Tennessee Counseling Licensure: LPC-MHSP Requirements Explained
Learn how to become a Licensed Professional Counselor with Mental Health Service Provider designation (LPC-MHSP) in Tennessee, including board requirements, exams, and application steps.
Becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or LPC-MHSP in Tennessee
Tennessee offers the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential through the Board of Professional Counselors, Marital and Family Therapists. For counselors who want to diagnose and treat mental health disorders, Tennessee also offers the Mental Health Service Provider (MHSP) designation, making the full title LPC-MHSP. Understanding the distinction between these credentials is important for your career planning.
Education Requirements
For the LPC, you need a master's or doctoral degree in counseling with at least 48 semester hours of graduate coursework from an accredited institution. For the MHSP designation, you need at least 60 semester hours. Required content areas include:
- Counseling theories and techniques
- Human growth and development
- Social and cultural foundations
- Group dynamics and counseling
- Career development
- Assessment and evaluation
- Research methods
- Professional ethics
- For MHSP: diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, psychopharmacology
- A supervised clinical practicum
Supervised Experience Hours
Tennessee requires at least two years of post-master's supervised experience. During this time, you must complete 3,000 hours of professional counseling practice, including direct client contact. You will practice as a Temporary Licensed Professional Counselor (TLPC) during this period.
Your supervisor must hold an active Tennessee LPC with the appropriate supervision credential. You must receive at least one hour of individual face-to-face supervision per week during active practice. Two hours of group supervision may substitute for one hour of individual supervision, but individual supervision cannot be eliminated entirely.
Exam Requirements
Tennessee requires the National Counselor Examination (NCE) for the LPC and the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) for the MHSP designation. Each exam costs approximately $275. You can take the NCE upon completing your degree. The NCMHCE can be taken when you are ready to apply for the MHSP credential.
Application Process and Fees
Apply for TLPC status through the Tennessee Department of Health. The application fee is approximately $125. After completing your supervised experience and passing the required exam(s), apply for full LPC (or LPC-MHSP) licensure. The full license application fee is approximately $125. Submit transcripts, supervision documentation, and exam scores.
License Renewal
LPC licenses in Tennessee renew every two years. You must complete 20 hours of continuing education per cycle, including at least 3 hours in ethics. The renewal fee is approximately $125. LPC-MHSP holders have the same renewal requirements.
Reciprocity and Endorsement
Tennessee offers licensure by endorsement for counselors licensed in other states. You must hold a current, unrestricted license, meet education and experience equivalency, and pass the NCE (and NCMHCE for MHSP). The board evaluates each application individually.
Practice What You Learned
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