Applying for a License and Timelines

Start the process by reading carefully the laws and rules for licensure in Texas. Doing so will help you know whether you meet the requirements to obtain a license to practice marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, psychology, or social work. In particular, you should pay careful attention to each of the following:

  • 22 TAC 882.1, the rule that governs how the Council processes applications;
  • 22 TAC 882.2, the rule that sets out the general requirements for all applications, regardless of the type of license sought; and
  • the application packet for the license sought, with particular attention paid to the checklist of items and forms needed to apply for that license.
  • Applicants with foreign degrees must also comply with 22 TAC 882.11, the rule governing how the Council reviews foreign degrees.

Prospective applicants can download the application packet for the license sought by clicking on the link for the board charged with determining the license qualifications for that particular profession. The website for each board will provide further instruction on the minimum qualifications necessary to obtain a license, as well as the checklist of items and forms needed to apply for licensure.

Apply for a License

The following button will take you to the Council’s online licensing system where you can apply for a new license or renew an existing license.

If you need to set up an account in the online licensing system or need help navigating the system, please review the How-To User Guides webpage (found in the left-hand menu) for assistance.

Note: If you experience technical difficulties logging into or using the online licensing system, please check first the compatibility of your browser by reviewing the compatibility information located at the bottom of the online licensing system login page. If that does not resolve the issue, please contact the HPC Helpdesk for technical assistance.

Planned System Outage – Online Licensing Unavailable


Please be advised that the Council’s online licensing system will be unavailable on May 1, 2026, from 12:00 AM to 1:00 AM (CDT) due to a scheduled maintenance window for SnapPay, the State of Texas’ payment portal used to process online transactions.

During this time, you will not be able to submit applications, renew licenses, or make any payments through the system.

This outage is particularly important given that a high volume of licensees typically attempt to complete renewals at the end of the month. If your license is set to expire on April 30, 2026, you are strongly encouraged to complete your renewal in advance of the outage to avoid any interruption in licensure status.

Please note:

  • Late renewals caused by attempting to transact during the outage will not result in a waiver of late fees.
  • The system will resume normal operations after the maintenance window concludes at 1:00 AM CDT on May 1.

We appreciate your attention to this matter and encourage you to plan accordingly to avoid any disruption.

Posted on April 17, 2026

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