There are a couple of ways to be licensed as LPC/MHSP in Tennessee.

If you are not licensed in any other state and have not done a graduate degree in counseling, the first step to getting licensed as a counselor is to attend a graduate program in counseling and get a masters degree.

Many states require that the program be accredited by CACREP, the organization that manages standards for counselor education programs and ensures that they all meet a minimum set of criteria. Even though Tennessee does not explicitly state this, the requirements are in alignment with the CACREP standards.

If you know that you want to get your LPC/MHSP as opposed to your LPC, you can apply for temporary licensure as LPC/MHSP.

This requires completion of a graduate program, passing the NCE, and a signed and notarized document from your supervisor.

Tennessee requires that supervisors meet certain requirements, and some supervisors, like me, have registered with TN as approved supervisors.

In order to be granted a full LPC/MHSP, you will need 3,000 total practice hours, of which 1,500 must be direct client contact and 1,500 are clinically-related activities (such as training, advocacy, and other client support).

During the accrual of those hours, you must also accumulate 150 supervision hours. Of those 150 hours, 50 can be in a group of 3-8 people, the others must be individual or triadic (two supervisees and a supervisor).

You do not have to use group supervision, but it’s an option.

For LPC/MHSP, 75 of your hours must be with a supervisor with the LPC/MHSP license.

One thing to notice about LPC/MHSP supervision requirements is that, if you only do one hour per week of practice, it will take you three years, but Tennessee will allow you to accumulate those hours and be licensed in two years if you have the right amount of supervision and practice hours. 

You must have 150 supervision hours, 50 of which can be group if you choose. 

The difference is in scope of practice.

LPCs in Tennessee can provide counseling, but it is limited to general life issues and concerns. LPC/MHSPs in Tennessee can do that, as well as diagnose and treat mental health disorders.

While both can practice independently, Tennessee requires that an LPC practicing independently refer out to an LPC/MHSP if they believe someone qualifies for a DSM diagnosis.

For more information, you can access the licensure fact sheet here. 

In general terms, a counselor supervisor is someone who supports the growth and development of a (often more junior) counselor.

Thus, counselors-in-training have supervisors during their clinical courses, both through their programs and at their sites.

From a licensure perspective, a counselor supervisor is someone who is responsible for the practice of a pre-licensed counseling professional.

Different states have different requirements for this, and some boards require that the supervisor have a specific designation or pre-approval. Some require the person to be a counselor, some allow for supervision by other licensed mental health professionals.

In Tennessee, a variety of mental health professionals can supervise a pre-licensed counselor, but they are required to have been licensed for at least five years and show proof of training of at least 12 contact hours in supervision and three recent contact hours during a renewal cycle of their license.

Tennessee also allows supervisors to have “approved supervisor” status, wherein their original 12 hours has been documented and does not need to be reverified each time a new supervisee submits documentation. 

A lot of this will depend on location within Tennessee and setting.

The median annual salary for counselors in Tennessee was $45,490.

This job is predicted to grow faster than average in the future.

This is a great place to research and explore salaries and information for your particular area.

It’s important to note that this data combines mental health counselors with similar professionals. 

Yes and no. Like much of counseling, this is not a simple answer.

The word counselor itself is not a protected term. However, calling oneself a licensed counselor is protected. This means you cannot represent yourself as a licensed counselor unless you are one recognized by the board in that state.

You also cannot provide mental health counseling unless you are authorized to do so in the state you’re in.

There are other professionals who do counseling (think spiritual or religious leaders), but licensed professional counselor is a specific term, the permitted use of which is outlined in state statutes and laws. 

In Tennessee, the protected term is “Licensed Professional Counselor.” There are also certified counselor designations. It is unlawful to represent oneself in this manner if you are not certified or licensed.

These terms are often very specifically and clearly defined in statutes you can access from the board website.

Someone with a masters degree that would qualify them to be licensed in Tennessee as a counselor can practice counseling under supervision.  

Therapist is a broad and more generic term used by a variety of mental health professionals, as well as within other professions (think massage therapist or physical therapist). Someone who is an LPC may refer to themselves as a therapist. 

NCC stands for National Certified Counselor and it is a credential issued by the National Board for Certified Counselors. It’s important to remember that it is not a license and does not permit one to practice in a state or represent themselves as a licensed professional. 

Tennessee does have LPC reciprocity, as well as LPC/MHSP reciprocity. You can check with the board to determine if your state meets the qualifications.  

It depends. You must practice for a minimum of two years supervised to get your LPC or LPC/MHSP.

However, if you do your supervision at a rate of one hour per week on average, it will take three years to get an LPC/MHSP. 

MFT stands for Marriage and Family Therapist/Therapy or a form of that phrase, depending on the state. Marriage and family therapists meet a different set of licensure requirements, though some graduate programs might meet educational requirements for either license, depending on electives and how the program is set up. 

To work with a client located in Tennessee, you must be licensed in Tennessee. Telehealth laws and rules vary by state. If you are working with a Tennessee client from out of state, you may also need to be licensed in the state where you are practicing at the time.

According to the US News and World Report, New Jersey, California, New York, Connecticut, and Washington, DC are among the highest paying states for mental health counselors. It’s important to account for cost of living when considering salaries in those locations. 

To be granted licensure as an LPC in Tennessee, you need 100 hours of supervision. 

According to careeronestop data, the median annual income for counselors  in Nashville, TN was around $48,750 in 2023. It’s important to note that careeronestop includes other occupations in their data, aside from LPCs. 

According to US News and World Report, the best paid 25% of mental health counselors in the US made $73,050 annually in 2022. While according to careeronestop data, the high end of the spectrum for annual salary was in the neighborhood of $89,920. It’s important to note that careeronestop includes other occupations in their data, aside from LPCs. 

This can vary widely and depends on a number of factors.

Overhead, rates, insurance versus private pay, specialty, experience, and location can all affect how much a private practice therapist makes in Tennessee. For example, someone who works from home and only works online has less overhead than someone who rents office space.

Someone who works within a group private practice will have to give some portion of what they make to the practice itself, while someone who works for themselves or owns the group private practice will not.

That being said, ranges of mid $40K to close to $100K can be found.

It’s really important to understand the factors that influence that deeply before deciding if private practice is the best decision for you. In Tennessee you cannot own or operate a private practice if you are still pursuing your post-master’s supervised professional experience.