At a Glance
To get a Hawaii counseling license, you’ll need a master’s degree in counseling (at least 48 semester credits), 3,000 hours of supervised post-graduate experience, and a passing score on the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE). Hawaii’s current application instructions list the NCE as the examination requirement. The credential is called the Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and is issued by Hawaii’s Professional and Vocational Licensing Division.
Hawaii has documented behavioral health access challenges, and employment opportunities for licensed counselors vary by island, employer, and specialty. If you’re working toward a Hawaii counseling license, the path is well-defined: a qualifying graduate degree, two to four years of supervised practice, and a national licensing exam. For a broader look at counseling career requirements across specialties, see our counseling overview, which covers the full range of pathways. The state uses the Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) title rather than the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) designation used in many other states. Here’s exactly what you need to know to get there.
Steps to Become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Hawaii
These are the four steps to earn your LMHC in Hawaii. Each step is required. You can’t apply for the exam until PVL approves your application, and your license isn’t issued until you’ve passed.
Step 1: Earn a Qualifying Graduate Degree
Complete a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling or a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution. The program must include at least 48 semester credits (72 quarter credits) and a supervised practicum. Have your school send official transcripts directly to the Professional and Vocational Licensing (PVL) Division. Submit a completed education verification form and a practicum verification form with your licensure application.
Step 2: Complete Supervised Post-Graduate Experience
Accumulate 3,000 hours of supervised post-graduate mental health counseling experience, including at least 100 hours of face-to-face supervision. This work must be completed over a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years. Your supervisor must be one of the following licensed professionals: LMHC, psychologist, clinical social worker, mental health advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), marriage and family therapist, or a physician with a specialty in psychiatry. Your supervisor completes a verification form that you include with your licensure application.
Step 3: Apply for Licensure
Submit your LMHC application to PVL by mail or online. The application fee is $60. While your application is pending, you can check its status through the PVL online portal. Once PVL approves your application, they’ll notify the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) that you’re eligible to register for the exam and send you a letter with registration instructions.
Step 4: Pass the Licensing Exam and Receive Your License
Register for and pass the NCE, unless PVL confirms another pathway applies to your specific situation. The exam is administered through the NBCC. Hawaii has one testing center, located on Oahu. Once PVL is notified you’ve passed, it issues your LMHC license after you pay the licensure fee. Initial license fees vary depending on where you fall in the triennial cycle. Hawaii’s application instructions list $444, $350, or $256, depending on your issue date.
Education Requirements
To qualify for Hawaii LMHC licensure, your graduate degree must meet several specific requirements. The program must be at least 48 semester credits (72 quarter credits) and accredited by a regional body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). While Hawaii doesn’t require CACREP accreditation, CACREP-accredited programs are structured around content areas that align closely with Hawaii’s requirements, which may simplify documentation. Applicants should verify that their specific coursework meets all of Hawaii’s required content areas regardless of accreditation type.
Your program must include at least three semester credits in each of the following content areas:
- Professional ethics and orientation
- Program evaluation and research
- Measurements and tests
- Appraisal of human behavior
- Lifestyle and career development
- Group practice and theory
- Counseling applications and theories
- Cultural and social foundations
- Human growth and development
If your degree is missing coverage in one of these areas, you can supplement it with additional qualifying coursework. The practicum component is also part of the education requirement. See the Practicums and Internships section below for specifics.
Required Licensing Exams
Hawaii’s licensing exam requirement is the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE), sponsored by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). It’s a 200-question multiple-choice exam with a time limit of three hours and forty-five minutes, covering the core content areas of your graduate counseling program. You can find exam preparation materials and the full candidate handbook on the NBCC website. If you believe a different examination pathway may apply to your situation, confirm directly with PVL before registering.
You won’t be authorized to register for the exam until PVL approves your licensure application. Once approved, PVL notifies the NBCC, which then allows you to register through its partner organization, the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE). You’ll need to create an online account through CCE’s ProCounselor portal to complete your registration. Exams are offered year-round at the Oahu testing center and at other approved sites across the country.
Practicums and Internships
The practicum is built into the education requirement, not separate from it. Your graduate program must include at least six semester credits (10 quarter credits) of supervised mental health practicum or internship experience. This work must span at least two academic terms and include a minimum of 300 hours of supervised client contact. Supervision during the practicum can be provided by an LMHC, psychologist, clinical social worker, advanced practice registered nurse with a mental health specialty, marriage and family therapist, or psychiatrist.
Hawaii law allows some or all of the required face-to-face supervision to be conducted electronically via videoconference if it complies with privacy, security, confidentiality, and HIPAA requirements. If you’re completing your practicum or post-graduate supervision on Maui, Kauai, or the Big Island, confirm the specifics of your proposed arrangement with PVL before you begin accumulating hours.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Counselor in Hawaii?
From bachelor’s degree to full licensure, most candidates take six to eight years. The breakdown looks like this:
- Four years for a bachelor’s degree
- Two years for a master’s degree in counseling
- Two to four years of post-graduate supervised experience
The supervised experience window is the variable. Hawaii requires a minimum of two years but allows up to four. Candidates who complete their hours efficiently, working full-time in a qualifying setting with an accessible supervisor, can finish closer to the six-year mark from their undergraduate start.
Reciprocity and Endorsement
Hawaii law includes a reciprocity provision, but out-of-state applicants should confirm current eligibility and documentation requirements directly with PVL. Out-of-state passing scores on the NCE and qualifying education completed outside Hawaii are both accepted.
Military spouses have two options. If you’re already a licensed LMHC in another state, you can apply for Hawaii licensure by endorsement. If you’re not yet licensed but can demonstrate competency as an LMHC, you may substitute that demonstrated competency for the supervised experience requirement. Both paths are worth confirming with PVL, given the specifics of your situation.
Renewing Your License
The LMHC license expires every 3 years on June 30. The current renewal cycle runs from 2026, 2029, and 2032. PVL lists renewal acceptance beginning May 1 for the 2026 cycle, with renewal postcards mailed May 4, 2026. You can renew online or request a renewal form by mail. The renewal fee is $282.
Hawaii is one of the relatively few states that does not require continuing education for LMHC license renewal. While that reduces the administrative burden, many licensed counselors pursue continuing education voluntarily to maintain clinical skills and stay current with evolving standards of practice.
Salary and Career Outlook
Hawaii’s mental health counselor workforce is growing, and the state’s documented access challenges mean qualified LMHCs have employment opportunities across the islands. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the national median annual wage for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors was $59,190 in May 2024. In Hawaii specifically, the median is $54,390, reflecting the state’s distinct cost-of-living dynamics and the concentration of employment in community mental health and government-funded settings rather than higher-paying private practice roles.
Nationally, the BLS projects employment in this field will grow 17 percent from 2024 to 2034, well above the average for all occupations. Hawaii’s neighbor island communities have documented behavioral health access gaps, and employment opportunities may vary by island and specialty.
| Counseling Occupation |
Hawaii Median Annual Wage |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors |
$54,390 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors |
$60,790 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists |
$69,060 |
| Rehabilitation Counselors |
$43,410 |
Professional Resources
Hawaii Counselors Association (HCA): The HCA serves as the central hub for counselors statewide. Its member divisions include the Hawai’i Mental Health Counselors Association (HMHCA), the Hawai’i Association of Counselors and Educators in Government (HACEG), the Hawai’i Career Development Association (HCDA), and the Hawai’i Multicultural Counseling and Development Association (HMCDA).
Hawaii School Counselor Association (HSCA): Founded in 1962, the HSCA serves school counseling professionals in both public and private sectors across the state.
Hawaii Association of Addiction and Drug Abuse Counselors (HAADAC): A state affiliate of the National Association for Addiction and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC), HAADAC hosts trainings and supports counselors working in substance use treatment settings.
Mental Health America (MHA) of Hawaii: Hawaii’s leading mental health advocacy and education organization, MHA of Hawaii works to expand mental health awareness and access statewide.
Hawaii PVL Mental Health Counselor Program: The official licensing authority. Check here for current application forms, fee schedules, and license status verification.
Career Opportunities
Hawaii Behavioral Health Services Administration oversees four divisions that have a major impact on the state’s mental and behavioral health systems: the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division, the Adult Mental Health Division, the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division, and the Developmental Disabilities Division. It’s one of the larger employers of LMHCs in the state.
Hawai’i Behavioral Health has locations on the Big Island, Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. Since 1993, the organization has provided integrated behavioral health services, employment services, and community support programs focused on Hawaii’s youth and families.
Mental Health Kokua (MHK), a United Way agency founded in 1973, offers intensive outpatient services, peer coaching, case management, and community integration resources for adults across Oahu.
The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, the largest nonprofit hospital in the state, includes a Behavioral Health Services division offering inpatient, day treatment, and family treatment programs for adults and adolescents.
For counselors interested in addiction treatment, the Hawaii substance abuse counselor certification is a separate credential issued through the state’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division, a distinct pathway from the LMHC. Our mental health licensure overview covers how the LMHC compares to other licensed mental health credentials, including the LCSW and MFT.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between an LMHC and an LPC in Hawaii?
Hawaii uses the Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) title rather than the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) designation used in most other states. The credential is functionally equivalent, authorizing independent mental health counseling practice, but the name reflects Hawaii’s state-specific licensing statute.
Does Hawaii require CACREP-accredited programs for LMHC licensure?
No, CACREP accreditation is not required. Hawaii requires that your program be accredited by a regional body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and that it cover specific content areas. CACREP-accredited programs are structured to align with these requirements, which may simplify the documentation process; however, applicants should verify that their specific coursework meets all required content areas regardless of their program’s accreditation type.
Can I complete my supervised hours via telehealth?
Hawaii law allows some or all required face-to-face supervision to be conducted electronically by videoconference if it complies with privacy, security, confidentiality, and HIPAA requirements. If you’re on a neighbor island, confirm the specifics of your proposed arrangement with PVL before you start accumulating hours.
How much does it cost to get an LMHC license in Hawaii?
The main fees are the application fee ($60), the NCE exam fee (approximately $195 through the NBCC), and the initial licensure fee, which varies by where you fall in the triennial cycle. Hawaii’s application instructions list $444, $350, or $256 depending on your issue date. Renewal every three years costs $282. Verify current fees directly with PVL before applying, as fee schedules can change between renewal cycles.
Is there reciprocity for out-of-state counselors moving to Hawaii?
Hawaii law includes a reciprocity provision, but out-of-state applicants should confirm current eligibility and documentation requirements directly with PVL. Military spouses have a separate endorsement pathway. If you’re moving to Hawaii with an existing counseling license, contact PVL early in the process to understand your options and timeline.
Key Takeaways
- Hawaii licenses mental health counselors as LMHCs, not LPCs, through the Professional and Vocational Licensing (PVL) Division.
- You’ll need a qualifying master’s degree (48 semester credits minimum), 3,000 hours of supervised post-graduate experience over two to four years, and a passing score on the NCE.
- CACREP accreditation isn’t required, but CACREP-accredited programs are structured around Hawaii’s required content areas and may simplify the documentation process. Verify your specific coursework regardless of accreditation type.
- The LMHC license renews every three years on June 30 (2026, 2029, 2032) with no continuing education requirement.
- According to BLS data, mental health counselors in Hawaii earn a median annual wage of $54,390, with national employment in this field projected to grow 17 percent from 2024 to 2034.
Ready to find a graduate counseling program that meets Hawaii’s LMHC requirements? Browse CACREP-accredited and regionally accredited programs to compare options that fit your 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 US 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; verify the latest BLS OEWS release before publication.
