Michigan requirements

LPC requirements in Michigan

What it takes to become a Licensed Professional Counselor in Michigan: 3,000 supervised hours over at least 2 years (master's); 1 year (doctoral), plus supervision, time limits, exams and whether you can be supervised by video. Every figure is sourced to the state board and dated.

Sourced to Michigan Board of Counseling (LARA, Bureau of Professional Licensing)Checked September 25, 2026Not individually reviewed by a clinicianAbout this site

Licensed Professional Counselor (professional counselor) · Michigan · regulated by Michigan Board of Counseling (LARA, Bureau of Professional Licensing) · high confidence

Pre-license credentialLLPC (Limited Licensed Professional Counselor / 'limited licensed counselor')
Supervised experiencenot less than 3,000 hours accrued in not less than a 2-year period (master's); 1,500 hours over not less than 1 year (doctoral)
Supervisionnot less than 100 hours of regularly scheduled supervision (master's); 50 hours (doctoral)
Minimum time2 years (master's); 1 year (doctoral)
Time limitLLPC renewable annually for no more than 10 years; up to three 1-year hardship extensions
ExamsNCE, NCMHCE, or CRC exam (any one); human trafficking training; implicit bias training

Supervision

  • How much: not less than 100 hours of regularly scheduled supervision (master's); 50 hours (doctoral)
  • How often: 'regularly scheduled'; no per-week/month ratio stated
  • Who may supervise: Michigan LPC with supervision training (2 sem. hrs grad credit or 30 contact hrs) and ≥5 yrs post-master's practice (new supervisors since 5/5/2022), or NBCC-CCE ACS

When hours count and what to keep

  • Before your degree: not counted; in Michigan supervision begins on issuance of the limited license
  • Paperwork: Counseling Work Experience form (LARA/BPL-COUNSELEXP), one per supervisor; supervisor gives supervisee written qualifications statement

Can you be supervised remotely in Michigan?

Yes. Required supervision can be done entirely by live video, with no in-person minimum.

  • Video supervision: All required supervision hours (100 master's / 50 doctoral) may be in the supervisor's immediate physical presence or via 2-way real-time audiovisual technology; no split required
  • Phone only: not allowed (counted supervision must allow interaction 'by sight and sound'; telephone only satisfies the general 'continuous availability' condition)
  • In-person minimum: None set by the state
  • Supervisor licensed in Michigan? required (for experience gained in Michigan: Michigan LPC in good standing; out-of-state hours may use that state's equivalent)
  • Supervisor credential: No board registration; supervisor must meet R 338.1781 training (2 sem. hrs or 30 contact hrs) + 5 yrs post-master's practice (new since 5/5/2022), or hold CCE ACS; written qualifications statement to supervisee
  • Board approval first: Limited license required before hours count; LLC application/professional disclosure statement must name the Michigan supervising LPC and include the supervisor's signed qualifications statement

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

Counseling General Rules amended eff. Jan 15, 2026 (2026 MR 2) touching R 338.1751, .1772, .1781; LARA 2025-26 regulatory plan lists a counseling rule review [2025-05 LR].

In the board’s own words

“not less than 3,000 hours accrued in not less than a 2-year period” — Mich Admin Code R 338.1774(1)(c)(i)✓ matched in the source
“with not less than 100 hours of regularly scheduled supervision” — Mich Admin Code R 338.1774(1)(c)(i)✓ matched in the source
“or via 2-way real-time audiovisual technology that allows direct, contemporaneous interaction by sight and sound” — Mich Admin Code R 338.1774(1)(c)(i)✓ matched in the source
“a limited license may be renewed annually, but for no more than 10 years” — Mich Admin Code R 338.1777(3)✓ matched in the source
“Supervised experience gained prior to obtaining the limited license cannot be counted toward licensure.” — LARA Counseling Licensing Guide p.3✓ matched in the source
“accrued in the immediate physical presence of the supervisor or via 2-way real-time audiovisual technology” — Mich Admin Code R 338.1774(1)(c)(i)✓ matched in the source
“allows direct, contemporaneous interaction by sight and sound between the supervisor and the supervisee” — Mich Admin Code R 338.1774(1)(c)(i)✓ matched in the source
“practiced under the supervision of a licensed professional counselor in this state in good standing throughout the period of supervision” — Mich Admin Code R 338.1774(2)✓ matched in the source
“acquired not less than 5 years of post-master's practice in counseling” — Mich Admin Code R 338.1781(1)(c)✓ matched in the source
“Currently holds the Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) credential from the CCE.” — Mich Admin Code R 338.1781(1)(d)✓ matched in the source
“The continuous availability of direct communication in person or by radio, telephone, or telecommunication between the supervised individual and a licensed health professional.” — MCL 333.16109(2)(a)✓ matched in the source
“continuous availability of direct communication in person or by radio, telephone or telecommunication” — LARA Counseling Work Experience form (4/25)✓ matched in the source

4 more quotes are in the state explorer.

Other licenses in Michigan

Sources

Checked against Michigan Board of Counseling (LARA, Bureau of Professional Licensing)’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.

Track your hours as you earn them

Practice Harbor is free while you are pre-licensed. It counts your clinical hours from the sessions you mark as attended, and you can add outside hours by hand.

General information, not legal advice. Requirements are summarized from each state’s licensing board, statutes and regulations on the date shown; the board decides, and rules change. Becoming Licensed is not affiliated with any licensing board.