Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors

Reciprocity

The Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors does not presently have an agreement of reciprocity with any other state.

An individual interested in providing counseling services in Mississippi must obtain licensure through the Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors’ application process.

	1.	You must complete the online application for Licensure and submit all required documentation (refer to the General Instructions and Application Checklist on pages 2-3 of the reference application ).
	2.	You may request the state of your initial license issuance to copy your entire license file and forward directly to the MS LPC Board. If that file contains all the required documentation referenced in item #1, supervision verification forms, transcript, and national exam scores, these may suffice for submission of required documentation provided the documentation can be source verified and contain all pertinent information for MS LPC. If the state will not forward a copy of your license file, then you must submit the documentation directly to the MS LPC Board as required.
	3.	Each State you have been licensed in must officially certify that license directly to the MS LPC Board office by completing Verification of Licensure in Other Jurisdiction (Form D).
	4.	Request Fingerprint Card for Background Check. Request card and remit Background Check Processing Fee of $50 through your Applicant File. The Board will mail you a customized card for you to submit to Mississippi Criminal Information Center. (MCIC) Submit Fingerprint Card directly to MCIC. Fingerprint images must be submitted directly to the Mississippi Criminal Information Center on the customized card mailed to you. (Instructions will be included with the customized card.)
	5.	Application Fees Remit the non-refundable Application Fee of $100. (This fee, along with the $ 50 - Fingerprint Processing Fee, is paid as the last step of the Application process. Do not pay any fees through the Online Payment tab.

Licensure criteria met by the applicant in other states may be honored by the Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors if he/she substantially meets the requirements for licensure in the State of Mississippi. Each criterion will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. See Rule 4.7.

Licensure by Comity

For Applicants who have held an equivalent independent counseling license with at least five (5) years of professional work experience as a counselor since the date of their initial licensure shall apply for Licensure by Comity.

Applicants for Licensure by Comity shall present:

	1.	Online Application You must complete the online application for LPC, select Comity (refer to the General Instructions and Application Checklist on pages 2-3 of the reference application. Remit the non-refundable Application Fee of $100. (This fee, along with the $ 50 - Fingerprint Processing Fee, is paid as the last step of the Application process. Do not pay any fees through the Online Payment tab.
	2.	License Verification from State(s) Evidence of a valid license from another State is required for Licensure by Comity. The applicant requesting licensure by comity must be in good standing with the State in which that person holds his/her current license as a Licensed Professional Counselor or its equivalent independent counseling license. Each State you have been licensed in must also officially certify that license directly to the MS LPC Board office by completing Verification of Licensure in Other Jurisdiction (Form D).
	3.	Five Year + License in Good Standing Applicants for Licensure by Comity shall demonstrate that he/she currently holds a license with at least five (5) years of professional work experience as a counselor since the date of their initial licensure, that licensure was maintained continuously during those five (5) years and that no substantiated complaints or disciplinary action(s) have ever been taken against the licensee.
	4.	Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) Applicants shall submit a Curriculum Vitae (C.V.)
	5.	Three Work References along with three (3) work references.
	6.	Additional Information The Board reserves the right to accept an application for licensure by comity, to request additional information from the applicant, or reject an application for cause as governed by Mississippi laws and/or rules.
	7.	License File from Other State The applicant seeking licensure shall direct the State in which she/he is currently licensed and cause to have certified copies of the contents of his/her licensure file sent directly to the Board’s office at his/her expense.
	8.	Background check Request Fingerprint Card for Background Check. Request card and remit Background Check Processing Fee of $50 through your Applicant File. The Board will mail you a customized card for you to submit to Mississippi Criminal Information Center. (MCIC) Submit Fingerprint Card directly to MCIC. Fingerprint images must be submitted directly to the Mississippi Criminal Information Center on the customized card mailed to you. (Instructions will be included with the customized card.)
	9.	Application Fees Remit the non-refundable Application Fee of $100. (This fee, along with the $ 50 - Fingerprint Processing Fee, is paid as the last step of the Application process. Do not pay any fees through the Online Payment tab.