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LicenseReciprocity

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

Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL) ↗

A counseling license transfers from Georgia to Oklahoma by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL), verify your Georgia license, and meet Oklahoma's endorsement requirements. No national exam retake: the endorsement rule (OAC 86:10-25-3) lists no NCE/NCMHCE requirement, and the Board's LPC page says endorsement needs no additional academic review beyond an official transcript. Endorsement applicants must pass the Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination (OLERE), the state jurisprudence exam..

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

A counseling license moves from Georgia to Oklahoma by endorsement. Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL), which verifies your Georgia license and standing, matches it to Oklahoma's independent tier, and applies its own rule on crediting your national exam score, plus any Oklahoma jurisprudence and background requirements.

What changes, Georgia → Oklahoma

Side-by-side: Georgia vs Oklahoma (Counseling (LPC / LMHC)), verified 2026-09-27
Georgia (current)Oklahoma (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).)$145 (application fee per OAC 86:10-13-2(a) (Board's unofficial permanent rules compilation, rules effective 2023-08-11); initial license fee $90 due on Board notification (86:10-13-2(c)); OSBI state fingerprint check $19 and FBI check paid separately; fees non-refundable. Oklahoma is a pending Counseling Compact state, so no privilege fee applies yet.)
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.)the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications; its Making Application page notes the FBI check itself takes about 7 business days after the FBI receives the request
Licensing authorityGeorgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists (Secretary of State), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL)

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

Step by step

  1. Confirm Oklahoma's current requirements on the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL) website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL) (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
  4. Hold an active professional counselor license in good standing in another U.S. jurisdiction that allows independent practice without supervision, with no history of suspension or revocation (OAC 86:10-25-3(1)).
  5. Have a letter sent from the other state's licensing agency stating the license is active and in good standing (OAC 86:10-25-1).
  6. Hold at least a master's degree in counseling or a mental health related field from a regionally accredited institution, verified by official transcript.
  7. Complete FBI and Oklahoma OSBI fingerprint-based background checks (the FBI check must be processed within 30 days of submission).
  8. Pass the Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination (OLERE).
  9. Pay the fees ($145 (application fee per OAC 86:10-13-2(a) (Board's unofficial permanent rules compilation, rules effective 2023-08-11); initial license fee $90 due on Board notification (86:10-13-2(c)); OSBI state fingerprint check $19 and FBI check paid separately; fees non-refundable. Oklahoma is a pending Counseling Compact state, so no privilege fee applies yet.)) and allow the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications; its Making Application page notes the FBI check itself takes about 7 business days after the FBI receives the request.

Official links

Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL) ↗Oklahoma application ↗

Related guides

Reverse: Oklahoma → GeorgiaCounseling in GeorgiaCounseling in OklahomaAll counseling statesThe Counseling Compact explained

Frequently asked questions

Does Oklahoma accept a Georgia counseling license?

A counseling license transfers from Georgia to Oklahoma by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure (BBHL), verify your Georgia license, and meet Oklahoma's endorsement requirements. No national exam retake: the endorsement rule (OAC 86:10-25-3) lists no NCE/NCMHCE requirement, and the Board's LPC page says endorsement needs no additional academic review beyond an official transcript. Endorsement applicants must pass the Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination (OLERE), the state jurisprudence exam..

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

No national exam retake: the endorsement rule (OAC 86:10-25-3) lists no NCE/NCMHCE requirement, and the Board's LPC page says endorsement needs no additional academic review beyond an official transcript. Endorsement applicants must pass the Oklahoma Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Examination (OLERE), the state jurisprudence exam.

What does the move cost?

$145 (application fee per OAC 86:10-13-2(a) (Board's unofficial permanent rules compilation, rules effective 2023-08-11); initial license fee $90 due on Board notification (86:10-13-2(c)); OSBI state fingerprint check $19 and FBI check paid separately; fees non-refundable. Oklahoma is a pending Counseling Compact state, so no privilege fee applies yet.)

How long will it take?

the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications; its Making Application page notes the FBI check itself takes about 7 business days after the FBI receives the request.

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

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