Resources · Path to Licensure

Step-by-step licensure pathways in District of Columbia.

DC's behavioral-health licenses are issued by DC Health. Most professions use a two-step ladder — a graduate/provisional license you hold while you accrue supervised hours, then the full independent license. Addiction counseling and psychology also carry a DC jurisprudence requirement.

Want the one-line summary instead? See the District of Columbia licensure overview →
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Professional CounselingAddiction & Substance Use CounselingSocial WorkMarriage & Family TherapyPsychology

Professional Counseling

Prep for the NCMHCE / NCE →
LGPC

Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor

Required exam: National counselor exam (NBCC)

Scope: Provisional credential — practice counseling under the supervision of an LPC while you build hours.
  1. EducationMaster's or higher in counseling or a related field (at least 48 graduate hours). Complete the required coursework during your graduate program; if your program was not CACREP-accredited, complete the internship/practicum verification.
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required to obtain the LGPC. This is the license you hold while accruing the post-graduate hours that lead to the LPC.
  3. ExamPass the national counselor examination administered by the NBCC.
  4. ApplicationApply through the DC Health online portal; a criminal background check is required.
LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

Required exam: NCE or NCMHCE (NBCC)

Scope: Independent practice of professional counseling.
  1. EducationMaster's or higher in counseling or a related field with a minimum of 60 graduate hours.
  2. Supervision / experience3,500 post-graduate supervised hours, including 200 hours under immediate (in-person) supervision, at least 100 of which must be with an LPC. Each supervisor completes a postgraduate supervised-experience form that matches your supervision-calculation form.
  3. ExamPass the NCE or NCMHCE (NBCC). DC does not require a separate counseling jurisprudence exam.
  4. ApplicationSubmit through the DC Health portal with a criminal background check. After submitting, you may request supervised practice to work for up to 120 days while your application is processed.

Official Professional Counseling resources

Addiction & Substance Use Counseling

Prep for the MAC / NCAC exam →
CAC I

Certified Addiction Counselor I

Required exam: NAADAC NCAC Level I + DC Jurisprudence Exam

Scope: Addiction counseling under direct supervision; may not perform psychotherapy or diagnose other mental-health disorders.
  1. EducationAssociate's degree or higher in a health or human-services field, including the required coursework (ten 3-hour content areas).
  2. Supervision / experienceAt least 500 hours of supervised experience with at least 40 hours in each of the twelve core functions. Supervisors sign off on each task and submit a Verification of Appropriate Supervision form directly to the board.
  3. ExamPass the NAADAC NCAC Level I exam and the DC Jurisprudence Examination (DC law plus NAADAC ethics).
  4. ApplicationApply online with the CAC supplemental form, coursework form, and supervision-verification forms; a background check is required.
CAC II

Certified Addiction Counselor II

Required exam: NAADAC NCAC Level II + DC Jurisprudence Exam

Scope: Bachelor-level addiction counseling under direct supervision; no independent psychotherapy or mental-health diagnosis.
  1. EducationBachelor's degree or higher in a health or human-services field, including the required coursework (twelve content areas).
  2. Supervision / experienceAt least 180 hours of supervised experience, including at least 10 hours in each of the twelve core functions. Supervisors confirm each task and submit the Verification of Appropriate Supervision form to the board.
  3. ExamPass the NAADAC NCAC Level II exam and the DC Jurisprudence Examination.
  4. ApplicationApply online with the CAC supplemental form, coursework form, and supervision-experience/verification forms; a background check is required.

Official Addiction & Substance Use Counseling resources

Social Work

Prep for the ASWB exam →
LSWA

Licensed Social Work Associate

Required exam: ASWB Associate exam

Scope: Casework, group work, and community organization under the supervision of an LISW or LICSW.
  1. EducationBachelor of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required for this license.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Bachelor's (associate-level) examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit your application with a criminal background check.
LGSW

Licensed Graduate Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Master's exam or 1,500 supervised hours (see note)

Scope: General and non-clinical social work under supervision; psychotherapy only under the supervision of an LICSW.
  1. EducationMaster's or doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required to obtain the LGSW. As of June 10, 2025, before your first renewal you must either pass a national exam or complete 1,500 hours of supervised practice.
  3. ExamNo exam is required to obtain the initial LGSW (see the supervision/experience note for the renewal rule).
  4. ApplicationSubmit your application with a criminal background check.
LISW

Licensed Independent Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Advanced Generalist exam

Scope: Independent non-clinical social work; may direct others but does not diagnose or treat (no psychotherapy).
  1. EducationMaster's or doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experienceAt least 3,000 post-master's or postdoctoral hours over 2–4 years, with at least 100 hours of immediate supervision, under a licensed individual at or above the level you are applying for. You must hold the lower-level license for two years.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Advanced Generalist examination.
  4. ApplicationComplete an applicant work-experience form; supervisors submit on-site/off-site verification forms directly to the board.
LICSW

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Clinical exam

Scope: Independent clinical social work, including diagnosis and psychotherapy; may supervise others.
  1. EducationMaster's or doctoral degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experienceAt least 3,000 post-master's or postdoctoral hours in the diagnosis and treatment of psychosocial problems, over 2–4 years, with at least 100 hours of immediate supervision under an LICSW. You must hold the lower-level license for two years.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Clinical examination. DC does not require a social-work jurisprudence exam.
  4. ApplicationComplete an applicant work-experience form; supervisors submit on-site/off-site verification forms directly to the board.

Official Social Work resources

Marriage & Family Therapy

Prep for the National MFT Exam →
LMFT

Marriage and Family Therapist

Required exam: AMFTRB National MFT Exam

Scope: Independent practice of marriage and family therapy.
  1. EducationMaster's or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy (or an allied field with board-approved graduate coursework) from a COAMFTE-accredited program, including the required content hours.
  2. Supervision / experience2,000 hours of supervised MFT practice over two years (within five years of graduation), including 1,000 hours of face-to-face direct client contact. Supervision runs at roughly one hour per 20 hours of direct contact, at least monthly, with each supervisor documenting on a Verification of Supervision form.
  3. ExamPass the National MFT Examination sponsored by the AMFTRB.
  4. ApplicationApply online with a background check and supplemental form.

Official Marriage & Family Therapy resources

Psychology

Prep for the EPPP →
Psychology Associate

Psychology Associate

Required exam: Per board rules (jurisprudence attestation applies)

Scope: Psychological services under the supervision of a licensed psychologist; not independent.
  1. EducationMaster's degree (or equivalent) in psychology from an accredited institution.
  2. Supervision / experienceNo supervision or experience is required to obtain the associate registration; you practice under a licensed psychologist.
  3. ExamPer board rules; the DC jurisprudence attestation applies.
  4. ApplicationApply through the DC Health portal with a background check, transcripts, and references.
Psychologist

Licensed Psychologist

Required exam: EPPP (Parts 1 & 2) + DC jurisprudence attestation

Scope: Independent practice of psychology.
  1. EducationDoctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) in psychology from an accredited institution.
  2. Supervision / experienceTwo years of supervised experience, at least one of which is postdoctoral; verification forms for both predoctoral and postdoctoral experience are emailed to the board by supervisors. (Board checklists verify roughly 4,000 total hours across both stages.)
  3. ExamPass the EPPP — both Part 1 and Part 2 for doctorates earned on or after Jan 1, 2022. DC's jurisprudence requirement is currently satisfied by reading the study material and signing the attestation statement (no scored exam at this time).
  4. ApplicationApply online with a background check, NPDB self-query within 30 days, an Authorization to Release Information form, three character references, and supervision verification forms. You may request supervised practice for 120 days while pending.

Official Psychology resources

All licenses

District of Columbia licensing portals & background checks.

How to use this page. Each card shows the education, supervised experience, exam, and application steps for one District of Columbia license, plus its scope of practice. Licensing rules change — always confirm current requirements with the official board before you apply. Verified against the official state boards in June 2026.

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