How to Become a Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Hawaii
Hawaii ranks as the third highest-paying state for mental health counselors, with professionals earning a median yearly salary of $75,610. The career outlook looks promising, as the field will grow 17% between 2024 and 2034 – much faster than most other jobs. This rewarding career path might be right for you, but you’ll need to meet specific educational and professional requirements to work as a clinical mental health counselor in Hawaii.
The path to getting your Hawaii mental health counselor license starts with completing a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling from an accredited institution. You’ll need 3,000 hours of supervised post-graduate experience that you must complete within two to four years. Your academic journey must include at least two terms of supervised mental health practicum/internship experience. The LMHC license needs renewal every three years on June 30th. The renewal cycle started in 2023 and continues every three years after that. This piece lays out everything you need to know about becoming a licensed mental health counselor in Hawaii, from education requirements to keeping your credentials current.
Types of Licensure in Hawaii
The Professional and Vocational Licensing (PVL) Division of Hawaii’s Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) manages mental health counselor licenses. Hawaii keeps things simple with just one main credential: the Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC).
You need this license if you plan to use the title “Mental Health Counselor” or practice mental health counseling. Rehabilitation counselors, school counselors, educational counselors, and other counselors don’t need an LMHC unless they use the specific title or practice mental health counseling.
Getting your license involves a few steps. You’ll need to submit an application to the PVL by mail or online and pay a $60.00 fee. After PVL approves your application, they’ll let the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) know you can take the National Counselor Examination (NCE). You can take this computer-based test any time at an Oahu testing center.
If you’ve passed the NCE somewhere else, you won’t need to take it again. Just ask NBCC to send your documentation straight to the PVL office.
Your license cost depends on when it’s issued in the three-year cycle:
- For licenses issued between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024 (first year): $444.00
- For licenses issued between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025 (second year): $350.00
- For licenses issued between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026 (third year): $256.00
These fees cover your license, compliance resolution fund, and any partial renewal costs.
Licensed practitioners from other states can get licensed through reciprocity or endorsement. The PVL might approve a reciprocity agreement if your state’s requirements are like Hawaii’s. Military spouses get special treatment – they can apply through endorsement and use their proven LMHC competency instead of meeting certain supervised experience requirements.
Your LMHC license needs renewal every three years by June 30. Hawaii makes this easy since you don’t need continuing education to renew. You just need to pay the renewal fees to keep your license active.
Earn Your Degree
Your path to becoming a licensed mental health counselor in Hawaii starts with getting the right degree. The educational requirements prepare you for clinical practice in a variety of settings throughout the islands.
To get your Hawaii LMHC license, you need a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling from a regionally accredited institution. The state prefers Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited programs. However, equivalent degrees that meet Hawaii’s coursework requirements are also accepted.
The University of Hawaii at Manoa provides the state’s only CACREP-accredited counseling program. This makes it a popular choice for aspiring counselors. The University of Hawaii at Hilo offers a 60-semester credit Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology with specialization in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Chaminade University also offers a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology program with Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling emphases.
Your degree program must include at least 48 semester hours (70 quarter hours) of graduate coursework covering these nine core content areas:
- Human Growth and Development
- Social and Cultural Foundations
- Counseling Theories and Applications
- Group Theory and Practice
- Career and Lifestyle Development
- Appraisal of Human Behavior
- Tests and Measurements
- Research and Program Evaluation
- Professional Orientation and Ethics
Practical experience is a key part of your education. Hawaiian LMHC applicants must complete at least two academic terms of supervised mental health practicum/internship experience. Each term requires at least three semester hours. This clinical training must include a minimum of 300 hours of supervised client contact.
Most programs focus on multicultural competence – a vital skill when working with Hawaii’s diverse communities. They follow a scientist-practitioner model that emphasizes empirical research and evidence-based practices.
These programs are rigorous, so full-time employment during studies is not recommended. Some universities allow part-time enrollment, but full-time students usually get admission priority.
Students from neighbor islands or those needing more flexibility can choose from several mainland universities that offer online CACREP programs. These programs combine remote coursework with locally arranged supervised clinical training.
After completing your degree, you’ll need to pass the National Counselor Examination and complete post-graduate supervised experience to get your Hawaii mental health counselor license.
Get Licensed
Your journey to get a Hawaii mental health counselor license starts after graduate school. The path combines hands-on experience with required examinations.
You need to complete 3,000 hours of post-graduate experience in mental health counseling practice. This includes 100 hours of face-to-face clinical supervision. The timeframe should be between two and four years. This will give a solid foundation without delaying your career progress.
Your clinical supervisor should be licensed in one of these roles: mental health counselor, psychologist, clinical social worker, advanced practice registered nurse with mental health specialty, marriage and family therapist, or physician with psychiatric specialty. The supervision can now happen through HIPAA-compliant videoconference services. This flexibility helps residents of neighbor islands.
After your supervised experience, you must pass the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE). The NCE is computer-based and accepts applications throughout the year. If you passed the NCE before, you won’t need to take it again. Just ask the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) to send your documentation to Hawaii’s licensing office.
The process starts with a completed application form and a $60 non-refundable fee. Your approved application leads to NCE exam registration details. You’ll pay the examination fee (about $275) directly to NBCC.
Complete all education, practicum, and post-graduate experience before you file your application. Your supervisor needs to fill out the “Post-Graduate Verification Form” with a summary of your supervised duties.
The license fee varies based on when it’s issued in the triennial cycle. You’ll pay $444 in the first year, $350 in the second year, or $256 in the third year.
Hawaii doesn’t have reciprocity agreements with other states. Licensed practitioners from other states must submit a complete application and meet Hawaii’s requirements.
Find Employment
Hawaii needs mental health counselors badly due to a severe shortage of counseling professionals. New licensed counselors will find promising career opportunities throughout the islands.
Mental health counselors in Hawaii can work in many settings. You’ll find jobs in community mental health centers, private practices, hospitals, substance abuse facilities, schools, prisons, and the Veterans Affairs Pacific Islands Health Care System. Many counselors boost their earnings by running part-time private practices alongside their regular jobs.
Hawaii’s unique geography has created a huge need for mental health services. A 2025 survey showed that 78% of healthcare providers ranked mental health and counseling as their top referral specialties—even higher than psychiatry at 73%. This shortage makes it easier for new counselors to find stable jobs.
The future looks bright too. Jobs for clinical and counseling psychologists should grow by 11% from 2022 to 2032. The “other healthcare practitioners and technical occupations” category in Hawaii grew by 125%, which is twice the national average.
Some specialties are needed more than others across the state. These include substance abuse counseling, school counseling, marriage and family therapy, and clinical mental health services. Hawaiian counseling program graduates have landed jobs as School-based Behavioral Health Specialists (SBBHs) with the Hawaii Department of Education, where they help eligible students.
Rural areas and neighbor islands offer great opportunities because they lack access to care. Telehealth has made it possible to help these communities from anywhere. Licensed Mental Health Counselors can start their own practices and get paid by insurance companies. This gives you flexibility in shaping your career.
Groups like Wellness Partners Mental Health look for providers who live in Hawaii and connect well with clients. You can find both telehealth and in-person jobs throughout the state.
Your Hawaii mental health counselor license opens many doors in a market that values your services highly.
Remain Compliant
Your Hawaii mental health counselor license needs specific compliance requirements to practice legally in the state.
Hawaii mental health counselor licenses expire triennially on June 30 (2026, 2029, 2032). The state opens renewal applications on May 1 of your renewal year and mails renewal postcards around May 4. You should note these dates since practicing with an expired license violates state law.
License renewal fees are $282.00 for active status and $12.00 for inactive status. You might choose inactive status if you need an extended break from your practice.
Missing your renewal deadline isn’t the end. Hawaii lets you restore forfeited licenses within one year of expiration. Restoration costs $382.00 for active status and $112.00 for inactive status. Your license terminates if you don’t restore it within a year, and you’ll need to apply as a new candidate and meet current licensing requirements.
Hawaii stands out from other states because it doesn’t require continuing education credits for mental health counselor license renewal. Professional development remains vital for ethical practice, even without mandatory CE requirements.
The state imposes penalties up to $1,000 per violation for using the title “licensed mental health counselor” or practicing without a valid license. Each day could count as a separate offense through civil action.
Client confidentiality is a vital part of your practice. Licensed mental health counselors in Hawaii must protect client privacy except in specific situations:
- When required by law
- To prevent clear and imminent danger
- With prior written consent from the client
- During disciplinary actions or pursuant to authorized subpoenas
Hawaii law has specific restrictions about counselor testimony. If you’ve counseled both marriage partners, you cannot testify in alimony and divorce proceedings. This restriction doesn’t apply to custody cases.
The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs reserves the right to deny renewal, suspend, or revoke licenses. Grounds include professional misconduct, incompetence, gross negligence, ethical violations, or criminal convictions related to counseling practice.
These compliance requirements are fundamental to maintaining your mental health counseling practice in Hawaii.
Next Steps
Starting a career as a licensed mental health counselor in Hawaii brings excellent professional opportunities. This piece outlines the detailed pathway to get your LMHC credential in the Aloha State. Your path to becoming a counselor takes dedication but guides you toward a rewarding career with excellent pay and job security.
Hawaii’s unique setting creates high demand for qualified mental health professionals on all islands. Your investment in education and supervised experience puts you in a strong position in this growing market. The state’s well-laid-out licensing structure provides a clear path to professional growth, despite its rigorous standards.
You’ll need to start with a master’s or doctoral degree, ideally from a CACREP-accredited program. Next comes 3,000 hours of supervised experience over two to four years. Your license application through the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division follows after you pass the National Counselor Examination.
Job prospects look strong due to the shortage of mental health providers in Hawaii. This shortage creates many opportunities in settings of all types, from community mental health centers to private practices. The rise of telehealth has expanded service delivery options, especially for rural communities that don’t have easy access to care.
Licensed counselors must renew their credentials every three years without mandatory continuing education requirements. Professional development helps improve your practice quality and marketability. The field’s expected 17% growth rate through 2034 points to stable long-term prospects.
Becoming a licensed mental health counselor in Hawaii takes serious commitment. The professional satisfaction of meeting critical mental health needs in a variety of communities makes this career path valuable. Your license opens doors to meaningful work. You can make a real difference in Hawaii residents’ lives while building a rewarding career in one of America’s most beautiful states.
Get Started
A career as a licensed mental health counselor in Hawaii offers a stable profession that’s always in demand and can make a real difference. This career path needs careful planning and staying power, but qualified professionals will always find opportunities waiting.
Professional organizations are a great way to get guidance and build your network if you’re thinking about this field. The Hawaii Mental Health Counselors Association has resources specifically for counselors working in the islands. The American Mental Health Counselors Association also provides broader support through education, advocacy, and career growth resources.
New counselors can really benefit from connecting with licensed practitioners who know Hawaii’s licensing process inside out. These mentoring relationships help you navigate the challenging parts of your professional growth. University career centers can also help you find practicum placements and jobs after graduation.
The path to becoming a mental health counselor in Hawaii has clear steps: completing an accredited master’s program, getting supervised experience, passing exams, and applying for your license. Each step builds on the last until you’re ready to practice.
Hawaii’s unique multicultural setting means you’ll need to know how to counsel people from many different backgrounds. Understanding the islands’ diverse populations will make you a better practitioner. Your commitment to getting licensed will help you meet critical mental health needs while building a rewarding career in one of America’s most unique practice settings.