At a Glance
Earning a Montana counseling license means completing a master’s degree in counseling (at least 60 semester credits), 3,000 hours of supervised experience, and passing either the NCE or NCMHCE exam. The Montana Board of Behavioral Health issues licensure. Most applicants work through a two-stage process: first as an LCPC Candidate, then as a fully licensed LCPC.
Montana has nearly 70 percent more mental health counselors per capita than the national average, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data. The credential that allows most of them to practice independently is the Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), issued by the Montana Board of Behavioral Health (BBH). Here’s a full look at the education, experience, and exam requirements you’ll need to meet for your Montana counseling license.
Steps to Become a Licensed Counselor in Montana
Montana LCPC licensure follows a two-stage process. You’ll first earn Candidate status while you complete your supervised hours, then apply for the full license once all requirements are met.
Step 1: Earn a Qualifying Graduate Degree
You’ll need a master’s degree primarily in counseling. For full LCPC licensure, the program must be at least 60 semester credits and include six semester credits of an advanced counseling practicum. Montana’s LCPC rules require a qualifying graduate degree with 60 semester credits for full licensure. Applicants with a 45-credit degree may qualify for Candidate status, but should verify their eligibility directly with the Montana Board of Behavioral Health before applying.
Step 2: Apply for LCPC Candidate Status
Before you can start accruing supervised hours, you need to apply for Candidate status with the BBH. This requires submitting official transcripts, an Academic Summary Sheet, a Training and Supervision Plan signed by your supervisor, and a fingerprint background check. Montana’s current fee schedule lists a $200 application fee for LCPC Candidates.
Step 3: Complete 3,000 Hours of Supervised Experience
As a Candidate, you’ll accumulate 3,000 hours of supervised counseling experience. At least 1,500 of those hours must be earned after you complete your degree. Of those post-degree hours, 1,000 must involve direct client contact under face-to-face supervision. You can claim credit toward up to 1,500 hours for supervised experience completed during your graduate program.
Step 4: Pass a National Counseling Exam
You must pass either the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), both sponsored by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). Register through NBCC’s partner, the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE), and arrange for your scores to be sent to the BBH.
Step 5: Apply for Your LCPC License
Once you’ve satisfied the supervised experience requirement and passed your exam, you and your supervisor complete an Evaluation of Supervised Experience form and submit it to the BBH along with your full license application. Montana’s current fee schedule lists a $200 application fee. The BBH will issue your LCPC license upon approval.
LCPC Candidate Requirements
Candidate status allows you to practice under supervision while working toward full licensure. You’ll need to renew your Candidate registration annually with the BBH. Montana’s current fee schedule lists an $85 annual Candidate registration fee. Verify the current amount with the BBH before submitting. There are no continuing education requirements for Candidates.
Requirement 1: Education
Your graduate degree must be primarily counseling in nature. A program of at least 45 semester credits qualifies you for Candidate status, provided it includes Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) core courses and a qualifying practicum. Have your school send official transcripts directly to the BBH and include an Academic Summary Sheet with your application.
Requirement 2: Credit Toward Supervised Hours
If you completed supervised counseling hours as part of your degree program, you can apply those toward fulfilling up to 1,500 hours of the LCPC’s total 3,000-hour requirement. Fill out the appropriate form with your academic supervisor and include it with your Candidate application.
Requirement 3: Fingerprint Background Check
Complete a fingerprint background check through your local law enforcement agency or the Montana Department of Justice. Include a signed consent form with your application. This check is required at both the Candidate and full licensure stages.
Requirement 4: Supervision Arrangement
You must secure a qualified supervisor before you can begin accruing hours. Your supervisor needs to be an LCPC or an allied mental health professional with an active license in good standing, plus either 3 years of full licensure experience or at least 20 hours (or 1 semester) of supervisor training. Complete a Training and Supervision Plan with your supervisor and include it in your application.
Requirement 5: Application Submission
Submit your LCPC Candidate application to the BBH online or by mail. Montana’s current fee schedule lists a $200 application fee for LCPC Candidates. Verify the current amount with the BBH before submitting. Once the BBH approves your application, it will issue your LCPC Candidate license, authorizing you to begin supervised practice.
Full LCPC License Requirements
Once you’ve completed your supervised hours and passed your exam, you’re ready to apply for the full LCPC license. Montana renewal materials list a December 31 renewal deadline for LCPCs. Verify the current deadline in the Board’s renewal portal before relying on it. To renew, you’ll attest to completing 20 hours of continuing education, including at least two hours related to suicide prevention. The current Montana fee schedule lists an active renewal fee of $149 for LCPCs. Verify the current amount with the BBH before submitting. Montana renewal forms state that renewals postmarked after December 31 are assessed a late penalty equal to 100% of the renewal fee.
Requirement 1: Supervised Experience
Montana requires 3,000 supervised counseling hours total. Up to 1,500 may be credited from pre-degree graduate work. The remaining post-degree hours must include 1,000 direct client contact hours completed under face-to-face supervision. Montana rules require at least one hour of face-to-face supervision and consultation for every 20 hours of professional counseling. Once you’ve met this requirement, you and your supervisor complete an Evaluation of Supervised Experience form and submit it to the BBH.
Requirement 2: Exam
You must pass either the NCE or the NCMHCE. You don’t need pre-approval from the BBH to register with the NBCC for an exam. When you register, arrange for your scores to be sent directly to the BBH. See the Required Exams section below for more on what each exam covers.
Requirement 3: Fingerprint Background Check
A second fingerprint background check is required at the full licensure stage. Complete it through your local law enforcement agency or the Montana Department of Justice and include the signed consent form with your application.
Requirement 4: Application Submission
Submit your full LCPC application to the BBH online or using the application on the BBH’s Forms Page. Montana’s current fee schedule lists a $200 application fee. The BBH will issue your LCPC license upon approval.
How Long Does It Take?
Plan on roughly seven to eight years from the start of your undergraduate education to full LCPC licensure. Four years earn you a bachelor’s degree. A master’s in counseling typically takes two years full-time. After graduation, you’ll move into Candidate status and begin accruing supervised hours, a process that usually takes one to two years, especially if you can apply graduate practicum hours toward the 1,500 pre-degree credit allowance. That puts most applicants at about eight years from start to licensed practice.
Education Requirements
The BBH recognizes two educational pathways for LCPC licensure, both of which require a graduate degree primarily in counseling from an accredited institution.
Option 1 (60-credit degree): A graduate degree of at least 60 semester credits (or 90 quarter hours) that includes a six-semester-credit advanced counseling practicum. This is the direct path to full LCPC licensure.
Option 2 (45-credit degree with completion requirement): A degree of at least 45 semester credits qualifies you for LCPC Candidate status. You’ll have five years to earn the remaining credits (up to a total of 60) before you can apply for full licensure. You cannot become fully licensed until you’ve met the 60-credit requirement.
While CACREP accreditation isn’t an outright requirement, the BBH requires your program to include CACREP-defined core courses regardless. Those courses are:
- Program evaluation and research
- Testing and assessment
- Group work and group counseling
- Helping and counseling relationships
- Career development
- Human growth and development
- Cultural and social diversity
- Ethical practice and professional counseling orientation
Montana has CACREP-accredited counseling programs across the state, including master’s and doctoral options. Because accreditation status and program counts can change, confirm current listings in CACREP’s official directory before publication or enrollment decisions. Graduates of CACREP-accredited programs automatically satisfy the BBH’s core course requirement.
Required Exams
Montana requires you to pass one of two national exams, both sponsored by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and administered through the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE) via the CCE’s online ProCounselor portal.
National Counselor Examination (NCE): A 200-question multiple-choice exam covering the core topics of your graduate curriculum. You’ll have at least three hours to complete it at a local testing center.
National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE): Rather than multiple-choice questions, the NCMHCE presents clinical simulations and asks you to demonstrate clinical decision-making in each. The current format includes 11 case studies: 10 scored and 1 unscored, used for future test development. You’ll have the same testing center setting and time allotment as the NCE.
You don’t need pre-approval from the BBH to register. When you sign up through the CCE portal, arrange for your scores to be sent to the BBH as part of the registration process.
Reciprocity and Out-of-State Applicants
Montana doesn’t have formal reciprocity agreements with any state. However, out-of-state applicants can still apply for LCPC licensure if they hold a current, active, and unrestricted counseling license in another state and that state’s licensing requirements were substantially equivalent to Montana’s, including education, supervised experience, exams, and the fingerprint background check. Have your state’s Board send official license verification to the BBH, and arrange for the NBCC to send your exam scores as well. You’ll use the same application process described above.
Counseling Salaries in Montana
Mental health counseling is a well-established field in Montana. According to Projections Central, Montana employment for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 30 percent from 2022 to 2032, with approximately 250 job openings per year, a state growth rate nearly double the national projection. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a national median annual wage of $59,190 (May 2024) for this occupation, with 17 percent growth projected nationally from 2024 to 2034.
| Occupation |
National Median Wage (May 2024) |
National Growth (2024–2034) |
Montana Growth (2022–2032) |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors |
$59,190 |
17% |
30% |
National wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). Montana growth projection from Projections Central (2022–2032 long-term projections). Montana salaries vary from the national median depending on practice setting, specialization, and location within the state.
Career Opportunities in Montana
Montana’s counseling workforce is spread across both urban centers and rural communities, with demand consistently outpacing supply in many parts of the state. The following organizations are among the largest employers of LCPCs in Montana.
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). One of the most relevant state-level departments for LCPCs is the one responsible for connecting clients with services. DPHHS divisions cover addictive and mental disorders, developmental services, child and family services, community services, and early childhood family support. The same BBH board that licenses LCPCs also issues the Montana social work license, so the two credential paths often overlap in practice settings.
Western Montana Mental Health Center. Founded in 1971 and now serving clients from 24 locations across western Montana. This organization employs approximately 800 professionals who serve more than 15,000 clients, with programs covering mental health treatment and substance use disorders across adults, adolescents, and children.
Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center. Founded in 1967 and now operating from 18 locations across eastern Montana. It offers a wide range of outpatient services and residential treatment options.
Yellowstone Counseling Center. Based in Billings, this organization works with clients on issues including anger, grief, anxiety, depression, domestic violence, and marital concerns, drawing on staff with interdisciplinary backgrounds in counseling, social work, and marriage and family therapy.
Professional Resources
Behavioral Health Alliance of Montana focuses on health equity and access to services across the state. The organization provides advocacy, coordination, and networking for a broad range of behavioral health professionals, including a virtual job board with statewide vacancy listings.
Montana Association for Addiction Professionals (MAADAC) is the state affiliate of its national parent organization. MAADAC supports professionals working in addiction services through policy work, a continuing education program, and professional development resources. Members receive free CE opportunities.
Montana School Counselor Association (MSCA) advocates for school counselors while promoting ethical practice standards. MSCA has developed its own practice guidelines and supports members in collaborative work with community stakeholders and in local and national research.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Montana offers support groups, county-level resource guides, education programs, and annual community events. NAMI Montana is a useful affiliation for LCPCs whose clients benefit from peer support networks.
If you’re also exploring addiction counseling credentials, the BBH issues a separate Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) certification for professionals focused on substance use disorders. It is a distinct credential from the LCPC with its own education and exam requirements.
Pacific Northwest Association for College Admission Counseling (PNACAC) supports counselors guiding students through higher education decisions. Membership includes access to grants, scholarships, professional development, a members directory, and an annual conference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between an LCPC and an LCPC Candidate in Montana?
An LCPC Candidate is a provisional status that allows you to practice under supervision while you complete the hours and exam requirements for full licensure. You can see clients and gain clinical experience as a Candidate, but you must always work under an approved supervisor. A fully licensed LCPC has met all requirements and can practice independently and bill clients directly for clinical services.
Do I need a CACREP-accredited degree to become an LCPC in Montana?
CACREP accreditation isn’t strictly required, but your program must still include the CACREP-defined core courses. Graduates of CACREP-accredited programs automatically satisfy the core course requirement. If your program wasn’t CACREP-accredited, you’ll need to provide documentation showing each required course area was covered. The BBH recommends CACREP programs as the standard for educational quality.
Can I transfer my out-of-state counseling license to Montana?
Montana doesn’t have formal reciprocity with any other state. Still, you can apply for LCPC licensure if you hold a current, active, unrestricted license in another state and your licensing requirements there were substantially equivalent to Montana’s. You’ll still need to submit to a fingerprint background check and provide official license verification and NBCC exam scores. Contact the BBH directly to confirm your out-of-state license qualifies before submitting an application.
How much does it cost to apply for a Montana LCPC license?
Montana’s current fee schedule lists $200 for both the Candidate and full LCPC license application, $85 for annual Candidate renewal, and $149 for LCPC license renewal. The LCPC renewal requires 20 hours of continuing education, including two hours of suicide prevention content. Always verify current amounts directly with the BBH before submitting, as fees are subject to change.
Key Takeaways
- Montana’s primary counseling credential is the Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), issued by the Montana Board of Behavioral Health.
- Full licensure requires a 60-credit master’s degree in counseling, 3,000 hours of supervised experience (including 1,000 post-degree direct client contact hours), and passing either the NCE or NCMHCE exam.
- Most applicants begin as LCPC Candidates, which allows supervised practice while the remaining requirements are completed.
- A 45-credit master’s degree may qualify for Candidate status, but applicants should verify eligibility with the BBH and must complete the remaining credits within five years before applying for full licensure.
- Montana employment for mental health counselors is projected to grow 30 percent from 2022 to 2032, according to Projections Central — nearly double the national rate.
Ready to take the next step toward your Montana LCPC license? Browse accredited counseling programs and find options that fit 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 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market figures for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors represent national data, not school-specific information. Montana employment projections sourced from Projections Central (2022–2032 long-term projections). Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2026.
