Arizona LPC Licensure: Your Complete Roadmap
Navigate Arizona LPC licensure with this guide covering the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners requirements for education, supervised practice, exams, and license application.
Becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Arizona
Arizona regulates professional counselors through the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (BBHE). The state offers the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) for independent practice and the Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) for those completing supervised experience.
Education Requirements
You must hold a master's or doctoral degree in counseling or a closely related field from an accredited institution. The program must include at least 60 semester hours of graduate coursework. Arizona accepts CACREP-accredited programs and evaluates non-CACREP programs individually. Required coursework includes:
- Counseling theory and practice
- Human growth and development
- Social and cultural foundations
- Group counseling
- Career and lifestyle development
- Assessment and appraisal
- Research and program evaluation
- Professional ethics and law
- Diagnosis and psychopathology
- Substance abuse counseling
- A supervised clinical practicum or internship
Supervised Experience Hours
Arizona requires 3,200 hours of supervised clinical experience for full LPC licensure. At least 1,600 hours must be in direct client contact. You will practice under LAC status during this period. The supervised experience must be completed over a minimum of two years.
Your supervisor must be a board-approved clinical supervisor holding an active LPC, licensed psychologist, or equivalent credential in Arizona. You need at least one hour of individual face-to-face supervision per week.
Exam Requirements
Arizona requires passage of the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). Either exam satisfies the state requirement. Each costs approximately $275. Arizona does not require a state-specific jurisprudence exam, though you are expected to be familiar with the state's statutes and rules.
Application Process and Fees
Apply for LAC status through the BBHE. The LAC application fee is approximately $250. After completing your supervised hours and exam, apply for full LPC status with a fee of approximately $250. Submit transcripts, exam scores, supervision verification, and a fingerprint-based background check.
License Renewal
LPC licenses in Arizona renew every two years. You must complete 40 hours of continuing education per cycle, including at least 3 hours in ethics and at least 3 hours in a clinical topic related to your area of practice. The renewal fee is approximately $250.
Reciprocity and Endorsement
Arizona offers licensure by endorsement through a universal recognition process. If you have held an active license in another state for at least one year with no disciplinary actions, Arizona may grant licensure without requiring you to meet all state-specific education and experience standards. This makes Arizona one of the more favorable states for counselors relocating from elsewhere.
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