Resources · Path to Licensure

Step-by-step licensure pathways in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma licenses all six behavioral-health professions at the state level, with several distinctive structures. Counseling and marriage & family therapy share one board (the BBHL), and BOTH professions require an Oklahoma jurisprudence exam — the Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination (OLERE) for counselors and the Oklahoma LMFT Examination for therapists — on top of the national exam. Social work runs an unusually deep five-tier ladder (LSWA, LMSW, LSW, LSW-ADM, and LCSW); only the LCSW authorizes independent clinical practice. Addiction counseling is state-regulated with both a bachelor’s-level certification (CADC) and master’s-level licenses (LADC and LADC/MH). Psychology is doctoral-only and requires the EPPP plus an in-person jurisprudence exam. Behavior analysts are state-licensed (BCBAs are licensed; BCaBAs are certified) under 59 O.S. §1928.

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

Professional Counseling

Prep for the NCMHCE / NCE →
LPC Candidate

Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate

Required exam: The NCE and the Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination (OLERE) must be passed before supervised hours begin to accrue.

Scope: Oklahoma’s supervised pre-licensure status, issued by the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure. The Candidate accrues the supervised hours required for full LPC licensure under an approved Supervision Agreement and may not refer to themselves as a Licensed Professional Counselor.
  1. EducationA Board-approved graduate counseling degree of at least 60 semester hours, including the required core coursework and a practicum/internship; CACREP-accredited programs are accepted automatically.
  2. Supervision / experienceThis is the tier during which the supervised experience is performed; an approved Supervision Agreement must be in place before hours accrue.
  3. ExamPass the NCE and the OLERE (prerequisites to accruing hours).
  4. ApplicationApply to the BBHL through the Thentia portal (application fee approximately $145) with transcripts, internship verification, and OSBI plus FBI fingerprints.
LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

Required exam: Pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) administered by the CCE (the named state exam — not the NCMHCE) and the Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination (OLERE).

Scope: Oklahoma’s full, independent counseling license, issued by the BBHL under the Licensed Professional Counselors Act (59 O.S. §§ 1901 et seq.). It authorizes the autonomous practice of professional counseling, including assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.
  1. EducationA 60-semester-hour graduate counseling degree with the specified core coursework and a practicum/internship of at least 300 clock hours; CACREP degrees are accepted automatically.
  2. Supervision / experienceThree years or 3,000 clock hours of supervised experience, including 350 direct-client-contact hours per 1,000 (1,050 direct-contact across the full 3,000), with 45 minutes of supervision per 20 hours worked; completed within 60 months.
  3. ExamPass the NCE and the OLERE.
  4. ApplicationApply to the BBHL (application fee approximately $145) with transcripts, internship verification, OSBI/FBI fingerprints, and final supervisor-evaluation forms.

Official Professional Counseling resources

Addiction & Substance Use Counseling

Prep for the MAC / NCAC exam →
CADC

Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor

Required exam: A board written examination (IC&RC-based) plus an oral examination, both administered through ODAPCA as the contracted testing facility.

Scope: Oklahoma’s bachelor’s-level addiction-counseling state certification, issued by the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors (OBLADC) under Title 59. It authorizes practice of the twelve core functions of addiction counseling.
  1. EducationA bachelor’s degree in a behavioral science plus 45 hours of co-occurring-disorders coursework and 270 continuing-education hours (135 drug-and-alcohol).
  2. Supervision / experience24 months / 4,000 total hours (2,000 direct) plus a 300-hour practicum covering at least 10 hours in each core function, with weekly one-hour supervision.
  3. ExamPass the board written exam and the oral exam (via ODAPCA).
  4. ApplicationSubmit the notarized Form 201 application to OBLADC (fee approximately $175) with ethics, references, philosophy, and supervision forms.
LADC

Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor

Required exam: The IC&RC Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) written examination plus the board oral examination (administered through ODAPCA).

Scope: Oklahoma’s master’s-level addiction-counseling state license, issued by OBLADC (scope at 59 O.S. §1876). It authorizes independent substance-use-disorder assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
  1. EducationA master’s degree in a behavioral science or counseling field.
  2. Supervision / experience12 months / 2,000 total hours (1,000 direct) plus a 300-hour practicum, with weekly one-hour supervision; 180 continuing-education hours (90 drug-and-alcohol).
  3. ExamPass the IC&RC AADC written exam and the board oral exam.
  4. ApplicationSubmit Form 201 to OBLADC (fee approximately $175) with ethics, references, philosophy, and supervision forms.
LADC/MH

Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor with Mental Health designation

Required exam: Same as the LADC — the IC&RC AADC written examination plus the board oral examination.

Scope: An LADC with an added mental-health designation, issued by OBLADC. Under 59 O.S. §1876 the LADC/MH scope may include the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental-health disorders. The designation is Oklahoma-specific and is not reciprocal with other states.
  1. EducationThe LADC master’s degree PLUS one qualifying mental-health pathway — for example 15 additional graduate substance-abuse/mental-health hours, a master’s qualifying for LPC/LCSW/LMFT/psychology licensure, or a valid co-occurring-disorders certification.
  2. Supervision / experienceSame as the LADC (12 months / 2,000 hours including 1,000 direct, plus the practicum).
  3. ExamPass the IC&RC AADC written exam and the board oral exam.
  4. ApplicationSubmit Form 201 to OBLADC (fee approximately $175); continuing education includes 20 co-occurring hours (or 10 mental-health plus 10 drug-and-alcohol).

Official Addiction & Substance Use Counseling resources

Social Work

Prep for the ASWB exam →
LSWA

Licensed Social Work Associate

Required exam: ASWB Bachelors Examination. No Oklahoma jurisprudence exam.

Scope: Oklahoma’s bachelor’s-level entry social-work license, issued by the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers under the Social Worker’s Licensing Act (59 O.S. §1261.1). It is expressly excluded from independent practice.
  1. EducationA BSW from a CSWE-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required for issuance.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Bachelors Examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to OSBLSW (application fee approximately $150 plus background check) with transcripts and fingerprints.
LMSW

Licensed Master’s Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Masters Examination.

Scope: Oklahoma’s entry master’s-level license, issued by OSBLSW. It is also excluded from independent practice (59 O.S. §1261.1(F)) and is the prerequisite credential for the supervised path to the LSW, LSW-ADM, or LCSW.
  1. EducationAn MSW from a CSWE-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required for issuance.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Masters Examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to OSBLSW (application fee approximately $150 plus background check) with transcripts and fingerprints.
LSW

Licensed Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Advanced Generalist Examination.

Scope: Oklahoma’s post-experience generalist license authorizing independent, non-clinical social work practice (59 O.S. §1261.1(F)). It does NOT authorize private clinical therapy.
  1. EducationAn MSW from a CSWE-accredited program; the applicant must first hold the LSWA or LMSW.
  2. Supervision / experienceTwo years of full-time supervised practice (3,000 post-degree hours; reduced from 4,000 by HB 3015, effective November 2024) under an approved supervisor.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Advanced Generalist Examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to OSBLSW with an approved supervisor and contract (application fee approximately $150 plus background check) and transcripts.
LSW-ADM

Licensed Social Worker — Administration Specialty

Required exam: ASWB Advanced Generalist Examination.

Scope: Oklahoma’s independent administrative/macro social-work license (59 O.S. §1261.1(F)), issued by OSBLSW. It authorizes independent administrative practice but not clinical practice.
  1. EducationAn MSW from a CSWE-accredited program; the applicant must first hold the LSWA or LMSW.
  2. Supervision / experienceTwo years of full-time supervised administrative social-work practice (approximately 3,000 hours) under an approved supervisor.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Advanced Generalist Examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to OSBLSW with an approved supervisor and contract and transcripts (standard fees).
LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Clinical Examination. No Oklahoma jurisprudence exam.

Scope: Oklahoma’s only social-work license authorizing independent clinical practice and private therapy. Under 59 O.S. §1261.1(E), no person may engage in the private practice of clinical social work unless licensed as an LCSW.
  1. EducationAn MSW from a CSWE-accredited program; the applicant must first hold the LSWA or LMSW.
  2. Supervision / experienceTwo years of full-time supervised clinical practice (3,000 hours under HB 3015) under an approved clinical supervisor.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Clinical Examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to OSBLSW with an approved clinical supervisor and contract (application fee approximately $150 plus background check), transcripts, and fingerprints.

Official Social Work resources

Marriage & Family Therapy

Prep for the National MFT Exam →
LMFT Candidate

Licensed Marital and Family Therapist Candidate

Required exam: The AMFTRB National MFT Examination and the Oklahoma LMFT Examination must be passed before supervised hours accrue.

Scope: Oklahoma’s supervised pre-licensure status, issued by the State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure. The Candidate accrues the supervised experience required for the LMFT under an approved Supervision Agreement and may not refer to themselves as an LMFT.
  1. EducationA Board-approved MFT (or content-equivalent) graduate degree with a practicum of at least 300 clock hours; COAMFTE-accredited programs are accepted automatically.
  2. Supervision / experienceThis is the tier during which the experience is performed; an approved Supervision Agreement must be in place (each supervisor is capped at 12 candidates).
  3. ExamPass the AMFTRB exam and the Oklahoma LMFT Examination (prerequisites).
  4. ApplicationApply to the BBHL through the Thentia portal with transcripts, internship documentation, and OSBI/FBI fingerprints.
LMFT

Licensed Marital and Family Therapist

Required exam: Pass the AMFTRB Examination in Marital and Family Therapy and the Oklahoma LMFT Examination (the state jurisprudence exam).

Scope: Oklahoma’s full, independent MFT license, issued by the BBHL under the Marital and Family Therapist Licensure Act (59 O.S. §§ 1925 et seq.). It authorizes autonomous diagnosis and treatment within a relational/family-systems framework.
  1. EducationA Board-approved MFT (or content-equivalent) graduate degree with the specified coursework and a 300-clock-hour practicum; COAMFTE degrees are accepted automatically.
  2. Supervision / experienceAt least 24 months including 1,000 direct client contact hours, 250 relational hours, and 150 hours of face-to-face clinical supervision (no more than 75 of which may be group).
  3. ExamPass the AMFTRB exam and the Oklahoma LMFT Examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to the BBHL with transcripts, internship documentation, OSBI/FBI fingerprints, and final supervisor evaluations.

Official Marriage & Family Therapy resources

Psychology

Prep for the EPPP →
LP

Licensed Health Service Psychologist

Required exam: A two-component state examination, with NO oral exam: the EPPP (ASPPB; passing scaled score 500) and the Oklahoma Jurisprudence Examination (in-person, 120 multiple-choice questions, two hours, passing 70%).

Scope: Oklahoma’s doctoral-level, independent psychology license — the only independent psychology license in the state — issued by the Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (OSBEP) under the Psychologists Licensing Act (59 O.S. §1362). A related-field doctorate does not qualify. (Oklahoma also offers a Health Service Psychologist designation that sits atop the license and registers Psychological Technicians as supervised support staff.)
  1. EducationAn APA-accredited doctoral degree in psychology with at least 42 hours primarily psychological covering seven substantive areas, plus practica and an internship.
  2. Supervision / experienceTwo years of supervised experience; a pre-doctoral internship of up to 2,000 hours counts, and at least one year (2,000 hours, including 75 hours of formal individual supervision) must be post-doctoral.
  3. ExamPass the EPPP (scaled score 500) and the Oklahoma Jurisprudence Examination (70%).
  4. ApplicationApply to OSBEP (application fee approximately $400, non-refundable) with three psychologist references, transcripts, and a national background check.

Official Psychology resources

Behavior Analysis

Prep for the BCBA exam →
BCaBA (certified)

Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst

Required exam: The BACB BCaBA Certification Examination. No separate Oklahoma examination is required.

Scope: Oklahoma’s assistant-tier behavior-analysis credential, certified by the Oklahoma Licensed Behavior Analyst Board (OLBAB, under DHS Developmental Disabilities Services) under 59 O.S. §1928. It authorizes assistant-level applied behavior analysis under the supervision of a licensed (BCBA-level) behavior analyst. Note the statutory distinction: BCBAs are licensed, while BCaBAs are certified.
  1. EducationA bachelor’s degree with BACB-approved coursework meeting BCaBA requirements.
  2. Supervision / experienceThe BACB-required supervised fieldwork for BCaBA certification; in Oklahoma the holder practices under a licensed behavior analyst.
  3. ExamPass the BACB BCaBA Certification Examination (i.e., hold active BCaBA certification).
  4. ApplicationApply to OLBAB (DHS Form 06LC001E) with a copy of the BACB certification and a background check; renew April 30 of odd years.
LBA

Licensed Behavior Analyst

Required exam: The BACB BCBA Certification Examination. No separate Oklahoma oral or jurisprudence exam is required.

Scope: Oklahoma’s full behavior-analysis license, issued by OLBAB under 59 O.S. §1928 (effective November 1, 2009). It authorizes the independent practice of applied behavior analysis and is required to bill ABA services through Oklahoma Medicaid (OHCA). The state license is an overlay requiring active BACB certification.
  1. EducationA master’s (or higher) degree with BACB-approved coursework meeting BCBA requirements.
  2. Supervision / experienceThe BACB-required supervised fieldwork for BCBA certification.
  3. ExamPass the BACB BCBA Certification Examination (i.e., hold current, active BCBA certification).
  4. ApplicationApply to OLBAB (DHS Form 06LC001E) with a copy of the BACB certification and a background check; renew April 30 of odd years.

Official Behavior Analysis resources

All licenses

Oklahoma licensing portals & background checks.

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