Washington LMHC Licensure Requirements & Counseling Exam (WA)
Everything you need to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Washington, including the NCMHCE exam requirement, supervised hours, fees, and renewal rules — verified against the Washington State Department of Health — Mental Health Counselor Program.
Washington key fact: Washington issues an LMHC Associate credential for candidates accruing hours. The one-time suicide prevention training is a common missed requirement.
LMHC Requirements at a Glance
| Licensing board | Washington State Department of Health — Mental Health Counselor Program |
|---|---|
| Required exam | NCMHCE or NCE |
| Education | Master's or doctorate in mental health counseling or a related field from an accredited institution. |
| Supervised hours | 36 months of full-time counseling (or 3,000 hours) post-degree, including 1,200 hours of direct client contact and 100 hours of supervision. |
| Application fees | Department of Health application fee plus the NBCC exam fee — check the current fee schedule. |
| Renewal cycle | Annual license renewal with CE reported every two years |
| Continuing education | 36 CE hours every two years, including ethics and a suicide prevention training requirement. |
| Reciprocity / endorsement | Probationary and endorsement pathways for out-of-state licensees; Washington is a Counseling Compact member. |
Always verify with the Washington State Department of Health — Mental Health Counselor Program before applying — requirements change.
Step-by-Step: How to Get Your LMHC in Washington
- Finish a qualifying master's program (master's or doctorate in mental health counseling or a related field from an accredited institution.)
- Apply for the pre-license / associate credential and begin accruing supervised hours
- Complete 36 months of full-time counseling (or 3 of supervised clinical experience under a board-approved supervisor
- Apply to sit for the required national exam (NCMHCE or NCE) through NBCC, then schedule with Pearson VUE
- Pass the national exam (and any Washington-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 every two years per renewal cycle
Prep for the Washington 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 Washington, you've already done dozens of full-length cases across every clinical domain.