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Graduates of both of our concentrations are eligible for licensure in Tennessee.
Our school counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Both the school counseling degree program and the Licensure Only program are approved by the Tennessee Department of Education to prepare students for their school counseling license or endorsement for licensure.
Our clinical mental health counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and meets the criteria to prepare students for licensure at the licensed professional counselor-mental health service provider (LPC-MHSP) level in the state of Tennessee.
Beginning in 2025 Tennessee may require students to have graduated from a CACREP approved program in order to be eligible for the LPC-MHSP. This is not guaranteed as of now, though the licensure board has discussed this possibility.
Applicants from outside of Tennessee are often attracted to and accepted into our program. An important issue for these students to consider is their eligibility for licensure within their home state after graduating from our program. School counseling students in our program who live out-of-state will earn a Tennessee school counseling license and transfer that license to their state of residence.
Licensure Outside of Tennessee
To help students ensure they are complying with licensure requirements, UTM has provided a Licensure Information website. Visit this site to learn more about licensure in your state of residence.
Clinical Mental Health Licensure
Licensure is a process that occurs after you graduate from our program and fulfill the specific requirements of your state of residence. It requires you to pass specific examinations as well as complete a specific number of post-graduate supervised hours under the supervision of a licensed counselor (your practicum and internships in our program do NOT count toward those hours).
Tennessee Clinical Mental Health Counseling Licensure
Tennessee Clinical Mental Health Counseling Licensure
If you plan to earn your license in Tennessee, should read the following document developed by the Tennessee licensure board for counselors. It describes the different types of licensure, as well as the specific requirements to be eligible for each:
Tennessee CMHC Application and Procedure Information
Tennessee CMHC Application and Procedure Information
Please read the following information about licensure in Tennessee:
Be sure to download and read the document on the above site "Policy on Clinical Setting Requirements for Post-Master's Interns Pursuing Licensure as LPC or LPC/MHSP"
Tennessee CMHC Licensure Application and Forms
Tennessee CMHC Licensure Application and Forms
You will need to complete an application and a form that outlines your graduate course of study.
Here is a link to the application for licensure in Tennessee
and the form you need to submit with your application listing the UTM courses that will satisfy Tennessee requirements:
CMHC Licensing Exams
CMHC Licensing Exams
You must pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) if you are pursuing TN licensure at the LPC or LPC-MHSP levels. If you are pursuing LPC-MHSP in TN you must also pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). Here is information to help you prepare for those tests.
You will be required to pass the Tennessee jurisprudence exam for both levels of licensure as a professional counselor. To prepare for that exam you need to learn the ACA ethical code, and the specific statutes and rules that govern counseling practice in Tennessee. Here is a link to that information:
CMHC Licensure in Other States
CMHC Licensure in Other States
Licensure in Other States
Each state has its own unique labeling of licensure types for clinical mental health professionals, as well as its own specific criteria to be eligible for licensure. The UTM Counseling Program has reviewed the licensure requirements for each of the states and identified whether our program prepares you to meet those requirements. Here is the link to that information:
Counseling Compact
Counseling Compact
"The Counseling Compact will allow professional counselors in good standing to practice in all states that join the compact. This will remove the hurdle of getting an individual license in each state where they want to practice. The broad goal is to eliminate barriers to practice for counselors and barriers to treatment for clients, by ensuring cooperation among member states in regulating the counseling profession."
In May 2022, Tennessee joined the Compact!!!
Learn more about this process:
How the Compact will be Rolled Out:
The Counseling Compact The First Steps.pdfSchool Counseling Licensure Process
Praxis Exam Information:
Visit the ETS website to get information on the content of the Praxis, study materials, test dates and testing procedures: praxis.ets.org/
The Praxis Exam has changed in number. We are now taking Professional School Counseling (5422). NOT 5421. This update is in effect starting NOW.
Please know that if you have taken 5421 and passed that you are fine. You will not have to retake the new exam. The new exam starts now and moves forward. The exam should look the same. It is simply an update to the exam. However, please know the Tennessee pass score also moved to a 159.
If you have any questions, please email Dr. Cude (tcude@utm.edu).
Licensure or Add-On Endorsement Paperwork can be completed when you have done the following:
have completed the required degree or endorsement coursework.
have taken and passed all necessary state required tests/assessments. For a complete listing of all state required tests/assessments, please click on the following link: http://www.utm.edu/departments/ess/praxis.php
*When registering for required Praxis tests please list UT Martin as a score recipient.
When you complete a degree leading to a license or add-on requirement, including Praxis testing, please do the following:
Personal Affirmation Form.pdf - complete the form and email or fax to our Licensing Officer, Ms. Jenny Hahn at 731-881-7204 or at jhahn@utm.edu.
Request an official transcript from UTM Registrar's office be sent to Ms. Hahn in 205 Gooch Hall. (This transcript will be uploaded into your TNCompass Portal.) For more information on ordering transcripts please go to http://www.utm.edu/departments/registrar/enroll.php#tabs-3
Please notify Ms. Hahn if you are completing a license as part of a degree program or add-on endorsement when the paperwork is submitted.
If you have any problems or concerns, please contact Ms. Jenny Hahn at 731-881-7203 or at jhahn@utm.edu.
Licensure in Other States
Each state has its own unique labeling of licensure types for clinical mental health professionals, as well as its own specific criteria to be eligible for licensure. The UTM Counseling Program has reviewed the licensure requirements for each of the states and identifying whether our program prepares you to meet those requirements. Here is the link to that information:
State by State School Counselor Licensure Requirements
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