Resources · Path to Licensure

Step-by-step licensure pathways in Iowa.

Iowa licenses five of the six behavioral-health professions at the state level and recognizes a sixth (addiction counseling) through certification. Counseling, marriage & family therapy, and behavior analysis are administered by the Board of Behavioral Health Professionals (under DIAL); psychology and social work have their own boards. Two Iowa-specific points stand out: addiction counseling is NOT a state license — it is a four-tier certification (tCADC, CADC, IADC, IAADC) issued by the private Iowa Board of Certification using IC&RC exams — and Iowa state-licenses behavior analysts (Behavior Analyst and Assistant Behavior Analyst) under Iowa Code chapter 154D, with the BACB credential as the qualifying gate. Iowa counseling now requires the NCMHCE (the NCE is no longer accepted for the permanent license).

Want the one-line summary instead? See the Iowa licensure overview →
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Professional CounselingAddiction & Substance Use CounselingSocial WorkMarriage & Family TherapyPsychologyBehavior Analysis

Professional Counseling

Prep for the NCMHCE / NCE →
tLMHC

Temporary Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Required exam: None required to obtain the temporary license (the NCMHCE must be passed before the permanent license issues).

Scope: Iowa’s entry credential, issued by the Board of Behavioral Health Professionals under Iowa Code chapter 154D (rules at IAC 481—891). It lets a qualifying graduate practice mental-health counseling while accruing the supervised clinical experience required for the permanent LMHC. Valid up to three years.
  1. EducationA master’s or doctoral degree in mental-health counseling from a CACREP-accredited program — 60 semester hours if the program started on or after July 1, 2012 (45 hours if before). Non-CACREP programs require a CCE content-equivalency evaluation.
  2. Supervision / experienceThe temporary license exists to begin the 3,000-hour supervised experience under a board-approved supervisor with a filed supervision plan.
  3. ExamNone at this tier.
  4. ApplicationApply to the BHP board via the DIAL/IBPL online portal ($120 fee); transcripts are sent directly from the school.
LMHC

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Required exam: The NCMHCE (National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination) of NBCC. Effective January 1, 2022, the NCMHCE is required for the mental-health-counselor license; the NCE is no longer accepted. No separate state jurisprudence exam.

Scope: Iowa’s full, independent counseling license, issued by the BHP board under Iowa Code chapter 154D (IAC 481—891). It authorizes the independent practice of mental-health counseling, including diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.
  1. EducationA master’s or doctoral degree in mental-health counseling (60 semester hours, CACREP) — the same as the temporary license.
  2. Supervision / experienceAt least 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience over a minimum of two years, including at least 1,500 hours of direct client contact and at least 110 hours of direct supervision (of which at least 24 hours must be live supervision), per IAC 481—891.7.
  3. ExamPass the NCMHCE.
  4. ApplicationApply to the BHP board via the DIAL/IBPL portal ($120 fee) with transcripts and the supervision report form.

Official Professional Counseling resources

Addiction & Substance Use Counseling

Prep for the MAC / NCAC exam →
tCADC

Temporary Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor

Required exam: None for the temporary credential.

Scope: Iowa’s entry-level addiction credential. IMPORTANT: addiction counseling in Iowa is CERTIFICATION, not a state license — it is issued by the private, nonprofit Iowa Board of Certification (IBC), an IC&RC member board. The tCADC lets a candidate build experience toward the CADC; it is not independent practice.
  1. EducationPartial Core Functions training toward the CADC requirement.
  2. Supervision / experienceAccruing supervised hours toward the CADC threshold.
  3. ExamNone.
  4. ApplicationApply to the IBC (see the IBC Counselor Application Handbook and fee schedule).
CADC

Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor

Required exam: The IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) examination.

Scope: Iowa’s foundational substance-use-counseling certification, issued by the IBC. It is Iowa-specific and does not carry IC&RC reciprocity.
  1. Education150 clock hours of Core Functions training (including counseling theories/techniques, alcohol-and-drug-specific content, special populations, and ethics).
  2. Supervision / experienceSupervised work experience scaled to the candidate’s highest degree (more hours for lower degrees); verify the current table in the IBC Counselor Application Handbook.
  3. ExamPass the IC&RC ADC examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to the IBC with transcripts and the education/experience documentation.
IADC

International Alcohol and Drug Counselor

Required exam: The IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) examination.

Scope: A higher IBC certification tier that carries IC&RC reciprocity across member states and countries.
  1. Education300 clock hours of training (including counseling theories/techniques, alcohol-and-drug-specific content, and ethics).
  2. Supervision / experienceSupervised work-experience hours per the IBC scale.
  3. ExamPass the IC&RC ADC examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to the IBC with transcripts and education/experience documentation.
IAADC

International Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor

Required exam: The IC&RC Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) examination (the updated AADC exam has been in effect since June 2025).

Scope: The IBC’s advanced reciprocal credential for master’s-level addiction clinicians.
  1. EducationA master’s degree in a behavioral science plus at least 180 clock hours of alcohol-and-drug-specific content, ethics, and racial/ethnic training.
  2. Supervision / experienceAdvanced supervised work-experience hours per the IBC scale.
  3. ExamPass the IC&RC AADC examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to the IBC with transcripts and education/experience documentation.

Official Addiction & Substance Use Counseling resources

Social Work

Prep for the ASWB exam →
LBSW

Licensed Bachelor Social Worker

Required exam: The ASWB Bachelors examination.

Scope: Iowa’s bachelor’s-level generalist social-work license, issued by the Board of Social Work under Iowa Code chapter 154C.
  1. EducationA CSWE-accredited BSW.
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Bachelors examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to the Board of Social Work via DIAL with transcripts and exam scores.
LMSW

Licensed Master Social Worker

Required exam: The ASWB Masters examination.

Scope: Iowa’s master’s-level social-work license, issued by the Board of Social Work under chapter 154C.
  1. EducationA CSWE-accredited MSW (or doctoral degree).
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required for the LMSW itself.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Masters examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to the Board of Social Work via DIAL with transcripts and exam scores.
LISW

Licensed Independent Social Worker

Required exam: The ASWB Clinical examination.

Scope: Iowa’s top social-work license, authorizing independent clinical practice (diagnosis, psychotherapy) under chapter 154C.
  1. EducationA CSWE-accredited MSW (the applicant must already hold or qualify for the LMSW).
  2. Supervision / experienceA board-approved supervision plan, then at least 4,000 hours of supervised professional practice as an LMSW over two to six years, including at least 110 hours of direct supervision.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Clinical examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to the Board of Social Work via DIAL with transcripts, the supervision plan/report, and exam scores.

Official Social Work resources

Marriage & Family Therapy

Prep for the National MFT Exam →
tLMFT

Temporary Licensed Marital and Family Therapist

Required exam: None to obtain (the AMFTRB exam is required before the permanent license).

Scope: Iowa’s entry MFT credential, issued by the BHP board under Iowa Code chapter 154D (IAC 481—891). It lets a qualifying MFT graduate practice while completing the supervised clinical experience required for the LMFT.
  1. EducationA master’s or doctoral degree in marital and family therapy (COAMFTE-accredited or content-equivalent).
  2. Supervision / experienceBegins the 3,000-hour requirement under a board-approved supervisor.
  3. ExamNone at this tier.
  4. ApplicationApply to the BHP board via the DIAL/IBPL portal ($120 fee).
LMFT

Licensed Marital and Family Therapist

Required exam: The AMFTRB Examination in Marital and Family Therapy. No separate state jurisprudence exam.

Scope: Iowa’s full, independent MFT license, issued by the BHP board under Iowa Code chapter 154D (IAC 481—891). It authorizes the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders within marriage and family systems.
  1. EducationA master’s or doctoral degree in marital and family therapy from a COAMFTE-accredited program (or a content-equivalent degree with a CCE evaluation).
  2. Supervision / experienceAt least 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience over at least two years, including at least 1,500 hours of direct client contact and at least 110 hours of direct supervision (at least 24 live), per IAC 481—891.7. Proof may be via AAMFT clinical membership or the supervision report form.
  3. ExamPass the AMFTRB MFT examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to the BHP board via the DIAL/IBPL portal ($120 fee) with transcripts and supervision proof.

Official Marriage & Family Therapy resources

Psychology

Prep for the EPPP →
Provisional

Provisional Psychologist License

Required exam: Typically obtained before the EPPP/jurisprudence exams are passed (confirm sequencing in IAC 481—885).

Scope: Iowa’s pre-license psychology credential, issued by the Board of Psychology under Iowa Code chapter 154B. It allows doctoral graduates to practice under supervision while completing the post-doctoral experience required for full licensure.
  1. EducationA doctoral degree in psychology.
  2. Supervision / experienceAccruing the required supervised post-doctoral hours under supervision.
  3. ExamGenerally not yet completed at this tier.
  4. ApplicationApply to the Board of Psychology via DIAL/IBPL.
LP

Licensed Psychologist

Required exam: The EPPP (Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology) at the doctoral level, passing score 500, plus the Iowa Jurisprudence (Iowa Law) Examination.

Scope: Iowa’s independent doctoral-level psychology license — the sole psychology practice license — issued by the Board of Psychology under Iowa Code chapter 154B (IAC 481—885).
  1. EducationA doctoral degree (PhD, PsyD, or EdD) in psychology from an APA/CPA-accredited program (or an ASPPB/National Register-designated program).
  2. Supervision / experienceA 1,500-hour pre-doctoral internship plus 1,500 hours of post-doctoral supervised experience (per IAC 481—885/880.8).
  3. ExamPass the EPPP (500) and the Iowa Jurisprudence Examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to the Board of Psychology via DIAL/IBPL.
HSP

Certified Health Service Provider in Psychology

Required exam: No additional national exam beyond the LP requirements.

Scope: An add-on certificate for licensed psychologists who work in clinical/health-service settings (required for certain clinical and insurance purposes), issued by the Board of Psychology.
  1. EducationA doctoral psychology degree; the holder must be or become a Licensed Psychologist.
  2. Supervision / experienceAt least one year of clinical experience in an organized health-service training program plus at least one year in a health-service setting meeting post-doctoral residency requirements (IAC 481—880).
  3. ExamNone beyond the LP requirements.
  4. ApplicationApply to the Board of Psychology via DIAL.

Official Psychology resources

Behavior Analysis

Prep for the BCBA exam →
LaBA

Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst

Required exam: No separate Iowa exam — the qualifying exam is the BACB BCaBA examination.

Scope: Iowa’s assistant-level behavior-analysis license, issued by the Board of Behavioral Health Professionals under Iowa Code chapter 154D (IAC 481—891.9). It authorizes assistant-level applied behavior analysis under supervision. State licensure requires current BACB certification.
  1. EducationA bachelor’s degree qualifying for the BACB BCaBA credential.
  2. Supervision / experiencePer BACB BCaBA requirements; the assistant practices under a supervising behavior analyst.
  3. ExamPass the BACB BCaBA examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to the BHP board via DIAL ($120 fee) with proof of current BACB certification.
LBA

Licensed Behavior Analyst

Required exam: No separate Iowa exam — the qualifying exam is the BACB BCBA examination. No state jurisprudence exam.

Scope: Iowa’s full behavior-analysis license, issued by the BHP board under Iowa Code chapter 154D (IAC 481—891.9). It authorizes the independent practice of applied behavior analysis. State licensure requires current BACB certification as the qualifying credential.
  1. EducationA master’s (or doctoral) degree qualifying for the BACB BCBA (or BCBA-D) credential.
  2. Supervision / experienceSatisfied via BACB credentialing (BACB-defined supervised fieldwork); Iowa imposes no separate hour counts beyond proof of current BACB certification.
  3. ExamPass the BACB BCBA examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to the BHP board via DIAL ($120 fee) with proof of current BACB certification (BCBA / BCBA-D).

Official Behavior Analysis resources

All licenses

Iowa licensing portals & background checks.

How to use this page. Each card shows the education, supervised experience, exam, and application steps for one Iowa 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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