Licensed Professional Counselor / Oregon
2026 data Oregon board official source

Oregon Licensed Professional Counselor License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

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Provides mental health counseling and therapy services.

What the Oregon data shows for Licensed Professional Counselors

Oregon sets the entry bar for licensed professional counselors at 3,441 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 Oregon's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree in Counseling".

Budget $239 to get started, plus $192 at each renewal 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.

Reciprocity for this profession works like this: Counseling Compact: 40+ states.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
21/100
Licensed Professional Counselor · Oregon

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
3,441 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$239
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$96/yr
$192 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 Oregon

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree in Counseling
3,441 hours
Exam Requirement
NCE (National Counselor Exam) or NCMHCE
Required
Initial License Fee
$239
Renewal Fee
$192
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 Oregon licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Oregon licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Licensed Professional Counselor in Oregon? ▼
In Oregon, the license path calls for 3441 education/training hours, a passing score on NCE (National Counselor Exam) or NCMHCE, and a $239 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Oregon? ▼
Certification as a licensed professional counselor in Oregon means clearing the state's checklist: 3441 hours of education plus 2 years of work experience, and a passing exam score. The Oregon licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Licensed Professional Counselor license to Oregon 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 Oregon licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does Oregon require a background check for Licensed Professional Counselor licensing? ▼
Oregon does require a background check before issuing a licensed professional counselor license. What counts as disqualifying, and how it's reviewed, is up to the state licensing board.
What are the continuing education requirements for Licensed Professional Counselor in Oregon? ▼
To stay licensed as a licensed professional counselor in Oregon, plan on 30 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $192.

Related Guides

What to do with this licensed professional counselor license

Licensed Professional Counselor in Oregon, 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 Oregon 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.