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Hawaii Professional Counselor — Requirements & Free Practice

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Licenses, application pathways and examination requirements

Each license and applicant pathway has its own requirements and exemptions. Choosing practice questions does not determine your eligibility.

Mental Health Counselor

Full license for the practice of mental health counseling. HRS §453D-6 practice and title exemptions do not create additional counseling licenses under this program.

Licensing authority: Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division · Application information

New application following abandonment
National Counselor Examination
Abandonment rule
HRS §436B-9(b)-(d) measures the applicable one-year period from written notice of deficiency or examination eligibility. The 0624R application instead says the license process must be completed within one year of filing; the statutory text controls.
Age
The applicant must be at least 18 years old.
Application timing
Complete education, practicum, and post-graduate experience before applying. DCCA approval precedes registration for testing; the application instructs candidates to test within six months of NBCC notification.
Conditional licensure
HRS §436B-7 permits the licensing authority to issue conditional licenses; any individual limitations imposed by the authority remain applicant conditions.
Documentation
Submit official graduate transcripts, the coursework form with course catalog descriptions and syllabi, and notarized practicum and post-graduate verification forms. Foreign-language documents need an independent translation and translator affidavit.
Education
Master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited institution in counseling or an allied field; at least 48 semester or 72 quarter graduate counseling hours, including at least 3 semester or 5 quarter hours in each of the nine subjects in HRS §453D-7(a)(1)(A)-(I).
Fees
Submit the application fee and pay the license fees assessed by DCCA; the 0624R application’s historic triennium fee table is not treated as a current 2026 fee schedule.
Identity
Provide legal name, addresses, telephone number, Social Security number, and required application disclosures under HRS §436B-10.
Postgraduate experience
At least 3,000 hours of mental health counseling practice and 100 hours of face-to-face clinical supervision, completed in no less than two and no more than four years.
Practicum
At least two academic terms, 6 semester or 10 quarter graduate credits, and 300 supervised client-contact hours in a mental health counseling setting.
Previous application
A previously abandoned application creates no continuing entitlement. Submit a new application and meet requirements in effect when it is submitted.
Prior passing score
DCCA accepts an existing passing NCE score without retesting; arrange for NBCC to send verification directly. An earlier passing score remains a requirement leaf for the currently offered NCE.
Reciprocity
HRS §453D-8 permits reciprocity agreements only with qualifying jurisdictions and requires meeting or exceeding this chapter’s requirements. The full-license implementing application states: There is no "reciprocity" (or recognition of Mental Health Counselor licensure) in another state. No currently implemented ordinary reciprocity pathway is asserted.
Supervisor
Clinical supervision by a licensed mental health counselor, psychologist, clinical social worker, APRN specializing in mental health, marriage and family therapist, or physician specializing in psychiatry; statutory supervision may be by privacy-compliant videoconference.
Work authorization
The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or alien authorized to work in the United States.
Restoration after qualifying active duty deployment
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Deadline
Request restoration within 120 days of discharge or release from deployment.
Deployment
License expired, was forfeited, or became delinquent while on active duty deployed during a state or national crisis, or expires within 120 days after discharge or release.
Documents
Provide deployment and discharge or release orders and pay the current renewal fee; supply financial-integrity or federal-compliance documents if required for renewal.
Duration
Restoration does not create a different credential; the credential’s statutory duration and provisional renewal limit continue to apply.
Exclusions
Scheduled training, suspended or revoked licenses, and adjudicated disciplinary cases do not qualify.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Triennial renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Inactive status
Renewal may maintain an inactive license; inactive status does not authorize practice.
License
Hold an existing full license.
Renewal
Pay renewal fees triennially, not earlier than 90 days before June 30. Failure to renew forfeits the license.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Restoration within one year of forfeiture
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Submit written restoration application and applicable renewal and restoration fees.
Expiration
Restore within one year after forfeiture.
Late restoration
After one year the license terminates and the new-application pathway applies.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reinstatement of a suspended license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Credential limit
Maintain all qualifications and limitations applicable to the full license.
Fees
Submit reinstatement application with all applicable fees, including reinstatement and compliance-resolution-fund fees.
Order
Comply completely with every term or condition imposed by the suspension order; the statute identifies no examination. Individual order requirements must be satisfied.
Suspension
Suspension may not exceed five years. Reinstatement is available to the extent authorized by law.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial licensure by education, experience, and examination
National Counselor Examination
Age
The applicant must be at least 18 years old.
Application timing
Complete education, practicum, and post-graduate experience before applying. DCCA approval precedes registration for testing; the application instructs candidates to test within six months of NBCC notification.
Conditional licensure
HRS §436B-7 permits the licensing authority to issue conditional licenses; any individual limitations imposed by the authority remain applicant conditions.
Documentation
Submit official graduate transcripts, the coursework form with course catalog descriptions and syllabi, and notarized practicum and post-graduate verification forms. Foreign-language documents need an independent translation and translator affidavit.
Education
Master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited institution in counseling or an allied field; at least 48 semester or 72 quarter graduate counseling hours, including at least 3 semester or 5 quarter hours in each of the nine subjects in HRS §453D-7(a)(1)(A)-(I).
Fees
Submit the application fee and pay the license fees assessed by DCCA; the 0624R application’s historic triennium fee table is not treated as a current 2026 fee schedule.
Identity
Provide legal name, addresses, telephone number, Social Security number, and required application disclosures under HRS §436B-10.
Postgraduate experience
At least 3,000 hours of mental health counseling practice and 100 hours of face-to-face clinical supervision, completed in no less than two and no more than four years.
Practicum
At least two academic terms, 6 semester or 10 quarter graduate credits, and 300 supervised client-contact hours in a mental health counseling setting.
Prior passing score
DCCA accepts an existing passing NCE score without retesting; arrange for NBCC to send verification directly. An earlier passing score remains a requirement leaf for the currently offered NCE.
Reciprocity
HRS §453D-8 permits reciprocity agreements only with qualifying jurisdictions and requires meeting or exceeding this chapter’s requirements. The full-license implementing application states: There is no "reciprocity" (or recognition of Mental Health Counselor licensure) in another state. No currently implemented ordinary reciprocity pathway is asserted.
Supervisor
Clinical supervision by a licensed mental health counselor, psychologist, clinical social worker, APRN specializing in mental health, marriage and family therapist, or physician specializing in psychiatry; statutory supervision may be by privacy-compliant videoconference.
Work authorization
The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or alien authorized to work in the United States.
Initial licensure for applicants graduating before July 1, 2007
National Counselor Examination
Age
The applicant must be at least 18 years old.
Application timing
Complete education, practicum, and post-graduate experience before applying. DCCA approval precedes registration for testing; the application instructs candidates to test within six months of NBCC notification.
Conditional licensure
HRS §436B-7 permits the licensing authority to issue conditional licenses; any individual limitations imposed by the authority remain applicant conditions.
Documentation
Submit official graduate transcripts, the coursework form with course catalog descriptions and syllabi, and notarized practicum and post-graduate verification forms. Foreign-language documents need an independent translation and translator affidavit.
Education
Master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited institution in counseling or an allied field; at least 48 semester or 72 quarter graduate counseling hours, including at least 3 semester or 5 quarter hours in each of the nine subjects in HRS §453D-7(a)(1)(A)-(I).
Experience verification
HRS §453D-7(c) accepts institutional certification of equivalent practicum and agency-officer and clinical-supervisor certification of equivalent post-graduate experience; the statutory supervisor-license requirements do not apply to this subsection.
Fees
Submit the application fee and pay the license fees assessed by DCCA; the 0624R application’s historic triennium fee table is not treated as a current 2026 fee schedule.
Graduation date
The qualifying degree was awarded before July 1, 2007.
Identity
Provide legal name, addresses, telephone number, Social Security number, and required application disclosures under HRS §436B-10.
Implementation conflict
The general supervisor paragraph of the 0624R application states a licensed supervisor is required throughout the supervised period. The specific statutory exemption in §453D-7(c) controls this pathway.
Postgraduate experience
At least 3,000 hours of mental health counseling practice and 100 hours of face-to-face clinical supervision, completed in no less than two and no more than four years.
Practicum
At least two academic terms, 6 semester or 10 quarter graduate credits, and 300 supervised client-contact hours in a mental health counseling setting.
Prior passing score
DCCA accepts an existing passing NCE score without retesting; arrange for NBCC to send verification directly. An earlier passing score remains a requirement leaf for the currently offered NCE.
Reciprocity
HRS §453D-8 permits reciprocity agreements only with qualifying jurisdictions and requires meeting or exceeding this chapter’s requirements. The full-license implementing application states: There is no "reciprocity" (or recognition of Mental Health Counselor licensure) in another state. No currently implemented ordinary reciprocity pathway is asserted.
Supervisor
Clinical supervision by a licensed mental health counselor, psychologist, clinical social worker, APRN specializing in mental health, marriage and family therapist, or physician specializing in psychiatry; statutory supervision may be by privacy-compliant videoconference.
Work authorization
The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or alien authorized to work in the United States.
New application following revocation
National Counselor Examination
Age
The applicant must be at least 18 years old.
Application timing
Complete education, practicum, and post-graduate experience before applying. DCCA approval precedes registration for testing; the application instructs candidates to test within six months of NBCC notification.
Conditional licensure
HRS §436B-7 permits the licensing authority to issue conditional licenses; any individual limitations imposed by the authority remain applicant conditions.
Documentation
Submit official graduate transcripts, the coursework form with course catalog descriptions and syllabi, and notarized practicum and post-graduate verification forms. Foreign-language documents need an independent translation and translator affidavit.
Education
Master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited institution in counseling or an allied field; at least 48 semester or 72 quarter graduate counseling hours, including at least 3 semester or 5 quarter hours in each of the nine subjects in HRS §453D-7(a)(1)(A)-(I).
Fees
Submit the application fee and pay the license fees assessed by DCCA; the 0624R application’s historic triennium fee table is not treated as a current 2026 fee schedule.
Identity
Provide legal name, addresses, telephone number, Social Security number, and required application disclosures under HRS §436B-10.
Postgraduate experience
At least 3,000 hours of mental health counseling practice and 100 hours of face-to-face clinical supervision, completed in no less than two and no more than four years.
Practicum
At least two academic terms, 6 semester or 10 quarter graduate credits, and 300 supervised client-contact hours in a mental health counseling setting.
Prior passing score
DCCA accepts an existing passing NCE score without retesting; arrange for NBCC to send verification directly. An earlier passing score remains a requirement leaf for the currently offered NCE.
Reciprocity
HRS §453D-8 permits reciprocity agreements only with qualifying jurisdictions and requires meeting or exceeding this chapter’s requirements. The full-license implementing application states: There is no "reciprocity" (or recognition of Mental Health Counselor licensure) in another state. No currently implemented ordinary reciprocity pathway is asserted.
Supervisor
Clinical supervision by a licensed mental health counselor, psychologist, clinical social worker, APRN specializing in mental health, marriage and family therapist, or physician specializing in psychiatry; statutory supervision may be by privacy-compliant videoconference.
Waiting period
Apply no earlier than five years after the effective date of revocation.
Waiver discretion
The authority may waive education or examination requirements upon documentation of equivalent knowledge, competence, and qualifications maintained through work experience, training, or education; the identifiable NCE stays a leaf.
Work authorization
The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or alien authorized to work in the United States.
New application after termination of a forfeited full license
National Counselor Examination
Age
The applicant must be at least 18 years old.
Application timing
Complete education, practicum, and post-graduate experience before applying. DCCA approval precedes registration for testing; the application instructs candidates to test within six months of NBCC notification.
Conditional licensure
HRS §436B-7 permits the licensing authority to issue conditional licenses; any individual limitations imposed by the authority remain applicant conditions.
Documentation
Submit official graduate transcripts, the coursework form with course catalog descriptions and syllabi, and notarized practicum and post-graduate verification forms. Foreign-language documents need an independent translation and translator affidavit.
Education
Master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited institution in counseling or an allied field; at least 48 semester or 72 quarter graduate counseling hours, including at least 3 semester or 5 quarter hours in each of the nine subjects in HRS §453D-7(a)(1)(A)-(I).
Fees
Submit the application fee and pay the license fees assessed by DCCA; the 0624R application’s historic triennium fee table is not treated as a current 2026 fee schedule.
Identity
Provide legal name, addresses, telephone number, Social Security number, and required application disclosures under HRS §436B-10.
Postgraduate experience
At least 3,000 hours of mental health counseling practice and 100 hours of face-to-face clinical supervision, completed in no less than two and no more than four years.
Practicum
At least two academic terms, 6 semester or 10 quarter graduate credits, and 300 supervised client-contact hours in a mental health counseling setting.
Previous license
The former full license was not restored within one year of expiration and terminated. Reapply under current new-applicant requirements; existing passing NCE scores are accepted without retesting.
Prior passing score
DCCA accepts an existing passing NCE score without retesting; arrange for NBCC to send verification directly. An earlier passing score remains a requirement leaf for the currently offered NCE.
Reciprocity
HRS §453D-8 permits reciprocity agreements only with qualifying jurisdictions and requires meeting or exceeding this chapter’s requirements. The full-license implementing application states: There is no "reciprocity" (or recognition of Mental Health Counselor licensure) in another state. No currently implemented ordinary reciprocity pathway is asserted.
Supervisor
Clinical supervision by a licensed mental health counselor, psychologist, clinical social worker, APRN specializing in mental health, marriage and family therapist, or physician specializing in psychiatry; statutory supervision may be by privacy-compliant videoconference.
Work authorization
The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or alien authorized to work in the United States.

National Counselor Examination

Provider
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC); administered through the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE) and delivered by Pearson VUE at test centers or online through OnVUE
Format
200-question, multiple-choice, non-sectioned examination; scored and unscored items appear in jumbled order; a different form is compiled for each administration
Exam questions
200 multiple-choice questions: 160 scored and 40 unscored field-test items
Time limit
225 minutes to complete the examination within a 255-minute test session (one scheduled 15-minute break after question #100)
Passing score
Criterion passing score set by a modified Angoff method and adjusted for each form by statistical equating; passing scores may vary slightly for each version
Examination outline
  • 1. Professional Practice and Ethics — This section encompasses counselors’ knowledge, skills, and abilities related to maintaining proper administrative and clinical protocols. (12% of items; 19 scored items) (12%)
    • A. Assess your (the counselor) competency to work with a specific client
    • B. Understand statistical concepts and methods in research
    • C. Practice legal and ethical counseling
    • D. Clarify counselor–client roles
    • E. Discuss client’s rights and responsibilities
    • F. Discuss limits of confidentiality
    • G. Explain counselor agency policies
    • H. Review payment, fees, and insurance benefits
    • I. Explain counseling processes, procedures, risks, and benefits
    • J. Explain uses and limits of social media
    • K. Inform clients about the legal aspects of counseling
    • L. Obtain informed consent
    • M. Discuss confidentiality as it applies to electronic communication
    • N. Establish group rules, expectations, and termination criteria
    • O. Assess competency to provide informed consent
    • P. Monitor the therapeutic relationship and build trust as needed
    • Q. Review client records
    • R. Provide adequate accommodations for clients with disabilities
    • S. Provide information to third parties
    • T. Provide referral sources if counseling services are inadequate/ inappropriate
    • U. Advocate for professional and client issues
    • V. Seek supervision/consultation
    • W. Create and maintain documentation appropriate for each aspect of the counseling process
    • X. Awareness and practice of self-care
  • 2. Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis — This section encompasses counselors’ knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively conduct client intake, assessment, and diagnosis. (12% of items; 19 scored items) (12%)
    • A. Conduct a biopsychosocial interview
    • B. Conduct a diagnostic interview
    • C. Conduct cultural formulation interview
    • D. Conduct an initial interview
    • E. Determine diagnosis
    • F. Perform a Mental Status Exam (MSE)
    • G. Consider co-occurring diagnoses
    • H. Determine level of care needed
    • I. Determine the appropriate modality of treatment
    • J. Assess the presenting problem and level of distress
    • K. Evaluate an individual’s level of mental health functioning
    • L. Screen clients for appropriate services
    • M. Select, use, and interpret appropriate assessment instruments
    • N. Use formal and informal observations
    • O. Assess for trauma
    • P. Assess substance use
    • Q. Obtain client self-reports
    • R. Evaluate interactional dynamics
    • S. Conduct ongoing assessment for at-risk behaviors (i.e., suicide, homicide, self/other injury, and relationship violence)
    • T. Use pre-test and post-test measures to assess outcomes
    • U. Evaluate counseling effectiveness
  • 3. Areas of Clinical Focus — This section encompasses counselors’ knowledge and skills related to areas of clients’ concern(s). (29% of items; 47 scored items) (29%)
    • A. Adjustment related to physical loss/injury/medical condition
    • B. Aging/geriatric concerns
    • C. Behavioral problems
    • D. Bullying
    • E. Caregiving concerns
    • F. Cultural adjustments
    • G. End-of-life issues
    • H. Fear and panic
    • I. Financial issues
    • J. Gender identity development
    • K. Grief/loss
    • L. Hopelessness/depression
    • M. Loneliness/attachment
    • N. Hyper/hypo mental focus
    • O. Intellectual functioning issues
    • P. Insomnia/sleep issues
    • Q. Maladaptive eating behaviors
    • R. Remarriage/recommitment
    • S. Developmental processes/tasks/issues
    • T. Obsessive thoughts/behaviors
    • U. Occupation and career development
    • V. Physical issues related to anxiety
    • W. Physical issues related to depression
    • X. Physical/emotional issues related to trauma
    • Y. Process addictions (pornography, gambling)
    • Z. Racism/discrimination/oppression
    • AA. Religious values conflict
    • AB. Retirement concerns
    • AC. Ruminating and/or intrusive thoughts
    • AD. Separation from primary care givers
    • AE. Sexual functioning concerns
    • AF. Sleeping habits
    • AG. Spiritual/existential concerns
    • AH. Stress management
    • AI. Substance use/addiction issues
    • AJ. Suicidal thoughts/behaviors
    • AK. Terminal illness issues
    • AL. Visual/auditory hallucinations
    • AM. Worry and anxiety
    • AN. Adoption issues
    • AO. Blended family issues
    • AP. Child abuse-related concerns
    • AQ. Child development issues
    • AR. Dating/relationship problems
    • AS. Divorce
    • AT. Family abuse/violence (e.g., physical, sexual, emotional)
    • AU. Interpersonal partner violence concerns
    • AV. Marital/partner communication problems
    • AW. Parenting/co-parenting conflicts
    • AX. Emotional dysregulation
  • 4. Treatment Planning — This section encompasses counselors’ knowledge, skills, and abilities to develop an effective course of treatment. (9% of items; 14 scored items) (9%)
    • A. Collaborate with client to establish treatment goals and objectives
    • B. Establish short- and long-term counseling goals consistent with clients’ diagnoses
    • C. Identify barriers affecting client goal attainment
    • D. Identify strengths that improve the likelihood of goal attainment
    • E. Refer to different levels of treatment (e.g., outpatient, inpatient, residential, etc.)
    • F. Refer to others for concurrent treatment
    • G. Guide treatment planning
    • H. Discuss termination process and issues
    • I. Discuss transitions in group membership
    • J. Follow-up after discharge
    • K. Use assessment instrument results to facilitate client decision making
    • L. Review and revise the treatment plan
    • M. Engage clients in review of progress toward treatment goals
    • N. Collaborate with other providers and client support systems (documentation and report writing)
    • O. Discuss with clients the integration and maintenance of therapeutic progress
    • P. Educate client to the value of treatment plan compliance
  • 5. Counseling Skills and Interventions — This section encompasses counselors’ knowledge, skills, and abilities to conduct effective counseling. (30% of items; 48 scored items) (30%)
    • A. Align intervention with client’s developmental level
    • B. Align intervention with counseling modality (individual, couple, family, or group)
    • C. Align intervention with client population (e.g., veterans, minorities, disenfranchised, disabled)
    • D. Implement individual counseling in relation to a plan of treatment
    • E. Establish therapeutic alliance
    • F. Apply theory-based counseling intervention(s)
    • G. Address addiction issues
    • H. Address cultural considerations
    • I. Address family composition and cultural considerations
    • J. Evaluate and explain systemic patterns of interaction
    • K. Explore family member interaction
    • L. Explore religious and spiritual values
    • M. Guide clients in the development of skills or strategies for dealing with their problems
    • N. Help clients develop support systems
    • O. Help facilitate clients’ motivation to make the changes they desire
    • P. Improve interactional patterns
    • Q. Provide crisis intervention
    • R. Educate client about transference and defense mechanisms
    • S. Facilitate trust and safety
    • T. Build communication skills
    • U. Develop conflict resolution strategies
    • V. Develop safety plans
    • W. Facilitate systemic change
    • X. Provide distance counseling or telemental health
    • Y. Provide education resources (e.g., stress management, assertiveness training, divorce adjustment)
    • Z. Provide psychoeducation for client
    • AA. Summarize
    • AB. Reframe/redirect
    • AC. Facilitate empathic responses
    • AD. Use self-disclosure
    • AE. Use constructive confrontation
    • AF. Facilitate awareness of here-and-now interactions
    • AG. Facilitate resolution of interpersonal conflict
    • AH. Use linking and blocking in a group context
    • AI. Management of leader–member dynamics
    • AJ. Model giving and receiving of feedback
    • AK. Address impact of extended families
    • AL. Contain and manage intense feelings
    • AM. Explore the influence of family of origin patterns and themes
    • AN. Address the impact of social support network
    • AO. Use “structured” activities
    • AP. Promote and encourage interactions among group members
    • AQ. Promote and encourage interactions with the group leader
    • AR. Use psychoeducation as a part of the group process
    • AS. Explain phases in the group process
    • AT. Identify and discuss group themes and patterns
    • AU. Create intervention based on the stage of group development
    • AV. Challenge harmful group member behaviors
    • AW. Address the potential interaction of members outside of the group
  • 6. Core Counseling Attributes — This section encompasses behaviors, traits, and dispositions of effective counselors. (8% of items; 13 scored items) (8%)
    • A. Awareness of self and impact on clients
    • B. Genuineness
    • C. Congruence
    • D. Demonstrate knowledge of and sensitivity to gender orientation and gender issues
    • E. Demonstrate knowledge of and sensitivity to multicultural issues
    • F. Demonstrate conflict tolerance and resolution
    • G. Empathic attunement
    • H. Empathic responding
    • I. Foster the emergence of group therapeutic factors
    • J. Non-judgmental stance
    • K. Positive regard
    • L. Respect and acceptance for diversity
    • M. Use foundational listening, attending, and reflecting skills
Examination sources