Michigan Counselor License Exam
To get licensed in Michigan, Professional Counselors are required to take an exam covering such subjects as human growth and development, psychopathology, group therapy and professional ethics. Whether you live in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor or another city or county, the resources below will help you get started on the path to receive your Professional Counselor’s license.
Need of a License: A license is needed to work as a counselor in Michigan. Licenses are granted by the Michigan Board of Counseling.
To qualify to become a licensed professional counselor in Michigan, the following must be met:
- Obtain a graduate degree in counseling from an accredited school meeting credit limits.
- Meet supervised clinical experience requirements of two years of post-graduate professional counseling.
- An applicant must earn a passing score on the NCE (National Counselor Exam).
How to Apply for Licensure
The applications for licensure and other documentation can be obtained online. All documents must be sent to:
Board of Counseling
P.O. Box 30670
Lansing, MI 48909
1-517-335-0918
1-517-373-2179 (fax)
Test Content of the NCE
The NCE consists of 200 multiple-choice questions and is administered over a four-hour period. The NCE covers the following six knowledge, skill and task domains:
- Professional Practice and Ethics
- Intake, Assessment and Diagnosis
- Areas of Clinical Focus
- Treatment Planning
- Counseling Skills and Interventions
- Core Counseling Attributes
The questions are aligned to the following CACREP Common Core Areas:
- Human Growth and Development
- Social and Cultural Diversity
- Counseling and Helping Relationships
- Group Counseling and Group Work
- Career Development
- Assessment and Testing
- Research and Program Evaluation
- Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice
For more information, see the NCE Candidate Handbook.
How to Apply to Take the Exam
Apply online to take the NCE.
License Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements
There are no continuing education requirements for license renewal in Michigan.
