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

What's different between Ohio and California

Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into California. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.

Route, each way

Ohio to California (this page): Licensure by endorsement.

California to Ohio (the reverse move): Licensure by endorsement.

The route is the same in both directions.

Does coming from Ohio matter?

Coming from Ohio does not change the answer: every origin (the other 49 states and DC) gets the same result for a move into California.

Counseling Compact membership

Ohio is a Counseling Compact member state; California is not in the Counseling Compact.

Because they are not both active members, the Counseling Compact does not cover this move.

Application fee

California lists $125 for an out-of-state applicant and Ohio lists $100 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.

Exam rules on record

California and Ohio carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.

• California (this move): Under Path A (Licensure by Credential, BPC 4999.60) the clinical exam (NCMHCE) is waived outright, so no national exam score is re-checked; the applicant must instead pass the board-administered California Law and Ethics Exam after the application is approved. Under Path B (BPC 4999.61) the clinical exam is also not required if the applicant passed a clinical licensing exam accepted by the Board in the other state and holds an active, unencumbered license there; otherwise the NCMHCE is required.
• Ohio (the reverse move): National exam is not retaken: NCE (or NCMHCE) results are sent by NBCC score transfer or submitted with the application, and the 7-year exam-age limit is waived for applicants licensed in an equivalent capacity in another state. No separate jurisprudence exam; applicants must watch the Board's online Laws and Rules video.

What changes, Ohio → California

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

Step by step

1. Confirm California's current requirements on the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) website (linked below) — rules change.
2. Submit the endorsement application to the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) (application linked below).
3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
4. Hold a Professional Clinical Counselor license at the highest level for independent clinical practice in another U.S. jurisdiction, current, active and unrestricted for at least the 2 years immediately before the Board receives the application.
5. Hold a master's or doctoral degree from a USDE-recognized regionally or nationally accredited school or a BPPE-approved school.
6. Complete California-specific coursework: 12 hours of California law and ethics, 15 hours (1 semester unit) of California cultures and socioeconomic position, 7 hours of child abuse assessment and reporting, and 6 hours of suicide risk assessment and intervention.
7. Pass the LPCC California Law and Ethics Exam.
8. Complete fingerprint-based background check (Live Scan) and disclose any restriction or discipline on any license.
9. Submit license verification from each other state and a Request for Initial License Issuance with the issuance fee after passing the exam.
10. Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.

Official links

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