If you are interested in a counseling career in Georgia, there are many opportunities across the state and a positive job outlook. There are currently around 22,560 counselors working in Georgia across a range of specialties, including Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs).1-5 The licensure process in Georgia is rigorous and requires graduate education and work experience. Continue reading to learn more about the types of Georgia counseling licensure and how to pursue a career in this growing area.

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How to Become a Counselor in Georgia

In Georgia, most types of counseling professionals are required to be licensed. Licensure is a rigorous process that often requires a master’s degree and other academic and work requirements. There are various counseling schools in Georgia that offer programs that meet this requirement. Out-of-state schools may also offer programs that meet Georgia’s requirements for prospective counselors. After completing an appropriate program, most licensure tracks require additional testing, and some require post-graduation supervised experience as well. If you already hold a license in another state and are looking to practice in Georgia, visit our Counseling License Reciprocity Guide.

1. Decide what area of counseling you’d like to pursue.

First, you should decide on a preferred area of specialization in counseling to help guide your steps to licensure. There are various types of counseling licensure, each with different educational and work requirements. Choosing an area of counseling first will help you meet the requirements as quickly and efficiently as possible.

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

Most types of counseling licensure in Georgia require at least a master’s degree. For the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license, you will need a master’s degree in counseling or a related field. To become a marriage and family therapist, you will need a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy or a closely related field. Prospective school counselors must complete a master’s degree in school counseling. Only substance abuse counselors in Georgia can work with a minimum of a high school diploma, although degree holders have more lenient work experience requirements for certification.

3. Get licensed to practice counseling in Georgia.

After completing your education, you will apply to the appropriate board in Georgia for licensure. The Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists (the Board) licenses professional counselors and marriage and family therapists. School counselors are certified by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC), and substance abuse counselors are certified by the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia (ADACBGA). Continue reading to learn more about how to become licensed in each of these categories.

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Licensing Process

The Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists (the Board) regulates Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). In Georgia, LPCs use psychotherapy and counseling methods to assess and treat mental and emotional issues. If you would like to know more about what professional counselors do, see our mental health counselor career guide. The best and most affordable programs in the state that prepare graduates to become LPCs are featured on our mental health counseling programs in Georgia page.

A master’s degree in a counseling-related field or applied psychology is required in Georgia. The Board does not provide a list of approved programs, but the program must include required coursework and be accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or a regionally accredited program recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) that is substantially similar. The degree program must consist of at least 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours and include a supervised practicum or internship of at least 600 hours.

In addition to obtaining a qualifying degree, you must:

1. Register as an Associate Professional Counselor (APC) and request permission to test.

You must first apply for an Associate Professional Counselor (APC) license and gain supervised work experience. The current fee is listed on the Board’s website. You can apply for the APC license once you have finished your graduate degree and secured an approved location and supervisor to complete the necessary work experience. Submit your application and transcripts through the Board’s online GOALS licensing system. The Board no longer accepts paper applications. Once your application is approved, you will also be eligible to take the required exam.

2. Pass a national counseling exam.

The Board accepts exam results from either the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) created by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and administered by Pearson. These multiple-choice tests evaluate your knowledge of counseling theory, assessment, and intervention. The NCMHCE has a greater focus on mental health disorders, diagnosis, and treatment. The NBCC provides study guides online to help you prepare.

3. Complete supervised experience.

Every licensure candidate must complete supervised work experience before gaining full licensure. The required length of time will vary depending on your educational background. Applicants with a master’s degree must complete two years of post-degree experience under direction and supervision in a work setting acceptable to the Board. The Board counts a year of directed experience as at least 1,000 hours over at least 12 months and a year of supervision as at least 35 hours, so two years means at least 2,000 hours of experience with 70 hours of supervision. All of the experience and supervision must be earned within the 60 months before you apply. Applicants with a doctoral degree may instead qualify with at least one year of supervised internship. The supervisor must be an LPC, clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist with one to three years of work experience depending on their education. If your supervisor is an LPC, they must also hold either the NBCC Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) credential or the LPCAGA Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor (CPCS) credential.

4. Apply for LPC licensure.

Once you have completed the supervised experience and passed your exam, you can apply for LPC licensure. The LPC application must be submitted through the Board’s online GOALS licensing system. This application includes verification documents for your completed supervised experience. You can check the status of your application in GOALS as your documents are uploaded to your file. The current fee is listed on the Board’s website.

5. Receive your LPC license.

The Board meets periodically to review applications. Once they have reviewed and verified all documentation from your application, you will receive your LPC license and can begin practicing professional counseling in Georgia.

LPC Licensure by Endorsement in Georgia

Georgia does not offer counseling licensure by reciprocity to applicants licensed in other states, though LPCs from other member states can practice here through the Counseling Compact. However, if you have been licensed in another state with a comparable licensure process for at least two years prior, you may be eligible for licensure by endorsement. Endorsement applicants apply through the Board’s online GOALS licensing system and must upload copies of licenses held in all previous states, a national exam passing score report, practicum/internship verification, official transcripts, and a national background check.

Counselor License Renewal and Continuing Education Information

Licenses expire on September 30 of even-numbered years and must be renewed by APCs and LPCs. Current renewal fees are listed on the Board’s website. Renewals are completed online through the Board’s GOALS licensing system. To renew, each applicant must confirm they have completed 35 hours of continuing education during each two-year period, including at least five hours of professional ethics obtained through synchronous (live) activities, such as in-person sessions or live webinars. A maximum of 10 asynchronous hours and five independent study hours will be accepted during each period. The Board does not provide a list of approved CE providers but specifies that the activities should be approved by a professional counseling association, a related academic department, or a counseling licensing board.

The Counseling Compact in Georgia

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

Georgia was the first state to enact the Compact in 2021 and began issuing and accepting privileges on June 2, 2026. Only Licensed Professional Counselors are eligible; Associate Professional Counselors are not. To apply, LPCs whose home state is Georgia must first submit an amendment application through the state’s GOALS licensing system to be deemed Compact-eligible, and then apply for the privilege itself through CompactConnect. Privileges are granted one state at a time, and you must follow the laws of the state where the client is located. Check the Counseling Compact website for current membership and status before relying on a privilege.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) Licensing Process

Licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) in Georgia are also licensed by the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists (the Board). MFTs specialize in marriage and family systems, including interpersonal dynamics, healthy relationships, and social and emotional issues. To be eligible for licensure as an LMFT in Georgia, you must have a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy or a related field with coursework in marriage and family studies, therapy, human development, ethics, and research. The LMFT licensure process requires candidates to:

  1. Register as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) by submitting an application and transcripts through the Board’s online GOALS licensing system.
  2. Pass the Marital and Family Therapy National Examination from the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB).
  3. Complete two years of full-time post-master’s experience, including at least 2,000 hours of direct clinical experience, with 100 hours of supervision (at least 50 individual).
  4. Submit an application through GOALS and receive your LMFT license.

For more information about a career as an LMFT, visit our LMFT career guide.

School Counselor Licensing Process

School counselors provide services to students of all ages to help with behavioral, emotional, or academic issues. In Georgia, school counseling certification is overseen by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC). It is possible to meet the requirements for certification through various means. To receive a Provisional certificate, applicants must have a master’s degree in counseling, a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, or a clinical social work license and pass the GACE content knowledge assessment. There are three routes to the standard Professional certificate: completing a state-approved school counseling certification program at the master’s level or higher, or holding a master’s degree or higher in a counseling area along with either a valid National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) credential or a valid Georgia LPC license. The Provisional certificate is valid for one year and is extended for two more years once you enroll in an accepted preparation program, and your employing Georgia school district must request it on your behalf rather than you applying directly. The general steps to becoming a school counselor are:

  1. Have your employing Georgia school district request a provisional certificate if your educational background does not yet qualify you for a standard professional certificate.
  2. Complete an approved school counseling certification program, if not already completed as part of graduate study, including a course in identifying and educating exceptional children.
  3. Pass the Georgia Assessment for the Certification of Educators (GACE) content knowledge assessments.
  4. Submit an application online.
  5. Receive your certification.

More information about school counseling careers can be found in our school counseling career guide.

Substance Abuse Counselor (SAC) Licensing Process

The state of Georgia does not license alcohol and drug or addiction counselors. However, prospective substance abuse counselors typically prove that they are qualified by earning certification through the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia (ADACBGA), the Georgia Addiction Counselors Association (GACA), or an equivalent professional credential. Georgia LPCs can also practice substance abuse counseling as part of a wider scope of practice. These organizations offer several levels of certification for aspiring substance abuse counselors. The ADACBGA ladder runs from Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor-Trainee (CADC-T) through CADC-I, CADC-II, and Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC), with a separate Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) credential for those who supervise others. While the CADC-T level requires an initial 50 hours of alcohol and drug-specific education, each subsequent counseling level requires 300 total hours. The experience requirement depends on the level: 6,000 hours of direct work experience for the CADC-I, which requires a high school diploma or GED, and 4,000 hours for the CADC-II, which requires a bachelor’s degree in a human service field or a graduate degree in any field. The minimum educational requirement for any of these credentials is a high school diploma, but keep in mind that many jobs in the field will require a postsecondary degree. In general, you will follow these steps after completing the education qualifying you for your desired level of certification:

  1. Complete necessary training.
  2. Accrue the necessary supervised work experience.
  3. Pass the required examination for your desired credential.
  4. Submit an application to the credentialing agency offering your desired credential.
  5. Receive your certification.
  6. Get hired by an agency to practice as a substance abuse counselor in Georgia.

To learn more about substance abuse counseling careers, check out 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

Georgia Counseling Career and Salary Information

There are around 22,560 counselors working in Georgia, and just over half of them are educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors (11,460).1-5 The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metropolitan area ranks eighth in the country for this type of counseling employment (6,550).7 Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors account for more than two-fifths of the total (9,600).1 The total excludes marriage and family therapists, whose Georgia employment estimate was not released by the BLS for May 2025.2

The employment outlook for counselors in Georgia is promising, according to Projections Central. The fastest growth is predicted for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors (24.5%), resulting in 2,180 new jobs through 2034, followed by “all other” counselors (20.4%), resulting in 300 new jobs.8 Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors are projected to grow 10.3%, adding 1,110 new jobs with about 990 openings a year including replacements, and rehabilitation counselors 6.3%.8 Growth rates for all four groups are above national projections through 2034, suggesting many new positions will be available in the coming years.8

OccupationNumber Employed1-5Average Annual Salary1-5US Average Annual Salary1-5
Counselors, All Other760$72,620$58,210
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors11,460$68,410$71,430
Marriage and Family TherapistsN.Av.$83,300$76,960
Rehabilitation Counselors740$57,030$51,820
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors9,600$61,310$64,440

See Table Notes at bottom of page.

Counseling Associations in Georgia

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to apply for counseling licensure in Georgia?

The Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists charges application, endorsement, and renewal fees for each license type. Current amounts are listed on the Board’s website.

Can I complete my counseling degree online?

Georgia accepts a wide range of counseling-related master’s programs for licensure. Your chosen program may be online as long as it is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or is a regionally accredited program substantially similar to a CACREP program. It must also include at least 60 semester or 90 quarter hours and a practicum or internship of at least 600 hours.

What exams are required to become a Licensed Professional Counselor?

Applicants for Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensure in Georgia must pass either the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) offered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). Both exams test counseling theory, assessment, and intervention knowledge; however, the NCMHCE has a clinical mental health focus.

Can I become a substance abuse counselor without a master’s degree in Georgia?

Yes, it is possible to work as a substance abuse counselor with a high school diploma, associate’s degree, or bachelor’s degree. After gaining work experience, substance abuse counselors can apply for certification through the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia (ADACBGA). Georgia law exempts certified addiction counselors from professional counselor licensure, but only for chemical dependency treatment, and they may not use a title implying they are licensed.

What is the average salary for a counselor in Georgia?

Average salaries vary depending on the counseling area and the location within the state. Marriage and family therapists report the highest average salary at $83,300, followed by “all other” counselors ($72,620) and educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors ($68,410), who earn $72,750 on average in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metropolitan area.2,3,5,7

Table Notes: Employment and wage figures are Bureau of Labor Statistics (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. N.Av. indicates data not available; the BLS did not release a May 2025 employment estimate for this occupation in Georgia.

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. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Estimates: https://www.bls.gov/oes/2025/may/oessrcma.htm
8. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections, 2024-2034: https://projectionscentral.org/longterm