Understanding therapist credentials
Use this page to verify someone is licensed and understand what the letters mean — without needing jargon.
You’re in the right place if you’re seeing acronyms (LPC/LCPC/LCSW/LMFT) or “certified in…” and you want to know what’s legit and what questions to ask.
TherapyFit is currently built for Illinois-based care. We’re starting with one state so guidance about licensing, credentials, and local support pathways stays accurate and usable — then expanding state-by-state using the same quality standard.
Educational only; verify credentials and scope directly with providers and your state board.
Search a credential or acronym
Best when you already have letters from a provider profile (LCSW, PMHNP, ATR-BC, BCBA, OT, SLP…).
Start here (pick what you’re trying to solve)
You don’t need to know the acronyms. Choose the path that matches your situation.
How to verify a license, confirm status, and check for discipline.
Licenses are regulated; certifications vary. Here’s how to interpret them.
Browse provider types (LPC/LCPC, LCSW, LMFT, Psychologist…) and what to ask.
Optional tools: decode terms + copy/paste questions to ask.
Verify credentials (fastest win)
If you want to confirm licensure or check for disciplinary history, these are the most reliable places to look.
Search your state’s professional licensing database for their name and license number. This is the most direct way to confirm active status, license type, and (sometimes) discipline.
Tip: if a provider lists a license number, search by that (fewer duplicates than names).
Many healthcare providers have an NPI (National Provider Identifier). It can help confirm identity, practice location, and provider type. It’s not a “quality badge,” but it’s useful for verification.
Some specialty credentials have official registries. If someone lists a specialty credential, ask which organization issued it and whether they’re listed publicly.
License vs certification (what’s the difference?)
Licenses are regulated and legally required to practice; certifications are extra specialization and vary widely.
- A qualifying degree (often Master’s or Doctorate)
- 2,000–4,000+ supervised hours after the degree (varies by state and license)
- One or more licensure exams
- Ongoing continuing education + board oversight
Not just a class: education, supervised practice, testing, and legal accountability.
- Often days to months of training (sometimes longer)
- May include consultation/supervision specific to the method
- Issued by a professional organization (quality varies)
Certifications can signal specialization, but “certified” isn’t a uniform standard. Ask what training they actually completed.
Browse provider types (who’s who)
Categories and explanations below. If you searched above, your results will appear here.
Showing: Licensed therapy — Talk therapy roles
Private practice, group practices, clinics, schools/universities, and community mental health.
Schooling: Master’s or higher.
Provides psychotherapy and treatment planning. Diagnosis and assessment scope varies by role and state.
Schooling: MSW.
Psychotherapy + systems/resource lens; many practice similarly to counselors in therapy settings.
Schooling: Master’s or higher.
Specializes in relationships/family systems (also treats individuals).
Schooling: Doctorate.
Psychotherapy + deeper assessment/testing training (often); some provide formal testing/assessment.
Optional tools
Useful extras if you want to go deeper — kept out of the main flow so the page stays focused.
Training terms translator (what the words actually mean)Show +Hide –
Training terms, translated
Therapists describe training in lots of ways (“trained in…”, “certified in…”, “informed by…”). This helps you interpret what you are seeing and ask clearer questions — without turning this page into a giant list.
Pick a phrase you saw on a therapist’s website.
- They took coursework, a workshop, or a formal training sequence.
- Training can range from a single weekend to a multi-month program.
- Training alone does not equal skill — practice + supervision matter a lot.
- It may not mean they use it regularly.
- Was it a workshop, a full program, or ongoing consultation?
- How many hours total?
- Do you get consultation/supervision for this approach?
If you are new to therapy, this helps you quickly narrow down what kind of support might work for you.
- What do sessions usually look like (talking, tools, exercises, body-based, creative)?
- What should we focus on first — and why?
- What would progress look like in 4–6 sessions?
- How do you adjust if something is not working for me?
- What training + experience do you have with what I am coming in for?
You are not trying to “get the right answer.” You are gathering enough information to decide what feels workable.
Practical note: many therapists do not offer free consults — you can still ask these in an intake.
What to ask in a first call (copy/paste prompts)Show +Hide –
These questions help you understand fit quickly — without needing therapy jargon.
- “What’s your approach with [my main concern], and what would sessions look like?”
- “How do you decide what we work on week to week?”
- “How will we measure progress?”
- “If I’m stuck, what do you do differently?”
- “What should I do between sessions (if anything)?”
You’re not trying to get the “right” answer — you’re checking whether the approach matches what you need.
Educational only; verify credentials and scope directly with providers and your state board.