About 57,820 individuals are employed as counselors in Florida, with over nine in 10 working as substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors or as educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors.1-5 Learn how to become a counselor and the different processes for counseling licensure in Florida below.

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How to Become a Counselor in Florida

Counselors in Florida are required to be licensed according to the rules set by various boards. Most types of counselor licensure require a master’s degree and significant clinical training during an approved internship, as well as supervised postgraduate experience. There are numerous counseling schools in Florida that offer programs designed to meet these specific requirements and prepare students for the Florida licensure process. Other steps may include passing required examinations or completing relevant coursework. If you already hold a license in another state and are looking to practice in Florida, visit our Counseling License Reciprocity Guide.

1. Decide which area of counseling to pursue.

Spend some time researching different types of counseling career paths to find the best fit for you. Requirements will vary depending on the type of counselor you’d like to become and can take years to complete. Knowing which area of counseling you are interested in and the necessary steps required to earn licensure is the best place to start.

2. Earn the degree(s) required for your counseling practice area.

Most counseling careers require at least a master’s degree in a related field for licensure. Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) are required to have a master’s degree with coursework in specific areas. A prospective school counselor must have an approved master’s degree that covers topics relevant to guidance counseling and student welfare. The Florida Certification Board (FCB) offers three substance abuse counselor certifications that require a minimum of a high school diploma all the way up to a relevant master’s degree, depending on the type of licensure.

3. Get licensed to practice counseling in Florida.

The Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (the Board) issues licenses for both Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), while the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) issues school counseling certification as part of teacher certification. The Florida Certification Board (FCB) handles certification for Certified Addiction Counselors (CACs), Certified Addiction Professionals (CAPs), and Master’s Level Certified Addiction Professionals (MCAPs). You will likely be required to send your transcripts, proof of relevant coursework, exam results, and application fee to the correct board or department to obtain counseling licensure in Florida.

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) Licensing Process

LMHC licenses are issued by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (the Board) after successful completion of education and work requirements. Applicants must complete at least a master’s degree of 60 semester hours or 80 quarter hours. Beginning July 1, 2025, the degree must come from a program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC), or an equivalent accrediting body. A CACREP-accredited degree must be in mental health counseling and must include graduate coursework in human sexuality and substance abuse; other accredited degrees must include coursework in 11 specified content areas. The degree must include a supervised practicum, internship, or field experience of 700 hours, of which at least 280 hours are direct client services. In Florida, LMHCs help individuals improve their overall mental health, behavioral health, and emotional health using a variety of psychological methods and treatments. This type of work can be done for a prolonged period of time throughout the individual’s life or in crisis situations when immediate assessment and treatment are required.

For more about what professional counselors do, read our mental health counselor career guide. The best and most affordable programs in the state that prepare graduates to become LMHCs are featured on our mental health counseling programs in Florida page.

To become an LMHC in Florida, follow the steps below.

1. Register as a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern.

First, apply online to become a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern, which will allow you to begin the required clinical internship. You will need to submit your transcripts and a letter from a Board-approved supervisor agreeing to supervise you. Registration is valid for five years and cannot be renewed, so all supervised hours must be finished within that window. Current fees are listed on the Board’s registered intern page.

2. Accrue supervised experience.

You must complete at least two years of post-master’s supervised experience under the supervision of a qualified supervisor. You must complete 1,500 hours of face-to-face psychotherapy with clients, receive at least 100 hours of supervision over a period of at least 100 weeks, and receive one hour of supervision biweekly. Only Board-approved qualified supervisors can supervise Registered Mental Health Counselor Interns and sign off on the Verification of Clinical Experience form.

3. Pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Exam (NCMHCE).

All applicants must pass the NCMHCE (developed by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)) and submit their results to the Board. Study guides are available for purchase online to help you prepare. The exam consists of 11 clinical case studies, each followed by multiple-choice questions. Current exam fees are listed on the Board’s registered intern page; the fees are paid to the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE). Board approval is not required before registering for the exam.

4. Complete additional courses required by the Board.

The successful completion of three professional courses through Board-approved providers, as listed on CE Broker, is required for all LMHC applicants. The Florida laws and rules course (eight clock hours) teaches students about state laws and professional situations and must be completed before submitting your licensure application. The HIV/AIDS course (three clock hours) can also be completed before you submit your application, or you can submit the Board’s HIV/AIDS affidavit with your application. The domestic violence course (two clock hours) must be completed within six months after licensure; keep the certificate with your records rather than submitting it with the application.

5. Apply for and receive your LMHC license.

When you have completed the requirements and are ready to apply for LMHC licensure, you can submit your official transcripts, Verification of Clinical Experience form, exam results, course results, and affidavit (if required), along with the current fee to the Board for review. Fees are listed on the Board’s LMHC licensure page. Florida law requires the Board to review an initial application within 30 days, and current processing times are posted on the Board’s website.

Professional Counselor Licensure by Reciprocity in Florida

Florida does not have reciprocity agreements for counselor licensure, but it does offer licensure by endorsement to counselors already licensed elsewhere. Applicants must hold an active, unencumbered license in another state, Washington DC, or a US territory in a profession with a similar scope of practice, and must have actively practiced for at least two of the four years immediately before applying, with no disciplinary action in the preceding five years. Applicants who do not qualify for endorsement must meet the general state requirements in order to earn full LMHC licensure. The state also offers a provisional license option for applicants who have already completed two years of post-master’s clinical training but do not meet other licensure requirements (such as master’s level coursework or passing the national exam). The provisional license allows the applicant to practice with supervision for up to two years. Current fees are listed on the Board’s LMHC licensure page. Applicants must first apply for full licensure and receive Board approval before a provisional license is issued; the license is valid for 24 months and cannot be renewed.

Counselor License Renewal and Continuing Education Information

LMHC licenses are valid for two years from April 1 to March 31 of odd-numbered years. With the exception of the first renewal cycle, licensees are required to complete 30 hours of continuing education (CE), including three hours in ethics and boundaries or telehealth (taken in alternating renewal periods) and two hours in medical errors. Every third renewal period, the 30 hours must also include three hours in Florida laws and rules and two hours in domestic violence. CE must be logged using the CE Broker website, even if the training was not completed online. Licenses can be renewed online or by mail, but CE requirements must be entered into CE Broker to renew a license online. The Department of Health mails a renewal notice at least 90 days before the license expires.

The Counseling Compact in Florida

The Counseling Compact allows counselors licensed in one member state to practice in other member states without applying for a separate license in each. It began issuing privileges to practice in late 2025. Most US states have now enacted it, though not all are issuing privileges yet.6

Florida has enacted the Compact but is not yet issuing privileges to practice. Joining and going live are separate steps: a member state’s board has to complete its rules, fees, and technical setup before it can grant privileges, and states finish that work on their own schedules. Until Florida goes live, holding a Florida license does not by itself let you practice in other member states, and a privilege issued elsewhere does not authorize practice in Florida. Counselors licensed in another state who want to practice in Florida now should use licensure by endorsement through the Board instead. Check the Counseling Compact website for current membership and status before relying on a privilege.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) Licensing Process

In Florida, LMFTs work with individuals, couples, and families to evaluate and treat psychological challenges impacting relationships, intimacy, and sexuality. LMFTs can use different types of interventions to achieve this, such as psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, and behavioral therapy. LMFTs are licensed by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling and, similarly to LMHCs, must complete an internship before achieving full licensure. Before applying for the LMFT internship, applicants must have a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy or a closely related area with specified coursework and a supervised clinical practicum, internship, or field experience of at least 400 hours over at least 12 months, including at least 300 hours of direct client services (200 of them relational). LMFT licensure can be earned by following these steps:

  1. Register as an Marriage and Family Therapist Intern and submit a letter from a qualified supervisor.
  2. Earn two years of post-master’s supervised experience, consisting of 1,500 hours of face-to-face psychotherapy with clients across a minimum of 100 weeks, with at least 100 hours of supervision (at a minimum of one hour of supervision every two weeks).
  3. Pass the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB) Examination in Marital and Family Therapy.
  4. Complete courses in Florida laws and rules, HIV/AIDS, and domestic violence.
  5. Apply for LMFT licensure and receive your license.

To learn more about career paths as an LMFT, visit our LMFT career guide.

School Counselor Licensing Process

In Florida, school counseling is an extension of teacher education, so certification is overseen by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE). In Florida, school counselors provide age-appropriate academic and career guidance to students from prekindergarten to twelfth grade. There are two pathways to becoming certified as a school counselor in Florida. The first requires at least a master’s degree in guidance and counseling or school counseling that includes a minimum of 600 supervised clock hours serving children in a pre-K-12 school setting. The second plan requires at least a master’s degree in counseling (other than guidance or school counseling), a minimum of 600 supervised clock hours serving school-aged children and their families, and at least nine semester hours in several areas related to school counseling. Note that, once employed, candidates following the second plan must have their employing school district verify that a school counselor holding a Florida Professional Certificate will be assigned as their mentor during the first two years of employment. Other testing and coursework requirements may be necessary depending on your educational background and are determined when you submit your application package to the FLDOE. Since July 1, 2026, candidates seeking employment as a school counselor have been exempt from the general knowledge and professional preparation requirements that apply to classroom teachers, though a school district may still require them as a condition of employment. If you are already employed as a teacher in a school in Florida, simply request to add the school counselor endorsement to your Florida educator certification. If you are not already employed as a teacher in Florida, you must complete the following steps:

  1. Submit an application package to the FLDOE.
  2. Secure employment at a state-approved school in Florida and receive your Florida Temporary Certificate.
  3. Pass the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) School Counseling PK-12 subject area test.
  4. Receive your Professional Certificate with the School Counseling PK-12 certification.

The Professional Certificate is the standard renewable certificate and is valid for five school years. Renewal requires six semester hours of college credit, including at least one hour in teaching students with disabilities, or the equivalent in in-service points. Current requirements are listed on the FLDOE certificate renewal page.

Read more about school counselor jobs in our school counseling career guide.

Master’s Level Certified Addiction Professional (MCAP) Licensing Process

The Florida Certification Board (FCB) certifies substance abuse counselors in Florida. Their three-tier system offers a clear path of career progression as each tier offers a wider scope of practice and more professional responsibility; however, progression is not mandatory. The first tier is Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC). CACs can engage in evaluation, treatment planning, and case management, but are not permitted to practice independently. The minimum education required is a high school diploma. The next tier is Certified Addiction Professional (CAP), which requires a bachelor’s degree in a related area. Finally, the MCAP tier is reserved for professionals with at least a master’s degree. MCAPs may make substance use disorder diagnoses in programs billed under Florida’s State Medicaid Plan. To become any of these addiction professionals in Florida, you must follow these steps:

  1. Complete the content-specific training required for your tier and submit the FCB Training Verification Form along with supporting documentation to the FCB. Current training hour requirements are listed in the FCB standards and requirements guides.
  2. Gain the related work experience and on-the-job supervision required for your target credential. The hours required fall as your level of education rises, so check the standards guide for the tier you are pursuing.
  3. Submit an application portfolio to the Florida Certification Board (FCB).
  4. Take and pass the examination required for your credential (for the CAC, the IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor exam).
  5. Receive your FCB certification.

Optional Substance Abuse Counseling Credentials Offered in Florida

In addition to the three credentials listed above, the Florida Certification Board (FCB) offers other related credentials to substance abuse professionals who would like to increase their knowledge and hiring potential. Some examples of specialized credentials offered by FCB that might help you in your career are:

  • Certified Prevention Professional (CPP)
  • Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS)
  • Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist (CTTS)

Learn more about what it takes to become a substance abuse counselor in our substance abuse counseling career guide.

Other Professional Counseling Careers

The roles below follow more varied pathways. Some are not licensed as counselors in every state, and credentials can differ by employer, setting, or specialty, so we don’t present a single set of steps here. Examples of other counseling career pathways include:

  • Rehabilitation Counselor
  • Gambling Counselor
  • Genetic Counselor
  • Youth Counselor
  • Guidance Counselor
  • Pastoral Counselor
  • Recreational Therapist

Florida Counseling Career and Salary Information

There are 57,820 counselors currently working in Florida in many different types of counselor jobs, the third-highest total of any state.1-5 Florida is home to the third-highest number of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors (29,750) and the fourth-highest number of educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors (22,800) in the country.1,3

Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors are projected to see the highest growth rate through 2034 at 24.0%, resulting in 6,280 new jobs and 2,870 average annual openings.7 Counselors in the “all other” category are projected to grow 16.3%, marriage and family therapists 14.4%, and educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors 13.7%, which adds 3,180 new jobs and 2,240 average annual openings, the second-largest total gain in the state.7 Rehabilitation counseling is projected to grow most slowly, at 4.6%.7

OccupationNumber Employed1-5Average Annual Salary1-5US Average Annual Salary1-5
Counselors, All Other1,230$46,090$58,210
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors22,800$58,380$71,430
Marriage and Family Therapists930$64,890$76,960
Rehabilitation Counselors3,110$49,620$51,820
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors29,750$61,030$64,440

See Table Notes at bottom of page.

Counseling Associations in Florida

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive an extension to complete my LMHC application in Florida?

Florida does not offer extensions for LMHC applications. All necessary documents must be received within one year of the application being opened, or else a new application will be required. There are also no extensions for provisional licenses. All requirements must be met within 24 months, or the provisional license will expire, and a new application will be required.

Do I need the Board’s approval to take the required exam?

You do not need to contact the Board before registering for or taking the NCMHCE Exam for LMHC licensure. You can register for the exam by directly contacting the Center for Credentialing & Education. For LMFT licensure, you do need the Board’s approval to take the AMFTRB national marriage and family therapy examination, which is often provided in the LMFT Intern approval letter. If it is not provided in the letter, you will need to contact the Board for approval before scheduling your exam.

Can I use clinical experience from my master’s degree or previous work experience to count towards my LMHC or LMFT internship?

No, you cannot use previous education or work experience towards the post-master’s clinical internship requirements. Clinical internship experience can only be accrued after your LMHC or LMFT Intern application has been approved, you have received your assigned license number, and you are working under the supervision of a Board-approved clinical supervisor.

Do I need a master’s degree to become a counselor in Florida?

All the counselor career pathways mentioned above require a master’s degree except for the Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC) and the Certified Addiction Professional (CAP). You can become a CAC with a minimum of a high school diploma plus supervised work experience, and completing a degree reduces the hours required. Current hour requirements for each tier are listed in the FCB standards and requirements guides. CAP licensure requires at least a bachelor’s degree.

What is the job outlook for counselors in Florida?

The job outlook for counselors in Florida is promising. Every counseling occupation is projected to grow faster in Florida than nationally through 2034, including rehabilitation counselors at 4.6% against 1.4% nationally.7 The highest number of new positions is projected for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors (6,280 new jobs, with 2,870 average annual openings), followed by educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors (3,180 new jobs with 2,240 average annual openings).7

Table Notes:
Employment and wage figures are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates for May 2025. Projections are Projections Central long-term projections for 2024-2034. Base-year employment in the projections series is produced by a different program than the BLS wage survey and is not directly comparable to the employment column above.

References:
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors: https://www.bls.gov/oes/2025/may/oessrcst.htm
2. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Marriage and Family Therapists: https://www.bls.gov/oes/2025/may/oessrcst.htm
3. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors: https://www.bls.gov/oes/2025/may/oessrcst.htm
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Rehabilitation Counselors: https://www.bls.gov/oes/2025/may/oessrcst.htm
5. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Counselors, All Other: https://www.bls.gov/oes/2025/may/oessrcst.htm
6. Counseling Compact, member states and privilege status: https://counselingcompact.gov/
7. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections, 2024-2034: https://projectionscentral.org/longterm