Counseling Degrees & Licenses in Connecticut

Professionals in Connecticut earn a license as a Professional Counselor Associate first, followed by earning a Professional Counselor license.

To earn a Professional Counselor Associate license, a candidate must:

• Earn a graduate degree from a CACREP accredited program or complete a regionally accredited 60 semester hour graduate program with relevant counseling coursework, a 100 hour practicum, and a 600 hour internship
• Submit all official transcripts
• Complete the application
• Pay a $200 fee

To become a licensed Professional Counselor, candidates must meet all the requirements for the associate licensure, as well as:

• Complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience in a minimum of two years.
• Pass the NCE exam
• Send a completed online application
• Pay the $315 fee
• Submit official transcripts

Connecticut requires licenses to be renewed annually. Requirements include:

• Pay $195 fee
• Complete an online application
• Submit 15 hours of qualifying continuing education. Approved education entities are listed on Connecticut State Department of Public Health website

The Connecticut State Department of Education offers a Special Services Endorsement to school counselors.

The initial endorsement requirements are:

• Complete a state-approved certification program specific to school counseling from a regionally accredited institution
• Have a master’s degree that has at least 30 semester hours of coursework related to school counseling
• Have a professional educator certificate or be eligible for an initial educator certificate (including paying applicable fees and passing required Praxis exams)
• Have 30 school months of experience teaching or complete ten months of full-time supervised experience as a school counselor
• Complete a 36-hour course on special education
• Provide evidence of “progressing of supervised experiences,” either through laboratory or clinical practice

• Complete ten months of work experience in public school or 30 months in a private school
• Pay $250 application fee
• Submit a completed application

• Submit official transcripts verifying 45 semester credits of graduate coursework in counseling or a related field
• Pay $375 application fee
• Submit a completed application

Teaching certificates in Connecticut may be renewed or upgraded. The initial school counselor endorsement is valid for three years and may be renewed with an application and a $200 fee.

A provisional certificate is valid for eight years and may not be renewed. It must be upgraded to a professional certificate.

A professional certificate is valid for five years. There is no fee to renew and no continuing education requirements.

Connecticut State Department of Public Health

The Connecticut State Department of Public Health licenses Alcohol and Drug Counselors (ADC). ADC candidates must:

• Complete an online application including a social security number, current address, photograph, and phone numbers
• Pass a criminal background check
• Send a verification form documenting 300 hours of supervised practice
• Pass the ADC exam from the IC&RC
• Submit a verification form documenting three years of supervised work
• Send a verification form documenting completion of 360 hours of approved education
• Submit official transcripts for a master’s degree in social work, counseling, or a related field
• Pau $190 application fee

ADC licenses in Connecticut must be renewed annually. The renewal fee is $195.

Counselors must complete 20 hours of qualifying continuing education per renewal cycle.

Connecticut State Department of Public Health

Rehabilitation counselors in Connecticut must earn a license as a Professional Counselor Associate first, followed by earning a Professional Counselor license.

To earn a Professional Counselor Associate license, a candidate must:

• Earn a graduate degree from a CACREP accredited program or complete a regionally accredited 60 semester hour graduate program with relevant counseling coursework, a 100 hour practicum, and a 600 hour internship
• Submit all official transcripts
• Complete the application
• Pay a $200 fee

To become a licensed Professional Counselor, candidates must meet all the requirements for the associate licensure, as well as:

• Complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience in a minimum of two years.
• Pass the NCE exam
• Send a completed online application
• Pay the $315 fee
• Submit official transcripts

Connecticut requires licenses to be renewed annually. Requirements include:

• Pay $195 fee
• Complete an online application
• Submit 15 hours of qualifying continuing education. Approved education entities are listed on Connecticut State Department of Public Health website

The Connecticut Department of Public Health issues behavior analyst licenses. To qualify, candidates must:

• Hold a BCBA certification and submit verification
• Submit a completed online application
• Pay a $350 application fee

Behavior analyst licenses issued in Connecticut expire annually during the licensee’s birth month. Renewals cost $175.

While there are no continuing education requirements, behavior analysts are required to maintain their national BCBA certification.

The Connecticut State Department of Public Health issues Marital and Family Therapist Associate and Marital and Family Therapist licenses.

The requirements for a Marital and Family Therapist Associate license are:

• Earn a graduate degree from a COAMFTE-accredited program or complete a regionally accredited marriage and family therapy program comprising 45 semester hours with relevant counseling coursework and a one-year 500-hour internship
• Submit all official transcripts
• Complete the online application
• Pay a $125 fee
• Submit a Verification of Supervision form

To earn a Marital and Family Therapist license, applicants must meet the requirements for the associate license, as well as:

• Complete one year of supervised work experience; this must include at least 1,000 hours of direct client contact and 100 hours of supervision, of which 50 must be individual
• Pass the AMFTRB examination
• Send a completed online application
• Pay the $315 fee
• Submit official transcripts

Connecticut requires MFT licenses to be renewed annually.

Requirements include:

• Pay $320 fee
• Complete an online application
• Submit 15 hours of qualifying continuing education

Child therapists in Connecticut must earn a license as a Professional Counselor Associate first, followed by earning a Professional Counselor license.

To earn a Professional Counselor Associate license, a candidate must:

• Earn a graduate degree from a CACREP accredited program or complete a regionally accredited 60 semester hour graduate program with relevant counseling coursework, a 100 hour practicum, and a 600 hour internship
• Submit all official transcripts
• Complete the application
• Pay a $200 fee

To become a licensed Professional Counselor, candidates must meet all the requirements for the associate licensure, as well as:

• Complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience in a minimum of two years.
• Pass the NCE exam
• Send a completed online application
• Pay the $315 fee
• Submit official transcripts

Connecticut requires licenses to be renewed annually. Requirements include:

• Pay $195 fee
• Complete an online application
• Submit 15 hours of qualifying continuing education. Approved education entities are listed on Connecticut State Department of Public Health website