NCMHCE in New York: LMHC Licensure Requirements (NY)
Everything you need to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in New York, including the NCMHCE exam requirement, supervised hours, fees, and renewal rules — verified against the New York State Office of the Professions (NYSED).
New York key fact: New York requires the NCMHCE only — no separate state jurisprudence exam — but the 60-credit education requirement disqualifies many programs that are accepted elsewhere.
LMHC Requirements at a Glance
| Licensing board | New York State Office of the Professions (NYSED) |
|---|---|
| Required exam | NCMHCE (required) |
| Education | 60-semester-hour master's or doctoral program in mental health counseling registered by NYSED or determined equivalent. |
| Supervised hours | 3,000 hours of supervised experience as a Mental Health Counselor Permit holder, over no less than 2 years. |
| Application fees | $371 (application + first registration combined) |
| Renewal cycle | Triennial (every 3 years) |
| Continuing education | 36 CE hours per 3-year cycle (effective 2023), including 3 hours in identification and reporting of child abuse. |
| Reciprocity / endorsement | Endorsement available for licensees from states with substantially equivalent requirements and at least 5 years of practice. |
Always verify with the New York State Office of the Professions (NYSED) before applying — requirements change.
Step-by-Step: How to Get Your LMHC in New York
- Finish a qualifying master's program (60-semester-hour master's or doctoral program in mental health counseling registered by nysed or determined equivalent.)
- Apply for the pre-license / associate credential and begin accruing supervised hours
- Complete 3 of supervised clinical experience under a board-approved supervisor
- Apply to sit for the NCMHCE through the NBCC, then schedule with Pearson VUE
- Pass the NCMHCE (and any New York-specific exam noted above)
- Submit your full licensure application with transcripts, supervision verifications, and the exam score report
- Maintain your license with 36 ce hours per 3-year cycle (effective 2023) per renewal cycle
Prep for the New York NCMHCE
The NCMHCE is the same exam in every state — what changes is the supervised hours and paperwork around it. Our prep gives you unlimited AI-generated case simulations in the exact NBCC format, so when you sit for the exam in New York, you've already done dozens of full-length cases across every clinical domain.