Authors: Ryan Shinazy & Cole Butler, MACP

(5-minute read)

Becoming a therapist in Colorado is a multi-step process that involves education, supervised experience, examinations, and ongoing professional development. This blog post will provide a detailed guide to help you navigate the requirements and steps towards becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Colorado. Please note that this path may vary slightly if you are located in a different state. Be sure to check in with the requirements in your state, and don’t be afraid to reach out to graduate programs or therapists in your area and ask them about the requirements.

While this guide focuses on becoming a therapist on the LPC route, it is important to note that there are other paths to becoming a therapist, such as becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or a Licensed Psychologist.

These professionals are also considered therapists and counselors, though the route to licensure can vary. For those interested in these other paths, additional resources can provide further guidance.

How to Become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

How to Become a Psychologist

1. Educational Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree:

The first step towards any higher education pursuit is enrolling in a bachelor’s program. Begin by earning a bachelor's degree in counseling, psychology, social work, human services, or another related field.
Bachelor’s degrees typically take about four years to complete.
Note: It is not an absolute requirement to have an undergraduate degree in one of the fields listed above to get accepted into a counseling graduate program.

Graduate Degree:

Next, obtain either a master's or doctoral degree in professional counseling, clinical mental health counseling, or a closely related field from a program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or an equivalent program.
Note: It is still possible to practice if the school you graduated from is non-CACREP approved. However, in this case you must have your educational credentials evaluated by the Center for Credential and Education (CCE)
CACREP accredited graduate programs should include at least 60 semester credit hours and cover key areas such as human growth and development, social and cultural foundations, helping relationships, group work, lifestyle and career development, appraisal, research and evaluation, and professional orientation as per Online Counseling Programs.
On average, master’s degrees take about 18 to 24 months to complete; however, CACREP accredited counseling programs can take up to three years or more due to the 60-72 credit hour requirement and the 700-hour practicum.
A doctorate degree typically takes four to six years by itself. If you pursue a PhD in Clinical or Counseling psychology, the program typically combines master’s and PhD requirements. This means you will earn a master’s along the way towards your doctorate. With the addition of an APA-accredited internship, it normally takes 6+ years to obtain a PhD in Clinical or Counseling Psychology.

2. Practicum and Internship Requirements

As part of the Colorado State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners requirements, you will need to complete an internship or practicum consisting of at least 700 hours of hands-on experience in a supervised counseling practice.

3. Post-Graduate Supervised Experience

Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC):

After earning a master’s or doctoral degree, you can apply to become a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC) to begin accumulating the required post-graduate supervised experience.
As an LPCC, you will need to complete at least 2,000 hours of supervised professional practice over a minimum of two years. Of these, 1,500 hours must be direct client contact under supervision as per Careers in Psychology.org.
Supervision must be provided by a licensed professional counselor (LPC), licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), or licensed psychologist. You need at least 100 hours of supervision, with 50 hours being face-to-face according to Online Counseling Programs.

4. Examinations

LPC licensure requires passing scores on the following State Board examinations:

National Counselor Examination (NCE):

The National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) is administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). The NCE is a 200-question multiple-choice examination that assesses your knowledge and skills in effective counseling practices.

Jurisprudence Examination:

The Colorado Mental Health Jurisprudence Examination, is an open-book test covering Colorado's mental health statutes, confidentiality, board rules, and emergency procedures.

5. Applying for Licensure

Once you have completed your education, practicum hours, and passed the state board exams, you can submit your LPC application through the Colorado State Board of Licensed Professional Counselor Examiners.
Careers in Psychology.org advises that applications must include:

Proof of passing the NCE and Jurisprudence Examination.
Official transcripts from your graduate program.
Documentation of your supervised experience.
Application fee of $70.

Note: Ensure all documents are complete and submitted within one year to avoid application expiration and the need for reexaminations.

6. License Renewal and Continuing Education

LPC licenses in Colorado expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years according to Online Counseling Programs. The following are the steps needed to renew your license:

Pay the renewal fee. Renewal fees may vary depending on the state and year of license renewal.
Complete 40 hours of professional development/ continuing education every two years, with no more than 20 hours in a single activity. Activities can include volunteer service, mentoring, presenting, coursework, independent learning, and group learning.
Documentation of your continuing education or professional development activities through maintaining a Continuing Professional Development portfolio can streamline this process.

7. Licensure by Endorsement

If you are already licensed in another state, you can apply for licensure by endorsement in Colorado. According to the Colorado Counseling Association this process requires:

Proof of a current, unrestricted license in another state.
Verification of your licensure and examination.
Proof of at least two years of post-master’s or one year of post-doctoral practice in psychotherapy or professional counseling.
Proof of active practice of professional counseling for at least two years immediately preceding your application.

Average Counselor Salary in Colorado?

After reading this article, you may be wondering what the average salary is for a therapist in Colorado. For more info, read our previous blog post How Much Do Therapists Make an Hour.

Conclusion

Becoming an LPC in Colorado is a rewarding career path that requires dedication, education, and commitment to ongoing professional development. We hope to have provided you with the necessary steps to follow so you can achieve licensure and begin making a significant impact on the lives of individuals and communities in Colorado.

If you would like more information, support, or to join the ICC, please Contact Us!

About the Author:

Ryan Shinazy

Ryan Shinazy is an Intern at Integrative Care Collective PBC. He is an Honors Student in Psychology at University of Northern Colorado (UNC). He is currently a Senior with a 4.0/4.0 GPA. He is currently working on developing his honors thesis under Dr. James Kole, entitled: Understanding Loneliness in the Digital Age: Implications of Social Media Use. He plans to get his Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at UNC. As ICC PBC’s Intern, he is responsible for content production, including SEO-optimized blog posts and social media content.

Find him on LinkedIn!

How to Become a Therapist in Colorado