Running a practice
What are New Hampshire’s LPC reciprocity requirements?
Learn pathways to licensure, how a Compact license is different, and how Headway supports multi-state practice.
February 6, 2026
8 min read
Whether you live in a neighboring New England state or all the way across the country, you may be curious about New Hampshire’s reciprocity requirements for licensed professional counselors (LPCs) — and for good reason.
Reciprocity allows therapists licensed in one state to also practice in another. Essentially, you can think of it as an arrangement between states that lets clinicians “transfer” their licenses across borders. Because these frameworks are already in place, reciprocity agreements can greatly simplify the process of getting licensed and credentialed to practice in multiple states, thereby expanding your pool of potential clients.
Reciprocity requirements vary by state and license type, so make sure to research your particular situation. To get you started, here are New Hampshire’s reciprocity requirements for counselors.
Key insights
1
New Hampshire grants license reciprocity to counselors already practicing in states with similar licensure requirements.
2
New Hampshire has also agreed to join the Counseling Compact, an inter-state agreement that aims to make it even easier for counselors to practice across state lines.
New Hampshire’s licensing requirements for LPCs
In New Hampshire, counselors are licensed under the title of licensed clinical mental health counselors (LCMHCs). To secure a license in New Hampshire as LCMHC, you must:
- Receive a graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling from an accredited program.
- Pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination.
- Complete a minimum of two years (3,000 hours) of post-education clinical experience, under the guidance of a licensed supervisor.
- Apply for licensure through the state’s Board of Mental Health Practice and pay the application fee of $325.
- Submit three professional reference letters and a criminal record report along with your application.
Note: This article is for educational purposes only. Applicants are responsible for ensuring they meet all relevant criteria for licensure or reciprocity.
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New Hampshire’s reciprocity requirements for LPCs
New Hampshire offers license reciprocity for counselors practicing in many other U.S. states. This process is overseen by the state’s Office of Professional Licensure and Certification.
Under New Hampshire’s policies, clinicians can apply for reciprocity if they have an active license in good standing from a state with licensure requirements that are “substantially similar” to New Hampshire’s. (Find out which states meet this criteria below.)
It’s important to note, however, that reciprocity is not automatic, even if you’re already licensed in a qualifying state. To gain permission to practice in New Hampshire, you must first submit a licensure application to the state of New Hampshire and pay an application fee. You must also submit a copy of your active license from your original state, as well as a criminal background check report.
Which option is best for you?
If you’re a counselor interested in license reciprocity in New Hampshire, you’re in luck. Dozens of states meet New Hampshire’s standards for reciprocity — meaning that if you have an active mental health counseling license from another U.S. state, chances are fairly good you can secure reciprocity from New Hampshire as long as you follow the state’s application procedures.
Which states does New Hampshire have reciprocity agreements with?
New Hampshire grants reciprocity to counselors already licensed in states with similar requirements for licensure, provided they fulfill all application criteria.
Qualifying states include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
The Counseling Compact offers another path to cross-state licensure
The Counseling Compact is a many-state initiative meant to make it significantly easier for counselors to practice across state lines. Under the compact, counselors who already live and practice in states that are part of the program can practice in other member states simply by applying for privileges through the compact, without the need for multiple licenses.
As of January 2026, only three states — Arizona, Minnesota, and Ohio — have completed all the requirements necessary to take part in the compact. But 36 other states, plus the District of Columbia, are actively working toward full membership. New Hampshire is among these states. You can see the full map here.
States will continue officially joining the compact on a rolling basis. States may grant privileges to counselors in other member states once the state meets a range of prerequisites, including technological requirements and application procedures.
Headway does not honor the Counseling Compact at this time.
How is the Counseling Compact different from reciprocity?
While the end results are the same — both the Counseling Compact and reciprocity agreements allow therapists to practice in multiple states — the processes for getting there are different.
Even under reciprocity agreements, counselors still need licensure in multiple states. The Counseling Compact aims to make that process more efficient, essentially viewing a counselor’s home-state license as valid in other member states once an application is completed.
As of January 2026, reciprocity is a more widely available option for counselors, since only three states are active in the Counseling Compact. But as more states become full members of the compact, that may become an easier option for therapists looking to geographically expand their practices.
What are the benefits of having a reciprocity license in New Hampshire?
Multi-state licensure isn’t without its administrative headaches — but the payoff can be great. Practicing in a second state, such as New Hampshire, can greatly expand your reach as a counselor, because you’re no longer limited to working with clients in your own state.
New England-based therapists located just across New Hampshire’s borders may consider reciprocity to expand their in-person practices. And thanks to the rise of telehealth, counselors across regions can also grow their client lists by applying for reciprocity with the Granite State.
You have a reciprocity license in New Hampshire — what’s next?
You’ve gone to all the work of getting licensed in New Hampshire. Now it’s time to make that legwork pay off for your practice.
Securing multi-state licensure does add a layer of complexity to your business. Now, you’ll need to keep track of multiple states’ requirements to stay in good standing and make sure you’re marketing effectively to clients in all the states in which you practice. That probably means updating your website, provider directory profiles, and social media profiles to make it clear that you’re accepting clients in a new area, as well as networking with organizations and clinicians in your new area to gain referral sources.
Plus, each new client you add to your roster comes with additional administrative work, such as documentation, communication, and billing. Growing your client list is a great thing for your business, but it can also make time-management difficult — unless you have a practice partner, like Headway, in your corner to streamline administrative work.
How Headway supports your multi-state practice
Expanding to a new state comes with a long to-do list. Headway is here to help with all of those tasks and more. First, we’ll help you get credentialed — quicker — in all the states in which you practice, so you can begin seeing patients and accepting insurance in new areas in as little as two to four weeks.gm
Then, keep your practice running smoothly with our free EHR. It’s packed with features that reduce the administrative burden of being a multi-state therapist. Use documentation templates and AI assistance to make note-taking fast and compliant, lean on our scheduling and client communication features to stay on top of your calendar, and let us handle the intricacies of in-network billing. You, meanwhile, can focus on multi-state client care — and enjoy competitive, consistent bi-weekly paychecks in the meantime.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute clinical, legal, financial, or professional advice. All decisions should be made at the discretion of the individual or organization, in consultation with qualified clinical, legal, or other appropriate professionals.
© 2025 Therapymatch, Inc. dba Headway. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission.
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