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LicenseReciprocity

Counseling License from Arkansas to New York: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Mental Health Practitioners) (Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC) ↗

A counseling license transfers from Arkansas to New York by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Mental Health Practitioners) (Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC), verify your Arkansas license, and meet New York's endorsement requirements. NCMHCE only: the endorsement applicant has NBCC send passing NCMHCE scores directly to NYSED; the NCE is not acceptable. An exam passed elsewhere under non-standard conditions may have to be retaken. No New York jurisprudence exam..

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

A counseling license moves from Arkansas to New York by endorsement. New York has not enacted the Counseling Compact, so no privilege anchored to your Arkansas license reaches it. You apply to the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Mental Health Practitioners) (Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC), which verifies your Arkansas license and standing, matches it to New York's independent tier, and applies its own rule on crediting your national exam score, plus any New York jurisprudence and background requirements.

What changes, Arkansas → New York

Side-by-side: Arkansas vs New York (Counseling (LPC / LMHC)), verified 2026-09-27
Arkansas (current)New York (destination)
Counseling Compact statusCounseling Compact member — compact privilege to practiceLicensure by endorsement
Application fee$100 (initial LPC application fee per 17 CAR 75-1301(a)(1) (2026 Rule Revision). The Board may waive it for applicants on public assistance, recently approved for unemployment, or with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Separate fees: $250 LPC license fee (75-1302, first fee prorated), jurisprudence exam fee paid to NBCC, and background-check fees. NOT the Counseling Compact privilege fee (Arkansas charges $50 + $30 commission admin fee = $80 for a privilege, and requires the jurisprudence exam).)$371 (fee for licensure and first registration, paid with Form 1; no fingerprint requirement listed; the separate LMHC diagnostic privilege costs $175 to issue. New York has not enacted the Counseling Compact.)
Processing timethe Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applicationsNYSED publishes no processing timeframe for LMHC endorsement applications
Licensing authorityArkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling (Arkansas Department of Health), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Mental Health Practitioners) (Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC)

The destination column is what you must satisfy — New York sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

  1. Confirm New York's current requirements on the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Mental Health Practitioners) (Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC) website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Mental Health Practitioners) (Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC) (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
  4. Show at least 5 years of licensed mental health counseling practice within the 10 years before applying, attested on Forms 4E/4F.
  5. Have NBCC send passing NCMHCE scores directly to the Office of the Professions.
  6. Have every jurisdiction where you are or were licensed submit Form 3 license verification directly to NYSED.
  7. Have your graduate school submit Form 2 (Certification of Professional Education).
  8. Complete NYSED-approved coursework or training in identifying and reporting child abuse (or document an exemption).
  9. Pay the fees ($371 (fee for licensure and first registration, paid with Form 1; no fingerprint requirement listed; the separate LMHC diagnostic privilege costs $175 to issue. New York has not enacted the Counseling Compact.)) and allow NYSED publishes no processing timeframe for LMHC endorsement applications.

Official links

New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Mental Health Practitioners) (Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC) ↗New York application ↗

Related guides

Reverse: New York → ArkansasCounseling in ArkansasCounseling in New YorkAll counseling statesThe Counseling Compact explained

Frequently asked questions

Does New York accept an Arkansas counseling license?

A counseling license transfers from Arkansas to New York by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions (State Board for Mental Health Practitioners) (Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC), verify your Arkansas license, and meet New York's endorsement requirements. NCMHCE only: the endorsement applicant has NBCC send passing NCMHCE scores directly to NYSED; the NCE is not acceptable. An exam passed elsewhere under non-standard conditions may have to be retaken. No New York jurisprudence exam..

Do I retake the NCE or NCMHCE moving from Arkansas to New York?

NCMHCE only: the endorsement applicant has NBCC send passing NCMHCE scores directly to NYSED; the NCE is not acceptable. An exam passed elsewhere under non-standard conditions may have to be retaken. No New York jurisprudence exam.

What does the move cost?

$371 (fee for licensure and first registration, paid with Form 1; no fingerprint requirement listed; the separate LMHC diagnostic privilege costs $175 to issue. New York has not enacted the Counseling Compact.)

How long will it take?

NYSED publishes no processing timeframe for LMHC endorsement applications.

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-09-27.

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-09-27

How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]