Step-by-step licensure pathways in New Jersey.
New Jersey regulates its mental and behavioral health professions through boards and committees housed in the Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA). Counseling, addictions counseling, and social work each follow a multi-tier ladder — counseling moves from the Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) to the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC); social work spans the Certified Social Worker (CSW), Licensed Social Worker (LSW), and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW); and addictions counseling has TWO state licenses, the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) and the master’s-level Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC). Marriage and family therapy uses an associate tier (LAMFT) leading to the LMFT, and psychology is a single doctoral-level Licensed Psychologist credential. New Jersey enacted applied-behavior-analyst licensure in 2020 (Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst, LBA, and Licensed Assistant Applied Behavior Analyst, LaBA). NOTE: several New Jersey boards require a state jurisprudence/orientation component — psychology requires a New Jersey jurisprudence exam in addition to the EPPP, and the ABA Board requires an online jurisprudence orientation.
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Professional Counseling
Prep for the NCMHCE / NCE →Licensed Associate Counselor
Required exam: NCE (National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification), a 200-question multiple-choice exam from the NBCC; the NCMHCE is NOT required for the LAC/LPC in New Jersey
- EducationA master’s degree in counseling from a regionally accredited institution consisting of at least 60 graduate semester hours (or 90 quarter hours), of which at least 45 semester hours must be in ‘counseling’ and satisfy at least eight (8) of the nine (9) content categories in N.J.A.C. 13:34-11.5. Official transcripts must be sent directly to the Committee.
- Supervision / experienceNo prior supervised experience is required to obtain the LAC. Once licensed, the associate counselor must practice under an approved Plan of Supervision (N.J.S.A. 45:8B-50) by a licensed professional counselor or a supervisor acceptable to the Committee.
- ExamPass the NBCC National Counselor Examination (NCE) per N.J.A.C. 13:34-11.6. Applicants who have not already taken the NCE check the box on the application requesting the Committee’s permission to sit for the exam.
- ApplicationApply online via the New Jersey MyLicense portal with a passport photo, official graduate transcripts (emailed directly from the school), course-distribution documentation, and NCE scores (released to the state portal through NBCC/CCE); a $75 non-refundable application fee is due at submission.
Licensed Professional Counselor
Required exam: NCE (already satisfied at the LAC tier); no additional national exam is required to advance from LAC to LPC
- EducationThe same 60-semester-hour master’s degree required for the LAC (N.J.A.C. 13:34-11.5). Applicants who already filed an LAC application need not resubmit transcripts, the course-distribution sheet, or NCE scores.
- Supervision / experienceOption A: 4,500 hours of supervised professional counseling experience (up to 1 year/1,500 hours may be earned before the master’s is granted). Option B: an additional 30 graduate semester credits in a counseling-related program (90 credits total) reduces the requirement to 3,000 supervised hours. Supervision must be under a qualified supervisor with an approved clinical-supervision credential (CCE/NBCC, AAMFT, or equivalent) or 3 graduate credits in supervision.
- ExamNo additional examination — the NCE passed for the LAC carries forward to the LPC.
- ApplicationApply online via New Jersey MyLicense; the supervisor submits Documentation of Supervised Counseling Experience to the Committee (one packet per supervisor). Out-of-state applicants may qualify by reciprocity with license verification (including national test scores and supervised-experience verification) sent directly from the issuing board.
Official Professional Counseling resources
- NJ DCA — Professional Counselor Examiners Committee →NJ DCA — Professional Counselor Applications and Forms →NJ DCA — Professional Counselor Application (LPC / RC / Associate Counselor) (PDF) →NJ DCA — Professional Counseling Regulations, Chapter 34 Subchapters 10–31 (PDF) →NJ DCA — Professional Counselor FAQ →
Addiction & Substance Use Counseling
Prep for the MAC / NCAC exam →Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor
Required exam: IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) written examination PLUS a New Jersey oral examination (case-presentation) administered by the Committee
- EducationA high school diploma/GED plus 270 hours of approved alcohol and drug counseling education covering the required core content areas (a portion may be satisfied by equivalent graduate coursework if the program meets New Jersey standards).
- Supervision / experience3,000 hours of supervised alcohol and drug counseling work experience completed over a minimum of 2 and maximum of 5 years (up to 1,500 hours/year), plus 300 hours of supervised practical training across the 12 core functions, with roughly 50 hours/year of face-to-face supervision; candidates must also document attendance at 30 alcohol and drug self-help group meetings.
- ExamPass the IC&RC ADC written examination (150 multiple-choice questions) AND a New Jersey oral case-presentation examination administered by the Committee.
- ApplicationApply through the New Jersey Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee (DCA) with documentation of education, the supervisor’s verification of supervised hours, the self-help meeting log, a criminal background check, and exam results.
Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor
Required exam: IC&RC written examination PLUS a New Jersey clinical oral examination administered by the Committee
- EducationA master’s (or higher) degree in counseling, addictions, or a closely related clinical discipline (e.g., psychology, or qualification through New Jersey social work licensure), plus documentation of the 270 hours of alcohol and drug counseling education if not embedded in the graduate program.
- Supervision / experience4,500 hours of supervised alcohol and drug counseling work experience, including the 300 hours of supervised practical training across the 12 core functions; like the CADC, candidates document the required face-to-face supervision and the 30 self-help group meetings.
- ExamPass the IC&RC written examination AND a New Jersey clinical oral examination (more advanced case scenarios and clinical decision-making than the CADC oral).
- ApplicationApply through the Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee (DCA) with the graduate transcript, education and supervised-experience verification, background check, and exam results; the LCADC is the clinical license and a CADC may advance to it on completing the master’s and clinical requirements.
Official Addiction & Substance Use Counseling resources
Marriage & Family Therapy
Prep for the National MFT Exam →Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
Required exam: No national examination is required to obtain the associate license; the AMFTRB national exam is taken on the path to the full LMFT
- EducationA master’s degree (or higher) in marriage and family therapy, social work, or a related graduate field, with coursework as required under N.J.A.C. 13:34.
- Supervision / experienceNo prior experience is required to obtain the associate license. A licensed associate may not practice without direct supervision by an LMFT or a Board-acceptable supervisor.
- ExamNone required for the associate license.
- ApplicationApply online via the New Jersey MyLicense portal (administered with the Professional Counselor Examiners Committee under the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners) with official graduate transcripts; associate-license fees are $180 for the first year and $90 for the second.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Required exam: AMFTRB Examination in Marital and Family Therapy (the national MFT exam)
- EducationA master’s degree (or higher) in marriage and family therapy or a related field meeting the curriculum requirements of N.J.A.C. 13:34.
- Supervision / experienceThree calendar years (4,500 hours) of supervised experience — two calendar years (3,000 hours) of supervised marriage and family therapy experience plus one calendar year (1,500 hours) of supervised counseling experience (one calendar year = 1,500 hours over not fewer than 50 weeks).
- ExamPass the AMFTRB Examination in Marital and Family Therapy; arrange for the official score to be reported to the Board.
- ApplicationApply online via New Jersey MyLicense with official graduate transcripts, supervisor verification of the supervised experience, and the national exam score.
Psychology
Prep for the EPPP →Licensed Psychologist
Required exam: EPPP (Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology) PLUS the New Jersey jurisprudence examination
- EducationA doctoral degree in psychology from an APA- or CPA-accredited program, or one listed by the ASPPB/National Register Joint Designation of doctoral programs.
- Supervision / experienceTwo years of full-time supervised clinical experience (approximately 3,500 hours), including at least 2,000 client-contact hours and at least 400 hours of supervision (at least half individual), with at least one year completed at the postdoctoral level.
- ExamPass the ASPPB EPPP (a scaled score of at least 500 on a 200–800 scale) AND pass the New Jersey jurisprudence examination (a 25-item true/false exam covering the statutes and regulations governing psychology practice in New Jersey).
- ApplicationApply to the State Board of Psychological Examiners (DCA) with official doctoral transcripts, verification of supervised experience, and EPPP and jurisprudence exam results.
Behavior Analysis
Prep for the BCBA exam →Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst
Required exam: BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) Certification Examination of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB); current BCBA or BCBA-D certification satisfies the exam
- EducationA master’s or doctoral degree from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
- Supervision / experienceThe supervised fieldwork requirement is satisfied through the BACB’s BCBA certification; New Jersey requires the applicant to hold current BCBA or BCBA-D certification rather than separately documenting fieldwork.
- ExamHold current certification as a BCBA or BCBA-D (which requires passing the BACB’s BCBA Certification Examination).
- ApplicationApply to the State Board of Applied Behavior Analyst Examiners (DCA) with proof of the qualifying degree, proof of current BCBA/BCBA-D certification, and completion of the online jurisprudence orientation. NOTE: as of the Board’s most recent guidance, license applications become available only after the Board’s regulations are formally adopted — verify current application status with the Board.
Licensed Assistant Applied Behavior Analyst
Required exam: BCaBA (Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst) Certification Examination of the BACB; current BCaBA certification satisfies the exam
- EducationA bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
- Supervision / experienceThe supervised fieldwork requirement is satisfied through the BACB’s BCaBA certification; the applicant must identify the Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst (LBA) who will supervise the assistant’s practice.
- ExamHold current certification as a BCaBA (which requires passing the BACB’s BCaBA Certification Examination).
- ApplicationApply to the State Board of Applied Behavior Analyst Examiners (DCA) with proof of the bachelor’s degree, proof of current BCaBA certification, the identity of the supervising LBA, and completion of the online jurisprudence orientation. NOTE: applications become available only after the Board’s regulations are formally adopted — verify current status with the Board.
New Jersey licensing portals & background checks.
How to use this page. Each card shows the education, supervised experience, exam, and application steps for one New Jersey 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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Social Work
Prep for the ASWB exam →Certified Social Worker
Required exam: No licensing examination is required for the CSW
Licensed Social Worker
Required exam: ASWB Master’s examination (the Board grants exam eligibility before the candidate registers with ASWB)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Required exam: ASWB Clinical examination (the Board approves the supervised experience before the candidate registers with ASWB)
Official Social Work resources
NJ DCA — State Board of Social Work Examiners →NJ DCA — Proposed Plan of Supervised Clinical Experience (LCSW) →NJ DCA — Documentation of Supervised Clinical Experience for LCSW Candidates (PDF) →NJ DCA — Social Work Regulations, Chapter 44G (PDF) →ASWB — exam registration →