How to Become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Arkansas

Did you know it takes about nine years to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Arkansas? The path to becoming a clinical mental health counselor in Arkansas demands serious dedication of time and education, but the career rewards can be substantial.

You’ll need to complete at least six years of higher education to pursue counseling licensure in Arkansas—four for your bachelor’s degree and two more for your master’s in Counseling. Arkansas’s clinical mental health counselor license requirements include completing a 60-credit graduate program, a 100-hour practicum, and a 600-hour internship. This investment can lead to rewarding career opportunities with varying salary potential. Mental health counselors in Arkansas earn an average annual wage of $48,320, while educational counselors can expect around $54,860 annually.

This piece will guide you through each step of becoming a counselor in Arkansas, from educational requirements to licensing procedures, so you retain control of your credentials for a successful career in mental health counseling.

Types of Licensure in Arkansas

Arkansas’s Board of Examiners in Counseling (ABEC) uses a two-tier licensure system for mental health professionals who want to practice in the state. This well-laid-out system lets new counselors get practical experience before they can practice independently.

Mental health professionals in Arkansas can earn several counseling credentials. The main path takes them from a supervised license to full independent practice:

• Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) – An entry-level license requiring supervision while accumulating post-master’s clinical experience
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – A full license granting independent practice privileges once all requirements are met

Most counselors start their careers as LACs and work under an ABEC-approved LPC supervisor. This apprenticeship is a vital professional development phase where they apply their theoretical knowledge in ground clinical settings.

LACs must complete 3,000 client contact hours under supervision over at least three years to become LPCs. Your supervising LPC needs to send evaluation reports to ABEC twice a year during this time. You and your supervisor must file a Termination Notice with the board when you finish your supervised experience to start your transition to full licensure.

Arkansas lets you reduce your supervised hours through extra education. Each 30 graduate semester credits beyond your required 60-credit master’s degree equals one year (1,000 hours) of supervision credit—up to two years total. This option can speed up your path to independent practice.

LACs must pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) to become LPCs. This process starts when you and your supervisor sign a Petition to Take the NCMHCE. After passing, submit a Petition for License Change to ABEC with a revised Statement of Intent and $100.00 fee.

The State Board of Examiners of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors manages specialized substance abuse counselor credentials. These include the Licensed Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAC) for master’s degree holders and Licensed Associate Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselor (LAADAC) for professionals with bachelor’s degrees in relevant fields.

School counselors can get their licenses through Arkansas’s Department of Education. These professionals help K-12 students with academic, social, emotional, and career development.

LPCs with three years of good standing can become Supervisors. This extra credential lets you train LACs and help shape future counseling professionals. You’ll need to complete a three-semester-credit graduate course in clinical supervision and 18 hours of supervised experience.

LAC and LPC licenses need renewal every two years on May 31st of even-numbered years. LACs pay $250.00 and LPCs pay $300.00. You must complete 24 hours of continuing education each renewal period, including three hours in ethics, to keep your license active.

Earn Your Degree

The educational path to becoming a clinical mental health counselor in Arkansas starts with strong foundations. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in counseling or related fields like psychology, social work, or human services. A Bachelor of Science in Counseling stands out as the preferred choice.

The next step leads to a master’s degree in counseling. Arkansas requires 60 graduate semester hours to qualify as a professional counselor. This complete graduate training takes 2-3 years based on your schedule – full-time or part-time.

Arkansas accepts degrees from institutions with regional accreditation recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Notwithstanding that, programs with Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accreditation give you extra benefits. CACREP accreditation will give a guarantee that your training meets national quality standards in counseling education.

Arkansas features four CACREP-accredited graduate counseling programs that meet licensure requirements. These programs are available at Arkansas State University, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, John Brown University, and Henderson State University. Each program is a chance to explore different specializations and formats that match your priorities.

The master’s curriculum must include specific topics to qualify for licensure. Arkansas demands at least three semester credits in these key areas:

• Professional Identity and Ethics
• Social and Cultural Diversity
• Human Growth and Development
• Career Development
• Helping Relations
• Group Work
• Assessment
• Research and Program Evaluation
• Psychopathology/Abnormal Psychology
• Family and Relationship
• Psychopharmacology

Arkansas requires at least one credit hour of technology-assisted counseling services (TACS) training. UA Little Rock provides this as an independent study course (COUN 7190).

Clinical training plays a vital role in the program. Students need a practicum and internship that total nine semester credits across three graduate courses over six months. The practicum requires 100 hours minimum with 40 hours of direct client services. The internship demands 600 hours with 240 hours of direct client services.

Most Arkansas programs use hybrid delivery models that blend online and in-person learning. The state has no fully online CACREP-accredited counseling programs. To name just one example, John Brown University delivers over 70% of coursework through online and weekend classes. University of Arkansas at Little Rock offers an online degree that includes mandatory in-person clinical components.

Programs often come with specialized tracks. UA Little Rock showcases four distinct paths: Counselor Education (48 credits), Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling (60 credits), Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60 credits), and Traditional Rehabilitation Counseling (60 credits).

Graduating from the program prepares you for Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) certification. Arkansas State University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program helps students prepare for the National Counselor Examination (NCE) needed for licensure.

Get Licensed

After completing your master’s degree, you’ll start your path toward becoming a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC). You can practice under supervision with this credential. The Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling (ABEC) requires an application submission with a $100.00 application fee. Students in their final semester of graduate studies can apply using an unofficial transcript and their institution’s confirmation letter.

Your application should include a core curriculum summary form showing how your coursework aligns with Arkansas requirements. The ABEC will review your application and ask for four recommendation letters, your professional intent statement, and completed state and federal background checks.

The National Counselor Examination (NCE) comes next, administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors. This exam costs $195.00. The ABEC must approve and provide an eligibility letter before you can register. Your registration takes about four weeks to process and stays valid for six months.

Arkansas also requires you to pass the Arkansas Jurisprudence Exam to test your knowledge of state laws and counseling ethics. The ABEC must approve any testing accommodations before registration.

Your LAC license requires one final step – an oral examination at one of the board’s monthly meetings. The board recommends that new applicants watch this process at a meeting before their interview.

After meeting all requirements, you’ll need to submit a supervision agreement and pay a prorated fee set by the board. The ABEC will then issue your LAC license number, and you can begin seeing clients under supervision.

Moving from LAC to LPC status requires 3,000 client contact hours under supervision, usually taking three years. These hours split into two levels: Level 1 needs one supervision hour per 10 client contact hours for the first 500 hours. Level 2 requires one supervision hour per 20 client contact hours for the remaining 2,500 hours.

Your supervisor must send evaluation reports to ABEC every six months. Once you complete your supervised hours, your supervisor will submit a license change petition, your $100.00 fee, and an updated intent statement.

The path from bachelor’s degree to full LPC licensure usually takes about nine years – four years for your bachelor’s, two for your master’s, and three years of supervised practice.

Find Employment

Arkansas gives newly licensed mental health counselors excellent career prospects. You’ll find plenty of job options throughout the state after getting your license.

The money looks good for counselors in Arkansas. Licensed professional counselors make an average of $112,376 per year across the state. Little Rock counselors earn around $113,390 yearly. Your pay changes by a lot based on location. Fort Smith leads with $120,995, Rogers follows at $115,004, and Jonesboro comes in at $113,636. Some places pay much less, like Pine Bluff ($62,450) and Bentonville ($50,828).

When it comes to jobs, you’ll find many places that hire mental health counselors in Arkansas. Community mental health centers, private practices, hospitals, schools, and substance abuse treatment facilities welcome qualified professionals. Employee assistance programs, correctional facilities, veterans services, and university counseling centers also look for counselors regularly.

Several organizations are actively looking for mental health counselors right now. Methodist Family Health wants therapists at their Batesville location to work with children and adolescents in outpatient and school settings. Families Inc. Counseling Services has jobs open in Pocahontas, Walnut Ridge, and Osceola, with yearly pay between $60,000 to $80,000.

The University of Arkansas Medical School’s psychiatry department has several senior clinical therapist positions open in specialties of all types. These openings include spots at their Walker Family Clinic, Pulaski County Crisis Stabilization Unit, and NWA Odyssey Clinic. The Behavioral Health Services of Arkansas starts pay at $20 per hour.

Rural areas face serious shortages of mental health professionals, which creates more opportunities. Counselors who specialize in substance abuse treatment, trauma counseling, and child/adolescent therapy are in high demand statewide.

Job hunters can check Indeed and ZipRecruiter for mental health counseling positions regularly. Recent job posts show contract positions paying $60-$80 per hour and full-time roles with benefits. Many employers sweeten the deal with loan forgiveness, professional development help, health insurance, and retirement plans.

Arkansas’s military bases and growing older population mean specialists in military family support and geriatric mental health can easily find work.

Remain Compliant

Your Arkansas counseling license needs regular attention to continuing education and ethical standards compliance. The Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling requires license renewal every two years on May 31st of even-numbered years. You must meet several requirements to keep your license active.

Counselors need 24 hours of continuing education during each two-year renewal period. The requirements include at least 3 hours specifically focused on professional ethics. Board Approved Clinical Supervisors must complete 6 hours of supervision-focused continuing education every two years.

License renewal fees depend on your level – $250.00 for Licensed Associate Counselors (LACs) and $300.00 for Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). Missing these requirements automatically suspends your practice rights. You can renew a lapsed license within one year by paying all overdue fees. After the one-year grace period, you must submit a new application.

The Arkansas Board follows the American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. This code prevents discrimination based on age, color, culture, disability, ethnic group, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, or socioeconomic status.

You have multiple options to get your continuing education credits. The Arkansas Mental Health Counselors Association (ARMHCA) conference provides up to 17 CEUs per event. Their website shows they provide required ethics CEUs that therapists, supervisors, and technology-assisted specialists need. Arkansas Counseling & Wellness Services, an approved provider (ACEP #7353), also offers continuing education credits.

The National Counselor Examination (NCE) or National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) can replace the 24-hour continuing education requirement if passed within 12 months of renewal.

Mental health professionals in Arkansas must keep accurate records of their continuing education. Random board audits happen frequently, so documentation of completed courses and training should be readily available. This professional development helps you stay current with mental health counseling’s best practices.

Next Steps

Starting a career as a licensed mental health counselor in Arkansas takes dedication, education, and perseverance. This piece outlines your path from education to licensure and beyond. You’ll need to get your bachelor’s degree and complete a 60-credit master’s program with specialized coursework and clinical experience. The National Counselor Examination qualifies you to work as a Licensed Associate Counselor while you accumulate 3,000 supervised clinical hours.

The journey from student to licensed professional typically takes nine years. In spite of that, the career rewards make this investment worth your time. Licensed counselors earn competitive salaries ranging from $48,320 to over $112,000, based on their location and specialty in Arkansas.

Strong job prospects exist in health centers of all sizes, private practices, hospitals, and schools. Rural communities with professional shortages create excellent opportunities for new counselors. Specializing in substance abuse treatment, trauma counseling, and child therapy can boost your career options.

Your professional credentials need regular maintenance after licensure. You must complete 24 hours of continuing education every two years, with three hours focused on ethics. License renewals happen on May 31st of even-numbered years, and missing these deadlines can lead to suspension.

Mental health counseling offers both personal satisfaction and career growth. This step-by-step overview gives you the tools to direct your path toward becoming a licensed mental health counselor in Arkansas. You can now move forward with confidence in this rewarding career that helps others improve their mental health and emotional well-being.