How to Become a Clinical Mental Health Counselor in South Dakota: Full 2026 Guide

Want to become a clinical mental health counselor in South Dakota? The timing is perfect. The job market looks promising with a projected growth rate of 31% between 2020 and 2030. This is a big deal as it means that the national average of 14%. The career offers stability with an average yearly salary of $57,894, and over 2,700 professional counselors work in the state right now.

South Dakota’s licensing process needs proper planning to meet specific requirements. The state uses a two-tier counselor license system: the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and the LPC-Mental Health designation. You’ll need a master’s degree from a CACREP-accredited institution or a regionally accredited school with at least 48 credits. The job outlook is bright – careers in substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counseling should grow by 13.5%. This means around 190 new positions will open over the next decade.

In this guide, we’ll take you through each step to become a clinical mental health counselor in South Dakota. We’ll cover everything from education requirements to licensing procedures and job opportunities.

Types of Licensure in South Dakota

South Dakota has a unique two-tier licensing system for professional counselors. The Board of Examiners for Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists oversees this system. This approach will give counselors the right qualifications they need, especially when they provide mental health services.

The state provides two main counselor licenses:

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC): This is the basic license to provide general counseling services. LPCs can work in career counseling, schools, relationship counseling, and personal development.
• Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health (LPC-MH): This advanced credential lets counselors diagnose and treat mental health disorders. You can only get this license after getting your LPC credential first.

The LPC-MH shows you have extra training and expertise in mental health diagnosis and treatment. The requirements are tougher than the simple LPC license.

You need to complete a CACREP-accredited program or get a 48-hour master’s degree in counseling from an accredited institution to qualify for the LPC license. You must also pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and complete 2,000 hours of supervised experience.

The LPC-MH credential needs more requirements. You must have a valid LPC license and complete 2,000 more hours of direct client contact in a clinical setting. You also need 100 hours of supervision and must pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE).

Starting July 1, 2024, new students will need to complete 60 credit hours instead of 48 in their master’s or doctoral counseling program.

The licensing process starts with a Plan of Supervision submission. The board must approve this plan before counting any supervised hours toward your license. This application costs $100 and is non-refundable.

The full license application costs $225 after meeting all requirements. Both licenses need renewal by November 30th in even-numbered years. You must complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years, with at least 4 hours in ethics.

South Dakota regulates other counseling specialties through different boards:

The same board issues Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licenses. These need a minimum 48-hour graduate degree in marriage and family therapy.

The South Dakota Board of Addiction and Prevention Professionals offers three credentials: Addiction Counselor Trainee (ACT), Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC), and Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC).

South Dakota does not have reciprocity agreements with other states. Counselors licensed elsewhere must meet South Dakota’s standards before they can practice here.

These licensing options are the foundations for planning your career as a clinical mental health counselor in South Dakota. They help you map out the education and experience you need to reach your professional goals.

Earn Your Degree

The right educational credentials are the base of your path to becoming a clinical mental health counselor in South Dakota. The state’s licensing board has clear academic standards that are 60 years old.

You need a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling to qualify for licensure in South Dakota. Your program must have at least 48 credit hours from an accredited institution. Students who begin their educational path after July 1, 2024, need 60 credit hours in counseling. This change shows how mental health counseling practice has evolved and will give counselors complete training.

A university accredited by one of six regional bodies must award your degree. The Higher Learning Commission, which accredits most Midwest institutions, is one such body. Getting a degree from a program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is the quickest way to licensure. Programs with specific coursework can also meet state requirements.

Programs without CACREP accreditation must have graduate-level courses in these key areas:

• Counseling theory and techniques
• Human growth and development
• Social and cultural foundations
• Group counseling dynamics and processes
• Lifestyle and career development
• Individual appraisal and assessment
• Research and evaluation methods
• Professional, legal, and ethical considerations
• Supervised practicum (minimum 100 hours, with 40 hours of direct service)
• Supervised internship (minimum 600 hours, with 240 hours of direct service)

Several South Dakota institutions offer CACREP-accredited counseling programs that meet state licensure requirements. South Dakota State University has a 60-credit Master of Science in Counseling with specializations in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marriage and Family Counseling, and Rehabilitation Counseling. The University of South Dakota provides a CACREP-accredited Master of Arts in Counseling with tracks in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling. Northern State University features a CACREP-accredited Master of Science in Education with specializations in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling.

You can still complete missing requirements after graduation if your graduate degree has fewer than 48 credit hours or lacks some coursework. Note that you can only complete 12 semester credits after earning your degree, and approved institutions must provide all additional credits for academic credit.

After completing your degree, you must pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) before applying for a Plan of Supervision, which starts your supervised experience. The National Board of Certified Counselors arranges this computer-based examination and sends your official score report to the South Dakota Board office.

Many programs are a great way to get clinical experience through on-site training facilities, beyond formal education. To cite an instance, the University of South Dakota’s counseling program has a state-of-the-art training clinic where students practice under supervision. This practical experience helps you meet the supervised practice requirements for full licensure.

Get Licensed

The path to becoming a licensed clinical mental health counselor in South Dakota starts after you complete your educational requirements. Several significant steps follow. The Board of Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapist Examiners manages the licensing process and oversees all counseling licensure in the state.

Your first step is to submit an Application for a Plan of Supervision. You’ll need:

• A non-refundable application fee of $100
• Official transcripts showing your CACREP-accredited degree or 48-hour master’s in counseling
• Verification of passing the National Counselor Examination (NCE)
• Information about your proposed Board-approved supervisor
• A recent photograph and any applicable criminal record statement

The board must approve your Plan of Supervision before any supervision hours count toward licensure. This approval lasts two years and you can renew it once. The board might grant extensions in special circumstances.

LPC-MH licensure requires 2,000 hours of supervised experience within four years. This includes 800 hours of direct client contact and 100 hours of supervision, with at least 50 hours being face-to-face. During this time, you should prepare and pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE).

After completing supervision requirements and passing the exam, submit your full licensure application with:

• A completed application form
• The refundable biennial license fee of $225
• Documentation of your 2,000 supervised hours
• Verification of examination scores

South Dakota provides licensure by endorsement for counselors licensed in other states. Eligibility requires three continuous years of licensure, active practice (minimum 1,500 hours of clinical experience in the past three years), and passing the required national examination. The application needs a $100 non-refundable application fee plus the $225 biennial license fee.

Licensed LPC and LPC-MH professionals must renew their licenses by November 30th in even-numbered years. Each renewal period needs 40 continuing education hours, including at least 4 hours focused on ethics.

Military members and their spouses might qualify for special considerations during the application process, as noted in the licensure by endorsement application.

Your licensing experience requires strict adherence to the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. This ensures you meet South Dakota’s highest professional standards for mental health professionals.

Find Employment

South Dakota’s job market looks bright for clinical mental health counselors, especially if you’re willing to work in rural areas. The state faces a shortage of mental health providers, which creates excellent opportunities for newly licensed professionals to build their careers.

New clinical mental health counselors can expect to earn around $48,320 per year based on recent data. They can work in community mental health organizations, outpatient care centers, residential facilities, substance abuse treatment centers, psychiatric hospitals, and private practices.

The future looks promising. Counseling jobs are expected to grow faster than South Dakota’s overall job growth rate of 7.7% through 2032. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counseling are the most needed services across the state.

Many major employers in South Dakota are looking to hire licensed mental health professionals. The South Dakota Human Services Center has openings for Mental Health Clinicians (Therapist/Counselor) among other behavioral health positions. Another big employer is the Children’s Home Society of South Dakota, which won the prestigious Champion Award from the Children’s Bureau and provides outpatient therapy services statewide.

West River Mental Health, a private organization running since 1948, often needs counselors for their Family Pathways and outpatient teams. These jobs come with great benefits like health insurance, retirement plans with matching options, paid time off, tuition help, and flexible schedules.

Government jobs are available through federal and state agencies. The Veterans Health Administration offers positions with perks like loan repayment programs and paid parental leave. The City of Sioux Falls Health Department provides jobs with flexible scheduling.

Your job prospects improve when you gain experience in rural areas during training. Many openings come up as professionals retire, so focusing on these areas gives you an edge in the job market.

You’ll find opportunities beyond traditional clinical work too. To cite an instance, SonderMind lets clinicians run their own practice while getting steady referrals. Remote work has grown popular, with companies like Brightside Health offering new approaches to online therapy.

Clinical mental health counselors in South Dakota can look forward to stable jobs with growing opportunities. This is especially true for those who want to work in rural communities or specialize in high-demand areas.

Remain Compliant

South Dakota clinical mental health counselors must comply with state regulations to keep their status active. The Board of Examiners for Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists oversees your license renewal and education requirements after you become licensed.

Your license needs renewal every two years during even-numbered years. The renewal window runs from October 1st through November 30th. This schedule applies to both LPC and LPC-MH licenses, and the next cycle starts October 1, 2026. You must complete 40 hours of continuing education in each two-year period to keep your license current. This includes 4 hours specifically focused on counseling ethics.

The Board adjusts continuing education requirements based on when you got your original license:

• Prior to May 31, 2025: 40 hours (4 ethics)
• June 1, 2025 – November 30, 2025: 30 hours (3 ethics)
• December 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026: 20 hours (2 ethics)
• June 1, 2026 – November 30, 2026: No renewal required until 2028

Board Approved Supervisors have extra requirements. They need education focused on supervision (4 hours if licensed prior to May 31, 2025, with adjusted hours for later licensure dates).

Not all continuing education programs meet South Dakota’s standards. Your professional counseling practice must benefit directly from qualified continuing education. The Board recognizes programs from 18 approved organizations, including the American Counseling Association, National Board for Certified Counselors, and South Dakota state departments of all types. Programs from non-approved providers need Board approval first.

You should keep records that verify your continuing education completion for four years after license renewal. These records must include completion certificates or other participation proof.

The Board allows you to temporarily inactivate your license during renewal time. An inactive license typically expires after four years. You can reactivate it anytime during this period by doing this Board’s process.

The American Counseling Association Code of Ethics guides your career as a licensed counselor in South Dakota. These ethical standards form the foundation of professional practice, whatever your counseling specialty might be.

Next Steps

A career as a clinical mental health counselor in South Dakota brings great professional rewards and stability. The growth rate of 31% through 2030 is a big deal as it means more jobs than the national average, creating plenty of opportunities in a variety of settings. This piece outlines each vital step you need to take to become a licensed counselor in the state.

The state’s two-tier licensing system creates clear paths for your professional growth. You can start with the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential to gain experience before moving to the specialized LPC-Mental Health designation. Note that educational requirements will change from 48 to 60 credit hours for programs starting after July 1, 2024, so planning your academic path makes sense now.

Getting your license requires you to pass specific exams. You’ll need to clear the National Counselor Examination first and later take the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination for the LPC-MH credential. The required supervised experience hours are the foundations of your professional practice.

Job prospects look great throughout South Dakota, especially when you have underserved rural areas where mental health professionals are in high demand. Early-career earnings start around $48,320 annually with positions available in settings of all types. Your investment in education and licensing will likely lead to stable employment opportunities.

Licensed counselors must stay compliant through regular renewal and continuing education to keep their professional standing secure. You’ll need 40 continuing education hours every two years, including ethics training, to keep your skills current with industry standards.

Without doubt, South Dakota welcomes clinical mental health counselors with its growing demand, clear licensure paths, and varied job opportunities. This guide gives you the knowledge to direct each step of your path toward becoming a successful counselor in the Mount Rushmore State.