Ohio LPCC Licensure Requirements & Counseling Exam (OH)
Everything you need to become a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in Ohio, including the NCMHCE exam requirement, supervised hours, fees, and renewal rules — verified against the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage & Family Therapist Board.
Ohio key fact: Ohio is a classic two-tier state: pass the NCE to become an LPC, then pass the NCMHCE after supervised experience to become an independent LPCC.
LPCC Requirements at a Glance
| Licensing board | Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage & Family Therapist Board |
|---|---|
| Required exam | NCE for the LPC; NCMHCE for the LPCC (independent clinical license) |
| Education | 60-semester-hour master's in clinical mental health counseling, CACREP-accredited or equivalent. |
| Supervised hours | Two years of post-LPC supervised clinical experience (commonly 3,000 hours) under an approved LPCC-S. |
| Application fees | Board application fee plus the NBCC exam fee — check the board's current fee schedule. |
| Renewal cycle | Biennial |
| Continuing education | 30 CE hours per renewal, including ethics hours. |
| Reciprocity / endorsement | Licensure by endorsement for out-of-state counselors; Ohio is a Counseling Compact member state. |
Always verify with the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage & Family Therapist Board before applying — requirements change.
Step-by-Step: How to Get Your LPCC in Ohio
- Finish a qualifying master's program (60-semester-hour master's in clinical mental health counseling, cacrep-accredited or equivalent.)
- Apply for the pre-license / associate credential and begin accruing supervised hours
- Complete Two years of post-LPC supervised clinical experience (commonly 3 of supervised clinical experience under a board-approved supervisor
- Apply to sit for the required national exam (NCE for the LPC; NCMHCE for the LPCC) through NBCC, then schedule with Pearson VUE
- Pass the national exam (and any Ohio-specific exam noted above)
- Submit your full licensure application with transcripts, supervision verifications, and the exam score report
- Maintain your license with 30 ce hours per renewal per renewal cycle
Prep for the Ohio 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 Ohio, you've already done dozens of full-length cases across every clinical domain.