Your Guide to Getting a Counseling License in Florida
Everything you need to know about becoming a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Florida, including education, internship hours, exams, and application details.
Becoming a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Florida
Florida uses the title Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) for professional counselors. The Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling, under the Department of Health, oversees this license. Florida is one of the most popular states for counseling professionals, and understanding the specific requirements will help you move through the process smoothly.
Education Requirements
You must hold a master's or doctoral degree in mental health counseling or a closely related field from a program that is at least 60 semester hours in length. The program must include coursework in the following areas:
- Counseling theories and practice
- Human growth and development
- Diagnosis and treatment of psychopathology
- Human sexuality
- Group theories and practice
- Individual evaluation and assessment
- Career and lifestyle assessment
- Research and program evaluation
- Social and cultural foundations
- Substance abuse counseling
- Legal, ethical, and professional standards
- A supervised clinical practicum
Florida specifically requires coursework in human sexuality and substance abuse, which some out-of-state programs may not include. If your degree program did not cover these topics, you may need to complete them separately before applying.
Supervised Experience Hours
Florida requires a minimum of two years of post-master's supervised clinical experience, with at least 1,500 hours of face-to-face client contact during that period. You must work under a qualified supervisor who is a licensed mental health professional in Florida. During this time, you will hold the title of Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern.
Supervision must include at least one hour of face-to-face supervision for every 15 hours of client contact. Your supervisor must hold an active Florida license as an LMHC, psychologist, psychiatrist, LCSW, or LMFT, and must have completed supervisor training.
Exam Requirements
Florida requires passage of the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). This exam uses clinical simulations to assess your ability to diagnose and treat mental health disorders. The exam fee is approximately $275. You may take the exam after completing your degree, but you must pass it before applying for full licensure.
Application Process and Fees
Register as a Mental Health Counselor Intern through the Florida Department of Health. The intern registration fee is approximately $155. Once you have completed your supervised experience and passed the NCMHCE, apply for full LMHC licensure. The application fee for the full license is approximately $230. You will also need to complete a background check and submit fingerprints.
License Renewal
LMHC licenses in Florida must be renewed every two years. You must complete 30 hours of continuing education, including:
- 3 hours in ethics
- 2 hours in prevention of medical errors
- 2 hours in laws and rules governing mental health counseling in Florida
- 2 hours in domestic violence (one time only, at first renewal)
- 2 hours in HIV/AIDS (one time only)
The renewal fee is approximately $155.
Reciprocity and Endorsement
Florida offers licensure by endorsement for counselors who have held an active license in another state for at least three of the preceding five years. You must demonstrate that your qualifications are substantially equivalent to Florida's requirements. You will still need to pass the NCMHCE and complete a background check.
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