Resources · Path to Licensure

Step-by-step licensure pathways in Missouri.

Missouri houses most behavioral-health licensing under the Division of Professional Registration (pr.mo.gov), with a dedicated committee for each profession. Counselors, social workers, marital & family therapists, and psychologists hold true state licenses, each with a pre-licensure provisional/associate tier that gathers supervised hours before full licensure. Psychologists face a distinctive three-part exam process — the national EPPP plus a Missouri jurisprudence exam and a committee-administered oral exam (20 CSR 2235-2.060). Behavior analysts ARE state-licensed in Missouri (LBA/LaBA) through the Board of Registration for the Healing Arts via its Behavior Analyst Advisory Committee. Substance-use professionals are an important exception: they are CERTIFIED by the Missouri Credentialing Board (an IC&RC member), NOT licensed by the state.

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

Professional Counseling

Prep for the NCMHCE / NCE →
PLPC

Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor

Required exam: National Counselor Examination (NCE), administered by NBCC/CCE — must be passed before the PLPC is issued (20 CSR 2095-2.030).

Scope: Associate/pre-licensure tier. Practices counseling only under an approved supervisor while accruing the supervised experience required for full LPC licensure. Cannot practice independently.
  1. EducationGraduate degree (master's, specialist, or doctoral) with a major in counseling from a regionally accredited institution; programs completed after Aug 2023 require at least 60 semester hours (20 CSR 2095-2.010; RSMo 337.510).
  2. Supervision / experienceNo prior post-degree hours required to enter — the PLPC is the tier under which you BEGIN accruing supervised counseling experience toward the LPC under a state-approved supervisor (20 CSR 2095-2.020).
  3. ExamPass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) — 200 multiple-choice questions across eight core domains, administered by NBCC/CCE (20 CSR 2095-2.030; RSMo 337.510.1(4)).
  4. ApplicationSubmit the PLPC application to the Committee for Professional Counselors with transcripts, NCE passing score, supervision plan/approved supervisor, fee, and background check via pr.mo.gov.
LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

Required exam: NCE (carried over from PLPC) plus the Missouri Jurisprudence Examination. NCMHCE is not required for the standard Missouri LPC.

Scope: Full, independent counseling license. Authorized to practice professional counseling and supervise PLPCs once meeting supervisor qualifications.
  1. EducationSame qualifying graduate counseling degree as PLPC (master's/specialist/doctoral; 60 semester hours for post-Aug-2023 programs) per 20 CSR 2095-2.010.
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete 3,000 hours of supervised counseling experience over at least 24 months (no fewer than two years) under an approved supervisor (20 CSR 2095-2.020). [Verify current hour breakdown with the committee.]
  3. ExamPass the NCE (if not already passed as a PLPC) and the Missouri Jurisprudence Examination on state counseling law and ethics.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the LPC application with documentation of completed supervised hours, supervisor verification, exam scores, fee, and background check to the Committee for Professional Counselors (pr.mo.gov).

Official Professional Counseling resources

Addiction & Substance Use Counseling

Prep for the MAC / NCAC exam →
CADC

Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor

Required exam: IC&RC Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ADC) examination — 150 multiple-choice questions, 3 hours, across the four IC&RC ADC performance domains.

Scope: CERTIFICATION (not a state license). Entry-level substance-use counselor credential issued by the Missouri Credentialing Board (MCB), an IC&RC member board. Qualifies the holder to provide substance-use counseling, typically under supervision.
  1. Education180 contact hours of substance-use education across the four IC&RC ADC performance domains, including at least 6 hours of professional ethics (MCB requirement).
  2. Supervision / experienceSupervised work experience scaled to education level — e.g., 4,000 hours (~2 yrs) with a high-school diploma down to ~1,000 hours with a master's; includes a 300-hour supervised practicum. [Verify exact tiers with MCB.]
  3. ExamPass the IC&RC ADC examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the CADC application to the Missouri Credentialing Board (missouricb.com) with education, supervised-hours and practicum documentation, code-of-ethics agreement, and fee.
CRADC

Certified Reciprocal Alcohol Drug Counselor

Required exam: IC&RC ADC examination (reciprocal-level credential).

Scope: CERTIFICATION (not a state license). Reciprocal-level MCB/IC&RC credential offering greater independence and full IC&RC reciprocity to other member states.
  1. Education300 contact hours across the four IC&RC ADC performance domains, including at least 6 hours of professional ethics (MCB).
  2. Supervision / experienceGreater supervised work experience than CADC (roughly 2,000 additional hours for most education levels), with a supervised practicum component. [Verify exact totals by education tier with MCB.]
  3. ExamPass the IC&RC ADC examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the CRADC application and documentation to the Missouri Credentialing Board (missouricb.com) with fee.
CRAADC

Certified Reciprocal Advanced Alcohol Drug Counselor

Required exam: IC&RC Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (AADC) examination.

Scope: CERTIFICATION (not a state license). Advanced reciprocal MCB/IC&RC credential for master's-level clinicians applying clinical substance-use skills; carries IC&RC reciprocity.
  1. EducationMaster's degree plus 180 contact hours across the four IC&RC AADC performance domains, including at least 6 hours of professional ethics (MCB).
  2. Supervision / experienceSupervised clinical substance-use experience at the master's-clinical level (approximately 1,000 work hours with a qualifying master's plus a 300-hour practicum). [Verify exact totals with MCB.]
  3. ExamPass the IC&RC AADC examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the CRAADC application with graduate transcript, education and supervised-experience documentation, and fee to the Missouri Credentialing Board (missouricb.com).

Official Addiction & Substance Use Counseling resources

Social Work

Prep for the ASWB exam →
LBSW

Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Bachelors-level examination.

Scope: Entry-level, baccalaureate-level social work license. Authorized for generalist (non-clinical) social work practice. Regulated by the Missouri State Committee for Social Workers.
  1. EducationBachelor's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program (RSMo Chapter 337; 20 CSR 2263).
  2. Supervision / experienceNo post-degree supervised experience required for entry-level LBSW licensure; the exam may be taken up to 60 days before graduation with a letter from a designated university official.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Bachelors examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the LBSW application to the Missouri State Committee for Social Workers with CSWE-accredited transcript, exam score, fee, and background check (pr.mo.gov).
LMSW

Licensed Master Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Masters-level examination.

Scope: Master's-level license for advanced generalist (non-clinical) social work; clinical practice requires the LCSW. The LMSW is the required stepping-stone tier under which candidates accrue supervised hours toward the LCSW.
  1. EducationMaster's degree in social work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program (20 CSR 2263).
  2. Supervision / experienceNo post-degree experience required for the LMSW itself; exam may be taken up to 60 days before graduation with a university designated-official letter. The LMSW is then held while accruing LCSW hours.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Masters examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the LMSW application with CSWE-accredited MSW transcript, exam score, fee, and background check to the Committee for Social Workers (pr.mo.gov).
LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Clinical examination.

Scope: Full, independent clinical social work license — authorized for clinical diagnosis and psychotherapy. The top social-work tier in Missouri.
  1. EducationCSWE-accredited MSW (must hold the LMSW before accruing clinical hours) per 20 CSR 2263 / RSMo Chapter 337.
  2. Supervision / experience3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience over at least 24 months, completed while licensed as an LMSW under a qualified clinical supervisor (5+ years' experience plus 16 hours of supervisory training). Candidates may sit for the exam after 2,250 hours / 18 months.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Clinical examination; complete required suicide-prevention training.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the LCSW application with documentation of supervised clinical hours, supervisor verification, exam score, suicide-prevention training, fee, and background check to the Committee for Social Workers (pr.mo.gov).

Official Social Work resources

Marriage & Family Therapy

Prep for the National MFT Exam →
PLMFT

Provisional Licensed Marital and Family Therapist

Required exam: No separate provisional exam; the national AMFTRB Examination in Marital & Family Therapy is required for the full LMFT (scores sent directly to the committee).

Scope: Pre-licensure/provisional tier (also offered as the Supervised MFT / S-MFT track). Practices marital and family therapy only under an approved supervisor while accruing experience toward the LMFT. Master's-based provisional license is valid up to three years.
  1. EducationQualifying graduate degree in marital and family therapy (or closely related field meeting course requirements) per 20 CSR 2233-2.010.
  2. Supervision / experiencePLMFT is the tier under which supervised experience BEGINS; the candidate must obtain at least 15 hours of supervised experience per calendar month for that month to count (20 CSR 2233-2.020).
  3. ExamNo exam required to obtain the provisional license; the AMFTRB exam is taken toward full LMFT licensure.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the PLMFT (or S-MFT) application with qualifying transcript, approved supervision plan/supervisor, fee, and background check to the State Committee of Marital & Family Therapists (pr.mo.gov).
LMFT

Licensed Marital and Family Therapist

Required exam: AMFTRB Examination in Marital and Family Therapy (national MFT exam).

Scope: Full, independent marital and family therapy license. Authorized to practice MFT independently and to supervise provisional licensees once meeting supervisor qualifications.
  1. EducationQualifying graduate degree in marital and family therapy from an accredited program (20 CSR 2233-2.010).
  2. Supervision / experienceMinimum 1,500 hours of supervised direct-client-contact MFT experience over no fewer than 24 and no more than 60 months, plus at least 200 hours of face-to-face supervision (≥100 individual; up to half may be small-group), accrued as a PLMFT/S-MFT (20 CSR 2233-2.020).
  3. ExamPass the AMFTRB Examination in Marital and Family Therapy; scores sent directly to the committee.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the LMFT application with documentation of supervised hours, supervisor verification, exam score, fee, and background check to the State Committee of Marital & Family Therapists (pr.mo.gov).

Official Marriage & Family Therapy resources

Psychology

Prep for the EPPP →
Provisional LP

Provisional Licensed Psychologist

Required exam: Provisional licensure does not by itself satisfy the full three-part exam; the EPPP, Missouri jurisprudence exam, and oral exam must be passed for permanent licensure.

Scope: Time-limited provisional psychology license allowing doctoral graduates to practice under supervision while completing the full examination sequence and any remaining supervised experience toward permanent licensure.
  1. EducationDoctoral degree in psychology from a recognized program meeting committee standards (RSMo Chapter 337; 20 CSR 2235).
  2. Supervision / experiencePractice under approved supervision; provisional status supports accrual of required postdoctoral supervised experience toward permanent licensure. [Verify exact hour totals with the committee.]
  3. ExamBegin the three-part exam sequence; permanent licensure requires passing EPPP, jurisprudence, and oral exams.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the provisional psychologist application with doctoral transcript, supervision plan, fee, and background check to the State Committee of Psychologists (pr.mo.gov).
LP

Licensed Psychologist

Required exam: Three-component examination (20 CSR 2235-2.060): (A) EPPP, (B) Missouri Jurisprudence Examination, (C) committee-administered Oral Examination.

Scope: Full, independent psychology license. Authorized for autonomous practice of psychology, including assessment and psychotherapy.
  1. EducationDoctoral degree in psychology from a program recognized by the committee (RSMo Chapter 337; 20 CSR 2235).
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete required supervised professional experience (predoctoral and postdoctoral) as prescribed by the committee. [Verify exact hour totals — commonly cited as ~1 year pre + ~1 year post-doctoral — with the committee.]
  3. ExamPass all three components: (A) the EPPP (national objective exam), then (B) the Missouri Jurisprudence Examination — 100 multiple-choice questions, 3 hours, 70% to pass, on Missouri law/ethics — and only after passing A and B, (C) the committee-administered Oral Examination (20 CSR 2235-2.060).
  4. ApplicationSubmit the licensure-by-examination application with doctoral transcript, supervised-experience documentation, EPPP authorization, fee, and background check to the State Committee of Psychologists (pr.mo.gov).

Official Psychology resources

Behavior Analysis

Prep for the BCBA exam →
LBA

Licensed Behavior Analyst

Required exam: No separate state exam beyond the national BACB credential: the LBA requires current Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (which itself requires passing the BCBA exam).

Scope: Full state license to practice applied behavior analysis independently. Issued by the Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts through its Behavior Analyst Advisory Committee (authorized by HB 1311, effective Aug 28, 2010).
  1. EducationMaster's degree and BACB-required graduate coursework underlying the BCBA credential (RSMo Chapter 337; 20 CSR 2150 / Board of Healing Arts rules).
  2. Supervision / experienceSupervised fieldwork required for the BACB's BCBA certification; Missouri relies on the BACB experience standard rather than imposing a separate state-supervised-hours requirement. [Verify any state-specific add-ons with the board.]
  3. ExamHold an active BCBA certification (which requires passing the national BACB BCBA examination); Missouri does not administer a separate state exam.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the LBA application with proof of current BCBA certification, fee, and background check to the Board of Registration for the Healing Arts / Behavior Analyst Advisory Committee (pr.mo.gov).
LaBA

Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst

Required exam: No separate state exam: requires current Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) certification from the BACB (which requires passing the BCaBA exam).

Scope: State license to practice applied behavior analysis at the assistant level under the supervision of a Licensed Behavior Analyst. Issued by the Board of Registration for the Healing Arts.
  1. EducationBachelor's degree and BACB-required coursework underlying the BCaBA credential (RSMo Chapter 337; Board of Healing Arts rules).
  2. Supervision / experienceSupervised fieldwork required for the BACB's BCaBA certification; LaBA practice must occur under the supervision of a Licensed Behavior Analyst. [Verify any state-specific requirements with the board.]
  3. ExamHold an active BCaBA certification (which requires passing the national BACB BCaBA examination); no separate state exam.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the LaBA application with proof of current BCaBA certification, supervising-LBA information, fee, and background check to the Board of Registration for the Healing Arts (pr.mo.gov).

Official Behavior Analysis resources

All licenses

Missouri licensing portals & background checks.

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