Licensed Professional Counselor / Idaho
2026 data Idaho board official source

Idaho Licensed Professional Counselor License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

What the state board actually requires: fees, renewal cycle, and requirements from official records.

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Provides mental health counseling and therapy services.

What the Idaho data shows for Licensed Professional Counselors

Idaho's path to licensed professional counselor licensure runs through 2,635 hours of approved instruction, 2 years of supervised work experience, and a passing score on NCE (National Counselor Exam) or NCMHCE, plus a criminal history screening before applicants younger than 18 can be licensed. Idaho folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree in Counseling".

The initial price tag is $86, and renewal costs $79 every 2 years. The license also carries an ongoing 30-hour continuing-education requirement per 2-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

On reciprocity, licensed professional counselors should know: Counseling Compact: 40+ states.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
40/100
Licensed Professional Counselor · Idaho

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
2,635 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee C+
$86
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden B-
$40/yr
$79 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
15.0 hrs/yr
30 hours every 2 years
Experience Required F
2 years
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Idaho

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree in Counseling
2,635 hours
Exam Requirement
NCE (National Counselor Exam) or NCMHCE
Required
Initial License Fee
$86
Renewal Fee
$79
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
30 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years
Work Experience Required
2 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Licensed Professional Counselor All Idaho licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Idaho licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Licensed Professional Counselor in Idaho? ▼
Idaho's requirements cover 2635 hours of education or training, the NCE (National Counselor Exam) or NCMHCE exam, and an initial fee of $86. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Idaho? ▼
Certification as a licensed professional counselor in Idaho means clearing the state's checklist: 2635 hours of education plus 2 years of work experience, and a passing exam score. The Idaho licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Licensed Professional Counselor license to Idaho from another state? ▼
For licensed professional counselors, the reciprocity landscape looks like this: Counseling Compact: 40+ states. Many professions are also covered by interstate licensing compacts that facilitate portability between states. Contact the Idaho licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does Idaho require a background check for Licensed Professional Counselor licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the licensed professional counselor licensing process in Idaho. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.
What are the continuing education requirements for Licensed Professional Counselor in Idaho? ▼
To stay licensed as a licensed professional counselor in Idaho, plan on 30 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $79.

Related Guides

What to do with this licensed professional counselor license

Licensed Professional Counselor in Idaho, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a licensed professional counselor-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Idaho's licensed professional counselor requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Licensed Professional Counselor in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state licensed professional counselor license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Idaho's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Idaho overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Idaho licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.