At a Glance
To become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Washington state, you’ll first earn an associate LMHCA license, complete 3,000 hours of supervised post-graduate experience over roughly 36 months, and pass either the NCE or NCMHCE exam. Most people reach full LMHC licensure about nine years after starting their bachelor’s degree.
Washington state’s mental health counseling workforce is growing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of mental health counselors nationally will grow 17 percent through 2034. Washington has also seen continued demand for mental health counselors. The Washington State Department of Health, Mental Health Credentialing issues the credential you’ll need to practice: the Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). Before you can earn it, you’ll start with a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA) license that lets you build the supervised experience required for full licensure. If you’re also considering a career in social services, see our guide to the Washington social work license.
Steps Toward Counseling Licensure in Washington
The path to LMHC licensure runs through three stages: graduate education, supervised experience as an LMHCA, and a national exam. Here’s how they fit together.
Step 1: Earn a Qualifying Graduate Degree
You’ll need a master’s or doctoral degree from a CHEA-accredited institution in mental health counseling or a related behavioral science field. Your program must include a counseling internship or practicum and cover at least seven of the 17 core content areas defined by Mental Health Credentialing, including five from a specific list of eight areas such as ethics, assessment, and psychopathology. Degrees from CACREP-accredited programs earn you a credit of 500 hours of post-graduate experience and 50 hours of supervision, which can meaningfully shorten your path to LMHC licensure.
Step 2: Apply for Your LMHCA License
Once you’ve completed your degree, you’ll apply for the LMHCA, the associate license that authorizes you to begin accruing the supervised experience required for full LMHC licensure. You’ll need to complete four hours of AIDS education and training, secure a qualified supervisor, and have your supervisor submit a Declaration of Supervision with your application. Application fees are listed on the DOH Mental Health Counselor page and updated periodically. Check there for current amounts. You can submit your application online or by mail to Mental Health Credentialing.
Step 3: Complete Supervised Post-Graduate Experience
As an LMHCA, you’ll work toward the LMHC experience requirement: 3,000 hours of supervised post-graduate mental health counseling experience, per WAC 246-809-230 (or 36 months full-time), with at least 1,200 hours in direct client counseling and 100 hours conducted under immediate supervision. You can renew your LMHCA license up to six times (annual terms), giving you a maximum of six years to complete the requirement. Each renewal requires 18 hours of continuing education. Graduates of CACREP-accredited programs receive credit for 500 of those experience hours and 50 supervision hours, per WAC 246-809-230(4).
Step 4: Pass the NCE or NCMHCE
You’ll need to pass one of two exams sponsored by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). Both are administered through the NBCC’s Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE). You can register at any point and don’t need prior approval from Mental Health Credentialing. The NCE is multiple-choice; the NCMHCE uses simulated clinical scenarios to evaluate your judgment.
Step 5: Apply for Full LMHC Licensure
Once you’ve met all three requirements, submit your LMHC application to Mental Health Credentialing. Current application fees are listed on the DOH Mental Health Counselor page and updated periodically. You can also apply online. As part of your application, you’ll attest to completing 36 hours of continuing education, including six hours in ethics. Your supervisor will submit a Supervision and Experience Verification Form to Mental Health Credentialing, confirming your supervised hours. Once approved, your LMHC license is issued.
LMHCA vs. LMHC: Understanding the Two-License Pathway
Washington uses a two-tier system. You can’t skip straight to the LMHC. You work through the associate credential first. Here’s how the two licenses compare.
| Requirement |
LMHCA (Associate) |
LMHC (Full License) |
| Education |
Qualifying graduate degree with internship/practicum |
Same degree (no resubmission required) |
| Application Fee |
See DOH fee schedule (updated periodically) |
See DOH fee schedule (updated periodically) |
| Supervised Experience |
Not required to apply. Accrued while holding LMHCA. |
3,000 hours (1,200 direct, 100 immediate supervision) or 36 months |
| Exam |
Not required |
NCE or NCMHCE (NBCC-sponsored) |
| Continuing Education |
18 hours per year |
36 hours every two years (6 in ethics) |
| License Renewal |
Annually (see DOH fee schedule), a maximum of six renewals |
Annually on birthday (see DOH fee schedule) |
Required Education
Your graduate degree must come from a school accredited by an organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The degree must be in mental health counseling or a related behavioral science field. Acceptable areas include counseling, psychology, social work, nursing, education, pastoral counseling, rehabilitation counseling, and social sciences.
The program’s core content must be grounded in counseling philosophy and theories. Mental Health Credentialing defines 17 core content areas, and your degree must cover at least seven. Five must come from this specific list: assessment and diagnosis, ethics and law, counseling individuals, counseling groups, counseling couples and families, developmental psychology, abnormal psychology/psychopathology, and research and evaluation.
Programs accredited by the Council on the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) are recognized for their depth. Under WAC 246-809-230(4), graduates of CACREP-accredited programs receive a credit of 500 hours toward the LMHC supervised experience requirement and 50 hours toward the supervision requirement. Washington has several schools offering CACREP-accredited graduate programs. Check the CACREP program directory for the current list, as accreditation status changes.
How Long Does It Take?
Plan on roughly nine years from the start of your bachelor’s degree to full LMHC licensure. That breaks down as four years for a bachelor’s degree, two years for a master’s in counseling, and then 36 months (about three years) of supervised experience as an LMHCA. Once you’ve held the LMHC for two years, you can qualify to become an approved supervisor for LMHCAs in training.
Reciprocity and Out-of-State Applicants
Washington doesn’t offer traditional reciprocity but does have a pathway for out-of-state counselors: a probationary license issued to applicants who hold a substantially equivalent out-of-state mental health counselor credential in good standing. According to the DOH out-of-state applicants page, the probationary license is issued for one year and can be renewed once, giving you a two-year window. During that time, Mental Health Credentialing reviews your record and identifies any gaps in education, supervised experience, or examination requirements that you’ll need to meet for full LMHC licensure.
Applicants with five or more years of qualifying out-of-state licensure may qualify for a waiver of Washington’s supervised experience requirement, subject to DOH review. For full details on your specific situation, including which credentials qualify, review the requirements in chapter 246-809 WAC or contact Mental Health Credentialing directly at 360-236-4700.
To start the process, apply for both the probationary credential and the full LMHC credential simultaneously. Your out-of-state board will need to complete and submit a Credential Verification Form to Washington Mental Health Credentialing. Check with your state board in advance, as a fee may apply.
Required Exams
Washington requires you to pass one of two exams before granting full LMHC licensure. Both are computer-based and administered through the NBCC’s Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE). You register directly with CCE through the ProCounselor portal and don’t need prior approval from Mental Health Credentialing before scheduling.
Salary and Career Outlook in Washington
Mental health counseling is one of the fastest-growing health professions in the country. Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors to grow 17 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations. Washington’s growing population and expanded mental health parity legislation have driven demand well above the national baseline in several metro areas.
| Occupation |
Washington State Median (May 2024) |
National Median (May 2024) |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors |
$64,220 |
$59,190 |
Washington wages for mental health counselors run above the national median, with mean annual wages reaching $70,230 in the state as of May 2024, according to BLS state data. The Seattle metro area typically offers the strongest compensation. See the BLS state data link in the disclaimer below for sourcing.
Becoming an Approved Supervisor
After two years as an LMHC in good standing, you can qualify to supervise LMHCAs working toward full licensure. Per WAC 246-809-234, an approved supervisor must complete a minimum of 15 clock hours of training in clinical supervision, obtained through coursework, workshop training, or supervision of supervision. You must also hold your LMHC license without restrictions, and you can’t supervise a blood or legal relative or someone who has been your therapy client within the past two years. Once you’ve met the requirements, you complete a Declaration of Supervision for LMHCAs applying for their associate license.
Entry-Level Options for Aspiring Counselors
Washington is one of the few states that offers credentialed entry-level pathways for people who haven’t yet completed a graduate degree. The Washington State Department of Health, Mental Health Credentialing, offers two options:
- Certified Advisor: requires an associate’s degree and a supervised internship in a counseling-related field
- Certified Counselor: requires a bachelor’s degree in a counseling-related field
These credentials carry limited scopes of practice, but they give you real on-the-ground experience in the field while you work toward your graduate degree. Washington also has a separate certification track for addiction professionals. See the Washington substance abuse counselor certification for details on the SUDP and SUDPT pathways.
Resources
Career Opportunities in Washington
Washington’s mental health workforce includes a range of employers, from state agencies to large health systems. The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is a major employer of counselors in the state, with a major focus on mental health and addiction services. King County’s Department of Community and Human Services oversees behavioral health and recovery programs serving the state’s largest population center. On the provider side, organizations like Cascade Behavioral Health, Frontier Behavioral Health in Spokane, and Kaiser Permanente’s Washington clinics offer a mix of outpatient, residential, and crisis services to clients across the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the LMHCA and the LMHC in Washington?
The LMHCA is the associate license you hold while building the supervised experience required for full LMHC licensure. It’s not a permanent credential. You can renew it up to six times over six years, after which you must obtain your LMHC. The LMHC is the full license that authorizes you to practice independently as a mental health counselor in Washington.
How many supervised hours do I need to become an LMHC in Washington?
You need 3,000 hours of supervised post-graduate mental health counseling experience, or 36 months of full-time equivalent work. At least 1,200 of those hours must be in direct client counseling, and 100 must be conducted under immediate supervision. Graduates of CACREP-accredited programs receive a credit of 500 hours toward this total.
Which exam do I need to pass for LMHC licensure in Washington?
Washington accepts 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). You can register for either exam at any point during your supervised experience period, and you don’t need prior approval from Mental Health Credentialing before scheduling.
Does Washington accept out-of-state counseling licenses for reciprocity?
Washington doesn’t offer traditional reciprocity but provides a probationary license for out-of-state counselors whose credentials are substantially equivalent to the LMHC. The probationary license is valid for one year and can be renewed once. During that two-year window, DOH reviews your record and identifies any gaps in education, experience, or examination. Applicants with five or more years of qualifying out-of-state licensure may qualify for a waiver of Washington’s supervised experience requirement, subject to DOH review. Contact Mental Health Credentialing at 360-236-4700 for guidance on your specific situation.
What continuing education does Washington require to renew an LMHC license?
LMHC holders must complete 36 hours of continuing education every two years to renew, with at least six of those hours in ethics and law. LMHCA holders must complete 18 hours of continuing education each year. Your LMHC license expires annually on your birthday. Check the DOH website for current renewal fee amounts, which are updated periodically.
Key Takeaways
- Washington requires two licenses: the LMHCA associate credential first, followed by full LMHC licensure after completing 3,000 supervised hours.
- Your graduate degree must be from a CHEA-accredited institution and cover at least seven of 17 defined core content areas, including five from a required list.
- CACREP-accredited programs earn graduates a credit of 500 supervised hours and 50 supervision hours, reducing time to LMHC licensure.
- You’ll need to pass either the NCE or NCMHCE, both NBCC-sponsored exams that can be scheduled at any point during your supervised experience period.
- Washington doesn’t offer traditional reciprocity but provides a probationary license pathway for out-of-state counselors. Applicants with five or more years of qualifying licensure may qualify for a waiver of the supervised experience requirement, subject to DOH review.
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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 and Washington state data, not school-specific information. State figures sourced from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) for Washington. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2025.
