1. What Nevada Calls Its Counselor License
The license is "clinical professional counselor" (NRS 641A.231), issued by the Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors (the MFT/CPC Board). The pre-license title is "clinical professional counselor intern" (NRS 641A.288; NAC 641A.035(3)). The Board's web pages shorten these to CPC and CPC-Intern.
"LPC" appears nowhere in NRS 641A as a Nevada title. Nevada's counselor license carries the CPC title.
NRS 641A.430 makes it unlawful to use the protected titles without a license. The list includes "marriage and family counselor, marriage and family therapist, marriage and family therapist intern, marital adviser, marital therapist, marital consultant" and, on the counseling side, "clinical professional counselor, clinical professional counselor intern."
2. The CPC Path at a Glance
Because there is no separate LPC track, the CPC path is the one a counselor follows. The full rules sit in the Nevada CPC intern requirements; the summary below is for orientation.
| Step | Rule | Cite |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | A graduate degree in counseling from an accredited college or university approved by the Board, which required a practicum or internship. The Board's CPC Qualifications page lists a CACREP mental health counseling or community counseling degree, or an acceptable degree with a concurrent practicum or internship supervised by a licensed mental health professional. The Board will consider a degree from a CACREP-accredited program, accredited at the time the degree was conferred, as fulfilling the educational requirements for licensure as an intern. | NRS 641A.288(2)(c); NRS 641A.231(3); NAC 641A.085(7)(a) |
| Intern license | Required before supervised experience starts. Valid for 3 years, renewable not more than once (one 3-year renewal). | NRS 641A.288(1); NRS 641A.2882; NAC 641A.146(4) |
| Hours | 3,000 hours of supervised experience, including 1,500 hours of direct contact with clients. | NRS 641A.231(4)(b) |
| Supervised hours | At least 300 supervised hours, including at least 160 with the primary supervisor and at least 40 with the secondary supervisor(s). The statute sets a floor of 100 hours of counseling under direct supervision. | NAC 641A.146(5)(b); NAC 641A.178(1); NRS 641A.231(4)(b)(2) |
| Time | At least 2 years of postgraduate experience. | NRS 641A.231(4)(a) |
| Exam | National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). | NRS 641A.231(4)(c) |
3. How the 3,000 Hours Add Up
NAC 641A.146(5) sets three buckets: (a) at least 1,500 hours of direct contact with clients; (b) at least 300 supervised hours; and (c) at least 1,200 hours of related work, "in addition to" (a) and (b). Related work "may consist of" up to 500 hours of graduate-program client contact, 600 hours leading group psychotherapy or process groups, 200 hours of teaching, 150 hours of personal therapy from a licensed professional who is not the approved supervisor, and 200 hours of training approved by the primary supervisor.
Arithmetic, not a separate rule: 1,500 + 300 + 1,200 = 3,000. Supervision needs planning before the internship starts: NAC 641A.178(1) requires at least two Board-approved supervisors before the internship begins, and the primary supervisor must meet with the intern for at least 160 hours, including at least 1 hour per week.
The Nevada MFT and CPC intern supervision page covers supervisor eligibility under NAC 641A.182.
4. A Counselor Licensed Elsewhere
One route in is license by endorsement. NRS 641A.242(1),(2) applies to an applicant who holds "a corresponding valid and unrestricted license ... in the District of Columbia or any state or territory of the United States." The applicant must show no discipline by the other authority and no civil or criminal malpractice liability, and must provide fingerprints, an affidavit and fees.
Fees under NAC 641A.105(1)(a): $75 for the endorsement application and $30 for initial issuance. The Board sends written notice of missing information not later than 15 business days after receiving the application, and, unless the Board denies the application for good cause, the license issues not later than 45 days after all the additional information is received (NRS 641A.242(3)-(5)). See Nevada license by endorsement for the process.
The Counseling Compact is a separate matter. Nevada ratified it at NRS 641A.305, and the Board's compact page says Nevada anticipates being able to actively participate "starting on an unspecified date." No privilege to practice is active in Nevada today.
5. Common Mistakes
Looking for an LPC application
No Nevada LPC license exists in NRS 641A. The intern application is for the clinical professional counselor intern license and the endorsement application is for the CPC license (NRS 641A.288; NRS 641A.242).
Starting supervised experience before the intern license
The intern license is required before supervised experience starts (NRS 641A.288(1)), and the internship must be outlined in a supervision agreement and approved by the Board (NAC 641A.146(1)).
Practicing independently as an intern
An intern "shall not engage in the practice ... independently" (NRS 641A.2884(2)).
Relying on the Compact
Ratification at NRS 641A.305 is not an active privilege to practice. The Board gives no start date.
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More on Nevada licensure
The marriage and family therapy path runs under the same Board; see the Nevada MFT intern requirements. For the whole picture, read how to become a therapist in Nevada or browse all Nevada guides.
Related Nevada Counseling Guides
Nevada CPC Intern Requirements
The CPC intern license, the 3,000 hours and the buckets under NAC 641A.146.
Nevada MFT Intern Requirements
The marriage and family therapist intern path under the same Board.
Nevada MFT and CPC Intern Supervision
Primary and secondary supervisors under NAC 641A.178 and 641A.182.
Nevada License by Endorsement
The endorsement route under NRS 641A.242 for a license held in another state.
How to Become a Therapist in Nevada
The counseling, marriage and family therapy and social work tracks side by side.
All Nevada Guides
The Nevada hub: every guide in the cluster in one place.
FAQ: CPC vs LPC in Nevada
Is there an LPC license in Nevada?▾
No. "LPC" appears nowhere in NRS 641A as a Nevada title. The counselor license is Clinical Professional Counselor (CPC), with qualifications set by NRS 641A.231 and issued by the Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors. A counselor searching for Nevada LPC requirements needs the CPC requirements, and the pre-license stage is the clinical professional counselor intern (NRS 641A.288).
What are the Nevada LPC requirements?▾
Nevada does not use that title. Its counselor license is the CPC, and its requirements are: a graduate degree in counseling, an intern license before supervised experience starts (NRS 641A.288(1)), at least 3,000 hours of supervised experience including 1,500 hours of direct contact with clients, at least 2 years of postgraduate experience, and a passing score on the NCMHCE (NRS 641A.231(4)).
What do I call myself in Nevada while I am an intern?▾
Use "clinical professional counselor intern." That title and "clinical professional counselor" are both on the protected-title list in NRS 641A.430, which makes using them without a license unlawful. The Board's web pages shorten the intern title to CPC-Intern. An intern shall not engage in the practice of clinical professional counseling independently (NRS 641A.2884(2)).
How long does the CPC intern license last?▾
The intern license is valid for 3 years and may be renewed not more than once (NRS 641A.2882; NAC 641A.146(4)). The renewal is one more 3-year term. The internship itself must be completed within 3 years after the Board approves it (NAC 641A.146(1)(c)). After the renewal ends, the intern must give reasons and reapply under the law in place at the time.
Can a counselor licensed in another state get a Nevada CPC license?▾
By license by endorsement (NRS 641A.242), which is one route. NRS 641A.242(1),(2) covers an applicant who holds a corresponding valid and unrestricted license in the District of Columbia or any state or territory of the United States. The applicant must show no discipline by the other licensing authority and no civil or criminal malpractice liability, and must provide fingerprints, an affidavit and fees.
Does the Counseling Compact let me practice in Nevada now?▾
Not yet. Nevada ratified the Counseling Compact at NRS 641A.305, but the Board's Counseling Compact privilege to practice page says Nevada anticipates being able to actively participate in the compact starting on an unspecified date. No privilege to practice is active in Nevada today, so an out-of-state counselor can apply by endorsement (NRS 641A.242).
Which exam does a Nevada CPC take?▾
The National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NRS 641A.231(4)(c)). Passing it is one of the requirements in NRS 641A.231(4), alongside the 3,000 supervised hours and the 2 years of postgraduate experience. For when an intern may sit for it, follow the Board's own exam page.
Requirements verified against NRS 641A (Rev. 9/9/2026) and NAC 641A (Rev. 4/13/2026), as published October 2026. Statutes, rules and fees can change. Confirm current requirements at the Nevada Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapists and Clinical Professional Counselors before making decisions about your licensure path. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice.