Counseling Degrees & Licenses in Nebraska

There are three levels of mental health counseling licenses in Nebraska:

• Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP)
• Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP)
• Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (PLMHP)

Please note that PLMHPs and LMHPs are not authorized to diagnose major mental illnesses or disorders without consulting with a LIMHP, physician, or psychologist.

Any of these licenses may apply for a certified counselor certification endorsement.

To be licensed as a PLMHP (with a certified counselor endorsement), applicants must:

• Complete a master’s in counseling from a CACREP accredited program. The program must include a 300-hour practicum
• Pay a $125 application fee plus $50 fee for a certified counselor endorsement
• Provide proof of one’s right to work in the US
• Submit a completed application

To be a LMHP (with a certified counselor endorsement), applicants must meet the PLMHP requirements, in addition to:

• Paying $155 fee plus $50 fee for a certified counselor endorsement
• Passing the NCE or NCMHCE exam
• Completing 3,000 hours of supervised experience the five years preceding the licensure application—1,500 hours must be in direct client contact
• Completing the application

To earn LIMHP licensure (with a certified counselor endorsement), a candidate must:

• Pay a $50 application fee (if already holding an LMHP license in Nebraska), or a $155 fee (if not)
• Pay a $50 certified counselor certification application fee
• Complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience, of which 1,500 hours must be direct contact with clients who are diagnosed under the major mental illness or disorder category. These can be the same hours used for LMHP licensure.

Counselors are required to renew their licenses by September 1st of even-numbered years.

At the time of renewal, counselors are required to submit 32 continuing education units, two of which must be in ethics. The renewal fee for the license is $155 and $50 for the counseling certification.

School counselors in Nebraska must hold a valid teaching certificate with a school counselor endorsement. Candidates for this certificate and endorsement must:

• Complete a master’s degree in school counseling that is at least 36 semester credits
• Complete a 100-hour school counselor field experience and a 450-hour internship in the grade level of the endorsement sought
• Hold a valid teaching certificate or complete 12 additional semester hours of professional teacher education coursework related to core curriculum design, lesson plan development, classroom management strategies, student assessment, and differentiated instructional strategies
• Pass the Praxis Professional School Counselor exam and the Praxis Core Academic Skills Test
• Submit a completed application
• Pay $55 application fee and $40 for the endorsement
• Pass a fingerprint background check
• Complete state-approved trainings in human relations and special education

Nebraska teaching certificates and endorsements are valid for five years.

To renew, school counselors must complete one year of work experience or complete six credits of graduate-level coursework related to school counseling. Renewals are completed online and cost $55.

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Licensure Unit

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Licensure Unit issues Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) and Provisional Alcohol and Drug Counselor (PLADC) licenses.

PLADC license candidates must:

• Submit a complete application
• Pay $275 application fee
• Provide proof of permission to work in the US
• Graduate from high school
• Complete 270 hours of training and education in substance abuse. The hours must meet specific coursework requirements
• Complete 300 hours of supervised practical training in the 12 core functions, with a minimum of 10 hours in each of 10 core functions

LADC license applicants must already hold a PLADC license and must:

• Complete 6,000 hours of paid supervised work experience providing alcohol and drug counseling services
• Pass the ADC exam from IC&RC
• Submit a completed application
• Pay $175 application fee and $100 testing fee

Renewals for LADC and PLADC licenses in Nebraska expire September 1 of even-numbered years.

Renewal applications must include $175 fee and proof of 40 hours of continuing education, 20 of which must be alcohol and drug-specific.

Nebraska Board of Mental Health Practice

There are three levels of mental health counseling licenses rehabilitation counselors can earn in Nebraska:

• Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP)
• Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP)
• Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (PLMHP)

Please note that PLMHPs and LMHPs are not authorized to diagnose major mental illnesses or disorders without consulting with a LIMHP, physician, or psychologist.

Any of these licenses may apply for a certified counselor certification endorsement.

To be licensed as a PLMHP (with a certified counselor endorsement), applicants must:

• Complete a master’s in counseling from a CACREP accredited program. The program must include a 300-hour practicum
• Pay a $125 application fee plus $50 fee for a certified counselor endorsement
• Provide proof of one’s right to work in the US
• Submit a completed application

To be a LMHP (with a certified counselor endorsement), applicants must meet the PLMHP requirements, in addition to:

• Paying $155 fee plus $50 fee for a certified counselor endorsement
• Passing the NCE or NCMHCE exam
• Completing 3,000 hours of supervised experience the five years preceding the licensure application—1,500 hours must be in direct client contact
• Completing the application

To earn a LIMHP licensure (with a certified counselor endorsement), a candidate must:

• Pay a $50 application fee (if already holding an LMHP license in Nebraska), or a $155 fee (if not)
• Pay a $50 certified counselor certification application fee
• Complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience, of which 1,500 hours must be direct contact with clients who are diagnosed under the major mental illness or disorder category. These can be the same hours used for LMHP licensure.

Counselors are required to renew their licenses by September 1st of even-numbered years.

At the time of renewal, counselors are required to submit 32 continuing education units, two of which must be in ethics. The renewal fee for the license is $155 and $50 for the counseling certification.

Currently, there are no state certification or licensing requirements for applied behavior analysts in Nebraska.

However, holding a BCBA certification can help with employment opportunities or job advancement.

The Nebraska Board of Mental Health Practice credentials Licensed Mental Health Practitioners (LMHP), Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioners (LIMHP), and Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioners (PLMHP). Any of these licenses may apply for a certified marriage and family therapist endorsement.

To be licensed as a PLMHP with a certified marriage and family therapist endorsement, applicants must:

• Complete a master’s in counseling from a COAMFTE-accredited program or a regionally accredited marriage and family therapy program that meets specific coursework requirements; the program must include a 300-hour practicum
• Pay a $125 application fee, plus $50 fee for a certified marriage and family therapist endorsement
• Provide proof of right to work in the US
• Submit a completed application

To be an LMHP with a marriage and family therapist endorsement, applicants must meet the PLMHP requirements, as well as:

• Pay $155 fee and $50 fee for a certified marriage and family therapist endorsement
• Pass the AMFTRB exam
• Complete 3,000 hours of supervised experience in the five years preceding the licensure application (1,500 hours must be direct client contact)
• Complete the application

Please note that LMHPs are not authorized to diagnose major mental illnesses or disorders without consulting with a LIMHP, physician, or psychologist.

To earn a LIMHP licensure with a marriage and family therapist endorsement, candidates must:

• Pay a $50 application fee (if already holding an LMHP license in Nebraska, or $155 fee if not)
• Pay $50 certified marriage and family therapist endorsement application fee
• Complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience, of which 1,500 hours must be direct contact with clients who are diagnosed under the major mental illness or disorder category (these can be the same hours used for LMHP licensure)

Mental health practitioners are required to renew their licenses by September 1st of even-numbered years.

At the time of renewal, counselors are required to submit 32 continuing education units, two of which must be in ethics. The renewal fee for the license is $155 and $50 for the marriage and family therapy certification. PLMHP licenses are valid for five years and do not renew.

Nebraska Board of Mental Health Practice

There are three levels of mental health counseling licenses child therapists can earn in Nebraska:

• Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP)
• Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP)
• Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (PLMHP)

Please note that PLMHPs and LMHPs are not authorized to diagnose major mental illnesses or disorders without consulting with a LIMHP, physician, or psychologist.

Any of these licenses may apply for a certified counselor certification endorsement.

To be licensed as a PLMHP (with a certified counselor endorsement), applicants must:

• Complete a master’s in counseling from a CACREP accredited program. The program must include a 300-hour practicum
• Pay a $125 application fee plus $50 fee for a certified counselor endorsement
• Provide proof of one’s right to work in the US
• Submit a completed application

To be a LMHP (with a certified counselor endorsement), applicants must meet the PLMHP requirements, in addition to:

• Paying $155 fee plus $50 fee for a certified counselor endorsement
• Passing the NCE or NCMHCE exam
• Completing 3,000 hours of supervised experience the five years preceding the licensure application—1,500 hours must be in direct client contact
• Completing the application

To earn a LIMHP licensure (with a certified counselor endorsement), a candidate must:

• Pay a $50 application fee (if already holding an LMHP license in Nebraska), or a $155 fee (if not)
• Pay a $50 certified counselor certification application fee
• Complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience, of which 1,500 hours must be direct contact with clients who are diagnosed under the major mental illness or disorder category. These can be the same hours used for LMHP licensure.

Counselors are required to renew their licenses by September 1st of even-numbered years.

At the time of renewal, counselors are required to submit 32 continuing education units, two of which must be in ethics. The renewal fee for the license is $155 and $50 for the counseling certification.