How to Become a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Minnesota

Did you know that mental health counseling careers are projected to grow by 18% over the next decade? A career path as a licensed professional clinical counselor gives you stability in a field that needs more professionals and lets you make a real difference in people’s lives.

Minnesota’s licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) credential is an advanced practice license that needs extensive education, training, and supervised experience. The licensure takes about 8-12 years of commitment, while LPC licensure typically needs 7-11 years. LPCCs must complete extra clinical coursework and take different licensing exams than LPCs.

Minnesota’s counseling licensure requirements include a master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited program, 700 hours of supervised internship experience, and 4,000 hours of supervised clinical practice with 1,800 direct client contact hours. The application process costs $150 for your original application and $250 for the license itself.

Licensed counselors in Saint Paul earn a median salary of $69,713, which makes this career path financially rewarding too. This piece will show you the exact steps, requirements, and timeline to become a licensed professional clinical counselor in Minnesota.

Types of Licensure in Minnesota

Minnesota provides multiple paths to become a mental health professional. Each license type serves clinical roles and settings differently. Your professional goals will help you pick the right career path.

The Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (BBHT) manages two main counseling licenses: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). These credentials have substantial differences in their scope, requirements, and practice privileges.

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

The LPC is an entry-level master’s degree license that needs:

• A master’s or doctoral degree in counseling or related field from a CACREP or CHEA accredited program
• At least 48 semester credits (or 72 quarter credits)
• 700 hours of supervised field experience during graduate training
• Completion of specific academic coursework in ten subject areas
• 2,000 hours of supervised post-degree professional practice
• 100 hours of supervision (50% must be individual supervision)
• Successful completion of the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or equivalent

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)

Minnesota’s higher-level independent license, the LPCC, comes with broader clinical authority:

• Same educational requirements as the LPC plus 24 semester credits in clinical coursework
• 4,000 hours of supervised post-master’s clinical practice
• 200 hours of supervision (at least 100 hours must be individual)
• 1,800 direct client contact hours
• Passage of the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)

LPCCs can legally diagnose and treat more severe mental health disorders, while LPCs take a more generalist approach. The LPCC also meets Minnesota’s requirements as a mental health professional.

You might want to apply directly for the LPCC if you’re close to finishing your 4,000 supervised work hours instead of getting an LPC first. LPCs have the option to upgrade to LPCC status through a conversion application.

Both licenses come with three application options:

1. General/Examination method (for first-time applicants)
2. Conversion method (for LPCs upgrading to LPCC)
3. Reciprocity method (for counselors licensed in other states)

The total cost includes a $150 application fee and $250 initial license fee, adding up to $400. A criminal background check costs an extra $33.25 if needed. You must renew your license every year.

Minnesota recognizes other mental health professional licenses too. These include Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers (LICSWs), and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors (LADCs). Each credential serves unique clinical functions and populations that need specific educational backgrounds and supervised experience.

Minnesota will join the Counseling Compact on August 1, 2024. This allows counselors to work across state lines once the compact takes full effect. This change opens up interstate practice opportunities for counselors.

Your choice between license types should depend on practice scope, insurance reimbursement eligibility, and your career goals in the mental health field.

Earn Your Degree

Your path to becoming a licensed professional clinical counselor in Minnesota starts with the right educational credentials. These credentials are the base of your counseling career and must meet specific requirements set by the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy.

You’ll need a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling or a related field to get your LPC and LPCC license. Your degree should come from an institution accredited by either the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

The degree program should have at least 48 semester credits or 72 quarter credits and a graduate program supervised field experience of at least 700 hours. Your coursework needs to cover these ten core academic areas:

1. The helping relationship, including counseling theory and practice
2. Human growth and development
3. Lifestyle and career development
4. Group dynamics, processes, counseling, and consulting
5. Assessment and appraisal
6. Social and cultural foundations, including multicultural issues
7. Principles of etiology, treatment planning, and prevention of mental disorders
8. Family counseling and therapy
9. Research and evaluation
10. Professional counseling orientation and ethics

Several Minnesota universities offer CACREP-accredited counseling programs that meet these requirements. Minnesota State University Moorhead has three CACREP-accredited specialties: Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling, and Addiction Counseling. Their graduates show excellent results – 98% pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and 100% clear the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE).

Programs adapt to working professionals’ needs through flexible scheduling. You can choose from evening classes after 4:30 PM, online courses, and hybrid learning options. The University of Minnesota’s counselor education program combines in-person coursework with online technology and hybrid learning requirements.

Some schools offer faster paths to completion. Crown College lets students earn both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 6 years instead of 7 through their accelerated Master of Arts in Counseling Program. St. Thomas University gives qualified bachelor’s degree holders direct admission to their PsyD program.

Full-time students typically complete their counseling master’s program in two years, while part-time students take three to five years. Job prospects look good – Minnesota State University Moorhead reports 100% employment for graduates from their Clinical Mental Health, School Counseling, and Addiction Counseling programs.

Research programs carefully to ensure they meet your license path requirements. LPCC applicants need extra clinical coursework beyond the master’s requirements. Talk to program coordinators and attend information sessions to make sure your educational plan matches your professional licensing goals in Minnesota.

Get Licensed

Getting your LPCC license through the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (BBHT) is your next big step after completing your education. You need to pay attention to details and document your clinical experience properly.

The BBHT gives you three ways to get your LPCC license:

• General Method: For first-time applicants with the required education and supervised experience
• Conversion Method: For current LPC licensees upgrading to LPCC status
• Reciprocity: For counselors licensed in other jurisdictions with similar requirements

You’ll need to complete 4,000 hours of supervised post-master’s clinical practice once you choose your application path. This requirement has at least 1,800 direct client contact hours and 200 hours of supervision. Half of these supervision hours must be one-on-one. You need two supervision hours for every 40 hours of professional practice during your supervised work.

The National Board for Certified Counselors requires you to pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). This exam focuses on clinical mental health counseling competencies, unlike the NCE needed for LPC licensure. You can take this exam right after finishing your graduate program.

The application process starts when you download the form from the BBHT website and submit it with the fees. The total cost is $433.25 – $400 for application and $33.25 for the criminal background check. You won’t need to pay the background check fee if you’ve already done one for another BBHT license.

Your application needs these supporting documents:

• Official graduate transcripts sent directly from your institution
• Verification of your 700-hour field experience (if not noted on transcripts)
• Official NCMHCE exam results
• License verification (for reciprocity applicants)
• Completed supervision verification forms

A criminal background check takes about 2-3 weeks. The whole process from education to full licensure takes 8-12 years. This timeline depends on your educational path and how fast you complete your supervised hours.

LPC licensees using the conversion method should know this: If you have 2,000 supervised hours and independent practice status, you only need 2,000 more hours. This includes 100 supervision hours and 900 direct client hours.

Your license starts on the first day of the month after your application gets approved. LPCC licenses last two years and need 40 hours of continuing education to renew. These hours must include four hours of cultural competency training and three hours of ethics.

Getting your LPCC designation makes you a mental health professional under Minnesota regulations. This means you can practice independently and diagnose and treat mental health disorders without supervision.

Find Employment

Minnesota’s job market offers great opportunities for licensed professional clinical counselors in a variety of settings. Your LPCC credential opens doors to find the perfect role that matches your skills and interests.

Mental health counselors can expect excellent job prospects. The field projects 18% growth from 2022 to 2032, which outpaces most other occupations. Each year, this expanding sector will create about 42,000 new job openings. The public’s growing acceptance of mental health services drives this development.

Licensed counselors work in organizations of all types throughout Minnesota. A 2018 workforce survey revealed that most LPCCs (59.3%) choose to work in clinics, professional offices, or health centers. Other professionals find their place in insurance/benefits management organizations (7.9%), community or faith-based organizations (7.7%), hospitals (4.9%), and correctional facilities (3.6%).

Minnesota’s mental health counselors earned an annual mean wage of $59,020 as of May 2024. The salary structure looks like this:

• Entry-level counselors (10th percentile): $45,210
• Early career professionals (25th percentile): $49,880
• Mid-career counselors (median): $58,720
• Experienced practitioners (75th percentile): $64,370
• Senior counselors and specialists (90th percentile): $75,530

The typical work week spans 40 hours for most licensed counselors. Half of all LPCs and LPCCs work between 31-40 hours each week. Only 20% choose to work 30 hours or fewer.

Metropolitan areas provide the most job opportunities. Minneapolis leads with 179 positions, while Moorhead offers 144, Saint Paul 111, and Saint Cloud 46. Major employers include Concordia College, Mayo Clinic, Fairview Health Services, and various treatment centers.

Mental health counseling dominates the field with 86% of Minnesota’s licensed counselors. Addiction counseling follows at 15%. Marriage and family therapy (12%), employee assistance programs (8%), and school counseling (4%) round out the main specialties.

The profession shows remarkable stability – 82% of LPCCs plan to stay in practice for more than ten years. This commitment reflects both job satisfaction and the profession’s younger demographic profile.

Your LPCC credential opens doors beyond traditional clinical settings. Think about exploring specialized practice opportunities throughout Minnesota that match your interests and expertise.

Remain Compliant

You need to pay close attention to renewal requirements and continuing education to keep your LPCC credential active throughout your career. Your annual renewal cycle and professional development requirements begin right after you receive your license.

Your LPCC license in Minnesota stays valid for one year. The expiration happens on the last day of the month before your license’s issue month. The Board will send a renewal notice to your address about 45 days before expiration. Not getting this notice doesn’t free you from renewing on time.

Your license renewal needs these items:

• A completed renewal application (signed and notarized for paper submissions)
• The required renewal fee
• Documentation of completed continuing education requirements

The renewal fees are straightforward:

• Active LPCC renewal: $250.00
• Inactive LPCC renewal: $125.00
• Late renewal penalty: $100.00 per month

Your first four years of licensure have specific education requirements. You must complete:

• 60 graduate-level semester credits and/or
• 40 continuing education units

Students with fewer than 60 semester credits in their graduate degree need extra credits by their fourth renewal. To cite an instance, a 48-credit degree holder needs 12 more credits. After your fourth renewal, you just need 40 CE hours every two years.

The Board now requires all licensees to complete 4 hours of cultural responsiveness training within their 40 CE hours each renewal period, starting July 2023. Your continuing education must relate to counseling.

Random continuing education audits happen during each renewal period. Selected licensees must verify all CE activities. Keep your documentation of completed hours for at least five years.

Professional standards go beyond paperwork. Minnesota’s code of ethics binds you as an LPCC and sets standards for professional conduct and client relationships.

Next Steps

The path to becoming a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Minnesota takes dedication, careful planning, and persistence. You’ll spend about 8-12 years from your first day of college until you get your full license. Your education must include a master’s or doctoral degree from a CACREP or CHEA accredited program. You’ll also need 4,000 hours of supervised practice.

The license comes with a financial and personal commitment. You’ll need around $433.25 for application fees and background checks. Once you get your license, you must complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years. This includes specific training in cultural responsiveness and ethics.

The job market for LPCCs looks bright, with an expected growth of 18% over the next decade. This is a big deal as it means that the growth rate is much higher than other occupations. Minnesota’s LPCCs can work in many settings – from clinics and private practices to hospitals and correctional facilities. The median annual salary sits at around $58,720.

Minnesota’s LPCC credential is an advanced practice license that lets you diagnose and treat mental health disorders on your own. This complete credential also makes you a mental health professional under state regulations. It opens more clinical opportunities than the LPC designation.

This career path gives you the chance to make a real difference in people’s lives and communities. The numbers speak for themselves – 82% of current LPCCs plan to stay in practice for more than ten years. This shows how rewarding this vital work can be. Now you have a clear roadmap to guide each step toward becoming a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Minnesota.