Healthcare License Verification
How to Verify a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Professional counselors hold state licenses under a variety of titles — LPC, LMHC, LCPC, LPCC — depending on the state. Each state has its own licensing board with a public lookup. Here is how to verify a counselor's license and what additional credentials to look for.
Quick answer
Professional counselor licensure is state-issued. Verify through the state licensing board in the state where the counselor practices — typically a Board of Licensed Professional Counselors, Board of Behavioral Sciences, or similar agency. There is no single national database, but most states have public online license lookups.
License titles by state
Professional counseling uses different license titles across states. All refer to licensed mental health counselors who provide psychotherapy and counseling services:
| Title | States Using This Title |
|---|---|
| LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) | Texas, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Colorado, and most others |
| LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) | Florida, New York, Massachusetts, Washington, Hawaii |
| LCPC (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor) | Illinois, Maryland, Idaho, Montana |
| LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor) | California, Minnesota, Ohio, New Mexico |
| LAC (Licensed Associate Counselor) / LAPC | Supervised pre-licensure level in several states — not yet fully licensed |
Confirm the license title used in the state where the counselor practices before searching. An LPC from Texas is not automatically licensed in New York (which uses LMHC).
How to verify a state counseling license
Most states provide a public online license lookup. The process is consistent:
- Find the state's counseling licensing board (search “[state] LPC board license verification”)
- Search by the counselor's name or license number
- Confirm: Active status, license type, expiration date, and any disciplinary actions
State board lookup links
- Texas: Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors — dshs.texas.gov
- Florida: Florida Dept. of Health, LMHC board — flhealthsource.gov
- New York: NY Office of Professions, LMHC — op.nysed.gov
- California: Board of Behavioral Sciences (LPCC, LCSW, LMFT) — bbs.ca.gov
- Illinois: IDFPR, LCPC — idfpr.illinois.gov
- Pennsylvania: State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors — dos.pa.gov
National Certified Counselor (NCC)
The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) awards the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential — the most widely recognized national professional certification for counselors. The NCC is separate from state licensure and demonstrates that a counselor has met national competency standards.
Verify NCC credentials at nbcc.org using the public credential verification tool. The NCC renews every 5 years and requires continuing education. Some states accept NCC certification as part of their licensure requirements.
NBCC also offers specialty certifications including the CCMHC (Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor) and NCC with specialty areas. These can also be verified at nbcc.org.
Supervision and pre-licensure status
Most states require 2–3 years of supervised clinical experience after completing a master's degree before granting full licensure. Counselors in this supervised phase hold a provisional or associate license (e.g., LAC, LAPC, PLPC, LCPC-A depending on state). These practitioners can provide counseling services but must be supervised by a fully licensed counselor.
When verifying a pre-licensure counselor, confirm that their supervisor is also licensed and in good standing. For employment or credentialing purposes, understand whether the role requires full licensure or whether supervised practice is acceptable.
Insurance panel credentialing
For insurance reimbursement purposes, mental health counselors must credential with each payer. Insurance companies verify state licensure, NPI number, malpractice insurance, and clinical training history. Counselors who bill insurance must hold a full (not provisional) license in the state where services are rendered.
Verify NPI numbers through the NPPES NPI Registry at npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov. An active NPI is not evidence of licensure but confirms the counselor is enrolled for billing purposes.
Red flags
- Counselor cannot provide license number or state of licensure
- License not found in the state board database
- Expired or inactive license — counseling licenses typically renew every 2 years
- Using a fully licensed title (LPC, LMHC) when the record shows only a provisional license
- Practicing in a different state from the one where they hold a license — no compact exists for counselors as of 2026, though the Counseling Compact is expanding
- Disciplinary action, suspension, or restriction visible in board records
Verification checklist
- 1. Identify the state of practice and the license title used in that state (LPC, LMHC, LCPC, LPCC)
- 2. Find the state counseling board and use the public license lookup
- 3. Confirm Active status, license type (full vs. provisional), and expiration date
- 4. Check for any disciplinary actions or conditions on the license
- 5. Optionally verify NCC at nbcc.org for national certification status
- 6. For insurance billing: confirm NPI at npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov
Verify counseling program accreditation
Counselors must complete a master's degree from a CACREP-accredited program for most state licensure pathways. Use VerifyED to confirm whether a counseling school's program is properly accredited.
Search Schools and Accreditation →