How to Become a Therapist in New York
The three clinical license paths in New York - counselor, clinical social worker, and marriage and family therapist - with the degree, supervised hours, and exams each requires.
Last verified 2026-07-22
New York licenses mental health practitioners through the State Education Department's Office of the Professions. The counselor credential is LMHC. Note the licenses differ notably in required hours - LCSW and LMFT are lower than the counselor path.
The three license paths at a glance
| Requirement | LMHC | LCSW | LMFT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Licensed Mental Health Counselor | Licensed Clinical Social Worker | Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist |
| Degree | Qualifying master's of at least 60 semester hours in mental health counseling | Master's of Social Work (MSW) registered or accredited by NYSED | Qualifying master's or higher in marriage and family therapy |
| Supervised hours | 3,000 hours of post-master's supervised experience, 1,500+ direct (under a limited permit) | 2,000 client-contact hours over 3-6 years + 100 hours of clinical supervision | 1,500 clock hours of direct client contact with weekly supervision |
| Exams | NCMHCE (New York does not accept the NCE) | ASWB Clinical | National MFT Exam |
Counseling path: LMHC
The Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) is New York's counseling license for independent practice.
Degree: Qualifying master's of at least 60 semester hours in mental health counseling.
Supervised experience: 3,000 hours of post-master's supervised experience, 1,500+ direct (under a limited permit).
Exams: NCMHCE (New York does not accept the NCE).
Licensing board: New York State Office of the Professions.
Clinical social work path: LCSW
The Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) is New York's clinical social work license for independent practice.
Degree: Master's of Social Work (MSW) registered or accredited by NYSED.
Supervised experience: 2,000 client-contact hours over 3-6 years + 100 hours of clinical supervision.
Exams: ASWB Clinical.
Licensing board: New York State Office of the Professions.
Marriage & family therapy path: LMFT
The Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) is New York's marriage and family therapy license for independent practice.
Degree: Qualifying master's or higher in marriage and family therapy.
Supervised experience: 1,500 clock hours of direct client contact with weekly supervision.
Exams: National MFT Exam.
Licensing board: New York State Office of the Professions.
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 New York's official licensing board. Confirm current requirements directly before making decisions:
New York State Office of the Professions (https://www.op.nysed.gov)
What license do you need to be a therapist in New York?
New York offers three clinical paths: Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), 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 New York require?
It depends on the license. Counselor (LMHC): 3,000 hours of post-master's supervised experience, 1,500+ direct (under a limited permit). Clinical social work (LCSW): 2,000 client-contact hours over 3-6 years + 100 hours of clinical supervision. Marriage and family therapy (LMFT): 1,500 clock hours of direct client contact with weekly supervision.
What exams are required in New York?
LMHC: NCMHCE (New York does not accept the NCE). LCSW: ASWB Clinical. LMFT: National MFT Exam.
How long does it take to become a licensed therapist in New York?
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 (LMHC/LCSW/LMFT all require post-degree supervised experience) before the final license is granted.