2026 data Mississippi board official source

Mississippi Licensed Professional Counselor License Requirements

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

Provides mental health counseling and therapy services.

What the Mississippi data shows for Licensed Professional Counselors

Mississippi's path to licensed professional counselor licensure runs through 2,797 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. Mississippi folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree in Counseling".

Upfront cost is $116, with renewal running $102 on a 2-year cycle. Maintaining the license requires 30 hours of continuing education per 2-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.

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

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
34/100
Licensed Professional Counselor · Mississippi

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
2,797 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee D
$116
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden C-
$51/yr
$102 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 Mississippi

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree in Counseling
2,797 hours
Exam Requirement
NCE (National Counselor Exam) or NCMHCE
Required
Initial License Fee
$116
Renewal Fee
$102
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
30 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years
Work Experience Required
2 years
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Mississippi licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Licensed Professional Counselor in Mississippi?
Mississippi requires 2797 education/training hours, passing an exam (NCE (National Counselor Exam) or NCMHCE), and an initial fee of $116. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Mississippi?
Mississippi licenses licensed professional counselors who complete its requirements (2797 education hours, 2 years of experience) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Mississippi licensing board.
Can I transfer my Licensed Professional Counselor license to Mississippi from another state?
Here's how reciprocity typically plays out for licensed professional counselors: Counseling Compact: 40+ states. Many occupations are additionally covered by interstate licensing compacts that ease cross-state moves. Check with the Mississippi licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does Mississippi require a background check for Licensed Professional Counselor licensing?
A criminal background check is mandatory for licensed professional counselor licensing in Mississippi. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.
What are the continuing education requirements for Licensed Professional Counselor in Mississippi?
Licensed licensed professional counselors in Mississippi must complete 30 hours of continuing education every 2 years. The renewal fee is $102.

What to do with this licensed professional counselor license

Licensed Professional Counselor in Mississippi, 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 Mississippi 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.