either two years of post-master’s experience in professional counseling or psychotherapy, one year of post-doctoral experience, or two years of active practice. Apply through the standard LPC application process and arrange for your out-of-state licensing board to send official license verification directly to the Colorado State Board.
Required Exams
Colorado requires two exams for full LPC licensure. The Colorado Mental Health Jurisprudence Exam is now required at the LPCC registration stage (since August 2024 under SB 24-115), and the National Counselor Examination (NCE) is required before applying for full LPC licensure.
The NCE is administered through the NBCC’s ProCounselor portal, managed in partnership with the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE). It’s a 200-question multiple-choice test you can take at testing centers across the country.
Counselor Salaries in Colorado
Colorado’s counseling workforce spans several different credential types, and salaries vary accordingly. The figures below reflect national median wages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2024). Colorado-specific figures were excluded from the May 2024 BLS release due to a state-level data collection issue unrelated to the occupation data itself. Historical Colorado figures for most counseling occupations have tracked at or above the national median.
| Occupation |
National Median Annual Wage |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors |
$65,140 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists |
$63,780 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors |
$59,190 |
| Rehabilitation Counselors |
$46,110 |
Employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 17 percent from 2024 to 2034, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s much faster than the average for all occupations. Marriage and family therapists are projected to grow 13 percent over the same period.
Professional Resources
Colorado Counseling Association (CCA): The state’s primary professional association for LPCs and counseling students. The CCA advocates for the profession at the legislative level and provides professional development, networking, and continuing education resources to its members.
Colorado School Counselor Association (CSCA): Serves more than 1,500 school counselors statewide. The CSCA promotes excellence in school counseling through legislative advocacy, job postings, and conferences.
Colorado Association of Addiction Professionals (CAAP): Promotes professional excellence in addiction counseling through education, advocacy, and professional collaboration. Sponsor committees focused on outreach, conferences, and legislative engagement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between an LPCC and an LPC in Colorado?
The LPCC (Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate) is a provisional registration that lets you practice counseling under supervision while you accumulate your post-degree hours. Once you’ve completed 2,000 supervised hours over at least two years and passed the NCE, you can apply to upgrade to the full LPC license, which allows independent practice.
Do I need a CACREP-accredited degree to get licensed in Colorado?
Yes, in most cases. Colorado requires a master’s or doctoral degree from a CACREP-accredited program. If your degree is from a non-CACREP program, you must have it evaluated by the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE) to show it meets Colorado’s equivalency standards. DORA no longer conducts these evaluations in-house. All equivalency reviews go through CCE.
When did the jurisprudence exam requirement change in Colorado?
Under Senate Bill 24-115, which took effect on August 7, 2024, the Colorado Mental Health Jurisprudence Exam is now required before your LPCC registration is approved. Previously, it was only required at the full LPC licensure stage. If you applied for your LPCC before that date, the old rules applied to you. Anyone applying now must pass the exam before the State Board will issue their registration.
Can I practice in other states with my Colorado LPC license?
Potentially, yes. Colorado is a member of the Counseling Compact, which allows qualifying LPCs to practice across member states without obtaining a separate license in each one. Eligibility requirements apply, and the list of member states changes as more states join. Check the Counseling Compact Commission website for current membership and eligibility details.
How long does it take to complete the supervised experience requirement?
At a minimum, two years. The 2,000 required hours cannot be completed in fewer than 24 months, regardless of how quickly you accumulate them. Most candidates complete the requirement in two to three years, depending on their work schedule and the types of supervision available to them.
Key Takeaways
- Colorado LPC licensure requires a CACREP-accredited master’s or doctoral degree in professional counseling, registration as an LPCC, 2,000 supervised post-degree hours over at least two years, and passing both the NCE and the Colorado Mental Health Jurisprudence Exam.
- As of August 2024 (SB 24-115), the jurisprudence exam must be passed before your LPCC registration is approved, not just at the full LPC stage. LPCC registrations are now renewable every three years with no fixed expiration cap.
- Colorado belongs to the Counseling Compact, which may allow qualifying LPCs to practice in other member states without a separate license in each.
- Full LPC licensure authorizes independent practice. LPC licenses renew every two years and require 40 hours of continuing education, including ethics coursework, plus a $193 renewal fee.
- The entire path from bachelor’s degree to LPC typically takes six to eight years.
Ready to find a CACREP-accredited counseling program in Colorado? Browse programs by location and format to find one that fits your timeline and goals.
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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 data for educational, guidance, and career counselors, marriage and family therapists, substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, and rehabilitation counselors represent national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2026.
