South Dakota Counseling Licensure & Supervision Roadmap

South Dakota licenses professional counselors through the South Dakota Board of Examiners for Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists. The state uses a tiered system in which individuals must first obtain the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential and then complete a board-approved post-graduate plan of supervision to qualify for the Licensed Professional Counselor – Mental Health (LPC-MH) license.

South Dakota Counseling Licensure & Supervision Quick Summary

Requirement	Details
Official Licensing Board	South Dakota Board of Examiners for Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists
Full Clinical License Title	Licensed Professional Counselor – Mental Health (LPC-MH)
Initial License Title	Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Total Supervised Hours Required	Not specified as a single total-hour requirement; requires 2,000 hours of direct client contact plus supervision requirements
Minimum Direct Client Contact Hours	2,000 hours
Required National Exam(s)	NCE (for LPC); NCMHCE (for LPC-MH)
State Jurisprudence Exam Required?	No

The Path to Licensure in South Dakota

Step 1: Complete a Qualifying Graduate Degree

Applicants must complete a graduate degree in counseling or a related field.

Educational requirements include:

• Master’s or doctoral degree in counseling
  
• Minimum of:
  
  • 60 semester credit hours if the program began on or after July 1, 2024
    
  • 48 semester credit hours if the program began before July 1, 2024
    
• Degree must be:
  
  • CACREP-accredited, or
    
  • Determined by the Board to be substantially equivalent
    

Clinical training requirements include:

• Practicum:
  
  • At least 100 hours, including 40 hours of direct service
    
• Internship:
  
  • At least 600 hours, including 240 hours of direct service
    

Step 2: Obtain Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) License

Applicants must obtain the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential before beginning post-graduate clinical supervision required for LPC-MH licensure.

Requirements include:

• Submission of an application to the Board
  
• Verification of qualifying graduate education
  
• Passing the National Counselor Examination (NCE exam)
  

Step 3: Establish a Board-Approved Plan of Supervision

Before beginning post-graduate supervised experience, applicants must submit a Plan of Supervision to the Board.

Key requirements:

• The plan must be approved by the Board before hours begin accruing
  
• Supervision must be conducted by a Board-approved supervisor
  
• No supervised hours will count unless completed under an approved plan
  

Step 4: Complete Supervised Clinical Experience (LPC-MH)

To qualify for the Licensed Professional Counselor – Mental Health (LPC-MH) license, applicants must complete supervised post-graduate clinical experience.

Requirements include:

• 2,000 hours of direct client contact
  
• 100 hours of supervision
  
• All hours must be completed under a board-approved plan of supervision
  

Supervision requirements include:

• At least 1 hour of supervision for every 20 hours of direct client contact
  
• No more than 50 hours of group supervision may count toward the total
  
• Supervision may be conducted:
  
  • In person, or
    
  • Through synchronous electronic communication
    

Additional requirements:

• Supervised hours must be completed within the four years preceding application
  
• All supervision must be provided by a qualified, Board-approved supervisor
  

Step 5: Pass the Required Examination

Applicants must pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) to qualify for LPC-MH licensure.

*Sponsored Counseling Programs

Supervision & Ethics in South Dakota

Who Qualifies as a Supervisor in South Dakota?

Supervisors must be licensed in South Dakota as one of the following:

• Licensed Professional Counselor – Mental Health (LPC-MH)
  
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
  
• Certified Social Worker – Private Independent Practice
  
• Psychologist
  
• Psychiatrist
  

Supervisors must also meet at least one of the following:

• Hold Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) credential
  
• Have at least 2 years of active licensure plus 4 hours of supervision continuing education
  
• Have at least 1 year of active licensure plus 15 hours of supervision continuing education
  
• Be an AAMFT Approved Supervisor
  

Can LPCs Practice Independently in South Dakota?

No. Licensed Professional Counselors must complete a board-approved post-graduate plan of supervision before qualifying for independent clinical practice as an LPC-MH.

What Are the Required Supervision Ratios?

South Dakota requires:

• 1 hour of supervision for every 20 hours of direct client contact
  
• 100 total supervision hours, with no more than 50 hours in group supervision

What Documentation Is Required?

Applicants must maintain and submit documentation of supervised experience.

Requirements include:

• Recording direct client contact and supervision hours on Board forms
  
• Supervisor verification of hours
  
• Supervisor notification to the Board within 14 days of:
  
  • Completion, or
    
  • Termination of supervision
    

Supervisors must also provide the supervisee with a completed verification of hours within 14 days.

Who Is Responsible for Clinical Decisions?

Supervisors are responsible for:

• Providing meaningful, ongoing supervision
  
• Ensuring client welfare
  
• Monitoring the supervisee’s competence and scope of practice
  
• Ensuring that the practice setting is appropriate for clinical work

Common Licensure Pitfalls in South Dakota

Pro Tip
Ensure that the Plan of Supervision is approved before beginning any supervised clinical work. Hours completed prior to approval will not count toward LPC-MH licensure.

Warning
Supervised hours must be completed within the required timeframe and under a qualified supervisor. Failure to meet supervision or documentation requirements may delay or prevent licensure.

Frequently Asked Questions About Counseling Licensure in South Dakota

Can I Start a Private Practice as an LPC in South Dakota?

No. Licensed Professional Counselors must complete supervised post-graduate experience and obtain LPC-MH licensure before practicing independently in a clinical capacity.

How Long Does It Take to Become Fully Licensed in South Dakota?

The timeline varies, but applicants must complete:

• Graduate education requirements
  
• LPC licensure
  
• Supervised clinical experience (2,000 direct client hours)
  
• Examination requirements for LPC-MH
  

Supervised hours must be completed within the four years preceding application.

Does South Dakota Require CACREP Accreditation for Licensure?

No. South Dakota accepts degrees from CACREP-accredited programs or programs determined by the Board to be substantially equivalent. Prospective applicants can explore South Dakota counseling degrees to find relevant programs, including CACREP-accredited online counseling programs.

List of Programs