South Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners

Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health (LPC-MH)

The South Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners has converted its forms to the ADOBE .PDF format (Portable Document Format) which is both device and resolution independent. The printed version of these PDF documents will be similar regardless of the device used to print. In order to view or print the Adobe Acrobat forms, you must download the free ADOBE Acrobat Reader for Windows, DOS or for Macintosh. For best viewing results, we recommend using Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0.

LPC-MH Statutes SDCL 36-32 and Rules Article 20:73

A PLAN OF SUPERVISION must be submitted and approved prior to the start of Supervision.
No hours can count towards the LPC-MH license without prior approval of the Plan. The application should not be completed or submitted until all the licensing requiremetns ahve been met and an Applicant is ready for licensure review/consideration. Although the Applicant is encouraged to read through the Application to be familiar with the requirements, etc.

Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health (LPC-MH) Plan of Supervision

Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health (LPC-MH) Application Packet

Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health (LPC-MH) by Endorsement Application Packet

The LPC-MH application requires completion and a non-refundable $100 fee paid before licensure consideration. After approval, the applicant pays $75 initial license fee. The initial license fee is not prorated.

Licenses are renewed annually for $75 by December 31. A license not renewed by January 1 carries a $50 penalty in addition to the renewal fee and should be sent along with the renewal form.

Forty hours of approved continuing education is required biennially for renewal each odd-numbered year. (See specifics at ARSD 20:68:07.)

The NBCC National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE) is required for Licensed Professional Counselors-Mental Health.

The Examination is computer-based.  If you have not taken the NCMHCE, you must contact the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) at www.nbcc.org/stateboardlist?state=SD for the appropriate Handbook and registration page.  You must also request an official score report be sent to the SD Board office after obtaining a passing score.

The LPC-MH must abide by the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice (see www.counseling.org).