Licensure Information by State

Licensing and supervision requirements vary by state. Check your state’s specific requirements by going to their website.

As of November 20, 2024, Southwestern College programs do meet the requirements for licensure in New Mexico. Specific determinations that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in all 50 states is an ongoing press. Current state by state information is updated monthly and can be accessed here.

If you are a prospective student who is looking at our program and would like help understanding if you will be able to get a license in a specific state once you graduate, please contact Dru Phoenix in Admissions.

If you are a current student or alum and need help navigating the licensure requirements for any state, please contact Internship Liaison Manager, Michelle Lynn.

Counseling Licensing Board URLs:

• Alabama: https://abec.alabama.gov/
• Alaska: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/ProfessionalCounselors.aspx
• Arizona:  www.azbbhe.us
• Arkansas: https://healthy.arkansas.gov/boards-commissions/boards/examiners-in-counseling-arkansas-state-board/
• California: www.bbs.ca.gov
• Colorado: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dora/Professional_Counselor
• Connecticut: https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/
• Delaware: https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/profcounselors/newlicense/
• District of Columbia: https://dchealth.dc.gov/node/160062
• Florida: https://floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov/
• Georgia: https://sos.ga.gov/board-professional-counselors-social-workers-and-marriage-family-therapists
• Hawaii: http://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/programs/mental/application_publication
• Idaho: https://apps.dopl.idaho.gov/DOPLPortal/BoardPage.aspx?Bureau=COU
• Illinois: https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/profcounselor.html
• Indiana: https://www.in.gov/pla/3032.htm
• Iowa: https://dial.iowa.gov/about-dial/boards-0/behavioral-health
• Kansas: www.ksbsrb.org/
• Kentucky: https://lpc.ky.gov
• Louisiana: www.lpcboard.org/
• Maine: https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/board-of-counseling-professionals-licensure
• Maryland: https://health.maryland.gov/bopc/Pages/profcounselor.aspx
• Massachusetts: www.mass.gov/ocabr/licensee/dpl-boards/mh
• Michigan: www.michigan.gov/lara
• Minnesota: https://mn.gov/boards/behavioral-health/
• Mississippi: https://www.lpc.ms.gov/
• Missouri: pr.mo.gov/counselors
• Montana: http://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/bbh
• Nebraska: http://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Mental-Health-and-Social-Work-Practice.aspx
• Nevada: marriage.nv.gov/
• New Hampshire: https://www.oplc.nh.gov/mental-health-practice
• New Jersey: https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/pc/Pages/default.aspx
• New Mexico: www.rld.state.nm.us/boards/Counseling_and_Therapy_Practice
• New York: https://www.op.nysed.gov/mental-health-counselors
• North Carolina: www.ncblpc.org
• North Dakota: http://www.ndbce.org/
• Ohio: www.cswmft.ohio.gov
• Oklahoma: www.ok.gov/health//Protective_Health/Professional_Counselor_Licensing
• Oregon: www.oregon.gov/OBLPCT/Pages/index.aspx
• Pennsylvania: https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/
• Rhode Island: https://health.ri.gov/licenses/detail.php?id=228
• South Carolina: https://llr.sc.gov/cou/
• South Dakota: https://dss.sd.gov/licensingboards/counselors/counselors.aspx
• Tennessee: https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/
• Texas: https://www.bhec.texas.gov/
• Utah: https://dopl.utah.gov/cmhc/
• Vermont:  https://sos.vermont.gov/allied-mental-health/
• Virginia: https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Counseling/
• Washington: https://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/
• West Virginia:  www.wvbec.org/
• Wisconsin: https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Professions/LPC/
• Wyoming:  https://mentalhealth.wyo.gov/home

Counseling Licensing contact info is also available from the NC-SARA website and is regularly updated NC-SARA Smartshhet List of Counseling Boards 

Art Therapy Licensing Board URLs

• Connecticut: Clinical Licensed Art Therapist (CLAT) issued by the Connecticut State Department of Public Health. https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Practitioner-Licensing–Investigations/Art-Therapist/Art-Therapist
• Delaware: Licensed Professional Art Therapist (LPAT) and Licensed Associate Art Therapist (LAAT) issued by the Division of Professional Regulation. https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/profcounselors/art_therapist/
• Kentucky: Professional Art Therapy License (LPAT) issued by the Kentucky Board of Licensure for Professional Art Therapists, which is attached to the Office of Occupations and Professions of the Kentucky Public  Protection Cabinet. https://pat.ky.gov/
• New Jersey: Professional Art Therapy License (LPAT) issued by the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners with a 5-member Art Therapists Advisory Committee. https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/art/Pages/default.aspx
• New Mexico: Professional Art Therapist License (LPAT) issued by the Counseling and Therapy Practice Board under the Boards and Commissions Division of the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department. http://www.rld.state.nm.us/boards/Counseling_and_Therapy_Practice.aspx
• Mississippi: Professional Art Therapy License (LPAT) issued by the Mississippi StateBoard of Health with a 3-member Professional Art Therapy Advisory Council. https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/resources/133.pdf
• Maryland: Professional Clinical Art Therapy License (LPCAT) issued by the State Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists (a 13-member state board appointed by the Governor that includes one art therapy member). https://health.maryland.gov/bopc/Pages/Art-Therapists.aspx
• Ohio: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4757.24
• Oregon: Licensed Art Therapist and Licensed Certified Art Therapist. Oregon’s Health Authority page reflects: ATR & ATR-BC issued by the National Art Therapy Credentials Board. http://www.oregon.gov/oblpct/docs/acronyms_licenses_degrees.pdf
• Tennessee: https://casetext.com/statute/tennessee-code/title-63-professions-of-the-healing-arts/chapter-11-psychologists/part-4-professional-art-therapy/section-63-11-405-application-for-licensure-as-a-licensed-professional-art-therapis
• Virginia: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title54.1/chapter35/section54.1-3516/
• Wisconsin: https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Professions/ArtTherapist/Default.aspx

Art Therapy qualifying under related licenses

• Texas: Licensed Professional Counselor with Specialty Designation in Art Therapy (LPC-AT), issued by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors.
• New York: Art Therapy included in the Creative Arts Therapist License (LCAT), issued by the Office of the Professions of the New York State Education Department.
• Pennsylvania: Art Therapy as a Related Field for the Professional Counselor License (LPC), issued by the State Board of Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors under the Pennsylvania State Secretary of State. The ATCB Board Examination is the qualifying licensing examination.
• Wisconsin: Registered Art Therapist with License to Practice Psychotherapy, issued by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services to qualifying registered art therapists (ATR) certified by the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB).
• Utah: Art Therapists with clinical art therapy master’s degrees were recognized in 2014 as qualified to apply for the Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselor license administered by the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing.

States That Recognize Art Therapists for Purposes of State Hiring and/or Title Protection

• Arizona
• Louisiana
• New Hampshire