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LicenseReciprocity

Counseling License from California to Minnesota: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (BBHT) (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, LPCC) ↗

A counseling license transfers from California to Minnesota by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (BBHT) (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, LPCC), verify your California license, and meet Minnesota's endorsement requirements. No exam is retaken for reciprocity. Minn. Stat. 148B.56 sets no exam condition: the Board rules on substantial similarity (licensed under 5 years) or 5+ years of active practice, then decides whether to grant the LPC or the LPCC. Minnesota-route LPCC applicants must pass the NCMHCE (148B.5301). The reciprocity application asks for license verification, transcripts and the other state's laws and rules, not a separate score transfer. No Minnesota jurisprudence exam..

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

Minnesota is operational in the Counseling Compact, but California is not, so there is no home-state license here to anchor a privilege. Once you hold a Minnesota license and live in Minnesota, it can anchor privileges into the other operational states. The route is endorsement through the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (BBHT) (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, LPCC): your California license is verified, your NCE or NCMHCE score is credited under Minnesota's own exam rule, and Minnesota applies any jurisprudence and background checks it requires. Check which Minnesota tier corresponds to your California license before you file, because the titles do not map one to one.

What changes, California → Minnesota

Side-by-side: California vs Minnesota (Counseling (LPC / LMHC)), verified 2026-09-27
California (current)Minnesota (destination)
Counseling Compact statusLicensure by endorsementCounseling Compact member — compact privilege to practice
Application fee$125 (LPCC License Application fee under the Board's temporary 50% fee reduction for payments made 2026-07-01 through 2030-06-30 (statutory base in BPC 4999.120 is $250; applications paid before 2026-07-01 paid $250). Separate: initial license issuance fee $100 (reduced from $200), California Law and Ethics Exam fee $75 (reduced from $150), fingerprint (Live Scan / DOJ-FBI) fees not reduced and paid separately. California has not enacted the Counseling Compact, so no privilege route exists.)$150 (non-refundable LPCC application fee (Minn. Stat. 148B.53 subd. 3); the reciprocity application also requires the $250 initial license fee and a $32 criminal background check fee, paid together as $432 ($400 if exempt from the check). NOT the Counseling Compact privilege fee: Minnesota charges $50 + $30 commission fee = $80, no jurisprudence exam.)
Processing timethe Board's Path A guide gives no timeframe for the licensure application itself; it states only 'allow up to 30 days' for processing the Request for Initial License Issuance after the exam is passed. Board processing-time pages could not be read (bbs.ca.gov refused connections on 2026-09-27).the Board's reciprocity application (updated 2025-02-27) states no processing timeframe
Licensing authorityCalifornia Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (BBHT) (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, LPCC)

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

Step by step

  1. Confirm Minnesota's current requirements on the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (BBHT) (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, LPCC) website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (BBHT) (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, LPCC) (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
  4. Hold a current license in good standing at the highest counselor level in your jurisdiction (e.g. LPCC, LCPC, LMHC).
  5. Licensed under 5 years: requirements must be substantially similar to Minn. Stat. 148B.50-148B.593; 5+ years of active practice: the Board decides between LPC and LPCC (Minn. Stat. 148B.56).
  6. Submit copies of your jurisdiction's current licensure laws and rules for the license used.
  7. Have all graduate transcripts and license verification from every licensing board sent directly to the Board.
  8. Complete a fingerprint-based criminal background check unless exempt under Minn. Stat. 214.075.
  9. Pay the fees ($150 (non-refundable LPCC application fee (Minn. Stat. 148B.53 subd. 3); the reciprocity application also requires the $250 initial license fee and a $32 criminal background check fee, paid together as $432 ($400 if exempt from the check). NOT the Counseling Compact privilege fee: Minnesota charges $50 + $30 commission fee = $80, no jurisprudence exam.)) and allow the Board's reciprocity application (updated 2025-02-27) states no processing timeframe.

Official links

Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (BBHT) (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, LPCC) ↗Minnesota application ↗Counseling Compact ↗

Related guides

Reverse: Minnesota → CaliforniaCounseling in CaliforniaCounseling in MinnesotaAll counseling statesThe Counseling Compact explained

Frequently asked questions

Does Minnesota accept a California counseling license?

A counseling license transfers from California to Minnesota by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (BBHT) (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, LPCC), verify your California license, and meet Minnesota's endorsement requirements. No exam is retaken for reciprocity. Minn. Stat. 148B.56 sets no exam condition: the Board rules on substantial similarity (licensed under 5 years) or 5+ years of active practice, then decides whether to grant the LPC or the LPCC. Minnesota-route LPCC applicants must pass the NCMHCE (148B.5301). The reciprocity application asks for license verification, transcripts and the other state's laws and rules, not a separate score transfer. No Minnesota jurisprudence exam..

Do I retake the NCE or NCMHCE moving from California to Minnesota?

No exam is retaken for reciprocity. Minn. Stat. 148B.56 sets no exam condition: the Board rules on substantial similarity (licensed under 5 years) or 5+ years of active practice, then decides whether to grant the LPC or the LPCC. Minnesota-route LPCC applicants must pass the NCMHCE (148B.5301). The reciprocity application asks for license verification, transcripts and the other state's laws and rules, not a separate score transfer. No Minnesota jurisprudence exam.

What does the move cost?

$150 (non-refundable LPCC application fee (Minn. Stat. 148B.53 subd. 3); the reciprocity application also requires the $250 initial license fee and a $32 criminal background check fee, paid together as $432 ($400 if exempt from the check). NOT the Counseling Compact privilege fee: Minnesota charges $50 + $30 commission fee = $80, no jurisprudence exam.)

How long will it take?

the Board's reciprocity application (updated 2025-02-27) states no processing timeframe.

Will a Minnesota license get me into other compact states?

Yes, once Minnesota is your home state. Minnesota is operational, so an active, unencumbered Minnesota license held while you live there can anchor privileges into the other operational states through CompactConnect.

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]