How to become a licensed therapist or counselor in another state

With virtual mental health care becoming more commonplace, there are benefits to being licensed in more than one state. COVID-19 provisions are already fading, and easy license reciprocity and portability laws are still rare. 

Though the processes to get licensed by endorsement are similar, it still varies across states and by license type. This resource gives providers an idea of what to expect in the states where we operate for some of our most common license types. Most states require that your licensure have no disciplinary action. 

As we expand or policies change, we’ll keep this post up to date. 

Application checklist

Not every license or process will need all of these but if it applies to you, it’s good to have it on hand.

• Application fees
• Verification of an active license 
• Official transcripts
• Proof of passing exam scores
• Documentation of completing education and supervised hours, per your jurisdiction’s requirements
• Proof of current practice and duration

District of Columbia 

To apply for license endorsement in DC, start an application for a new license on their portal. 

For all licenses, you must use the portal since DC has stopped accepting paper applications. However, clinical social workers may need to submit supplementary material through mail. 

Along with some of the other required materials—which vary by license type—applicants will be required to have or submit:

• Criminal background check
• Vaccination attestations
• National Practitioner Databank (NPDB) Self Query Report

The application fee and requirements vary by license type: 

Professional Counseling (LPC)

• Resource page
• Application package
• Application checklist

Marriage and Family Therapy (LMFT)

• Resource page
• Application package
• Application checklist

Social Work (LSWA, LGSW, LISW, LICSW)

• Resource page
• Application package
• Application checklist

Florida

As a member of the counseling compact, Florida follows their rules of recognizing licenses from applicants who meet certain requirements in states that are also part of the compact. However, the state still has its own processes to apply for endorsement.  

Telehealth 

Beyond applying for endorsement to practice virtually and in-person in Florida, the state also offers options for just out-of-state telehealth registration. 

You can submit an application and meet the following requirements: 

• Have an active and verifiable license in another state, DC, or a U.S. possession or territory
• No pending investigations, discipline, or revocations in the last 5 years
• Maintain liability coverage or financial responsibility for telehealth services provided to clients in Florida in an amount equal or greater than Florida health care practitioner requirements
• Appoint a registered agent for service of process

You also can’t open a Florida office or provide in-person health care services. If you do, you’ll need to go through a different process. 

License endorsement

All the licenses have the same process and requirements, though some details do differ by license type, such as where to send your application or which exam to take. Florida’s process does require providers to complete more courses, so prepare to spend a little more time and money to get your license endorsement. 

1. Complete a license verification. 
2. Pass the national exam for your license type. Some license exams are exempt, depending on type and year passed.  
3. Complete courses for Laws & Rules, HIV/AIDS, and Domestic Violence. 

While the basic steps are the same, some of the procedures such as where to mail materials or which ones account differ by license, so be sure to take a look at the instructions for your specific one. 

Maryland

As a member of the counseling compact, Maryland follows their rules of recognizing licenses from applicants who meet certain requirements in states that are also part of the compact. However, the state still has its own processes to apply for endorsement.   

LPCs 

Per the compact, applicants must have: 

• Proof of your out-of-state active license
• Passing scores on the National Counselors Examination of the National Board for Certified Counselors and the State Law Test
• Transcripts proving an official degree in professional counseling from an accredited institution
• Documentation of graduate coursework, which includes 3 semester credits in each of the following areas: 

• Professional, legal, and ethical responsibilities
• Diagnosis and psychopathology
• Psychotherapy and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.

• 3,000 hours of supervision with a master’s degree, and a minimum number of years of experience depending on graduate hours; or 2,000 hours of supervision with a doctoral degree, and at least 2 years of experience practicing as a counselor
• Application fee of $250 and a separate licensing fee of $150

Find more detailed information about the application process from the instructions.

Learn more from Maryland’s page on General Licensure Information.

LMFTs

Per the compact, applicants must have at minimum: 

• Proof of your out-of-state active license
• Passing scores on the Examination in Marital and Family Therapy developed by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards; and the State examination on law and regulations
• Transcripts proving an official degree in professional counseling from an accredited institution
• Documentation of graduate coursework, which includes 3 semester credits or 5 quarter credits in each of the following areas: 

• Diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders; 
• Sexual issues in marriage and family therapy; 
• Couples therapy, theory, and techniques; and 
• Professional, legal, and ethical responsibilities in marriage and family therapy

• 3,000 hours of supervision with a master’s degree, and a minimum number of years of experience depending on graduate hours; or 2,000 hours of supervision with a doctoral degree, and at least 2 years of experience practicing marriage and family therapy
• Application fee of $250 and a separate licensing fee of $150

Find more detailed information about the application process from the instructions. 

Learn more from Maryland’s page on General Licensure Information.

LCSWs

The process for getting license endorsement in social work differs. You must apply online though may need to send in additional documents by mail.

They recommend having the following to begin your application: 

1. Internet access. (Home, office, library)
2. Social Security number is requir​ed to apply.
3. An email address. (Please use a working / valid email address). Once you start an application, you will receive emails with updates & communications from the board. Check your email INBOX, JUNK, SPAM and TRASH folders to locate your first email with your Application ID. This email may have been sent to one of these folders depending on the security of your email provider.

(Note: Please make sure you add bswe.licensing@maryland.gov to your trusted/allowed email address list to ensure the email does not get sent to your spam folder or get filtered out of your email before it is received.)

4. Your Social Work licenses held in any state including Maryland
5. Your Visa, MasterCard or Discover. The Board does NOT accept checks or money orders for online applications. Your application is considered incomplete until we receive payment.

What you need to apply will depend on your years of experience: 

• Checklist for less than 5 years of licensure
• Checklist for holding a license for at least 5 out of last 10 years

Find more information on Maryland’s page for the social work application.

Virginia

LPCSs and LMFTs

Virginia doesn’t currently have reciprocity with any state. For both LPC and LMFTs, the process for applying for license endorsement is the same. 

To apply for licensure by endorsement, you must have or have held an independent equivalent professional counselor license in another U. S. jurisdiction and meet one of the following:

1. Have 24 of the last 60 months of post-licensure active practice with an independent clinical counseling licensed.

1.  Provide evidence of post-licensure clinical practice in counseling for 24 of the last 60 months immediately preceding your application in Virginia.

1. i. Clinical practice shall mean the rendering of direct clinical counseling services or clinical supervision of counseling services.

1. b. Documentation of education and supervised experience that met the requirements of the jurisdiction in which you were initially licensed as verified by an official transcript and a certified copy of the original application materials

1. If you do not have 24 of the last 60 months of post-licensure active practice with an independent clinical counseling license, your education and supervision experience must be consistent with those required by Virginia Code and Regulations. Please refer to the education and residency requirements outlined previously in the handbook.

To apply for Endorsement, you must submit the following to the Virginia Board of Counseling: 

1. A completed application; 
2. $175 application processing fee; 
3. Verification of all mental health or health professional licenses, certificates or registration ever held in any other jurisdiction.  In order to qualify for endorsement, you must have no unresolved action against a license or certificate. The board will consider history of disciplinary action on a case-by-case basis. 
4. Official transcript;
5. Documentation of having completed education and supervision experience; 
6. Verification of a passing score on an examination required for counseling licensure in the jurisdiction in which licensure was initially obtained; 
7. Verification of post-licensure clinical active practice (if applicable); 
8. Certified copy of licensure application from the jurisdiction where you were originally licensed (if applicable); 
9. Attest to having read and understood the regulations and laws governing the practice of professional counseling in Virginia; and 
10. National Practitioners Data Bank (NPDB) query is required for every licensure application.

LCSWs

Virginia’s application process starts online and may require submission of printed documents to the Board of Social Work. 

Providers seeking endorsement will need to: 

1. Hold an active, unrestricted social work license in another state at the level comparable to the level in which they are applying in Virginia 
2. Submit evidence of a passing score for the ASWB examination comparable to the level in which they are applying in Virginia  

• If you have not passed the ASWB examination required under Regulation 18 VAC 140-20-70, the Board may approve you to take the exam. You will not be licensed until you have successfully passed the examination required. 

1. Provide post-licensure experience verification or submit evidence of supervision (for LCSW Applicant’s only)  

• Note: This step is not applicable for LBSW & LMSW applications by endorsement 

1. Apply for Licensure by Endorsement and submit all supporting documentation

The online application includes a checklist that updates as you submit documentation. 

They recommend reviewing the regulations prior to applying and paying the fee, the cost of which changes depending on the service.