Licensed Professional Counselor / Kentucky
2026 data Kentucky board official source

Kentucky Licensed Professional Counselor License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

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Provides mental health counseling and therapy services.

What the Kentucky data shows for Licensed Professional Counselors

Kentucky sets the entry bar for licensed professional counselors at 2,770 training hours and a passing score on NCE (National Counselor Exam) or NCMHCE, with 2 years of supervised work experience expected. A background check is a standard part of the process, and applicants must be 18 or older. The credential is administered under Kentucky's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree in Counseling".

Upfront cost is $111, with renewal running $98 on a 2-year cycle. Renewal isn't the end of the cost: 30 hours of continuing education are due every 2-year cycle, a recurring time commitment worth planning for.

For licensed professional counselors, the reciprocity picture is: Counseling Compact: 40+ states.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
35/100
Licensed Professional Counselor · Kentucky

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
2,770 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee D
$111
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden C
$49/yr
$98 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 Kentucky

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree in Counseling
2,770 hours
Exam Requirement
NCE (National Counselor Exam) or NCMHCE
Required
Initial License Fee
$111
Renewal Fee
$98
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 Kentucky licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Kentucky licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Licensed Professional Counselor in Kentucky? ▼
Kentucky requires 2770 education/training hours, passing an exam (NCE (National Counselor Exam) or NCMHCE), and an initial fee of $111. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Kentucky? ▼
To become a licensed licensed professional counselor in Kentucky, you must meet the state's requirements including 2770 hours of education and 2 years of work experience. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the Kentucky licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Licensed Professional Counselor license to Kentucky from another state? ▼
Reciprocity for licensed professional counselors nationally works like this: Counseling Compact: 40+ states. Beyond that baseline, interstate compacts exist for many professions and may smooth a transfer into Kentucky. Verify the specifics with the Kentucky licensing board.
Does Kentucky require a background check for Licensed Professional Counselor licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the licensed professional counselor licensing process in Kentucky. 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 Kentucky? ▼
To stay licensed as a licensed professional counselor in Kentucky, plan on 30 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $98.

Related Guides

What to do with this licensed professional counselor license

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

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Kentucky 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.