How to Check a Therapist's License

Anyone can call themselves a “therapist” or “counselor” in casual conversation, but the professionals who diagnose and treat mental health conditions hold state licenses. A license means the person met education, exam and supervised-practice requirements, and that a state board can act if they break the rules. Checking one takes a couple of minutes and costs nothing.

This guide explains what each license means, how to read a state lookup, and where to find the official search for your state.

Why a License Check Is Worth Two Minutes

A license lookup answers three questions at once: is this person who they say they are, are they allowed to practice right now, and has a board ever disciplined them. HHS’s telehealth office describes licensure as a process meant to protect the public and keep patients safe. It requires education, exams and background checks, and licensees must renew, often with continuing education.

It also matters for coverage. Medicare, for example, lists the license types it covers for outpatient therapy: psychiatrists and other doctors, clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors. After the Part B deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount.

NIMH suggests asking any prospective therapist about their credentials. A licensed professional expects the question.

The Main License Types, Explained

NIMH lists psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors and psychiatric nurses among the professionals who offer psychotherapy. Here is what the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says each one needs.

License type	Common titles	Education (BLS)	Can prescribe?	Licensed by
Psychologist	Licensed psychologist, PhD or PsyD	Doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) for clinical and counseling psychologists	Only in some states	State psychology board
Professional or mental health counselor	LPC, LPCC, LCPC, LMHC, LCMHC	Master’s degree, national exam, supervised clinical work	No	State counseling board
Clinical social worker	LCSW, LISW	Master’s degree in social work, supervised experience, clinical exam	No	State social work board
Marriage and family therapist	LMFT, MFT	Master’s degree, postdegree supervised hours, state exam	No	State MFT board
Psychiatrist	MD or DO	Medical school (4 years), then residency (3 to 7 years)	Yes	State medical board
Psychiatric nurse practitioner	APRN, NP	At least a master’s in nursing, RN license, national certification	Yes, under state rules	State nursing board

Psychologists assess, diagnose and treat mental, emotional and behavioral disorders and provide psychotherapy, according to the BLS. All states and DC require psychologists who practice independently to be licensed where they work. The BLS notes that some states permit clinical psychologists to prescribe medication.

Counselors go by different titles depending on the state. Ohio licenses LPCs and LPCCs, North Carolina licenses LCMHCs, Illinois licenses LPCs and LCPCs, New Mexico licenses LPCCs and LMHCs, and California licenses LPCCs. The BLS says all states require mental health counselors to be licensed, which takes a national exam and supervised clinical work. Counselors treat conditions including anxiety, depression, grief and stress.

Clinical social workers diagnose and treat mental, behavioral and emotional problems and provide individual, group, family and couples therapy. The BLS says they typically need a master’s degree in social work from an accredited program, supervised clinical experience after graduation, and a clinical exam.

Marriage and family therapists treat mental health conditions in the context of couples and family relationships. The BLS says every state requires them to be licensed after a set number of supervised postdegree hours and an exam. They also work with individuals.

Psychiatrists are physicians. The BLS says they diagnose and treat mental illnesses through psychotherapy and medication, after medical school and a residency. Psychiatric nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses who, per the BLS, can diagnose and prescribe in most states. The psychiatrist vs therapist guide compares these roles in more depth.

Associate and Intern Licenses

You may see titles like associate counselor, associate marriage and family therapist, or licensed counselor associate. In Arkansas, for example, the counseling board licenses LACs and LAMFTs alongside LPCs and LMFTs, and North Carolina licenses LCMHC associates.

These are people who have finished their degree and are completing the supervised clinical hours their state requires before a full license. The BLS describes this postdegree period for marriage and family therapists as working under the supervision of a licensed professional. Care from an associate is legitimate care. Ask who the supervisor is, and look up that license too.

How to Check Therapist License Records Step by Step

The process is similar in every state:

1. Get the details. Ask for the person’s full name, license type and license number. A licensed professional can give you these on request.
2. Find the right board. Your state page links each official lookup. Some states use one search for every profession; others have a separate board for each.
3. Search. Enter the license number if you have it, since names can repeat. Otherwise search by last name and narrow by profession.
4. Read the record. Check the points below.

What to look for on the record:

• Status. “Active” or “current” means the person may practice. “Inactive,” “expired,” “suspended” or “revoked” means they shouldn’t be treating you under that license.
• License type. Make sure it matches what they told you. An associate license means they need a supervisor.
• Expiration date. A license that expires soon is normal if it renews on schedule.
• Discipline. Boards post public actions. Read any order before deciding.

Texas’s verification page is a good example of what a lookup shows. The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council’s search covers psychologists, marriage and family therapists, professional counselors and social workers. It shows license status, date of first licensure, issue and expiration dates, specialty designations such as supervisor status, and public disciplinary records. Texas says these results count as primary source verification. It also notes that current complaints and dismissed complaints aren’t shown, so a clean record means no public action, not that no one has ever complained.

California’s Department of Consumer Affairs search works the same way. You can search by license number or name, and each record shows whether a license is current, expired, or subject to discipline such as suspension or revocation. The same search covers the Board of Psychology and the Medical Board of California, so you can check a psychologist and a psychiatrist in one place.

Official License Lookups in Six States

These are the official searches for six of the largest states. Every state page on this site links its own board lookups.

State	Who you can look up	Official search
California	Psychologists; LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and educational psychologists	DCA License Search
Texas	Psychologists, professional counselors, MFTs and social workers	BHEC Verify a License
New York	Psychologists, LMSWs and LCSWs, mental health counselors, MFTs, creative arts therapists and psychoanalysts	NYSED Office of the Professions
Florida	Psychologists; clinical social workers, MFTs and mental health counselors	Florida Department of Health License Verification
Ohio	Psychologists; LPCs, LPCCs, LSWs, LISWs and MFTs	Ohio eLicense
Pennsylvania	Psychologists; social workers, MFTs and professional counselors	Pennsylvania PALS

In New York, one search at the State Education Department’s Office of the Professions covers all the main mental health licenses. In Ohio, the Board of Psychology and the Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board share the same eLicense search. Texas runs four boards through one council and one lookup.

For psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners, search your state’s medical board or nursing board.

Checking a License for Video Therapy

Telehealth adds one more question: is the therapist licensed in your state? HHS’s telehealth office says health professionals must meet the licensing rules of the state where they’re located and be licensed or legally permitted to practice in the state where the patient is located.

States handle cross-state care in different ways. HHS lists full licenses in more than one state, temporary practice laws, reciprocity between neighboring states, licensure compacts that let participating providers practice in participating states, and telehealth registration. If your therapist is in another state, ask how they’re permitted to treat you in yours, then check your state’s board. The telehealth therapy guide covers coverage and what to expect.

Finding Licensed Care You Can Afford

Clinics are easier to vet than individual offices. SAMHSA’s FindTreatment.gov says all the facilities it lists are licensed by their state. The care finder searches those same 12,467 facilities (October 2026). You can filter for the 5,770 that offer a sliding fee or payment help and the 10,558 that accept Medicaid.

If cost is the main hurdle, start with the free and low-cost care guide or the community mental health centers guide, or try the low-cost care checker. Once you’ve found someone, the how to find a therapist guide covers the first call, and the first therapy session guide explains what comes next.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Rude to Ask a Therapist About Their License?

No. NIMH suggests asking any prospective therapist about their credentials and experience. A licensed professional expects the question and should give you their license type and number so you can look it up.

What Does an Associate or Intern License Mean?

Many states license counselors and therapists who have finished their degree but are still completing supervised clinical hours, with titles such as associate or intern. The BLS describes this postdegree period as supervised work under a licensed professional. It's legitimate care; you can ask who the supervisor is and look up that license too.

Can a Therapist Licensed in Another State Treat Me by Video?

HHS's telehealth office says health professionals must be licensed or legally permitted to practice in the state where the patient is located. Some states use compacts, temporary practice rules or telehealth registration to allow this, so check your own state's board.

Does a Clinic Listed on FindTreatment.gov Have a License?

SAMHSA's FindTreatment.gov says all facilities it lists are licensed by the state they're in. That covers the facility. You can still look up the individual clinician who treats you on your state board's site.

What Should I Do if a License Shows Discipline?

Read the board's public order if one is posted. Some actions are minor or old, and others limit how the person may practice. If it concerns you, it's reasonable to choose someone else. If you have a concern about a licensee's conduct, the board that issued the license is the place to raise it.

Can Psychologists Prescribe Medication?

In most places, no. The BLS says some states permit clinical psychologists to prescribe medication. Psychiatrists, who are physicians, and nurse practitioners can prescribe. See the psychiatrist vs therapist guide.

More on Getting Started

• Finding a TherapistA step-by-step way to find, check and pay for a therapist
• First SessionWhat to expect, what to ask and how to prepare
• Crisis Help988, mobile crisis, crisis centers and emergencies
• Anxiety MedicationThe medicines FDA has approved for anxiety disorders, from their labels
• AnxietyThe therapies NIMH describes for anxiety disorders and how to find one near you
• DepressionTherapy for depression, who provides it and how to pay for it

This guide explains mental health care in plain language from official sources. It isn't medical advice; a licensed clinician can assess what care fits your situation.

Sources

1. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Psychologists
2. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
3. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Social Workers
4. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Marriage and Family Therapists
5. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Physicians and Surgeons
6. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners
7. Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council: Verify a License
8. California Department of Consumer Affairs: License Search
9. Telehealth.HHS.gov: Getting Started With Licensure
10. Telehealth.HHS.gov: Licensing Across State Lines
11. NIMH: Psychotherapies