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.

*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 2025 State Authorization Federal Regulations disclosure document (PDF).

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.

*Naropa’s Low-Residency counseling programs do not accept applications from current residents of New York due to the state’s additional requirements for low-residency and online programs.

Wondering if Naropa’s MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is the right fit for you?

Complete this quick form to find out if your state licensure requirements are aligned with Naropa’s course of study.

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Additional Resources

Our Licensing & Credentialing team in the Graduate School of Counseling supports students and alums in understanding licensing requirements and the licensure process.

To learn more and to have your questions answered about LPC licensing, the licensure process, and what it would look like for you to attend Naropa, we encourage you to attend an upcoming workshop hosted by a member of our Licensing & Credentialing team.

FAQs Related to Licensure

Is Naropa accredited and does the CMHC program meet state licensure standards?

Naropa University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. However, Naropa is not currently CACREP accredited. The MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program is recognized as CACREP-equivalent by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). This means graduates do not need to go through the additional Colorado Education Equivalency Review process when applying for licensure in Colorado. The Transpersonal Art Therapy concentration has additional accreditation from ACATE (Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education) and the Somatic Counseling: Dance/Movement Theories & Practice concentration is approved by the American Dance Therapy Association.

Is Naropa CACREP accredited?

No.

Is Naropa pursuing CACREP accreditation?

Yes. Naropa has made a significant investment in pursuing CACREP accreditation. Our current curriculum is aligned with CACREP standards and approved for equivalency in the state of Colorado for the education component of the Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC) permit. We are currently filling faculty vacancies with CACREP-credentialed new faculty, which is another requirement for accreditation. We are continuing to improve GSC program infrastructure (e.g., Practicum and Internship oversight through the Career and Life Development Center and implementation of the new Supervision Assist platform). This will enhance our ability to secure practicum and internship opportunities and post-degree employment opportunities.

When will Naropa be CACREP accredited?

Following CACREP protocols, we cannot speak to a specific date by which the accreditation application will be approved, but we are diligently working to create the conditions to achieve this important goal over the next few years.

Can I become licensed in states outside of Colorado after graduating from Naropa?

As of 2024, federal regulations require universities to speak in a binary (yes/no) regarding education alignment with state licensure requirements. Naropa has created a document that will be updated regularly to reflect which states students can get licensed in after degree completion, and which states have additional requirements that are not a part of Naropa’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) curricula. See the Licensure & Credentialing page for more information.

What kind of licensure guidance does Naropa provide to students?

Naropa provides clear information to applicants and students as to the states in which our curricula meet licensure requirements. Naropa hosts workshops to guide students through state-specific requirements. When applying, students will be required to sign an attestation that states that they intend to practice in a state whose licensure requirements are in alignment with Naropa’s CMHC curricula. Naropa, like all other universities, cannot guarantee licensure approval; licensure approval is at the discretion of the individual state licensure boards. Students are responsible for verifying and fulfilling requirements in the state or country in which they intend to practice.

Can I get licensed as a counselor with a master’s degree from Naropa University?

All five of Naropa’s MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs (the Somatic Counseling concentration, the Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling concentration, Nature-Based Transpersonal Counseling concentration, Transpersonal Art Therapy concentration, and the Buddhism-Informed Contemplative Counseling concentration) prepare students to take their counselor licensure tests after graduation. For more information, please visit the Graduate School of Counseling & Psychology Licensure page.