Professional Counseling Certification and Licensure Requirements

Students completing the School Counseling specialty are eligible for the Pupil Services License through the Ohio State Board of Education (SBOE). Students can take the Ohio Assessment for Educators-School Counselor (OAE; 040) exam at any point during the last two semesters of their program. Students are responsible for creating an OH ID account and following the processes outlined for the licensure application. Students should visit the Pupil Services Licensure and Registration: Pupil Services Licenses (5-year) for detailed information and step-by-step instructions provided by the state. Students with military connections are encouraged to review the information found on the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce website related to fee waivers related to the costs of taking an OAE exam. The program has been actively working and communicating with the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) and is in the process of receiving licensure approval.

Students completing the Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialty are eligible for licensure in Ohio by completing an LPC application during their last semester. As part of this process, students will need a letter from the program stating they are in good standing and verifying their anticipated graduation date. Please work with your advisor to confirm your academic standing and projected graduation date and request a letter. Once the board has approved your LPC application and other materials, they will generate a request for you to sit for the National Counselor Exam (NCE). Once you receive your letter of eligibility, you will have six months to take and pass the exam. Students will follow the LPC-CACREP-Exam process as our program has received temporary approval (tentative–January 1, 2025) from the board as we work towards CACREP accreditation. Students must request approval to take the National Counselor Examination (NCE). Once exam approval is issued by the Board, applicants must register for the exam by flowing the steps outlined in the link above.

NOTE: The program has been actively communicating with the CSWMFT board and intends to submit the required materials for licensure approval by the end of October for consideration at the November 2024 board meeting with the goal of hopefully receiving temporary license approval by January 2025. For more details and additional requirements, please visit the Ohio Counselor, Social Work, and Marriage and Family Therapist (CSWMFT) Board website.

Students can seek national certification through the National Board of Certified Counselors. National certification demonstrates that the national standards for the practice of counseling have been met. Please note that this is not currently a requirement for licensure in the state of Ohio. Students interested in national certification are encouraged to review the information link within this section.

Due to federal licensure notifications and state accreditation requirements for clinical mental health counseling and school counseling, the Miami University Counselor Education Program recruitment is limited to Ohio. The program is working with the CSWMFT Board to obtain temporary licensure approval under the Ohio Rule 4757-13-07 Counseling Program Approval for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialty. Additionally, the program is in the final stages of obtaining licensure approval from the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) for the School Counseling specialty.