How to Become a Therapist in Georgia
The three clinical license paths in Georgia - counselor, clinical social worker, and marriage and family therapist - with the degree, supervised hours, and exams each requires.
Last verified 2026-07-22
Georgia regulates all three professions through the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists. Candidates first earn an associate credential (e.g. APC) before completing supervised hours toward full licensure.
The three license paths at a glance
| Requirement | LPC | LCSW | LMFT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Licensed Professional Counselor | Licensed Clinical Social Worker | Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist |
| Degree | Master's with at least 60 semester hours of graduate coursework | Master's of Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program | Master's in marriage and family therapy or a related field |
| Supervised hours | 3,000 hours over min. 2 years (1,000+ direct; 35 hours supervised by an LPC) | 3,000 hours over min. 36 months + 120 hours of direct supervision | 2,500 hours (1,000+ direct) + 200 supervision hours over min. 3 years |
| Exams | NCE or NCMHCE | ASWB Clinical | National MFT Exam |
Counseling path: LPC
The Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) is Georgia's counseling license for independent practice.
Degree: Master's with at least 60 semester hours of graduate coursework.
Supervised experience: 3,000 hours over min. 2 years (1,000+ direct; 35 hours supervised by an LPC).
Exams: NCE or NCMHCE.
Licensing board: Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists.
Clinical social work path: LCSW
The Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) is Georgia's clinical social work license for independent practice.
Degree: Master's of Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program.
Supervised experience: 3,000 hours over min. 36 months + 120 hours of direct supervision.
Exams: ASWB Clinical.
Licensing board: Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists.
Marriage & family therapy path: LMFT
The Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) is Georgia's marriage and family therapy license for independent practice.
Degree: Master's in marriage and family therapy or a related field.
Supervised experience: 2,500 hours (1,000+ direct) + 200 supervision hours over min. 3 years.
Exams: National MFT Exam.
Licensing board: Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists.
Verify before you act
Licensing requirements change - fees, continuing-education rules, and hour counts drift over time. The figures above were verified on 2026-07-22 against Georgia's official licensing board. Confirm current requirements directly before making decisions:
Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists (https://sos.ga.gov/board-professional-counselors-social-workers-and-marriage-family-therapists)
What license do you need to be a therapist in Georgia?
Georgia offers three clinical paths: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). All three can practice psychotherapy independently once licensed; the right one depends on your graduate degree.
How many supervised hours does Georgia require?
It depends on the license. Counselor (LPC): 3,000 hours over min. 2 years (1,000+ direct; 35 hours supervised by an LPC). Clinical social work (LCSW): 3,000 hours over min. 36 months + 120 hours of direct supervision. Marriage and family therapy (LMFT): 2,500 hours (1,000+ direct) + 200 supervision hours over min. 3 years.
What exams are required in Georgia?
LPC: NCE or NCMHCE. LCSW: ASWB Clinical. LMFT: National MFT Exam.
How long does it take to become a licensed therapist in Georgia?
Most paths take roughly 6-8 years: about 2-3 years for a master's degree, then 2-4 years accumulating the required supervised hours (LPC/LCSW/LMFT all require post-degree supervised experience) before the final license is granted.