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LicenseReciprocity

Counseling License from Texas to Arkansas: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-09-27 · source: Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling (Arkansas Department of Health), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) ↗

A counseling license transfers from Texas to Arkansas by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling (Arkansas Department of Health), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), verify your Texas license, and meet Arkansas's endorsement requirements. National exam is not retaken: counselor applicants need a passing NCE or NCMHCE, and the Board may waive the NCE/NCMHCE when it finds another exam equivalent or the applicant meets the licensure-by-endorsement rule (17 CAR 75-901(b)(4)). The Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling Jurisprudence Exam, administered through NBCC, IS required of all applicants except uniformed-service applicants under 17 CAR 75-904..

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

Arkansas is operational in the Counseling Compact, but Texas is not, so there is no home-state license here to anchor a privilege. Once you hold an Arkansas license and live in Arkansas, it can anchor privileges into the other operational states. The route is endorsement through the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling (Arkansas Department of Health), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC): your Texas license is verified, your NCE or NCMHCE score is credited under Arkansas's own exam rule, and Arkansas applies any jurisprudence and background checks it requires. Check which Arkansas tier corresponds to your Texas license before you file, because the titles do not map one to one.

What changes, Texas → Arkansas

Side-by-side: Texas vs Arkansas (Counseling (LPC / LMHC)), verified 2026-09-27
Texas (current)Arkansas (destination)
Counseling Compact statusFull re-application requiredCounseling Compact member — compact privilege to practice
Application fee$165 (LPC Associate/LPC/Provisional License Application fee per 22 TAC 885.1(b) as amended in the 2026-03-13 Texas Register ($154 base + $6 Texas.gov + $5 OPP); this is the ordinary LPC application fee, since Texas has no separate endorsement fee. Jurisprudence exam $39; fingerprinting paid to the vendor. Texas has not enacted the Counseling Compact.)$100 (initial LPC application fee per 17 CAR 75-1301(a)(1) (2026 Rule Revision). The Board may waive it for applicants on public assistance, recently approved for unemployment, or with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Separate fees: $250 LPC license fee (75-1302, first fee prorated), jurisprudence exam fee paid to NBCC, and background-check fees. NOT the Counseling Compact privilege fee (Arkansas charges $50 + $30 commission admin fee = $80 for a privilege, and requires the jurisprudence exam).)
Processing time~6 weeks (BHEC's out-of-state LPC application guide says 'Please allow at least 6 weeks for processing before contacting BHEC for a status update'; no maximum is stated)the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications
Licensing authorityTexas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC), Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional CounselorsArkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling (Arkansas Department of Health), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

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

Step by step

  1. Confirm Arkansas's current requirements on the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling (Arkansas Department of Health), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling (Arkansas Department of Health), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
  4. Hold a full LPC-equivalent license, continually maintained and currently in good standing, with a license verification form from each state where licensed.
  5. Submit the standard application documentation: statement of intent, transcripts and references (faculty references are waived if licensed more than 3 years in another state).
  6. Pass the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling Jurisprudence Exam through NBCC.
  7. Complete the criminal background check required by Arkansas Code 17-27-313.
  8. Attend an oral interview if the Board requires one.
  9. Pay the fees ($100 (initial LPC application fee per 17 CAR 75-1301(a)(1) (2026 Rule Revision). The Board may waive it for applicants on public assistance, recently approved for unemployment, or with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Separate fees: $250 LPC license fee (75-1302, first fee prorated), jurisprudence exam fee paid to NBCC, and background-check fees. NOT the Counseling Compact privilege fee (Arkansas charges $50 + $30 commission admin fee = $80 for a privilege, and requires the jurisprudence exam).)) and allow the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications.

Official links

Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling (Arkansas Department of Health), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) ↗Arkansas application ↗Counseling Compact ↗

Related guides

Reverse: Arkansas → TexasCounseling in TexasCounseling in ArkansasAll counseling statesThe Counseling Compact explained

Frequently asked questions

Does Arkansas accept a Texas counseling license?

A counseling license transfers from Texas to Arkansas by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling (Arkansas Department of Health), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), verify your Texas license, and meet Arkansas's endorsement requirements. National exam is not retaken: counselor applicants need a passing NCE or NCMHCE, and the Board may waive the NCE/NCMHCE when it finds another exam equivalent or the applicant meets the licensure-by-endorsement rule (17 CAR 75-901(b)(4)). The Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling Jurisprudence Exam, administered through NBCC, IS required of all applicants except uniformed-service applicants under 17 CAR 75-904..

Do I retake the NCE or NCMHCE moving from Texas to Arkansas?

National exam is not retaken: counselor applicants need a passing NCE or NCMHCE, and the Board may waive the NCE/NCMHCE when it finds another exam equivalent or the applicant meets the licensure-by-endorsement rule (17 CAR 75-901(b)(4)). The Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling Jurisprudence Exam, administered through NBCC, IS required of all applicants except uniformed-service applicants under 17 CAR 75-904.

What does the move cost?

$100 (initial LPC application fee per 17 CAR 75-1301(a)(1) (2026 Rule Revision). The Board may waive it for applicants on public assistance, recently approved for unemployment, or with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Separate fees: $250 LPC license fee (75-1302, first fee prorated), jurisprudence exam fee paid to NBCC, and background-check fees. NOT the Counseling Compact privilege fee (Arkansas charges $50 + $30 commission admin fee = $80 for a privilege, and requires the jurisprudence exam).)

How long will it take?

the Board publishes no processing timeframe for endorsement applications.

Will an Arkansas license get me into other compact states?

Yes, once Arkansas is your home state. Arkansas is operational, so an active, unencumbered Arkansas license held while you live there can anchor privileges into the other operational states through CompactConnect.

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]