Becoming a licensed therapist in Minnesota requires navigating a multi-stage process tailored to the specific mental health profession an applicant chooses. This path demands rigorous academic preparation, a substantial period of supervised clinical experience, and the successful completion of standardized examinations. Achieving full licensure grants the authority to practice independently and diagnose mental and emotional disorders within the state’s healthcare system.
Understanding the Different Types of Licensed Therapists in Minnesota
The term “therapist” acts as an umbrella for several distinct professional licenses, each with its own scope of practice, educational requirements, and governing board in Minnesota. Aspiring professionals must decide on their specific track early, as regulatory requirements are unique to each designation.
The Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (BBHT) oversees the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). The LPCC is the independent license allowing for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. The LPC is a non-clinical license requiring fewer supervised hours.
Marriage and family therapists are regulated by the Board of Marriage and Family Therapy (BOMFT), which grants the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) credential. This license focuses on the assessment and treatment of mental health issues within the context of family and relational systems.
Social workers pursuing independent clinical practice are licensed by the Board of Social Work (BOSW) as Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers (LICSW). This license permits the independent practice of clinical social work, including assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
Psychologists must obtain a doctoral degree and are licensed by the Board of Psychology (BOP) as a Licensed Psychologist (LP). This license represents the highest level of academic training and grants the broadest scope of practice, often encompassing psychological testing and advanced research.
Educational Requirements and Choosing an Accredited Degree Path
The foundation for all mental health licensure in Minnesota is a specialized graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution that aligns with the intended profession. Most licenses, including the LPCC, LMFT, and LICSW, require at least a master’s degree, while the Licensed Psychologist (LP) designation requires a doctoral degree.
For aspiring counselors, the Master of Arts or Master of Science program should be accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or an equivalent body recognized by the Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy (BBHT). This accreditation ensures the curriculum meets Minnesota’s minimum requirement of 48 semester hours, including core content areas like human growth and development, group dynamics, and professional ethics.
Clinical social workers must earn a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The LICSW track requires the master’s program to include 360 clock hours of coursework dedicated to six clinical knowledge areas, such as differential diagnosis and biopsychosocial assessment.
Marriage and Family Therapist applicants must complete a master’s or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) or an equivalent program. The curriculum must include defined coursework in marital and family studies, human development, and a supervised practicum of at least 300 hours of direct client contact.
The path to Licensed Psychologist (LP) requires a doctoral degree, such as a Ph.D. or Psy.D., with a major in psychology from a program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). This advanced degree is a prerequisite for the LP license and signifies the depth of training required for independent practice.
Completing Post-Graduate Supervised Clinical Practice
After obtaining the qualifying graduate degree, applicants must enter a phase of post-degree supervised practice, often working under a temporary license. This supervised experience is the most time-intensive component of licensure, transitioning the professional from academic knowledge to independent clinical competency.
The total number of required hours is typically 4,000 hours of supervised experience for independent clinical licenses.
LICSW Requirements
Candidates for the Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) must document 4,000 hours of post-master’s clinical practice, including 1,800 hours of direct client contact. This experience requires a minimum of 200 hours of direct supervision from a qualified, board-approved supervisor.
LPCC Requirements
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) applicants must also complete 4,000 hours of supervised post-master’s clinical practice, including at least 1,800 hours of direct client contact. This experience must include 200 hours of supervision, with a requirement that at least half of the supervision be individual sessions.
LMFT Requirements
The Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) designation requires 4,000 hours of post-master’s work experience, focusing on relational practice. A minimum of 1,000 hours must be direct client contact, with 500 of those hours involving couples and families. The supervision component requires a minimum of 200 hours of direct supervision, with at least 100 hours being individual supervision with a board-approved LMFT supervisor.
LP Requirements
The Licensed Psychologist (LP) track requires the completion of at least one full year, or 1,800 hours, of postdoctoral supervised psychological employment. This is in addition to the pre-doctoral internship hours completed during the doctoral program. The experience must be overseen by a licensed psychologist who meets the board’s qualifications.
For all disciplines, the supervisor must be licensed in Minnesota and meet specific qualifications. Applicants must submit a formal supervision plan to the relevant board for approval before counting any hours.
Passing Required Licensure Examinations
A formal examination process is required to ensure applicants have mastered the necessary knowledge base and can apply it ethically and competently. This process involves a national standardized test and, in some cases, a state-specific examination, determined by the license pursued.
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs) must pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), a scenario-based test administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) must pass the national Examination in Marital and Family Therapy, developed by the Association of Marital & Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB).
For Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers (LICSWs), the national requirement is the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Clinical Exam, a comprehensive test of clinical knowledge. Licensed Psychologists (LPs) must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), a broad-based knowledge exam covering the core areas of psychology.
In addition to the national exams, the Minnesota Board of Psychology requires LP applicants to pass the Professional Responsibility Examination (PRE). This is a state-specific test covering Minnesota’s laws and ethical standards of practice. Successfully completing the required national exam is a universal step across all mental health professions.
Applying for Full Licensure and Ongoing Maintenance
The final stage involves submitting a comprehensive application packet to the respective Minnesota licensing board, signaling the completion of all educational, supervised practice, and examination requirements. The application must include official transcripts, verification of the national examination, and detailed logs signed by the board-approved supervisor documenting all clinical hours.
A mandatory component for all licenses is the completion of a fingerprint-based criminal background check. Once the board reviews and approves all submitted documentation, the applicant is granted the full, independent license, allowing them to practice autonomously within their professional scope.
Maintaining the license requires adherence to ongoing professional obligations, centered on a biennial renewal cycle. Licensed professionals must complete a specified number of continuing education units (CEUs) during each renewal period to ensure their knowledge remains current. For example, Licensed Psychologists must complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years, including hours dedicated to ethics and professional conduct.