Counseling Degrees & Licenses in Kentucky
Counseling Schools Search
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As with most states that license counseling degrees, Kentucky requires counselors to have completed a master’s degree at a minimum. And when choosing schools, prospective students should carefully consider their options. Kentucky requires graduates to complete a degree from an accredited school. Students can find employment if they do not complete a counseling degree and license from an accredited school, but they will likely face obstacles.
The main accreditation entity is the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP), and there are more specialized accreditation organizations such as the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).
Kentucky offers licensure for two levels: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs) and Licensed Professional Counselor Associates (LPCA), which are those still in the licensure process’s supervision portion. An accredited degree program assures graduates that their education matches the industry standards and that they have been trained in the best possible way to embark on their careers.
The need for counselors, in general, will rise as a growing population seeks mental health counseling. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides data for long-term career outlooks, and counseling careers are growing faster than most. The base employment for marriage and family therapists was 65,300 in May 2021. Those careers are expected to grow by 9,100 nationally between 2021 and 2031. The BLS also predicts that job openings for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors will grow 22 percent nationally from 2021 to 2031. This growth rate is much faster than the average projected growth for all occupations during the same period (5 percent). And within that rate of growth is also higher-than-average growth for specialized mental health careers.
For example, the BLS (May 2021) career outlook for rehabilitation counselors, who help people with physical, mental, developmental, or emotional disabilities, is an 11 percent growth rate (2021-2031). School and career counselor jobs are expected to increase by 10 percent.
Overall, students who pursue counseling degrees and licenses in Kentucky can find rewarding and stable careers. Read on for a few of the many schools offering accredited programs for counseling degrees and licenses in Kentucky.
Featured Counseling Programs | ||
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Grand Canyon University | Graduate Certificate - Christian Counseling | Program Website |
Grand Canyon University | MS - Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Program Website |
Grand Canyon University | MS - Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Childhood and Adolescence Disorders | Program Website |
Northwestern University | Online MA - Counseling | Program Website |
Northwestern University | Online MA - Counseling: Child and Adolescent Emphasis | Program Website |
Lamar University | M.Ed. - Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Program Website |
Lamar University | M.Ed. - Counseling & Development - Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling | Program Website |
Lamar University | M.Ed. - Counseling & Development - Professional School Counseling | Program Website |
Southern New Hampshire University | Online BA in Psychology - Addictions | Program Website |
Southern New Hampshire University | Online BA in Psychology - Mental Health | Program Website |
Arizona State University | Addiction and Substance-Use Related Disorders (Graduate Certificate) | Program Website |
Arizona State University | Behavioral Health - Clinical (DBH) | Program Website |
Arizona State University | Counseling and Applied Psychological Science (BS) | Program Website |
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Accredited Counseling Degree Programs in Kentucky
Eastern Kentucky University is a public university with Corbin, Hazard, Lancaster, and Manchester campuses. EKU offers more than 40 online undergraduate and graduate degree options. They offer a master of arts program in clinical mental health counseling and a master of arts in education degree in school counseling (MAEd).
The 60-credit master of arts degree in clinical mental health counseling prepares individuals to be licensed as Licensed Professional Counselors in Kentucky and most other states. CACREP’s standards require nine hours of electives, a practicum, and an internship in a mental health setting. Courses include principles and practices of clinical mental health counseling; counseling theory and practice; assessment in counseling; advanced play therapy; and family counseling.
Certified school counselors must achieve their Standard Certificate and Rank 1 in school counseling. EKU’s school counseling program helps certified school counselors meet the 60-credit requirements for Rank I in school counseling in Kentucky. Courses include administration and consultation in counseling services; developmental counseling with school-age children; crisis and grief counseling; child and adolescent counseling; lifestyle and career counseling; and group counseling.
For those who want a career as an occupational therapist, EKU’s Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy offers an occupational therapy doctorate degree.
- Location: Richmond, Kentucky
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, two to three years
- Estimated Tuition: Kentucky residents ($556 per credit); Non-Kentucky residents ($758 per credit)
Murray State University is a public university in far western Kentucky founded in 1922. The most popular majors at Murray State University include health professions and related programs.
The school’s College of Education and Human Services students can choose from school counseling and clinical mental health counseling programs. Program options include a master of arts in school counseling; an education specialist (EdS) in school counseling; and an education specialist in clinical mental health counseling.
A Provisional School Counseling Certification (P-12) requires completing the MA in school counseling program. Provisional certificates must be renewed every five years. The Standard School Counseling Certification (P-12) requires completion of two years of school counseling experience (one year for counselors with teaching certification) and six credit hours of approved counseling coursework, after the master’s degree. Standard Certifications must be renewed every five years.
The specialist education program in clinical mental health counseling is a CACREP-approved, 60-credit program that is ideal for students who wish to provide clinical services in agencies, private practice, and other mental health settings as licensed professional counselors. Courses include social justice and advocacy in counseling; foundational counseling techniques; theories of counseling; multicultural counseling; clinical diagnosis and treatment planning; substance use and addictions counseling; and trauma and crisis counseling.
The 42-credit master of arts program in school counseling enables graduates to achieve their Provisional School Counseling certificate (P-12). The education specialist program in school counseling builds on the master’s coursework to complete a total of 60-credits.
- Location: Murray, Kentucky
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Expected Time to Completion: The EdS in clinical mental health counseling (60 credits); school counselors master’s program (42-credit); education specialist school counselors program (60 credits); two to three years
- Estimated Tuition: Kentucky resident and non-resident ($576 per credit); education programs only (resident: $397 per credit; non-resident: $576 per credit)
Northern Kentucky University is a public university established in 1968. NKU is primarily an undergraduate institution with roughly 12,000 of 14,000 students registered as undergraduates.
The school does also offer numerous graduate programs, including three counseling options for those seeking master’s degrees. The following programs are offered by the College of Health And Human Services: a master of arts in school counseling, a master of science in clinical mental health counseling, and a dual-degree program in school counseling (MA) and clinical mental health counseling (MS).
The clinical mental health counseling program meets Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana coursework specifications for state licensure as a professional clinical counselor and licensure standards in many other states. School counselors in Kentucky must have a minimum of a master’s degree in school counseling, meet the state certification/ licensure standards, and abide by the laws of the states where they are employed.
The school counseling program prepares students to become Professional School Counselors through a degree program that meets coursework specifications for professional school counselor certification/licensure in numerous states. Students who complete the dual-degree program are eligible for licensure as clinical mental health counselors and certification/licensure as school counselors.
The curriculum includes courses such as legal and ethical issues in counseling; counseling diverse populations; career counseling; counseling techniques; theories in counseling and psychotherapy; counseling families and couples; assessment and evaluation in counseling; crisis counseling and crisis intervention; school counseling services; and substance use and addictions.
- Location: Highland Heights, Kentucky
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Expected Time to Completion: Master’s (60 credits); dual-degree program (72 credits); two to three years
- Estimated Tuition: Kentucky resident ($613 per credit); non-resident ($943 per credit)
University of Kentucky – Lexington (Online)
The University of Kentucky is a public research university founded in 1865 by John Bryan Bowman as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky. The school has the state’s highest enrollment.
The University of Kentucky counselor education program prepares students to practice in the areas of rehabilitation and clinical mental health counseling. Graduates will receive a master of arts in counseling with a concentration in rehabilitation or clinical mental health counseling.
The Kentucky Council on Higher Education approves this program and is the only master’s program in rehabilitation counseling in the Commonwealth. This program also consistently ranks among the top 10 rehabilitation counseling programs in the country by U.S. News and World Report. Either track can lead to licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor in most states.
The 60-credit program includes core courses such as foundations of professional counseling; social & cultural foundations of counseling; ethics for the counseling profession; assessment in rehabilitation & mental health; counseling theories; counseling techniques; and group & family mental health counseling.
The rehabilitation counseling specialization includes courses in supported employment, independent living, & transition; medical & psychosocial aspects of disabilities: physical disabilities; and case management in rehabilitation counseling.
Courses in the clinical mental health counseling specialization include addiction & substance use counseling; psychopharmacology; crisis & trauma counseling; and mental health diagnosis & treatment planning for counselors.
- Location: Lexington, Kentucky
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits; two years
- Estimated Tuition: $715.50 per credit
The University of Louisville is a public research university founded in 1798. It was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains.
Its accredited graduate counseling degree programs include a counseling & personnel services master’s (MEd), which includes five concentrations: art therapy, clinical mental health counseling, college student personnel, counseling psychology, and school guidance counseling (grades K-12). The coursework for the program fulfills the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) educational requirements to sit for the National Counselor Examination (NCE) for National Counselor Certification.
The coursework and clinical practice experiences allow graduates to be licensed in most states. A program graduate can apply to the Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors to have their credentials evaluated to become a licensed professional counselor associate (LPCA).
Louisville’s Kent School of Social Work also offers a master of science in couple and family therapy. The couple and family therapy (CFT, formerly MFT) program was the first and is currently one of only two programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) offering combined training in M/CFT and social work. The CFT program curriculum meets course requirements for Kentucky licensure and clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
The MSCFT program is offered as an on-campus two-year program. A new dual-degree MSCFT/MSSW is offered as either a two- or three-year program. This dual program offers training toward both LMFT and Licensed Clinical Social Work (LCSW) professional licensure and is accredited by both COAMFTE and CSWE (Council on Social Work Education).
- Location: Louisville, Kentucky
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), and Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); CACREP accreditation is in process
- Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits; two to three years
- Estimated Tuition: Kentucky residents ($775 per credit); non-residents ($1,575 per credit)
University of the Cumberlands (Online)
The University of the Cumberlands is a private university founded by Baptist ministers in 1888 as Cumberland College. It changed its name in 2005. Notably, Cumberlands is designated as a Military Friendly School.
The school’s counselor education program offers a master’s in addiction counseling and a master’s in clinical mental health counseling. The school’s online master’s in education degree (MEd) offers specializations in the following areas: literacy specialist (30 hours; these students will also receive a Literacy Specialist P-12 Endorsement, which offers the opportunity to become not only a literacy teacher but also a resource teacher, coach, mentor or consultant in the areas of reading and writing); school counseling; principal (30 hours); special education; and teacher leader.
The online master’s in addiction counseling degree operates on a bi-term schedule: two in the fall, two in the spring, and two in the summer. Qualified applicants can start their addiction counseling degree classes at the beginning of any bi-term.
The online master of arts in clinical mental health counseling requires 48 credit hours of core coursework plus 12 additional credit hours of specialized courses in clinical mental health counseling. All programs are grounded in a Christian worldview.
- Location: Williamsburg, Kentucky
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits; two years
- Estimated Tuition: $449 per credit
Western Kentucky University is a public university founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906. WKU’s College of Education and Behavioral Sciences offers a master of arts in education in counseling with two concentrations. This program meets the educational requirements for licensure as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Kentucky and in many other states.
Students can choose between clinical mental health counseling (CMHC) concentrations or marriage, couple, and family counseling (CMCF). The school also offers a Joint Undergraduate Master’s Program (JUMP). The JUMP degree allows students to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree in approximately five years.
The 60-credit curriculum includes courses such as testing and assessment in counseling; group counseling; social and cultural diversity in counseling; developmental career counseling; human and family development in counseling; theories of counseling; professional studies in clinical, family, and school counseling; family systems counseling; mental health diagnosis and treatment in counseling; and crisis, trauma, and violence counseling.
- Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits; master’s (two to three years); JUMP degree (five years)
- Estimated Tuition: Kentucky resident ($607 per credit); non-resident ($917 per credit)
The Asbury Theological Seminary is an evangelical Christian seminary that is the largest seminary of the Wesleyan-Holiness movement. For those who wish to provide counseling from a Biblical worldview, the school offers master of arts degrees in mental health counseling; marriage and family counseling, and pastoral counseling.
The Asbury Theological Seminary’s marriage and family counseling degree integrates a biblical and theological foundation for relationships and meets academic requirements for eligibility as a licensed marriage and family counselor for many states. Other than pastoral counseling, these degree programs require 60 credits of core classes plus a required 15-credit series of seminary courses.
Students who received a religion major or minor from an accredited college or university can receive 12 credits toward one of these master of arts degrees. The pastoral counseling degree is designed for those who plan to pursue vocations in congregation-based ministries or non-profits.
The curriculum includes courses such as family systems theory; counseling theories and techniques; ethical and legal issues in counseling; counseling children; assessment inventories in counseling; advanced issues in cross-cultural counseling; recognizing and treating addictive disorders; family counseling; couples counseling theory and interventions; pastoral diagnosis in care and counseling; pastoral crisis intervention; pastoral approaches to marriage and family counseling; and counseling adolescents.
- Location: Wilmore, Kentucky
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Expected Time to Completion: Marriage and family counseling and mental health counseling (75 credits); pastoral counseling (60 credits)
- Estimated Tuition: $692 per credit
Lindsey Wilson College (Online)
Lindsey Wilson College is a private United Methodist college founded in 1903. The school offers a master of education in counseling and human development, which meets the academic licensure requirements for Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The program has a specialization in mental health counseling, which requires a minimum of 60 semester-hours and participation in a non-credit group experience of not less than ten hours facilitated by the program.
Requirements include 30 hours from nine core areas, nine hours of clinical instruction, and an additional 21 hours of specialized training in mental health counseling. Courses in this specialization include foundations of clinical mental health counseling; theories of addiction & pharmacology; clinical documentation of mental & emotional disorders; mental health administration, supervision & consultation; and systemic family therapy.
Lindsey Wilson College also offers a 13-credit graduate certificate in substance abuse counseling providing students the opportunity for additional skills and knowledge in substance abuse counseling.
- Location: Columbia, Kentucky
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits; two years
- Estimated Tuition: $510 per credit
How Much Do Counselors Make in Kentucky?
These numbers represent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from May 2022, the latest data available as of August 2023.
Marriage and Family Therapist Salaries
United States | Kentucky | |
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Number employed | 62,080 | 530 |
Average annual salary (mean) | $63,300 | $50,460 |
10th percentile | $36,840 | $29,250 |
25th percentile | $44,730 | $36,290 |
50th percentile (median) | $56,570 | $49,020 |
75th percentile | $75,220 | $57,650 |
90th percentile | $98,700 | $74,200 |
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor Salaries
United States | Kentucky | |
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Number employed | 344,970 | 5,620 |
Average annual salary (mean) | $56,230 | $49,300 |
10th percentile | $34,580 | $28,730 |
25th percentile | $39,810 | $33,570 |
50th percentile (median) | $49,710 | $45,340 |
75th percentile | $64,400 | $59,580 |
90th percentile | $82,710 | $78,240 |
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor Salaries
United States | Kentucky | |
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Number employed | 308,000 | 4,520 |
Average annual salary (mean) | $64,200 | $58,890 |
10th percentile | $38,280 | $35,960 |
25th percentile | $47,380 | $44,960 |
50th percentile (median) | $60,140 | $60,750 |
75th percentile | $76,590 | $71,690 |
90th percentile | $98,530 | $81,540 |
Rehabilitation Counselor Salaries
United States | Kentucky | |
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Number employed | 82,420 | 960 |
Average annual salary (mean) | $46,020 | $38,710 |
10th percentile | $29,120 | $27,950 |
25th percentile | $33,790 | $29,130 |
50th percentile (median) | $39,990 | $37,200 |
75th percentile | $53,470 | $42,450 |
90th percentile | $71,270 | $54,310 |
All Other Counselors
United States | Kentucky | |
---|---|---|
Number employed | 37,270 | 140 |
Average annual salary (mean) | $49,770 | $49,810 |
10th percentile | $31,930 | $33,530 |
25th percentile | $36,730 | $37,550 |
50th percentile (median) | $43,390 | $45,750 |
75th percentile | $52,770 | $57,890 |
90th percentile | $75,340 | $69,990 |
Counseling Professional Associations & Resources in Kentucky
- Kentucky Counseling Association
- KY Board of Licensed Professional Counselors
- Kentucky Mental Health Counseling Association
- Kentucky School Counselor Association
- Kentucky Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
- Kentucky Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Counseling
- Kentucky Higher Education and Assistance Authority (KHEAA)
Mental Health Counseling (LMHC) Licenses in Kentucky: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
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Board of Professional Counselors |
Mental health counselors in Kentucky are first licensed as Licensed Professional Counselor Associates (LPCAs) and then as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). Requirements to be licensed as an LCPA include:
Once licensed as an LCPA, counselors can work towards their LPC licensure. Requirements include:
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Renewals for counseling licenses in Kentucky are required annually and must be accompanied by a $150 fee. Licensed counselors are required to complete 10 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle. During the first year of renewal, counselors must complete six hours of continuing education in suicide prevention and then every six years thereafter. During the first three years of licensure, they must also complete three hours of domestic violence continuing education. |
School Counseling Licenses in Kentucky
Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
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Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board |
The Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board issues a Certificate for School Counselors. The requirements for a provisional certificate are:
To apply for a standard certificate, applicants must:
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Both standard and provisional school counselor certificates issued in Kentucky are valid for five years. Applications to renew must be submitted online along with an $85 renewal fee. Provisional certificate holders must complete nine semester credit hours of additional graduate coursework in the areas of counseling or school counseling. Standard certificate holders must complete 21 hours that meet the requirements of the Effective Instructional Leadership Act (EILA). |
Substance Abuse Counseling Licenses in Kentucky
Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
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The Kentucky Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselor issues a Certification as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), Licensed Alcohol And Drug Counselor (LADC), Licensure as a Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC), and Licensure as a Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor Associate (LCADCA). CADC candidates must:
LCADCA candidates must:
LCADC candidates must:
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Substance abuse counselor certificates and licenses issued by the Kentucky Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors expire every three years. Renewals cost $200. CADCs and LCADCs must complete 60 continuing education hours per renewal term and LCADCAs must complete 20. Six hours must be in suicide prevention and three must be in ethics. |
Rehabilitation Counseling Licenses in Kentucky
Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
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Rehabilitation counselors in Kentucky are first licensed as Licensed Professional Counselor Associates (LCPAs) and then as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). Requirements to be licensed as an LCPA include:
Once licensed as an LCPA, counselors can work towards their LPC licensure. Requirements include:
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Renewals for counseling licenses in Kentucky are required annually and must be accompanied by a $150 fee. Licensed counselors are required to complete 10 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle. During the first year of renewal, counselors must complete six hours of continuing education in suicide prevention and then every six years thereafter. During the first three years of licensure, they must also complete three hours of domestic violence continuing education. |
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Licenses in Kentucky
Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
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Applied Behavior Analyst Licensing Board |
The Applied Behavior Analyst Licensing Board of Kentucky issues both Licensed Behavior Analyst and Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst licenses. To qualify for the Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst credential, applicants must:
To qualify for the Licensed Behavior Analyst credential, applicants must:
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Renewals for Licensed Behavior Analyst and Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst credentials issued in Kentucky are required every two years. Assistant licenses cost $200 to renew while behavior analyst renewals cost $300. Although there are no continuing education requirements, license holders must maintain BACB certification which has continuing education requirements. |
Marriage and Family Therapy Licenses in Kentucky
Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
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Board of Licensure for Marriage and Family Therapists |
The Kentucky Board of Licensure for Marriage and Family Therapists credentials Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associates. Requirements for a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate license are:
To apply for a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist credential, candidates must meet the associate license requirements, as well as:
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Marriage and family therapists licensed in Kentucky are required to renew their licenses annually. The fee to renew is $150. To renew, applicants must complete 15 hours of continuing education. Three hours must be in ethics. Every six year therapists must complete additional training in suicide prevention. |
Child (Pediatric) Behavioral Therapy Licenses in Kentucky
Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
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Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors |
Child therapists in Kentucky are first licensed as Licensed Professional Counselor Associates (LCPAs) and then as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). Requirements to be licensed as an LCPA include:
Once licensed as an LCPA, counselors can work towards their LPC licensure. Requirements include:
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Renewals for counseling licenses in Kentucky are required annually and must be accompanied by a $150 fee. Licensed counselors must complete ten hours of continuing education per renewal cycle. During the first year of renewal, counselors must complete six hours of continuing education in suicide prevention and then every six years thereafter. During the first three years of licensure, they must also complete three hours of domestic violence continuing education. |