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LicenseReciprocity

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

Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Montana Board of Behavioral Health (Department of Labor and Industry, Business Standards Division) ↗

A counseling license transfers from Ohio to Montana by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Montana Board of Behavioral Health (Department of Labor and Industry, Business Standards Division), verify your Ohio license, and meet Montana's endorsement requirements. National exam is not retaken: Montana accepts either the NBCC NCE or the NCMHCE for the LCPC, with proof sent directly from NBCC. No Montana jurisprudence exam is listed for LCPC applicants..

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

Montana has enacted the Counseling Compact but was not issuing or accepting privileges as of 2026-09-27, so your Ohio license cannot reach it through the compact yet. The route is endorsement through the Montana Board of Behavioral Health (Department of Labor and Industry, Business Standards Division): your Ohio license is verified, your NCE or NCMHCE score is credited under Montana's own exam rule, and Montana applies any jurisprudence and background checks it requires. Check which Montana tier corresponds to your Ohio license before you file, because the titles do not map one to one.

What changes, Ohio → Montana

Side-by-side: Ohio vs Montana (Counseling (LPC / LMHC)), verified 2026-09-27
Ohio (current)Montana (destination)
Counseling Compact statusCounseling Compact member — compact privilege to practiceCounseling Compact enacted — not yet issuing
Application fee$100 (LPCC reciprocity application fee per OAC 4757-1-05 and the Board's out-of-state page ('$100 + $3.50 processing', re-read 2026-09-27); + $3.50 eLicense processing fee; BCI/FBI fingerprinting paid separately to the vendor; NBCC score-transfer fee separate. NOT the Counseling Compact privilege fee (Ohio charges $25 + $30 commission admin fee = $55 for a privilege, per the commission's fee table).)$200 (LCPC application fee per the Board's LCPC checklist; fingerprint/background-check cost paid separately (not stated on the pages read))
Processing timethe Board publishes no processing timeframe for reciprocity applications; applicants track status in eLicense (Review Status checklist)the Board publishes no processing timeframe for LCPC applications
Licensing authorityOhio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board (CSWMFT)Montana Board of Behavioral Health (Department of Labor and Industry, Business Standards Division)

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

Step by step

  1. Confirm Montana's current requirements on the Montana Board of Behavioral Health (Department of Labor and Industry, Business Standards Division) website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Montana Board of Behavioral Health (Department of Labor and Industry, Business Standards Division) (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
  4. Hold a current, active LCPC-equivalent license in good standing from a state whose requirements are substantially equivalent to Montana's.
  5. Have passed the NBCC NCE or NCMHCE, with proof sent directly from NBCC.
  6. Document 3,000 hours of supervised post-degree experience meeting ARM 24.219.604.
  7. Submit fingerprints for a Montana Department of Justice and FBI background check.
  8. Provide verification of every professional license held, certified transcripts and the Academic Summary form.
  9. Pay the fees ($200 (LCPC application fee per the Board's LCPC checklist; fingerprint/background-check cost paid separately (not stated on the pages read))) and allow the Board publishes no processing timeframe for LCPC applications.

Official links

Montana Board of Behavioral Health (Department of Labor and Industry, Business Standards Division) ↗Montana application ↗

Related guides

Reverse: Montana → OhioCounseling in OhioCounseling in MontanaAll counseling statesThe Counseling Compact explained

Frequently asked questions

Does Montana accept an Ohio counseling license?

A counseling license transfers from Ohio to Montana by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Montana Board of Behavioral Health (Department of Labor and Industry, Business Standards Division), verify your Ohio license, and meet Montana's endorsement requirements. National exam is not retaken: Montana accepts either the NBCC NCE or the NCMHCE for the LCPC, with proof sent directly from NBCC. No Montana jurisprudence exam is listed for LCPC applicants..

Do I retake the NCE or NCMHCE moving from Ohio to Montana?

National exam is not retaken: Montana accepts either the NBCC NCE or the NCMHCE for the LCPC, with proof sent directly from NBCC. No Montana jurisprudence exam is listed for LCPC applicants.

What does the move cost?

$200 (LCPC application fee per the Board's LCPC checklist; fingerprint/background-check cost paid separately (not stated on the pages read))

How long will it take?

the Board publishes no processing timeframe for LCPC applications.

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

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