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LicenseReciprocity

Transfer Your Counseling License to North Carolina: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)

Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (NCBLCMHC) (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, LCMHC) ↗

North Carolina has enacted the Counseling Compact, but it was not yet issuing or accepting privileges as of 2026-09-27, so no privilege authorizes practice here. An out-of-state counselor needs a North Carolina license, normally by endorsement from the North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (NCBLCMHC) (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, LCMHC); how North Carolina treats your NCE or NCMHCE score is in the exam question below. Fee: $238 (Board-stated endorsement/reciprocity application fee of $238, which includes the $38 criminal background check fee; nonrefundable; jurisprudence exam provider fee not verified). Processing: 4–6 weeks (Board-stated 'Application Processing Timeframe (provided there are no legal/special considerations) 4-6 weeks from completed application submission').

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Verdict

Counseling Compact enacted — not yet issuing

North Carolina has passed the Counseling Compact into law, and its board may describe the state as having joined, but as of 2026-09-27 it was not issuing or accepting privileges. That makes North Carolina a non-compact state in practice: no privilege lets you see a client located here, in person or by telehealth, and a North Carolina license cannot yet anchor privileges elsewhere. Plan on a North Carolina license by endorsement, and check the commission's announcements, because states have been switching on every few weeks.

North Carolina's independent counselor license is the Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), which replaced the 'LPC' title under S.L. 2019-240. The LCMHC Associate (LCMHCA) is the supervised tier. There are two out-of-state routes. (1) Endorsement under 21 NCAC 53 .0304 for independently licensed counselors from any state: 2 years of independent licensure, 5 years of full-time (or 8 part-time) experience within 10 years, and 2,500 direct-contact hours. (2) Reciprocity under the Board's published agreements with Kentucky (active LPCC), South Carolina (active LPC) and Tennessee (active LPC/MHSP plus 3 years of full-time LPC/MHSP experience). Reciprocity applicants also need the jurisprudence exam, background-check consent, the $238 fee and two letters of recommendation. This is endorsement, not full reciprocity. North Carolina has ENACTED the Counseling Compact but is not yet issuing or accepting privileges. compact_member and compact_status are assembler-provided.

North Carolina requirements at a glance

Out-of-state counseling license transfer requirements for North Carolina, verified 2026-09-27
ExamNational exam is not retaken: the Board accepts the NCE, NCMHCE or CRC exam (21 NCAC 53 .0305), with official scores sent by the examining organization. Every applicant, including endorsement and reciprocity applicants, must ALSO complete the Board's LCMHC Jurisprudence Exam within six months before applying.
Additional requirements
  • Hold an active, independent, unrestricted counselor license in good standing in another state for at least two years immediately before applying
  • Document 5 years full-time (or 8 years part-time, or an equivalent combination) of licensed counseling experience within the last 10 years, including at least 2,500 direct client contact hours
  • Pass the North Carolina LCMHC Jurisprudence Exam within six months before applying
  • Consent to a criminal background check
  • Have your current licensing board send the Out-of-State License Verification Form directly to the Board
Fees$238 (Board-stated endorsement/reciprocity application fee of $238, which includes the $38 criminal background check fee; nonrefundable; jurisprudence exam provider fee not verified)
Processing time4–6 weeks (Board-stated 'Application Processing Timeframe (provided there are no legal/special considerations) 4-6 weeks from completed application submission')

Step by step

  1. Confirm North Carolina's current requirements on the North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (NCBLCMHC) (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, LCMHC) website — rules change.
  2. Submit the reciprocity/endorsement application to the North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (NCBLCMHC) (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, LCMHC) (application linked on this page).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
  4. Hold an active, independent, unrestricted counselor license in good standing in another state for at least two years immediately before applying.
  5. Document 5 years full-time (or 8 years part-time, or an equivalent combination) of licensed counseling experience within the last 10 years, including at least 2,500 direct client contact hours.
  6. Pass the North Carolina LCMHC Jurisprudence Exam within six months before applying.
  7. Consent to a criminal background check.
  8. Have your current licensing board send the Out-of-State License Verification Form directly to the Board.
  9. Pay the fees ($238 (Board-stated endorsement/reciprocity application fee of $238, which includes the $38 criminal background check fee; nonrefundable; jurisprudence exam provider fee not verified)) and allow 4–6 weeks (Board-stated 'Application Processing Timeframe (provided there are no legal/special considerations) 4-6 weeks from completed application submission').

Official links

North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (NCBLCMHC) (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, LCMHC) ↗North Carolina application ↗

Coming from a specific state?

Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into North Carolina:

Alabama → North CarolinaAlaska → North CarolinaArizona → North CarolinaArkansas → North CarolinaCalifornia → North CarolinaColorado → North CarolinaConnecticut → North CarolinaDelaware → North CarolinaDistrict of Columbia → North CarolinaFlorida → North CarolinaGeorgia → North CarolinaHawaii → North CarolinaIdaho → North CarolinaIllinois → North CarolinaIndiana → North CarolinaIowa → North CarolinaKansas → North CarolinaKentucky → North CarolinaLouisiana → North CarolinaMaine → North Carolina
All 50 origin states
Maryland → North CarolinaMassachusetts → North CarolinaMichigan → North CarolinaMinnesota → North CarolinaMississippi → North CarolinaMissouri → North CarolinaMontana → North CarolinaNebraska → North CarolinaNevada → North CarolinaNew Hampshire → North CarolinaNew Jersey → North CarolinaNew Mexico → North CarolinaNew York → North CarolinaNorth Dakota → North CarolinaOhio → North CarolinaOklahoma → North CarolinaOregon → North CarolinaPennsylvania → North CarolinaRhode Island → North CarolinaSouth Carolina → North CarolinaSouth Dakota → North CarolinaTennessee → North CarolinaTexas → North CarolinaUtah → North CarolinaVermont → North CarolinaVirginia → North CarolinaWashington → North CarolinaWest Virginia → North CarolinaWisconsin → North CarolinaWyoming → North Carolina

Nearby states

Counseling license transfer into the states bordering North Carolina:

North Carolina for other professions

Frequently asked questions

Does my counseling license transfer to North Carolina?

North Carolina has enacted the Counseling Compact, but it was not yet issuing or accepting privileges as of 2026-09-27, so no privilege authorizes practice here. An out-of-state counselor needs a North Carolina license, normally by endorsement from the North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (NCBLCMHC) (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, LCMHC); how North Carolina treats your NCE or NCMHCE score is in the exam question below. Fee: $238 (Board-stated endorsement/reciprocity application fee of $238, which includes the $38 criminal background check fee; nonrefundable; jurisprudence exam provider fee not verified). Processing: 4–6 weeks (Board-stated 'Application Processing Timeframe (provided there are no legal/special considerations) 4-6 weeks from completed application submission').

Do I have to retake the NCE or NCMHCE to get licensed in North Carolina?

National exam is not retaken: the Board accepts the NCE, NCMHCE or CRC exam (21 NCAC 53 .0305), with official scores sent by the examining organization. Every applicant, including endorsement and reciprocity applicants, must ALSO complete the Board's LCMHC Jurisprudence Exam within six months before applying.

How much does a North Carolina counseling license cost by endorsement?

$238 (Board-stated endorsement/reciprocity application fee of $238, which includes the $38 criminal background check fee; nonrefundable; jurisprudence exam provider fee not verified)

How long does North Carolina take to process the application?

4–6 weeks (Board-stated 'Application Processing Timeframe (provided there are no legal/special considerations) 4-6 weeks from completed application submission')

Is North Carolina in the Counseling Compact?

North Carolina has enacted the compact but was not yet operational as of 2026-09-27, so it neither issues nor accepts privileges. For now you need North Carolina's own authorization, normally a North Carolina license, to practice with clients located in North Carolina.

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]