Licensed Professional Counselor (professional counselor) · Arizona · regulated by Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (AzBBHE) · high confidence
| Pre-license credential | Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) |
|---|---|
| Supervised experience | at least 24 months of supervised work experience ... that includes at least 1600 hours of direct client contact (no total-hour figure since Nov 2, 2025) |
| Direct client contact | 1,600 hours direct client contact using psychotherapy; ≤400 psychoeducation; ≤400 crisis response |
| Supervision | at least 100 hours of clinical supervision; ≥25 individual |
| Minimum time | 24 months |
| Exams | NCE, NCMHCE, or CRC exam; deemed met if holding an active LAC |
Supervision
- How much: at least 100 hours of clinical supervision; ≥25 individual
- How often: At least 1 hour of clinical supervision in any month with direct client contact; sessions ≥30 minutes
- Group supervision: Up to 75 hrs in groups of 2; up to 50 hrs in groups of 3-6; ≥25 individual
- Who may supervise: LPC, LCSW, LMFT or psychologist on Board registry: 12-hr supervision training (last 3 yrs) or NBCC/CCE, IC&RC, AAMFT credential + 3-hr AZ tutorial; employed by same entity unless exempted
When hours count and what to keep
- Before your degree: Not counted: work experience must follow the degree and a state license/certification; a doctoral clinical internship may count for one year (A.R.S. 32-3301(F))
- Paperwork: Online 'Verification of Supervised Work Experience' and 'Verification of Clinical Supervision' (submitted by employer/supervisor), incl. board-approved supervisor attestation
Can you be supervised remotely in Arizona?
Yes. Required supervision can be done entirely by live video, with no in-person minimum.
- Video supervision: Since Nov. 2, 2025, "clinical supervision" may be face to face, by video, by teleconference or by telephone. The old rule (2 face-to-face hours every 6 months, 90-hour video/phone cap) is gone. Only phone is capped, at 15 hours. At least 10 hours must involve the supervisor observing the supervisee with a client, which may be live, by video, by teleconference or by recording.
- Phone only: limited: no more than 15 of the 100 clinical supervision hours by telephone
- In-person minimum: None for agency-based work. In a board-approved supervised private practice, the associate and supervisor must meet individually at the practice location at least once every 60 days.
- Supervisor licensed in Arizona? required
- Supervisor credential: No separate supervisor license or registration. The supervisor must be Board-licensed (LPC, LCSW, LMFT or LISAC) or an Arizona psychologist, and must meet R4-6-214 education: through 2026, 12 hours of approved training (or NBCC/CCE ACS, IC&RC or AAMFT supervisor credential) plus the Board's 3-hour Arizona tutorial. The Board's supervisor registry is voluntary.
- Supervisee cap: Up to 6 clinical supervisors per applicant. Groups of 3-6 supervisees may supply up to 50 hours. A supervised-private-practice supervisor may oversee no more than 5 supervised private practices.
- Board approval first: None for agency-based supervision (no plan filing). A supervised private practice needs Board approval before any services, with 6-monthly supervisor reports.
- If you live outside Arizona: No location rule for agency-based work. Anyone treating a client located in Arizona by telehealth must be licensed by the Board. In a supervised private practice, the practice, the associate and the supervisor must all be physically in Arizona.
The client’s location decides which state’s rules apply. This is not legal advice; confirm with the board before building a program. Compare every state on the remote-supervision map.
Recent and pending changes
Rules amended effective Nov 2, 2025 (31 A.A.R. 3032): 3,200-hour total dropped, 400-hr crisis-response cap added, video cap removed, supervised private practice (R4-6-217) created. New supervisor-training and documentation standards begin Jan 1, 2027.
Where the rules are unclear
Arizona’s own documents disagree or are silent on these points. Ask the board if they affect you:
- Does the R4-6-212.01(1)(b) exemption (outside supervisor under written contract) need Board approval before the hours accrue, or can it be requested at licensure?
In the board’s own words
“shall demonstrate completion of at least 24 months of supervised work experience in the practice of professional counseling that includes: 1. At least 1600 hours of direct client contact” — Ariz. Admin. Code R4-6-503(A)✓ matched in the source
“For any month in which an applicant provides direct client contact, the applicant shall obtain at least one hour of clinical supervision.” — Ariz. Admin. Code R4-6-503(B)✓ matched in the source
“at least one hundred hours of clinical supervision as prescribed by the board by rule” — A.R.S. § 32-3301(G)✓ matched in the source
“at least twenty-four months in post-master's degree work experience in the practice of professional counseling under supervision” — A.R.S. § 32-3301(F)✓ matched in the source
“Current Board RULES (effective November 2, 2025)” — AzBBHE Rules and Laws page✓ matched in the source
“Employers and Supervisors can now utilize the forms above to submit the required verification forms for their supervisees.” — AzBBHE Counseling page✓ matched in the source
“indirect client hours no longer need to be tracked; however, 1600 direct client hours are still required” — AzBBHE 'Supervised work experience and clinical supervision requirements - counseling'✓ matched in the source
“National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination offered by the National Board for Certified Counselors” — Ariz. Admin. Code R4-6-502(A)(2)✓ matched in the source
““Clinical supervision” means direction or oversight provided either face to face or by virtual video or teleconference or telephone” — 4 A.A.C. 6 (Supp. 25-3, rules eff. Nov. 2, 2025), R4-6-101, R4-6-211, R4-6-212, R4-6-212.01, R4-6-214, R4-6-217, R4-6-1106✓ matched in the source
“No more than 15 hours of clinical supervision were provided by telephone;” — 4 A.A.C. 6 (Supp. 25-3, rules eff. Nov. 2, 2025), R4-6-101, R4-6-211, R4-6-212, R4-6-212.01, R4-6-214, R4-6-217, R4-6-1106✓ matched in the source
“Holds an active and unrestricted license issued by the Board, and” — 4 A.A.C. 6 (Supp. 25-3, rules eff. Nov. 2, 2025), R4-6-101, R4-6-211, R4-6-212, R4-6-212.01, R4-6-214, R4-6-217, R4-6-1106✓ matched in the source
“Completes the three clock hour Clinical Supervision Tutorial on Arizona Statutes/Regulations.” — 4 A.A.C. 6 (Supp. 25-3, rules eff. Nov. 2, 2025), R4-6-101, R4-6-211, R4-6-212, R4-6-212.01, R4-6-214, R4-6-217, R4-6-1106✓ matched in the source
10 more quotes are in the state explorer.
Other licenses in Arizona
- LMFT (marriage and family therapist)
- LCSW (clinical social worker)
- Psychologist
- All Arizona licenses · every state
Sources
- Ariz. Admin. Code R4-6-503 (Supp. 25-3, eff. Nov 2, 2025)
- A.R.S. § 32-3301(A),(F)-(H)
- AzBBHE Rules and Laws page ('Current Board RULES (effective November 2, 2025)')
- Arizona Administrative Register Vol. 32 (2026), Issue 39 Rulemaking Activity Cumulative Index (through Issue 38): no 4 A.A.C. 6 entries
- azleg.gov ARS Title 32 (notice: updated through 57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session, 2026)
- AzBBHE Counseling page
- AzBBHE 'Supervised work experience and clinical supervision requirements - counseling' (board guidance; quotes pre-2025 rule text but notes SB 1089)
- AzBBHE Counseling Licensure Exam Information
Checked against Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (AzBBHE)’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.