Resources · Path to Licensure

Step-by-step licensure pathways in New Hampshire.

New Hampshire consolidates professional licensing under the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC), which provides the shared online portal and a Universal Application while named profession-specific boards set the substantive standards. Two structural features matter here: counseling and marriage & family therapy use a “conditional” credential model — there is no separate associate license, you hold a Conditional license while accruing post-graduate hours, then convert — and addiction counseling has its own dedicated board (RSA 330-C) issuing real state licenses (LADC and MLADC). New Hampshire does NOT license behavior analysts at the state level (national BACB certification only), so that profession is omitted here.

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

Professional Counseling

Prep for the NCMHCE / NCE →
Conditional LCMHC

Conditional Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Required exam: None required to enter the conditional stage (the NCMHCE is taken for full licensure).

Scope: Authorizes clinical mental health counseling under board-approved supervision while accruing the post-master’s hours required for full licensure.
  1. EducationQualifying master’s or higher degree in clinical mental health counseling (60 semester credits); CACREP accreditation satisfies the requirement (an equivalent 60-credit program is also accepted).
  2. Supervision / experienceFile a board-approved supervision agreement before clinical hours begin counting; the supervisor must hold a qualifying clinical license.
  3. ExamNot required at this stage.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the Universal Application (conditional) with the supervision plan and transcripts through OPLConnect.
LCMHC

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Required exam: National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), NBCC.

Scope: Independent practice of clinical mental health counseling — assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders; treatment planning and crisis intervention.
  1. Education60-credit master’s or doctoral degree in clinical mental health counseling (CACREP or equivalent).
  2. Supervision / experienceAt least 3,000 hours of post-master’s supervised clinical experience over a minimum of two years, including at least 100 hours of individual face-to-face supervision.
  3. ExamPass the NCMHCE.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the full-licensure application with supervisor verification of completed hours and exam scores from NBCC through OPLC.

Official Professional Counseling resources

Addiction & Substance Use Counseling

Prep for the MAC / NCAC exam →
CRSW

Certified Recovery Support Worker (state certification)

Required exam: IC&RC Peer Recovery certification examination (Alc 305).

Scope: Non-clinical recovery support services — peer recovery support, coaching, and advocacy; does not include clinical diagnosis or treatment.
  1. EducationHigh-school diploma/equivalent plus the board-specified recovery-support education domains.
  2. Supervision / experienceSupervised recovery-support work experience per Alc 303.
  3. ExamPass the CRSW certification examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to the Board through OPLC.
LADC

Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (state license)

Required exam: IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) examination (Alc 308).

Scope: Screening, assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and treatment of substance use disorders, plus screening and referral of mental health disorders, under clinical supervision.
  1. EducationAssociate’s or bachelor’s degree in addiction counseling or a related behavioral-health field, plus the required alcohol/drug-use education and supervised practical training (Alc 307).
  2. Supervision / experienceSupervised work experience of 6,000 hours with an associate’s degree, or 4,000 hours with a bachelor’s degree, under a board-authorized supervisor.
  3. ExamPass the IC&RC ADC examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to the Board (Alc 313) through OPLC with verification of education, training, and supervised hours.
MLADC

Master Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (state license)

Required exam: IC&RC Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) examination (Alc 311).

Scope: Independent clinical scope — screening, assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and treatment of substance use, mental health, and co-occurring disorders.
  1. EducationMaster’s degree (at least 60 graduate semester hours) plus the required drug/alcohol-use education (Alc 310).
  2. Supervision / experienceClinically supervised counseling experience treating substance use and integrated co-occurring disorders; a current Board of Mental Health license or LADC may substitute up to 1,500 hours (RSA 330-C:16, III).
  3. ExamPass the IC&RC AADC examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to the Board (Alc 313) through OPLC.
LCS

Licensed Clinical Supervisor (state license)

Required exam: IC&RC Clinical Supervisor examination (Alc 315).

Scope: Authorizes an experienced licensed counselor to provide clinical supervision to candidates accruing licensure hours.
  1. EducationHold an existing qualifying clinical license (Alc 314.01).
  2. Supervision / experienceMeet the experience eligibility plus supervision-specific training (Alc 314).
  3. ExamPass the Clinical Supervisor examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to the Board (Alc 316) through OPLC.

Official Addiction & Substance Use Counseling resources

Social Work

Prep for the ASWB exam →
LSWA

Licensed Social Work Associate

Required exam: Board-approved national examination (ASWB Associate/Bachelors level).

Scope: Entry-level supervised (non-independent) social-work practice — case management and supportive services under supervision.
  1. EducationBachelor’s degree in social work or a related behavioral-health field plus 300 hours of social-work or mental-health education.
  2. Supervision / experience4,000 hours of supervised work experience plus 300 hours of supervised practical training.
  3. ExamPass the board-approved national examination.
  4. ApplicationApply through OPLC with transcripts and supervisor verification.
LSW

Licensed Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Bachelors examination.

Scope: General (non-independent clinical) social-work practice — assessment and intervention, typically in an organizational setting.
  1. EducationBachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program plus 300 hours of social-work / mental-health education.
  2. Supervision / experience4,000 hours of supervised field experience.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Bachelors examination.
  4. ApplicationApply through OPLC.
LICSW

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Clinical examination.

Scope: Independent clinical social work — diagnosis and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders; psychotherapy and clinical case management.
  1. EducationTwo-year master’s (or doctorate) in social work from a CSWE-approved program.
  2. Supervision / experienceAt least two years post-master’s including 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience with at least 100 hours of individual face-to-face supervision; a current MLADC may substitute up to 1,500 of the 3,000 hours.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Clinical examination.
  4. ApplicationApply through OPLC with supervisor verification and exam scores.

Official Social Work resources

Marriage & Family Therapy

Prep for the National MFT Exam →
Conditional LMFT

Conditional Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Required exam: None required to enter the conditional stage.

Scope: Supervised practice of marriage and family therapy while accruing post-graduate hours toward full licensure.
  1. EducationMaster’s or doctoral degree in MFT (or a related field with equivalent coursework) from a COAMFTE or regionally accredited program, including a practicum/internship with at least 300 hours of direct client contact.
  2. Supervision / experienceFile a board-approved supervision agreement before hours count.
  3. ExamNot required at this stage.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the conditional application with the supervision plan and transcripts through OPLC.
LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Required exam: AMFTRB national MFT examination.

Scope: Independent practice of marriage and family therapy — assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental and emotional disorders within a relational/systemic framework.
  1. EducationQualifying COAMFTE or regionally accredited master’s or doctorate in MFT (with the 300-hour practicum).
  2. Supervision / experienceAt least 3,000 hours of post-graduate supervised clinical experience over at least two years, including at least 100 hours of direct supervision; up to 500 hours earned during graduate training may count.
  3. ExamPass the AMFTRB national MFT examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the full-licensure application with supervisor verification and exam scores through OPLC.

Official Marriage & Family Therapy resources

Psychology

Prep for the EPPP →
Licensed Psychologist

Licensed Psychologist

Required exam: EPPP (Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology) plus the NH Jurisprudence Examination.

Scope: Independent practice of psychology — psychological assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental and behavioral disorders; psychotherapy and testing. New Hampshire licenses psychologists at the doctoral level only.
  1. EducationDoctoral degree (PhD, PsyD, or EdD) in psychology from an APA- or CPA-accredited program (or one meeting equivalent board standards).
  2. Supervision / experienceTwo years (about 3,000 hours) of supervised experience, of which at least 1,500 hours must be pre-doctoral (e.g., a pre-doctoral internship), the remainder typically post-doctoral.
  3. ExamPass the EPPP and the NH Jurisprudence Examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the Universal Application with addendum and supporting documents; EPPP scores sent directly to OPLC (Psyc 303).

Official Psychology resources

All licenses

New Hampshire licensing portals & background checks.

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