Resources · Path to Licensure

Step-by-step licensure pathways in Oregon.

Oregon licenses five of the six behavioral-health professions at the state level and recognizes a sixth (addiction counseling) through certification. Counseling and marriage & family therapy share one board (OBLPCT), while social work, psychology, and behavior analysis each have their own. Two Oregon-specific points stand out: addiction counseling is NOT a state license — it is a three-tier certification (CADC I/II/III) issued by the private Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO) — and Oregon discontinued its master’s-level Psychologist Associate license for new applicants effective January 1, 2022, so psychology is now doctoral-only. Oregon also runs an open-book Law and Rules examination for counselors, therapists, and psychologists, and dropped its counseling/MFT supervised-hour requirement from 2,400 to 1,900 hours effective July 1, 2023.

Want the one-line summary instead? See the Oregon licensure overview →
Open the profession + state finder →

Jump to a profession

Professional CounselingAddiction & Substance Use CounselingSocial WorkMarriage & Family TherapyPsychologyBehavior Analysis

Professional Counseling

Prep for the NCMHCE / NCE →
Counselor Associate

Registered Professional Counselor Associate

Required exam: No examination is required to register as an Associate. The national counselor examination and the Oregon Law and Rules Examination are taken on the path to the LPC.

Scope: Oregon’s pre-licensure registration (renamed from “Registered Intern” in 2021), issued by the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists under ORS Chapter 675. It authorizes a person to provide professional counseling only under a Board-approved supervision plan with an approved supervisor while accruing the experience required for the LPC. It is not an independent license, and the Board does not permit an abbreviation such as “LPC-A.”
  1. EducationA qualifying master’s or doctoral degree meeting OBLPCT’s LPC coursework requirements; a CACREP-accredited counseling program (including a supervised practicum/internship) is the standard.
  2. Supervision / experienceNo prior post-degree experience is required; the Associate registration is the vehicle for accruing the supervised hours required for the LPC, with at least two supervisory sessions per month under a Board-approved supervisor.
  3. ExamNone at this tier.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the Associate registration application and a Board-approved supervision plan to OBLPCT. Associates generally have a five-year window (extendable for good cause) to complete the requirements.
LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

Required exam: Pass an approved national counselor examination — the NCE or NCMHCE (NBCC) — and then the Oregon Law and Rules Examination (an open-book, online state exam).

Scope: Oregon’s full, independent counseling license, issued by OBLPCT under ORS Chapter 675 / OAR Chapter 833. The LPC authorizes the autonomous assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals and families with mental-health disorders.
  1. EducationA master’s or doctoral degree meeting OBLPCT’s LPC coursework requirements (CACREP standard).
  2. Supervision / experienceAt least three years (36 months) of qualified supervised clinical counseling experience including at least 1,900 supervised direct client contact hours (up to 400 of which may be pre-degree). The requirement dropped from 2,400 to 1,900 hours effective July 1, 2023.
  3. ExamPass the NCE or NCMHCE, then the Oregon Law and Rules Examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to OBLPCT for promotion from Associate (or by the direct/reciprocity method) with transcripts, documentation of supervised hours, supervisor verification, and passing exam scores.

Official Professional Counseling resources

Addiction & Substance Use Counseling

Prep for the MAC / NCAC exam →
CADC I

Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor I

Required exam: A board-approved national examination — the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) exam or the NAADAC NCAC. No jurisprudence exam is required at this tier.

Scope: Oregon’s entry-level addiction-counselor credential. IMPORTANT: this is a CERTIFICATION issued by the Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO, formerly ACCBO), a private NAADAC-affiliated board — Oregon does not issue a state addiction-counselor license. The CADC I requires no college degree and authorizes alcohol- and drug-counseling practice.
  1. EducationHigh school diploma or GED plus 150 hours of board-approved alcohol- and drug-education across the required core areas (counseling skills, group skills, pharmacology, infectious disease/risk reduction, ethics, and clinical evaluation).
  2. Supervision / experience1,000 hours of supervised alcohol- and drug-counseling work experience under an MHACBO-approved supervisor.
  3. ExamPass the IC&RC ADC or NAADAC NCAC examination; sign the MHACBO Code of Ethics and pass a background check.
  4. ApplicationApply to MHACBO (via the Certemy platform). Many candidates begin with the administrative CADC-R “Registered” step before completing the CADC I.
CADC II

Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor II

Required exam: A board-approved national examination (IC&RC ADC or NAADAC) PLUS the written MHACBO Jurisprudence Ethics Exam.

Scope: MHACBO’s mid-level (baccalaureate-proficiency) addiction-counseling certification for counselors with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Still a certification, not a state license.
  1. EducationA bachelor’s degree in counseling or a related field (or an associate degree plus equivalent college credit) plus 300 hours of board-approved alcohol- and drug-education across eight core areas.
  2. Supervision / experience4,000 hours of supervised alcohol- and drug-counseling work experience under an approved supervisor.
  3. ExamPass the national examination and the MHACBO Jurisprudence Ethics Exam.
  4. ApplicationApply to MHACBO via Certemy with transcripts, education and experience documentation, background check, and signed Code of Ethics.
CADC III

Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor III

Required exam: A board-approved national examination (IC&RC ADC or NAADAC) PLUS the written MHACBO Jurisprudence Ethics Exam.

Scope: MHACBO’s highest CADC tier (graduate proficiency), for master’s-level addiction practitioners. A certification, not a state license.
  1. EducationA master’s or higher degree in addiction studies or a related discipline (social work, mental-health counseling, MFT, psychology, or medicine) from a regionally accredited institution, plus 300 hours of board-approved alcohol- and drug-education across nine core areas.
  2. Supervision / experience6,000 hours of supervised alcohol- and drug-counseling work experience under an approved supervisor.
  3. ExamPass the national examination and the MHACBO Jurisprudence Ethics Exam.
  4. ApplicationApply to MHACBO via Certemy with transcripts, education and experience documentation, background check, and signed Code of Ethics.

Official Addiction & Substance Use Counseling resources

Social Work

Prep for the ASWB exam →
RBSW

Registered Baccalaureate Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Bachelors Examination.

Scope: Oregon’s bachelor’s-level, non-clinical social work license, issued by the Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers (BLSW). It authorizes case management, service coordination, referral, advocacy, and community-program work but does NOT authorize diagnosis or therapy.
  1. EducationA BSW from a CSWE-accredited program (or a non-social-work bachelor’s with equivalent coursework).
  2. Supervision / experienceNo supervised-experience requirement at this entry, non-clinical tier.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Bachelors Examination.
  4. ApplicationApply through the BLSW applicant portal (application fee $150) with transcripts and a fingerprint-based background check.
LMSW

Licensed Master Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Masters Examination.

Scope: Oregon’s master’s-level, non-clinical license issued by BLSW. It authorizes broader assessment, treatment planning, administration, and policy work, but does NOT authorize independent clinical social work, diagnosis, or psychotherapy (that is the LCSW).
  1. EducationAn MSW from a CSWE-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experienceNo supervised-experience requirement at the non-clinical master’s tier.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Masters Examination.
  4. ApplicationApply through the BLSW applicant portal (application fee $200) with transcripts and a background check.
CSWA

Clinical Social Work Associate

Required exam: No examination is required to obtain the CSWA; the ASWB Clinical Examination is taken later to convert to the LCSW.

Scope: Oregon’s clinical-track bridge credential — the first step toward clinical licensure. It authorizes clinical social work (assessment, diagnosis, and treatment) ONLY under a Board-approved plan of supervision while the holder accrues hours toward the LCSW. Issued by BLSW (OAR Chapter 877, Division 20).
  1. EducationAn MSW from a CSWE-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experienceA Board-approved plan of supervision must be on file before clinical practice begins; the CSWA then accrues toward the LCSW total, with supervision at least twice monthly.
  3. ExamNone to obtain the CSWA (early ASWB Clinical exam approval may be requested after qualifying supervision hours).
  4. ApplicationApply through the BLSW applicant portal (application fee $260) with transcripts, a fingerprint check, and the supervisor’s plan of supervision.
LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Clinical Examination.

Scope: Oregon’s highest social-work license, issued by BLSW. It authorizes full independent clinical practice — assessment, DSM-5 diagnosis, and psychotherapy with individuals, couples, families, and groups.
  1. EducationAn MSW from a CSWE-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experience3,500 total post-MSW work hours, of which 2,000 are direct client hours, including 100 supervision hours (at least 50 individual), over a minimum of 24 months. Up to half of the supervision may be provided by an Oregon-licensed psychologist or psychiatrist; the remainder by an LCSW.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Clinical Examination.
  4. ApplicationCSWAs complete the Board-issued LCSW initial-license form once hours and the exam are finished (rather than filing a fresh application). Standalone LCSW applicants pay the higher application fee; verify the current fee on the BLSW License Types page.

Official Social Work resources

Marriage & Family Therapy

Prep for the National MFT Exam →
MFT Associate

Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Associate

Required exam: No examination is required to register; the AMFTRB National MFT Examination and the Oregon Law and Rules Examination are taken on the path to the LMFT.

Scope: Oregon’s MFT pre-licensure registration (formerly “Registered Intern”), issued by OBLPCT under ORS Chapter 675. It authorizes supervised marriage-and-family-therapy practice under a Board-approved supervision plan while the holder accrues hours toward the LMFT. The Board does not permit an abbreviation such as “LMFT-A.”
  1. EducationA qualifying graduate degree meeting OBLPCT’s LMFT coursework requirements (typically an MFT degree with a supervised practicum).
  2. Supervision / experienceNo prior post-degree experience is required; the Associate registration is the vehicle for accruing the LMFT’s supervised hours under a Board-approved supervisor trained in systemic couples/family therapy.
  3. ExamNone at this tier.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the Associate registration application and supervision plan to OBLPCT; a five-year completion window generally applies.
LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Required exam: Pass the AMFTRB National MFT Examination (or the California BBS MFT Written Clinical Examination), the Oregon Law and Rules Examination, and a mandatory child-abuse-reporting exam.

Scope: Oregon’s full, independent license to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders using systemic marriage and family therapy, issued by OBLPCT under ORS Chapter 675 / OAR Chapter 833.
  1. EducationA graduate degree meeting OBLPCT’s LMFT coursework requirements.
  2. Supervision / experienceAt least three years (36 months) of supervised experience including at least 1,900 supervised direct client contact hours of therapy, of which at least 750 hours must be with couples and families in the same session (up to 400 hours may be pre-degree). Reduced from 2,400 to 1,900 hours effective July 1, 2023.
  3. ExamPass the AMFTRB (or CA BBS) examination, the Oregon Law and Rules Examination, and the child-abuse-reporting exam.
  4. ApplicationApply to OBLPCT for promotion from Associate (or by the direct/reciprocity method) with transcripts, supervised-experience documentation, and passing exam scores.

Official Marriage & Family Therapy resources

Psychology

Prep for the EPPP →
Psychologist Resident

Psychologist Resident (pre-license)

Required exam: The EPPP and the Oregon Jurisprudence Exam may be taken before, during, or after the residency (no fixed order).

Scope: Not a license, but a Board-approved applicant status issued by the Oregon Board of Psychology (OBOP) that allows a doctoral graduate to provide post-doctoral psychological services under a Board-approved Resident Supervision Contract while completing the required residency. Practicing without an approved contract constitutes unlicensed practice.
  1. EducationA doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) in psychology from an accredited doctoral program (OAR 858-010-0010).
  2. Supervision / experiencePerforming the post-doctoral residency (at least 12 months / 1,500 hours) under a Board-approved licensed-psychologist supervisor.
  3. ExamMay begin the EPPP and/or the Oregon Jurisprudence Exam.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the proposed Resident Supervision Contract with the application and wait for written Board approval before rendering services or using the title.
LP

Licensed Psychologist

Required exam: Pass the EPPP (the ASPPB national exam) and the Oregon Jurisprudence Exam (an open-book, online state exam on Oregon law and APA ethics). Oregon does not require an oral examination.

Scope: Oregon’s doctoral-level, full independent psychology license, issued by OBOP under ORS Chapter 675 / OAR Chapter 858 — the broadest scope of psychological services, including assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapy. (Oregon discontinued its master’s-level Psychologist Associate license for new applicants effective January 1, 2022, so psychology is now doctoral-only.)
  1. EducationA doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) in psychology from an accredited doctoral program (OAR 858-010-0010).
  2. Supervision / experienceAt least 12 months and not fewer than 1,500 hours of post-doctoral supervised psychological services under a licensed psychologist (completed as a Psychologist Resident).
  3. ExamPass the EPPP and the Oregon Jurisprudence Exam.
  4. ApplicationApply through the OBOP applicant portal (application fee approximately $370, including the background check) with transcripts, supervised-experience documentation, and a fingerprint-based criminal records check.

Official Psychology resources

Behavior Analysis

Prep for the BCBA exam →
Interventionist

Registered Behavior Analysis Interventionist

Required exam: No national or state examination is required.

Scope: Oregon’s entry-level behavior-analysis registration, issued by the Behavior Analysis Regulatory Board (BARB) within the Oregon Health Authority’s Health Licensing Office under ORS 676.802–676.830. It authorizes a person to implement prescribed behavior-analysis intervention plans under supervision and requires no BACB certification.
  1. EducationA high school diploma or GED.
  2. Supervision / experienceWorks under supervision and must document 40 hours of professional ABA training across five knowledge/skill areas (professional/ethical issues, behavior-change principles, assessment, plan implementation, and data collection/documentation).
  3. ExamNone.
  4. ApplicationApply to BARB/HLO with two government IDs, a fingerprint-based criminal background check, and the Verification of Professional Training form (application fee $75 plus a $100 registration fee).
LABA

Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst

Required exam: No separate Oregon examination — the qualifying exam is the BACB BCaBA Certification Examination.

Scope: Oregon’s limited-scope assistant behavior-analysis license, issued by BARB/HLO. It authorizes the practice of applied behavior analysis under the supervision of a BARB-licensed Behavior Analyst and corresponds to BACB BCaBA-level certification.
  1. EducationA bachelor’s degree, as required for BACB BCaBA certification.
  2. Supervision / experienceThe supervised-fieldwork requirements embedded in BACB BCaBA certification; in Oregon the holder must practice under a BARB-licensed Behavior Analyst.
  3. ExamPass the BACB BCaBA Certification Examination (i.e., hold active BCaBA certification).
  4. ApplicationApply to BARB/HLO; arrange for the BACB to send proof of BCaBA certification directly to HLO, with two IDs and a fingerprint check (application fee $125 plus a $175 license fee).
LBA

Licensed Behavior Analyst

Required exam: No separate Oregon examination — the qualifying exam is the BACB BCBA Certification Examination.

Scope: Oregon’s full-scope, independent behavior-analysis license, issued by BARB/HLO under ORS 676.802–676.830. It authorizes the independent practice of applied behavior analysis in Oregon.
  1. EducationA master’s degree, as required for BACB BCBA certification.
  2. Supervision / experienceThe supervised-fieldwork requirements embedded in BACB BCBA certification.
  3. ExamPass the BACB BCBA Certification Examination (i.e., hold current, active BCBA certification).
  4. ApplicationApply to BARB/HLO; arrange for the BACB to send proof of BCBA certification directly to HLO, with two government IDs and a fingerprint-based criminal background check (application fee $150 plus a $200 license fee).

Official Behavior Analysis resources

All licenses

Oregon licensing portals & background checks.

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

Pass the exam on your path.

Triad’s AATBS brand prepares candidates for the EPPP, ASWB, NCE/NCMHCE, MFT, BCBA, and addictions exams — backed by a pass guarantee.

Find your exam prep →