How to Become a Therapist in Michigan
The three clinical license paths in Michigan - counselor, clinical social worker, and marriage and family therapist - with the degree, supervised hours, and exams each requires.
Last verified 2026-07-22
Michigan licenses through the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). Counselors start as a Limited Licensed Professional Counselor (LLPC); the clinical social work credential here is LMSW rather than LCSW.
The three license paths at a glance
| Requirement | LPC | LMSW | LMFT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Licensed Professional Counselor | Licensed Master's Social Worker (clinical) | Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist |
| Degree | Master's in counseling; 60 semester hours for non-CACREP programs entered from July 2023 | Master's of Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program | Master's or doctorate in marriage and family therapy or a related field |
| Supervised hours | 3,000 hours / 2 years of supervised experience (1,500 / 1 year with a doctorate), starting as an LLPC | 4,000 hours of post-master's experience incl. 100 hours of supervision | 1,300+ direct client-contact hours (300 practicum + 1,000 post-degree) + 260 supervision hours |
| Exams | NCE or NCMHCE | ASWB Clinical or Masters | AMFTRB National MFT Exam |
Counseling path: LPC
The Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) is Michigan's counseling license for independent practice.
Degree: Master's in counseling; 60 semester hours for non-CACREP programs entered from July 2023.
Supervised experience: 3,000 hours / 2 years of supervised experience (1,500 / 1 year with a doctorate), starting as an LLPC.
Exams: NCE or NCMHCE.
Licensing board: Michigan Board of Counseling (LARA).
Clinical social work path: LMSW
The Licensed Master's Social Worker (clinical) (LMSW) is Michigan's clinical social work license for independent practice.
Degree: Master's of Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program.
Supervised experience: 4,000 hours of post-master's experience incl. 100 hours of supervision.
Exams: ASWB Clinical or Masters.
Licensing board: Michigan Board of Social Work (LARA).
Marriage & family therapy path: LMFT
The Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) is Michigan's marriage and family therapy license for independent practice.
Degree: Master's or doctorate in marriage and family therapy or a related field.
Supervised experience: 1,300+ direct client-contact hours (300 practicum + 1,000 post-degree) + 260 supervision hours.
Exams: AMFTRB National MFT Exam.
Licensing board: Michigan Board of Marriage and Family Therapy (LARA).
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 Michigan's official licensing boards. Confirm current requirements directly before making decisions:
Michigan Board of Counseling (LARA) (https://www.michigan.gov/lara) Michigan Board of Social Work (LARA) (https://www.michigan.gov/lara) Michigan Board of Marriage and Family Therapy (LARA) (https://www.michigan.gov/lara)
What license do you need to be a therapist in Michigan?
Michigan offers three clinical paths: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Master's Social Worker (clinical) (LMSW), 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 Michigan require?
It depends on the license. Counselor (LPC): 3,000 hours / 2 years of supervised experience (1,500 / 1 year with a doctorate), starting as an LLPC. Clinical social work (LMSW): 4,000 hours of post-master's experience incl. 100 hours of supervision. Marriage and family therapy (LMFT): 1,300+ direct client-contact hours (300 practicum + 1,000 post-degree) + 260 supervision hours.
What exams are required in Michigan?
LPC: NCE or NCMHCE. LMSW: ASWB Clinical or Masters. LMFT: AMFTRB National MFT Exam.
How long does it take to become a licensed therapist in Michigan?
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/LMSW/LMFT all require post-degree supervised experience) before the final license is granted.