In Hawaii, counselors are known as Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs). The state’s premier professional association for LMHCs is the Hawaii Counselors Association, which is “committed to promoting statewide professionalism among counselors and ensuring the use of best practices in counseling.”

LMHC licensure in Hawaii is managed by the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division. Licensure requirements, including those for education, supervision, examination, fees, and renewal, are examined in further detail below, along with salary information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as well as public and private scholarships available to Hawaiian LMHCs in training.

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To become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Hawaii, applicants must complete a master’s degree in counseling or an allied field from an accredited educational institution. LMHC licensure in Hawaii also accepts a doctoral degree within the same subjects.

The degree program must be at least 48 semester hours of graduate-level coursework in counseling covering each of the following content areas for a minimum of three semester hours:

In addition to the content areas listed above, Hawaiian LMHC applicants must complete at least two academic terms of supervised mental health practicum/internship experience for graduate credit of at least three semester hours per academic term in a mental health counseling setting. This practicum/internship must include at least 300 hours of supervised client contact and be completed under the clinical supervision of an LMHC, psychologist, clinical social worker, advanced practice registered nurse with a specialty in mental health, marriage and family therapist, or physician with a specialty in psychiatry. This practicum/internship is distinct from the post-degree, directed experience commonly referred to as “supervision.”

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“Supervision” is shorthand for post-degree, directed experience in professional counseling under supervision in a work setting, which is a requirement for LMHC licensure in Hawaii. At least 3,000 hours of post-graduate experience must be completed in two to four years for licensure. Of those hours, 100 must be face-to-face clinical supervision under an LMHC, psychologist, clinical social worker, advanced practice registered nurse with a specialty in mental health, marriage and family therapist, or physician with a specialty in psychiatry.

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Licensure as a counselor in Hawaii requires a passing score on the National Counselors Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE). The NCE is a 200-question multiple-choice examination administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors. It assesses knowledge, skills, and abilities in effective counseling services.

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Professional counseling licensure can accrue the following fees for application, renewal and other licensure expenses:

LMHC Application: $60

LMHC License: $213

Compliance Resolution Fund (Prorated): $43-$129

LMHC Renewal (Prorated): $43-$102

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LMHC licenses in Hawaii expire triennially on June 30. License renewal requires payment of the appropriate renewal fees. Unlike many other states, there is no continuing education requirement for a Hawaiian LMHC license renewal.

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The following types of counselors in Hawaii can expect to earn the corresponding average hourly and annual wages, according to the May 2021 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

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The following scholarships are available to aspiring LMHCs in Hawaii:

Hawaii Community Foundation Scholarship

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Licensure information including requirements, salaries, renewals, scholarships, and fees were retrieved as of June 2022. Information may have changed since, check with the state’s board of licensing for more information.

Last Updated: June 2022