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LicenseReciprocity

Counseling License from Georgia to Nebraska: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Nebraska DHHS Licensure Unit, Board of Mental Health Practice (Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner, LIMHP) ↗

A counseling license transfers from Georgia to Nebraska by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Nebraska DHHS Licensure Unit, Board of Mental Health Practice (Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner, LIMHP), verify your Georgia license, and meet Nebraska's endorsement requirements. National exam is not retaken. On the 1-year-practice route, official NCE or NCMHCE scores must be sent directly from the testing agency or another licensing board. On the 5-year-practice route the exam section is not required, but the applicant must pass the online Nebraska Mental Health Jurisprudence Examination..

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

A counseling license moves from Georgia to Nebraska by endorsement. Nebraska has enacted the Counseling Compact but was not issuing or accepting privileges as of 2026-09-27, so your Georgia license cannot reach it through the compact yet. You apply to the Nebraska DHHS Licensure Unit, Board of Mental Health Practice (Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner, LIMHP), which verifies your Georgia license and standing, matches it to Nebraska's independent tier, and applies its own rule on crediting your national exam score, plus any Nebraska jurisprudence and background requirements.

What changes, Georgia → Nebraska

Side-by-side: Georgia vs Nebraska (Counseling (LPC / LMHC)), verified 2026-09-27
Georgia (current)Nebraska (destination)
Counseling Compact statusCounseling Compact member — compact privilege to practiceCounseling Compact enacted — not yet issuing
Application fee$100 ($100 non-refundable LPC endorsement application fee; the 05/02/2023 paper form lists $110, which includes a $10 mail-in processing fee. The current online GOALS fee schedule (goals.sos.ga.gov) returned HTTP 403 and could not be checked. Fingerprint background check paid separately to the vendor; NBCC score-report fee separate. NOT the Counseling Compact privilege fee (Georgia charges $100 + $30 commission admin fee = $130 for a privilege; no jurisprudence exam).)$155 (initial LIMHP license fee per the DHHS LIMHP and 5-year reciprocity applications; $38.75 if issued March-August of an even-numbered year; $205 for both LIMHP and LMHP; optional Certified Professional Counselor certificate (needed to use that title) + $50; Nebraska State Patrol fingerprint fee $55; payment by check or money order)
Processing time~5 weeks (the endorsement application form says to allow up to 25 business days (about 5 weeks) to process a complete application. The Board may also take up the file at a meeting, and an application must be complete 15 days before a meeting to be placed on its agenda. Incomplete applications are withdrawn after 60 days.)DHHS notifies the applicant within about 10 days (LIMHP application) or about 30 business days (5-year reciprocity application) after review whether the license issued or the file is incomplete; FBI check may take up to 30 days; no board-stated end-to-end range
Licensing authorityGeorgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists (Secretary of State), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)Nebraska DHHS Licensure Unit, Board of Mental Health Practice (Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner, LIMHP)

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

Step by step

  1. Confirm Nebraska's current requirements on the Nebraska DHHS Licensure Unit, Board of Mental Health Practice (Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner, LIMHP) website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Nebraska DHHS Licensure Unit, Board of Mental Health Practice (Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner, LIMHP) (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
  4. Hold an out-of-state independent-level license that allows diagnosis of major mental illnesses or disorders (otherwise apply for the LMHP).
  5. Show at least 1 year of active practice under the equivalent credential within the 3 years before applying, or at least 5 years of practice after initial licensure.
  6. Pass the online Nebraska Mental Health Jurisprudence Examination (5-year-practice route).
  7. Complete an FBI fingerprint-based criminal background check through the Nebraska State Patrol.
  8. Submit verification of every health-related credential ever held, plus proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence.
  9. Pay the fees ($155 (initial LIMHP license fee per the DHHS LIMHP and 5-year reciprocity applications; $38.75 if issued March-August of an even-numbered year; $205 for both LIMHP and LMHP; optional Certified Professional Counselor certificate (needed to use that title) + $50; Nebraska State Patrol fingerprint fee $55; payment by check or money order)) and allow DHHS notifies the applicant within about 10 days (LIMHP application) or about 30 business days (5-year reciprocity application) after review whether the license issued or the file is incomplete; FBI check may take up to 30 days; no board-stated end-to-end range.

Official links

Nebraska DHHS Licensure Unit, Board of Mental Health Practice (Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner, LIMHP) ↗Nebraska application ↗

Related guides

Reverse: Nebraska → GeorgiaCounseling in GeorgiaCounseling in NebraskaAll counseling statesThe Counseling Compact explained

Frequently asked questions

Does Nebraska accept a Georgia counseling license?

A counseling license transfers from Georgia to Nebraska by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Nebraska DHHS Licensure Unit, Board of Mental Health Practice (Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner, LIMHP), verify your Georgia license, and meet Nebraska's endorsement requirements. National exam is not retaken. On the 1-year-practice route, official NCE or NCMHCE scores must be sent directly from the testing agency or another licensing board. On the 5-year-practice route the exam section is not required, but the applicant must pass the online Nebraska Mental Health Jurisprudence Examination..

Do I retake the NCE or NCMHCE moving from Georgia to Nebraska?

National exam is not retaken. On the 1-year-practice route, official NCE or NCMHCE scores must be sent directly from the testing agency or another licensing board. On the 5-year-practice route the exam section is not required, but the applicant must pass the online Nebraska Mental Health Jurisprudence Examination.

What does the move cost?

$155 (initial LIMHP license fee per the DHHS LIMHP and 5-year reciprocity applications; $38.75 if issued March-August of an even-numbered year; $205 for both LIMHP and LMHP; optional Certified Professional Counselor certificate (needed to use that title) + $50; Nebraska State Patrol fingerprint fee $55; payment by check or money order)

How long will it take?

DHHS notifies the applicant within about 10 days (LIMHP application) or about 30 business days (5-year reciprocity application) after review whether the license issued or the file is incomplete; FBI check may take up to 30 days; no board-stated end-to-end range.

Nebraska joined the Counseling Compact. Can I use a privilege there?

Not yet. Nebraska had enacted the compact but was not issuing or accepting privileges as of 2026-09-27, so counseling clients located in Nebraska takes Nebraska's own authorization, normally a Nebraska license.

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]