Applying for Licensure in Tennessee

If you are planning to apply for licensure in Tennessee, you must apply with the Tennessee Board of Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists and Licensed Pastoral Therapists at https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/pcmft-board.html.

NOTE: TLPCA strongly encourages applicants to apply online and not mail in the paper application or walk in a paper application due to staffing and COVID when at all possible.

In Tennessee, we have a two-tiered licensing system: LPC and LPC/MHSP (Licensed Professional Counselor with a Mental Health Service Provider Designation). The scope of practice for the LPC is limited to marital problems, parent-child problems, child and adolescent antisocial behavior, adult antisocial behavior, other specified family circumstances, other interpersonal problems, phase of life problems, other life circumstance problems, occupational problems, and uncomplicated bereavement. The LPC/MHSP scope of practice is more expansive in that it allows for the practitioner to “facilitate human development and adjustment throughout the life span; (b) prevent, diagnose, and treat mental, emotional or behavioral disorders and associated disorders which interfere with mental health; (c) conduct assessments and diagnoses for the purpose of establishing treatment goals and objectives and (d) plan, implement, and evaluate treatment plans using counseling treatment interventions.” As of December 2020, there were 2,800 LPCs in Tennessee, with 2,400 holding the LPC/MHSP designation.

TLPCA members have access to more information about the licensure process, which includes a webinar with current LPC Board member Kim Speakman and multiple documents to help inform practitioners. Join today to gain access to this information at https://tlpca.net/become-a-member/.