Below you will find links to counseling boards or state health departments, because as drama therapists, in general, our work is more closely aligned with counseling than with other licensed professions. We recognize a wide diversity within our field, however, and you may find that your own work (or training) is more in alignment with a different license or credential. We hope this list will give you a place to start in order to find out more about licensing in your region.

Licensing laws vary widely and the laws change. We also encourage you to find ways to think and work outside the box, in order to find gainful and meaningful employment as a drama therapist, whether or not you are able to be licensed. If you do not have a degree in counseling, you may have to advocate strongly for yourself in order to obtain a license. There are many jobs and opportunities, however, which may not require you to have a license. Be creative and diligent!

There are many people working towards licensure in many different locations. Please reach out the Government Affairs Chair and your Regional Representative to get connected to work already being done!

LCAT Fact Sheet

Are you interested in obtaining licensure in New York State? The LCAT Fact Sheet is a guide prepared to assist you in the process. The information contained in the guide includes tips from people who have applied for the LCAT as well as information from the NYS Office of the Professions.

New Jersey Taskforce

The Drama and Dance/Movement Therapists in New Jersey have become the New Jersey Taskforce and have been diligently working towards seeking licensure (LCDT- Licensed Clinical Drama and Dance/Movement Therapists). Currently, they are gathering legislative sponsors in both the Assembly and the Senate. To find out more about New Jersey efforts, please contact the Government Affairs Chair at [email protected].

LINKS FOR COUNSELING LICENSES

Alabama

The Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling

www.abec.alabama.gov

Alaska

Board of Professional Counselors

www.commerce.state.ak.us/occ/ppco.htm

Arizona

Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners http://www.azbbhe.us

Arkansas

Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling

https://abec.statesolutions.us/

California

Board of Behavioral Sciences

www.bbs.ca.gov

The Californian Association of Marriage and Family Therapists

http://www.camft.org/

Colorado

The Colorado State Board of Professional Counselor Examiners www.dora.state.co.us/mental-health

Connecticut

Department of Public Health

http://www.ct.gov/dph

Delaware

Department of State Division of Professional Regulation

http://dpr.delaware.gov

District of Columbia 

Department of Health

http://doh.dc.gov/

Professional Counseling Licensing

http://doh.dc.gov/node/160252

Florida

Division of Medical Quality Assurance

http://www.floridahealth.gov/licensing-and-regulation/index.html

Georgia

Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists

www.sos.state.ga.us/plb/counselors

Guam

The only link we found pertaining to counseling in Guam had to do with being a school counselor. This link may be outdated. It is a PDF document, from January 2011, which has information on state requirements for school counseling, which also applies to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

http://www.counseling.org/docs/licensure/schoolcounselingregs2011.PDF?sfvrsn=2

Hawaii

Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional and Vocational Licensing 

www.hawaii.gov/dcca/areas/pvl/programs/mental/

Idaho

Professional Licensing

https://dopl.idaho.gov/DOPLPortal/Home.aspx

Illinois

Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

https://www.idfpr.com/

Indiana

Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board

www.in.gov/pla/social.htm

Iowa

Bureau of Professional Licensure

https://ibplicense.iowa.gov/PublicPortal/Iowa/IBPL/common/index.jsp

Kansas

Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board

https://ksbsrb.ks.gov/

Kentucky

Board of Licensed Professional Counselors

http://lpc.ky.gov/

Louisiana

Professional and Occupational Licenses

https://www.louisiana.gov/licenses/

Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners

https://www.lpcboard.org/

Maine

Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation https://www.maine.gov/pfr/

Board of Counseling Professionals https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/counselors/index.html

Maryland

Department of Health and Mental Hygiene https://health.maryland.gov/statestat/Pages/Home.aspx

The Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists https://health.maryland.gov/bopc/Pages/index.aspx

Massachusetts

Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation

http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/

Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professionals http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/licensee/dpl-boards/mh/

Michigan

Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

http://www.michigan.gov/lara

Board of Counseling

http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-35299_63294_27529_27536---,00.html

Minnesota

Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy

https://mn.gov/boards/behavioral-health/

Licensed Professional Counselor https://mn.gov/elicense/a-z/?id=1083-231433#/list/appId//filterType//filterValue//page/1/sort//order/

NOTE:  check for provisions for unlicensed professionals

Mississippi

State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors http://www.lpc.ms.gov/lpc/web.nsf

Missouri

Division of Professional Registration

http://pr.mo.gov/

Committee for Professional Counselors

http://pr.mo.gov/counselors.asp

Montana

Department of Labor and Industry

http://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/bbh

Board of Social Work Examiners and Professional Counselors http://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/bbh

Nebraska

Department of Health and Human Services

http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Certified Professional Counselor http://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Mental-Health-and-Social-Work-Practice.aspx

Nevada

Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors http://marriage.state.nv.us/

New Hampshire

Board of Mental Health Practice

https://www.oplc.nh.gov/mental-health/mental-health-survey.htm

New Jersey

Department of Law and Public Safety: Division of Consumer Affairs http://njconsumeraffairs.gov/

Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners

http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/mft/

New Mexico

Regulation and Licensing Department

http://www.rld.state.nm.us/default.aspx

Counseling and Therapy Practice Board http://www.rld.state.nm.us/boards/Counseling_and_Therapy_Practice.aspx

New York

State Education Department

http://www.nysed.gov/

 

Office of the Professions

http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/

North Carolina

Board of Licensed Professional Counselors

http://www.ncblpc.org/

North Dakota

Board of Counselor Examiners:

 http://www.ndbce.org/

Ohio

Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board, (with internal links to applying for a license and FAQs):

http://www.cswmft.ohio.gov/

Oklahoma

Division of Professional Counselor Licensing: http://www.ok.gov/health//Protective_Health/Professional_Counselor_Licensing_Division/

Oregon

Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists: http://www.oregon.gov/OBLPCT/Pages/index.aspx

Applying for a license https://www.oregon.gov/oblpct/Pages/Apply.aspx

Pennsylvania

In PA, DT is included in the LPC credential

State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors: https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/SocialWorkersMarriageanFamilyTherapistsandProfessionalCounselors/Pages/default.aspx

NOTE:  check for licensure of drama therapy under the guidelines for Professional Counselors in PA

Puerto Rico

The only link pertaining to counseling in Puerto Rico had to do with being a school counselor. This link is a PDF document, from January 2011, which has information on state requirements for school counseling, which also applies to Guam, and the Virgin Islands.

http://www.counseling.org/docs/licensure/schoolcounselingregs2011.PDF?sfvrsn=2

Rhode Island

Department of Health, Healthcare License Information, (scroll down to:) Mental Health & Counseling:

http://www.health.ri.gov/licenses/healthcare/index.php#therapists

South Carolina

Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation: http://www.llr.state.sc.us/POL/Counselors/

South Dakota

Department of Social Services: http://dss.sd.gov/behavioralhealthservices/licensingboards/board_examiners_lpc.asp

Tennessee

Department of HealthBoard of Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists and Licensed Pastoral Therapists: http://health.state.tn.us/boards/PC_MFT&CPT/

Texas

Department of State Health Services, Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/counselor/

Utah

Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing:

http://www.dopl.utah.gov/

Vermont

Board of Allied Mental Health, with information on licensed and non-licensed mental health specialists, and the laws pertaining to mental health counseling in VT:

http://vtprofessionals.org/opr1/allied_mental_health/

NOTE:  check for provisions for unlicensed professionals in the state of Vermont

Virgin Islands

The only link pertaining to counseling in the Virgin Islands, had to do with being a school counselor. This link is a PDF document, from January 2011, which has information on state requirements for school counseling, which also applies to Puerto Rico, and Guam.

http://www.counseling.org/docs/licensure/schoolcounselingregs2011.PDF?sfvrsn=2

Virginia

Board of Counseling:

http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/counseling/

Department of Health Professions, for information on other kinds of licenses in Virginia:

http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/

Washington

Washington State Department of Health, http://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/ProfessionsNewReneworUpdate/MentalHealthProfessions.a spx

West Virginia

West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling, which includes links on licensure on becoming and LPC, and an MFT in West Virginia, and many additional links

http://www.wvbec.org/

Wisconsin

Professional Counselor License:

http://dsps.wi.gov/Default.aspx?Page=4b15ef4e-f1b5-4754-a283-a04430b230ef

Wyoming

Counselor License Requirements:

http://www.counselor-license.com/states/wyoming-counselor-license.html

Additional Information

Counselor License Requirements – state by state: (some information may be out of date)

http://www.counselor-license.com/

LICENSURE RESOURCES