Resources · Path to Licensure

Step-by-step licensure pathways in North Dakota.

North Dakota is unusual in two respects: its mental-health professions are split across separate, independent licensing boards (no umbrella department), each with its own statute chapter; and several ladders are notably granular — counseling has a three-tier ladder (LAPC to LPC to LPCC), and addiction counseling is a true state license (not a private certification). North Dakota is a PSYPACT member for psychology, requires doctoral training for psychologist licensure (no master’s-level psychologist license), and DOES license behavior analysts — that authority sits with the ND Board of Integrative Health Care. All six professions are included.

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

Professional Counseling

Prep for the NCMHCE / NCE →
LAPC

Licensed Associate Professional Counselor

Required exam: National Counselor Examination (NCE), NBCC.

Scope: Two-year entry license to practice counseling under continual supervision while accruing the experience required for the LPC.
  1. EducationMaster’s in counseling from an accredited institution (60 semester hours for post-2017 graduates), including a minimum 700-hour practicum/internship.
  2. Supervision / experienceFile a two-year Plan of Supervision; the LAPC period is the vehicle for completing the LPC supervised hours.
  3. ExamPass the NCE.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the LAPC application with three references, supervision documents, and fees.
LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

Required exam: National Counselor Examination (NCE) (carried over from the LAPC).

Scope: Full professional counseling license; independent practice after the supervised LAPC period and all LPC criteria are met.
  1. EducationSame 60-credit (post-2017) master’s with required core coursework and 700-hour practicum/internship.
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete the two-year LAPC supervised period: 100 hours of direct supervision (at least 60 individual face-to-face) plus 400 hours of client counseling contact.
  3. ExamNCE (already satisfied at the LAPC).
  4. ApplicationSubmit the LPC application (advancing from LAPC) with the supervisor’s recommendation.
LPCC

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor

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

Scope: Top clinical license in clinical mental health counseling, for LPCs who complete advanced clinical training. Must hold a valid LPC to apply.
  1. Education60 graduate semester credits including abnormal psychology/psychopathology and clinical counseling skills, plus the 700-hour practicum/internship.
  2. Supervision / experienceTwo years (3,000 hours) of post-master’s supervised clinical experience; applications after 7/1/2016 must document 100 hours of supervision by an LPCC.
  3. ExamPass the NCMHCE.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the LPCC application with three references from clinical professionals including the clinical-supervisor form.

Official Professional Counseling resources

Addiction & Substance Use Counseling

Prep for the MAC / NCAC exam →
LAC

Licensed Addiction Counselor (state license)

Required exam: NCAC II (National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level II), NCC AP/NAADAC.

Scope: Primary state license to practice addiction / substance-use counseling — screening, ASAM assessment, treatment planning, counseling, and education.
  1. EducationBachelor’s degree or higher in addiction studies or a related mental-health field meeting the Board’s academic requirements with required addiction-specific coursework.
  2. Supervision / experienceBoard-approved clinical training of at least 960 hours (bachelor’s track) within 12 months, under a board-registered clinical supervisor, including 40 hours of face-to-face supervision in each core area and 30 in documentation.
  3. ExamPass the NCAC II.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the LAC application with transcript-review form, two references, the Clinical Trainee Completion Form, and fees.
LMAC

Licensed Master Addiction Counselor (state license)

Required exam: MAC (Master Addiction Counselor), NCC AP/NAADAC.

Scope: Master’s-level addiction-counseling license; eligible (with private-practice registration) for independent private practice.
  1. EducationMaster’s degree in an approved mental-health field meeting the Board’s academic requirements.
  2. Supervision / experienceAt least 700 clinical-training hours (master’s track) within 12 months, then 2,000 hours of supervised practice post-LAC (at least half supervised by an LCAC/LMAC, with at least one hour weekly face-to-face).
  3. ExamPass the MAC examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the LMAC application with transcript review, references, and fees.

Official Addiction & Substance Use Counseling resources

Social Work

Prep for the ASWB exam →
LBSW

Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Bachelors examination.

Scope: Generalist baccalaureate-level (non-clinical) social work practice.
  1. EducationBachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE- or CASWE-accredited program; no other degree accepted (NDCC 43-41-04).
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required for the initial LBSW.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Bachelors examination within one year of application.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the signed application, official transcript, three references, a nationwide criminal-history check, and fees.
LMSW

Licensed Master Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Masters examination.

Scope: Master’s-level (non-clinical / advanced generalist) social work practice.
  1. EducationMaster’s degree in social work from a CSWE- or CASWE-accredited program; no other degree accepted.
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required for the LMSW itself.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Masters examination within one year of application.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the initial-licensure application with official transcript and fees.
LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Clinical examination.

Scope: Top clinical tier; independent clinical social work practice including diagnosis and clinical treatment.
  1. EducationMaster’s or higher degree in social work from a CSWE- or CASWE-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experience3,000 hours of supervised clinical social work practice completed within a four-year post-master’s period under a board-approved supervisor (see the Board’s supervision-plan page for face-to-face supervision minimums).
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Clinical examination within one year of application.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the initial-licensure (or LMSW-upgrade) application following the Board’s supervision-plan process.

Official Social Work resources

Marriage & Family Therapy

Prep for the National MFT Exam →
LAMFT

Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Required exam: AMFTRB National MFT Examination (associate licensure must be approved before sitting).

Scope: Associate-level license enabling supervised practice while accruing the postgraduate clinical hours required for full LMFT.
  1. EducationMaster’s or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy (or a related field with equivalent coursework); COAMFTE accreditation or equivalency. Transcripts sent directly to the Board.
  2. Supervision / experienceHold the associate license (renewed annually, up to four additional years) while completing supervised clinical experience toward the LMFT.
  3. ExamPass the AMFTRB national written examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit Form A (initial license application) with transcripts and fees.
LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Required exam: AMFTRB national written examination plus a North Dakota state examination (laws, ethics, and board responsibilities).

Scope: Full independent MFT license to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders within a marriage-and-family-systems framework.
  1. EducationMaster’s or doctoral MFT (or equivalent) degree from a regionally accredited institution meeting NDCC 43-53-06 coursework requirements.
  2. Supervision / experienceTwo calendar years / at least 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience, including at least 200 hours of direct supervision by an LMFT (NDCC 43-53-06).
  3. ExamPass the AMFTRB written exam, then the ND state examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit Form A (also used to upgrade LAMFT to LMFT) with character endorsements and supervised-experience verification (Form V).

Official Marriage & Family Therapy resources

Psychology

Prep for the EPPP →
Licensed Psychologist

Licensed Psychologist

Required exam: EPPP (passing scaled score 500) plus a board-administered oral examination.

Scope: Full independent practice of psychology — assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. North Dakota licenses psychologists at the doctoral level only and is a PSYPACT member.
  1. EducationDoctoral degree in psychology from an APA- or CPA-approved program (no other accrediting bodies accepted).
  2. Supervision / experienceApplied professional / supervised experience required by NDCC 43-32 and NDAC Title 66 (residency-level supervised practice; commonly two years including pre- and post-doctoral hours).
  3. ExamPass the EPPP (scaled 500), then the board oral examination.
  4. ApplicationTwo-step process: Application Initiation Form to the Board, plus the online ASPPB application and EPPP authorization.

Official Psychology resources

Behavior Analysis

Prep for the BCBA exam →
RBA

Registered / Assistant Behavior Analyst

Required exam: BACB Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) examination.

Scope: Practices applied behavior analysis under the supervision of a licensed behavior analyst; cannot practice independently. Licensed by the ND Board of Integrative Health Care.
  1. EducationBachelor’s degree plus a BACB-approved/verified course sequence (BCaBA pathway).
  2. Supervision / experienceHold BACB BCaBA certification; practice under ongoing supervision of a licensed behavior analyst per the BACB requirements adopted into ND rule.
  3. ExamPass the BACB BCaBA examination (plus the ND professional-responsibility exam once adopted).
  4. ApplicationApply to the ND Board of Integrative Health Care with proof of BACB certification, course sequence, and fees.
LBA

Licensed Behavior Analyst

Required exam: BACB Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) examination.

Scope: Independent practice of applied behavior analysis — behavioral assessment, program design, and supervision of ABA services.
  1. EducationMaster’s or doctoral degree from an ABAI-accredited program or a BACB-approved course sequence.
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete the BACB fieldwork/supervised experience required for BCBA certification (ND adopts the BACB requirements).
  3. ExamPass the BACB BCBA examination (and the ND professional-responsibility exam if in effect).
  4. ApplicationApply to the ND Board of Integrative Health Care with BACB certification verification and fees.

Official Behavior Analysis resources

All licenses

North Dakota licensing portals & background checks.

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