Resources · Path to Licensure

Step-by-step licensure pathways in New Mexico.

New Mexico licenses behavioral-health professionals across three boards rather than one. The Counseling & Therapy Practice Board is unusually broad — it oversees mental-health counselors, marriage & family therapists, art therapists, and the entire substance-abuse ladder (LSAA and LADAC). In counseling, the LMHC is a transitional, supervision-only credential (passing the NCE) that bridges to the independent clinical LPCC (passing the NCMHCE); New Mexico does not use a generic standalone “LPC.” Social work runs LBSW → LMSW → the independent clinical LISW/LCSW through a separate board, and psychology is governed by the Board of Psychologist Examiners (the EPPP plus a state jurisprudence exam), which also administers New Mexico’s nationally notable prescribing-psychologist (RxP) add-on. New Mexico does NOT license behavior analysts at the state level (BACB certification only), so ABA is omitted here.

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

Professional Counseling

Prep for the NCMHCE / NCE →
LMHC

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Required exam: National Counselor Examination (NCE) — NBCC

Scope: Transitional, supervision-only credential held while accruing the postgraduate hours required for the LPCC. LMHCs must practice under board-approved clinical supervision and may not practice independently.
  1. EducationMaster’s or doctoral degree in counseling or a counseling-related field from a CHEA-recognized institution; at least 48 graduate semester credits including a supervised practicum/internship of at least 9 semester credits in required content areas.
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required to obtain the LMHC itself — it is the entry credential issued before supervised practice begins. Once licensed, the LMHC works under board-approved clinical supervision while accumulating hours toward the LPCC.
  3. ExamPass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) before the LMHC is issued. (Out-of-state applicants may also satisfy the NM jurisprudence/ethics requirement per board rule.)
  4. ApplicationApply to the NM Counseling & Therapy Practice Board with official transcripts, exam approval/score, background check, fees, and the board’s code-of-ethics attestation; license issued upon approval.
LPCC

Licensed Professional Clinical Mental Health Counselor

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

Scope: New Mexico’s top independent clinical counseling license. Authorizes independent diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders and supervision of LMHCs.
  1. EducationSame qualifying master’s/doctoral counseling degree as the LMHC (minimum 48 graduate semester credits with required clinical content and supervised practicum/internship).
  2. Supervision / experienceMinimum 2 years of postgraduate supervised clinical experience: 3,000 hours of postgraduate clinical client contact (up to 1,000 may come from the degree practicum/internship) plus 100 hours of face-to-face postgraduate supervision, supervised by an LPCC, LMFT, LPAT, licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or LISW.
  3. ExamPass the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) to advance from LMHC to LPCC.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the LPCC application to the board with verification of supervised hours, NCMHCE passage, transcripts, background check, and fees; independent license issued upon approval.
LPAT

Licensed Professional Art Therapist

Required exam: Art Therapy Credentials Board examination (ATCB — ATR-BC pathway)

Scope: Distinct independent clinical credential for art therapists under the same Counseling & Therapy Practice Board; parallels the LPCC for clinicians trained specifically in art therapy.
  1. EducationMaster’s or doctoral degree in art therapy (or counseling-related field with the required art-therapy core content) from an accredited institution meeting the board’s art-therapy curriculum.
  2. Supervision / experiencePostgraduate supervised clinical art-therapy experience comparable to the LPCC track (multi-year supervised client contact with board-approved supervision), per Title 16, Chapter 27 NMAC.
  3. ExamPass the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) examination required for the ATR-BC / LPAT pathway.
  4. ApplicationApply to the NM Counseling & Therapy Practice Board with transcripts, verification of supervised hours, exam passage, background check, and fees.

Official Professional Counseling resources

Addiction & Substance Use Counseling

Prep for the MAC / NCAC exam →
LSAA

Licensed Substance Abuse Associate

Required exam: Board-approved substance-abuse examination (IC&RC ADC / NCAC-level entry exam) per tier

Scope: Entry-level, supervision-only substance-abuse credential issued in three tiers based on the applicant’s degree level (high-school/associate through bachelor’s). LSAAs provide generalist services — basic problem-solving, intervention plans, client education, and assisting a licensed counselor with group/individual sessions — only under supervision in a public or private institution.
  1. EducationTier-dependent: one of three LSAA tiers keyed to degree level, plus 90 clock hours of education/training specific to alcohol and drug abuse counseling (within the 276 total training hours used across the ladder).
  2. Supervision / experienceUp to 3,000 supervised clinical hours under a board-approved supervisor; LSAA practice must remain under direct supervision at all times.
  3. ExamPass the board-approved entry-level substance-abuse examination (IC&RC / NCAC pathway) corresponding to the LSAA tier.
  4. ApplicationApply to the NM Counseling & Therapy Practice Board (minimum age 21, criminal background check, signed code of ethics) with documentation of training hours and supervised experience; fees paid.
LADAC

Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor

Required exam: NCAC I (NAADAC/NCC AP) or equivalent IC&RC ADC examination

Scope: Independent-practice substance-abuse counseling license. LADACs may assess clients, develop treatment plans, and provide counseling without direct supervision, in an agency or private practice.
  1. EducationDegree ranging from associate through master’s level plus 276 hours of alcohol/drug-abuse-specific education and training.
  2. Supervision / experienceSupervised clinical experience scaled to degree level: roughly 4,000 hours with a master’s degree up to about 6,000 hours with an associate/bachelor’s degree, completed under a board-approved supervisor (an LADAC supervisor needs 3+ years post-licensure A&D experience).
  3. ExamPass the NCAC I examination (NAADAC/NCC AP) or the board-accepted equivalent IC&RC Alcohol & Drug Counselor exam.
  4. ApplicationApply to the NM Counseling & Therapy Practice Board (age 21+, background check, code-of-ethics signature) with verified training hours, supervised-experience documentation, exam passage, and fees; independent license issued upon approval.

Official Addiction & Substance Use Counseling resources

Social Work

Prep for the ASWB exam →
LBSW

Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Bachelors examination + NM Jurisprudence exam

Scope: Generalist baccalaureate-level social work practice; no independent clinical/diagnostic authority.
  1. EducationBachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required for initial licensure at the baccalaureate level.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Bachelors examination and the New Mexico Jurisprudence exam with a score of at least 70%.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the online application to the NM Board of Social Work Examiners with transcripts, exam approval, background check, and fees.
LMSW

Licensed Master Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Masters examination + NM Jurisprudence exam

Scope: Master’s-level social work practice; required precursor level before beginning supervision toward the independent clinical LISW/LCSW. Must hold and maintain the LMSW before starting clinical supervision hours.
  1. EducationMaster of Social Work (MSW) or Doctorate of Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required to obtain the LMSW itself; the LMSW is the credential held while accumulating supervised hours toward the independent clinical level.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Masters examination and the New Mexico Jurisprudence exam (score of at least 70%).
  4. ApplicationSubmit the online application to the NM Board of Social Work Examiners with transcripts, exam approval, background check, and fees.
LISW

Licensed Independent Social Worker (independent clinical level; the board also issues this as the LCSW / Licensed Clinical Social Worker)

Required exam: ASWB Clinical examination + NM Jurisprudence exam

Scope: Independent clinical social work practice — autonomous diagnosis and treatment and supervision of others. New Mexico’s statutory title is LISW; the board uses LISW and LCSW interchangeably for the independent clinical credential.
  1. EducationMSW or DSW from a CSWE-accredited program (must already hold the LMSW before starting clinical supervision).
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete at least 3,600 hours of postgraduate social work experience with 90 hours of supervision, accumulated over no more than 60 months and not fewer than 2 years (at least 1 hour of supervision documented per 40 hours worked), under a board-approved LISW/LCSW supervisor.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Clinical examination and the New Mexico Jurisprudence exam (score of at least 70%); the online application and approved supervision verification must be on file before exam approval is issued.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the online application with supervisor verification form(s), transcripts, background check, and fees to the NM Board of Social Work Examiners; a provisional license is issued pending exam passage.

Official Social Work resources

Marriage & Family Therapy

Prep for the National MFT Exam →
LAMFT

Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Required exam: National MFT Examination — AMFTRB

Scope: Associate/pre-independent MFT credential held under board-approved supervision while accruing the postgraduate hours required for the full LMFT.
  1. EducationMaster’s or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy (or substantially equivalent) meeting the board’s MFT core curriculum: 45 semester hours including 6 semester hours of practicum with 300 hours of supervised direct client contact over at least 12 months.
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required to obtain the LAMFT; the credential is the basis for beginning supervised postgraduate practice toward the LMFT.
  3. ExamPass the National Examination in Marital and Family Therapy (AMFTRB).
  4. ApplicationApply to the NM Counseling & Therapy Practice Board (minimum age 21) with transcripts, exam approval/passage, background check, and fees.
LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Required exam: National MFT Examination — AMFTRB

Scope: Full independent MFT license; authorizes autonomous diagnosis and treatment of relational and individual disorders and supervision of associates.
  1. EducationSame qualifying MFT master’s/doctoral degree meeting the 45-semester-hour core curriculum with the required practicum and 300 supervised direct-client-contact hours.
  2. Supervision / experienceAfter the associate (LAMFT) license, complete a minimum of 2 years of postgraduate MFT experience: 1,000 hours of marriage-and-family clinical client contact plus 200 hours of MFT supervision (at least 100 hours individual supervision).
  3. ExamPass the National Examination in Marital and Family Therapy (AMFTRB) if not already passed at the associate stage.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the LMFT application to the NM Counseling & Therapy Practice Board with verified supervised hours, exam passage, transcripts, background check, and fees; independent license issued upon approval.

Official Marriage & Family Therapy resources

Psychology

Prep for the EPPP →
LP

Licensed Psychologist

Required exam: EPPP (ASPPB) + NM online jurisprudence examination

Scope: Independent practice of psychology — assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. (A separate RxP add-on lets a licensed psychologist who completes a post-doctoral master’s in clinical psychopharmacology and passes the PEP become a conditionally/fully prescribing psychologist — New Mexico was the first state to authorize this.)
  1. EducationDoctoral degree (PhD, PsyD, or EdD) in psychology from a program meeting the Board of Psychologist Examiners’ standards.
  2. Supervision / experienceBoard-required supervised professional experience, including a predoctoral internship and supervised postdoctoral experience per the Professional Psychologist Act and Title 16, Chapter 22 NMAC.
  3. ExamPass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) at or above the ASPPB-recommended cut score, plus the New Mexico online jurisprudence examination on ethics, NM law, and board rules.
  4. ApplicationApply to the NM Board of Psychologist Examiners with transcripts, verification of supervised experience, exam scores, background report, and fees.
Provisional/Conditional Licensee

Conditional / Provisional Psychologist Licensee

Required exam: EPPP (ASPPB) + NM jurisprudence examination (completed before full licensure)

Scope: Time-limited authorization to practice under supervision for candidates who have met education requirements but not yet completed all postdoctoral experience or examinations; bridges to full Licensed Psychologist status.
  1. EducationQualifying doctoral degree in psychology as required for the full Licensed Psychologist.
  2. Supervision / experiencePractice only under board-approved supervision while completing the remaining postdoctoral supervised hours required for full licensure.
  3. ExamPass the EPPP and NM jurisprudence exam as required to convert the conditional/provisional status to full licensure.
  4. ApplicationApply to the NM Board of Psychologist Examiners for conditional/provisional status with transcripts, a supervision plan, background report, and fees.

Official Psychology resources

All licenses

New Mexico licensing portals & background checks.

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