Licensure & Credentialing
This page serves as the main resource for prospective students in their pursuit of licensure as professional counselors. As developing professionals, students are encouraged to stay current with the board in the state(s) they intend to practice.
Accreditation
Naropa University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Naropa’s MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program is not CACREP–accredited. Some states require that a student attend a CACREP-accredited program in order to become licensed in that state; all states that Naropa programs lead to licensure in do not require CACREP. Naropa’s curriculum is recognized as CACREP-equivalent by Colorado’s Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).
Licensure in Colorado
In order to practice Clinical Mental Health Counseling in Colorado, individuals must have a master’s level education and register through the State Board of Licensed Professional Counselors.
To be licensed in Colorado, counselors must:
- Submit the Colorado Education Equivalency Review to the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE)*;
- Pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE);
- Pass the Colorado Jurisprudence Exam;
- Complete 2,000 hours of postgraduate supervised clinical practice, including 1,500 hours of direct client contact;
- Receive 100 hours of supervision by a qualified supervisor over a minimum of twenty-four months.
*Naropa’s CMHC curriculum has been recognized as CACREP-equivalent by Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA); therefore, Naropa graduates applying for licensure in the state of Colorado do not have to go through the CCE process.
Licensure in States Outside of Colorado
Licensure requirements of state boards and licensing agencies vary from state to state in the United States, as well as internationally. Additionally, licensure requirements change over time. Consequently, successful completion of degree requirements is necessary for, but does not guarantee that a state or international board or licensing agency will accept a graduate’s application for licensure.
The U.S. Department of Education regulation 34 CFR 668.43(a)(5)(v) requires an institution to disclose whether or not the program will fulfill educational requirements for licensure or certification in each state. To view which state requirements are in alignment with a Naropa Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree, please see the 2024 State Authorization Federal Regulations disclosure document.
Licensure application approval is determined solely at the discretion of each jurisdiction’s licensing board and any guidance provided by Naropa University or its employees is not a guarantee of licensure approval.
If you’d like to further explore licensure, you may use the links provided in the above referenced disclosure document to contact the state licensure boards. Students are responsible for verifying the educational requirements for the intended licensure or certification in the state(s), or countries, where they will seek licensure or certification.
Naropa provides support for licensure in aligned states but cannot guarantee approval or assist with unaligned states or international licensure.
*The Low-Residency version of the Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling program does not accept applications from New York residents.
Additional Resources
Our Licensing & Credentialing team in the Graduate School of Counseling supports students and alums in understanding licensing requirements and the licensure process.
