Mississippi Counseling Licensure & Supervision Roadmap

Becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Mississippi requires completing a qualifying graduate degree, passing a national counseling examination, obtaining a Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor (P-LPC) credential, and completing 3,000 hours of post-master’s supervised counseling experience.

Mississippi requires 1,200 hours of direct client contact, at least 100 hours of supervision, and a minimum of two years to complete supervised experience. Applicants must also pass either the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) before full licensure.

Mississippi Counseling Licensure & Supervision Quick Summary

Requirement	Details
Official Licensing Board	Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors
Full Clinical License Title	Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Initial / Associate License Title	Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor (P-LPC)
Total Supervised Hours Required	3,000 hours
Minimum Direct Client Contact Hours	1,200 hours
Required National Exam(s)	National Counselor Examination (NCE) or National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)
State Jurisprudence Exam Required?	Yes

The Path to Licensure in Mississippi

Step 1: Complete a Qualifying Graduate Degree

Applicants must complete a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling or a related field.

Educational requirements include:

• Minimum 60 graduate semester hours
  
• Minimum 100-hour practicum
  
• Minimum 600-hour internship
  

CACREP accreditation is not required, but the Mississippi State Board of Licensed Professional Counselors evaluates programs for educational equivalency. Prospective applicants can explore Mississippi counseling degrees to find relevant programs, including CACREP-accredited counseling programs.

Step 2: Pass the Required Examination(s)

Applicants must pass one of the following national examinations:

• National Counselor Examination (NCE exam)
  
• National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)
  

These exams are accepted by the Mississippi State Board of Licensed Professional Counselors as qualifying examinations for LPC licensure.

Applicants must also pass the Mississippi Pass/Fall Jurisprudence Examination.

Step 3: Apply for Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor (P-LPC)

Mississippi requires candidates to obtain Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor (P-LPC) status before accruing post-graduate supervised experience.

Requirements include:

• Application to the Mississippi State Board of Licensed Professional Counselors
  
• Approval of a supervision agreement by the Board prior to beginning supervised experience
  

Supervised hours must be completed while holding P-LPC licensure and under an approved supervisor.

Step 4: Complete Supervised Clinical Experience

Mississippi requires the following supervised experience for LPC licensure:

• 3,000 hours of post-master’s supervised counseling experience
  
• 1,200 hours must be direct client contact
  
• Minimum 100 hours of supervision, including individual supervision
  
• Minimum timeframe: 2 years
  

Supervision must occur:

• While the individual holds P-LPC status
  
• Under a Board-approved supervisor
  

Documentation of supervised experience must be submitted to the Board and verified by the supervisor.

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Supervision & Ethics in Mississippi

Who Qualifies as a Supervisor in Mississippi?

Supervisors must be designated as Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisors (LPC-S) and approved by the Mississippi State Board of Licensed Professional Counselors.

Requirements include:

• Active Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential
  
• At least 5 years of post-licensure counseling experience
  
• Meeting the Board’s supervisor approval requirements

Can Associates Practice Independently in Mississippi?

No. Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselors may not practice independently. They must practice under supervision from a Board-approved LPC-S while completing required supervised experience.

What Documentation or Supervision Agreements Are Required?

Mississippi requires a supervision agreement to be approved by the Board before supervised experience begins.

Additionally:

• Supervisors must verify and document supervised hours
  
• Documentation must be submitted to the Board when applying for full licensure
  

Supervised experience must occur while the individual holds P-LPC status and an approved supervisor.

Who Is Responsible for Clinical Decisions?

According to the Board’s rules, the supervisor is responsible for monitoring and evaluating the supervisee’s professional counseling services during the supervision period.

How Must Associates Represent Their Credentials?

Individuals practicing under provisional licensure must use the title “Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor.”

Common Licensure Pitfalls in Mississippi

Pro Tip

Mississippi requires the supervision agreement to be approved before supervised experience begins. Hours completed before Board approval or before obtaining P-LPC status may not qualify toward the required supervised experience.

Warning

Supervised hours may be disqualified if:

• They occur before obtaining P-LPC licensure
  
• They occur without an approved supervisor
  
• Supervision documentation is not properly verified by the supervisor
  
• The minimum two-year supervision timeframe is not met

Frequently Asked Questions About Counseling Licensure in Mississippi

Can I Start a Private Practice as a Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor in Mississippi?

No. Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselors may not practice independently and must work under supervision from a Board-approved LPC-S while completing required supervised experience.

How Long Does It Take to Become Fully Licensed in Mississippi?

Mississippi requires a minimum of two years to complete the required 3,000 hours of supervised counseling experience.

Does Mississippi Require CACREP Accreditation for Licensure?

No. Mississippi does not require CACREP accreditation. However, the Mississippi State Board of Licensed Professional Counselors evaluates graduate counseling programs for educational equivalency to ensure they meet the Board’s academic requirements.

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