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Rules checked October 25, 2026 · by Dr. Emily Turinas, PhD

How to start a private practice in Missouri

The steps are the same everywhere. Missouri's rules are what change: your board, your entity, your ads, your paperwork. Here they are for counselors, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, and psychologists, each linked to the official source.

Business education, not legal, tax, or clinical advice. Confirm each rule at the linked source before you rely on it.

Show rules for:
Usual entityA regular LLC (there's no separate PLLC)
Yearly state filing$0: no annual report for LLCs
Recording sessionsOne-party consent state; get written consent either way
AI note toolsNo Missouri-specific AI note law found as of October 25, 2026

By license

Starting a private practice in Missouri, by license

Find your license for its Missouri title, board, and what associates should know. The full rules for every license follow below, each linked to the official source.

Counselors · LPC

Starting a private practice in Missouri as an LPC

License: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Board: Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors, Division of Professional Registration, Department of Commerce and Insurance (20 CSR 2095, RSMo 337.500 to 337.540).

  • Title in ads: Use your accurate license title, such as "Licensed Professional Counselor," and never misstate your credentials.
  • Continuing education: Complete 40 hours of CE before each license expires, every 2 years.
  • Renewal: Renew every 2 years, on or before your license expiration date.
Before full licensure: Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC)

Our research didn't find a Missouri board rule on this level's ads or private practice. Whether you may own a practice, bill insurance in your own name, or see private-pay clients outside your supervisor's practice: confirm with your board before you set anything up.

Rules checked October 25, 2026 · Official board site · Ad rules · Consent and records

MFTs · LMFT

Starting a private practice in Missouri as an LMFT

License: Licensed Marital and Family Therapist (LMFT). Board: Missouri State Committee of Marital and Family Therapists, Division of Professional Registration, Department of Commerce and Insurance (20 CSR 2233, RSMo 337.700 to 337.739).

  • Title in ads: Use your protected title, "Licensed Marital and Family Therapist" or "LMFT," and only if you hold the license.
  • Continuing education: Complete 40 contact hours of CE every 2 years.
  • Renewal: Renew every 2 years, before your license expires.
Before full licensure: Provisional Licensed Marital and Family Therapist (PLMFT)

Our research didn't find a Missouri board rule on this level's ads or private practice. Whether you may own a practice, bill insurance in your own name, or see private-pay clients outside your supervisor's practice: confirm with your board before you set anything up.

Rules checked October 25, 2026 · Official board site · Ad rules · Consent and records

Social workers · LCSW

Starting a private practice in Missouri as an LCSW

License: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Board: Missouri State Committee for Social Workers, Division of Professional Registration, Department of Commerce and Insurance (20 CSR 2263, RSMo 337.600 to 337.689).

  • Title in ads: Show your title, such as "Licensed Clinical Social Worker" or "LCSW," in every ad, directory listing and solicitation.
  • Continuing education: Complete 30 clock hours of CE every 2 years.
  • Renewal: Renew every 2 years. The renewal window opens July 1 of the renewal year.
Before full licensure: Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)

Our research didn't find a Missouri board rule on this level's ads or private practice. Whether you may own a practice, bill insurance in your own name, or see private-pay clients outside your supervisor's practice: confirm with your board before you set anything up.

Rules checked October 25, 2026 · Official board site · Ad rules · Consent and records

Psychologists

Starting a private practice in Missouri as a psychologist

License: Psychologist. Board: Missouri State Committee of Psychologists, Division of Professional Registration, Department of Commerce and Insurance (20 CSR 2235, RSMo 337.010 to 337.090).

  • Title in ads: Use a title that accurately shows your training, such as "Licensed Psychologist" or "L.P."
  • Continuing education: Complete 40 hours of CE in the 2 years before each renewal.
  • Renewal: Renew by January 31 of each even-numbered year. The next date is January 31, 2028.
If you're not fully licensed yet

Our research didn't find a Missouri board rule on this level's ads or private practice. Whether you may own a practice, bill insurance in your own name, or see private-pay clients outside your supervisor's practice: confirm with your board before you set anything up.

Rules checked October 25, 2026 · Official board site · Ad rules · Consent and records

Licensing

Your licensing board in Missouri

Read your board's rules before you name your practice or write your website.

LicenseBoardContinuing educationRenewal
CounselorsMissouri Committee for Professional Counselors, Division of Professional Registration, Department of Commerce and Insurance (20 CSR 2095, RSMo 337.500 to 337.540)Complete 40 hours of CE before each license expires, every 2 years.Renew every 2 years, on or before your license expiration date.
Marriage and family therapistsMissouri State Committee of Marital and Family Therapists, Division of Professional Registration, Department of Commerce and Insurance (20 CSR 2233, RSMo 337.700 to 337.739)Complete 40 contact hours of CE every 2 years.Renew every 2 years, before your license expires.
Clinical social workersMissouri State Committee for Social Workers, Division of Professional Registration, Department of Commerce and Insurance (20 CSR 2263, RSMo 337.600 to 337.689)Complete 30 clock hours of CE every 2 years.Renew every 2 years. The renewal window opens July 1 of the renewal year.
PsychologistsMissouri State Committee of Psychologists, Division of Professional Registration, Department of Commerce and Insurance (20 CSR 2235, RSMo 337.010 to 337.090)Complete 40 hours of CE in the 2 years before each renewal.Renew by January 31 of each even-numbered year. The next date is January 31, 2028.

Advertising

Advertising rules for therapists in Missouri

Every ad counts: your website, directory profiles, business cards, and often your bills.

Counselors

Your title

Use your accurate license title, such as "Licensed Professional Counselor," and never misstate your credentials.

  • Only licensees may call themselves a professional counselor or counselor.
  • Display your license where clients can see it.

Not yet confirmed: No rule we found sets an exact ad title or requires your license number in ads. Ask the committee.

RSMo 337.505 and 20 CSR 2095-3.010(4)-(5)

What you can't say

Keep ads truthful and not misleading.

  • False, misleading or deceptive ads are grounds for discipline.
  • Fraud and misrepresentation are also grounds.

Not yet confirmed: We found no Missouri counselor rule on testimonials, the word "specialist," or guarantees. Avoid them or ask the committee first.

RSMo 337.525.2(14)

Marriage and family therapists

Your title

Use your protected title, "Licensed Marital and Family Therapist" or "LMFT," and only if you hold the license.

  • Only licensees may use "marital and family therapist."

Not yet confirmed: We found no rule on ad title format or putting your license number in ads. Ask the committee.

RSMo 337.703

What you can't say

Be truthful about your services and fees, and don't have clients recruit for you.

  • Don't mislead clients or payers about the cost of your services.
  • Don't ask clients to solicit business for you.

Not yet confirmed: We found no Missouri MFT advertising rule on testimonials, the word "specialist," or guarantees. Avoid them or ask the committee first.

20 CSR 2233-3.010(15), (19)

Clinical social workers

Your title

Show your title, such as "Licensed Clinical Social Worker" or "LCSW," in every ad, directory listing and solicitation.

  • This applies even under a business or group name.
  • Only list degrees from schools the committee accepts.
  • Display your license prominently.

Not yet confirmed: The rule doesn't require your license number in ads. Ask the committee if you want to be sure.

20 CSR 2263-3.080(2)-(5)

What you can't say

Keep ads honest, and never pay or take fees for referrals.

  • No fraud or misrepresentation.
  • False, misleading or deceptive ads are grounds for discipline.
  • Don't use clients to promote businesses for your own gain.

Not yet confirmed: We found no Missouri rule on testimonials, the word "specialist," or guarantees. Avoid them or ask the committee first.

20 CSR 2263-3.080(1) and RSMo 337.630.2(14)

Psychologists

Your title

Use a title that accurately shows your training, such as "Licensed Psychologist" or "L.P."

  • Only the initials L.P. and P.L.P. are allowed for licensure titles.
  • Initials for your highest earned relevant degree are fine.
  • Display your Missouri license at your workplace.

Not yet confirmed: The rule doesn't require your license number in ads. Ask the committee if you want to be sure.

20 CSR 2235-5.030(10)(A)-(C)

What you can't say

No client testimonials, no promises of results, and no direct solicitation.

  • No statements implying unusual, unique or one-of-a-kind abilities.
  • No appeals to fears or anxieties, and no comparisons of your services to others.
  • No false, misleading or partial-fact statements.

Not yet confirmed: The word "specialist" isn't named in the rule. It may fall under the unique-ability ban, so avoid it or ask the committee.

20 CSR 2235-5.030(10)(F)

Your business

Forming your practice in Missouri

Missouri has no separate PLLC. Therapists generally form a regular LLC, still subject to their licensing board's rules. Check with your board before you file.

Local taxes: Kansas City and St. Louis have their own earnings taxes.

Then get your free EIN, open a business bank account, and get your free NPI. More in do therapists need a PLLC or LLC?

WhatMissouri
Usual entityregular LLC (there's no separate PLLC)
Yearly state filing$0: no annual report for LLCs
When it's dueNone
Where to filesos.mo.gov/business

Paperwork

Informed consent and records in Missouri

What your intake paperwork must cover, and how long to keep records. For the full form, see informed consent for therapy and the Good Faith Estimate guide.

Counselors

Informed consent

Explain and document informed consent before your first session.

  • Goals, services, client behavior expected, risks and benefits, your credentials, and fees.
  • Limits of confidentiality for individual, couple, family and group work.
  • Recording of sessions, and how records are stored and who can see them.
  • How any technology you use meets legal requirements.

20 CSR 2095-3.015(1)-(3)

Records

Keep records at least 5 years after your last date of service with a client.

  • Keep them longer if other state or federal law requires it.
  • Include consent, reason for services, treatment plan, dates, fees and termination notes.
  • No separate rule for minors was found.

Not yet confirmed: Other laws (HIPAA, insurers, minors' records) may require longer. Check before you destroy records.

20 CSR 2095-3.015(7)-(8)

Complaints

Your board doesn't require a complaint notice that we could find.

  • The committee accepts written, signed complaints at PO Box 1335, Jefferson City, MO 65102.

Not yet confirmed: Telling clients how to reach the committee is good practice. Ask the committee if a notice is required.

20 CSR 2095-1.050

Marriage and family therapists

Informed consent

Explain informed consent before beginning therapy.

  • Goals, services, behavior expected, risks and benefits, your credentials, and fees.
  • Limits of confidentiality. Third-party disclosures need a release signed by all participants.
  • Any taping or recording and how tapes will be used.
  • Tell minors and guardians the legal limits of confidentiality.

20 CSR 2233-3.020(1)

Records

Keep records at least 5 years after your last date of therapy.

  • Include presenting issues, dates and descriptions of contacts, goals, fees, referrals and informed consent.
  • No separate rule for minors was found.

Not yet confirmed: Other laws such as HIPAA or minors' records rules may require longer.

20 CSR 2233-3.010(7)-(8)

Complaints

Your board doesn't require a complaint notice that we could find.

  • The committee accepts written complaints.

Not yet confirmed: Ask the committee if a notice is required. Giving clients the committee's contact is good practice.

20 CSR 2233-1.030

Clinical social workers

Informed consent

Explain your purposes, goals, techniques and limits to the client at or before the first session.

  • Tell clients the limits of confidentiality at the start.
  • Tell clients about any recording and how it will be used.
  • Make sure clients know your fees and billing before you start.

Not yet confirmed: No formal checklist or written-consent rule was found. Get a signed consent form as good practice.

20 CSR 2263-3.040(3), 3.040(7), 3.100(2)

Records

Keep records at least 5 years after your services end.

  • Include presenting problem, assessment, plan, progress notes, fees, and dates of contacts.
  • In private practice, keep a written note of the date and reason for termination.
  • Never falsify records or destroy them without authorization.

Not yet confirmed: No separate minor rule was found. Other laws such as HIPAA may require longer.

20 CSR 2263-3.040(11)-(13)

Complaints

Your board doesn't require a complaint notice that we could find.

  • The committee accepts written complaints.

Not yet confirmed: Ask the committee if a notice is required. Giving clients the committee's contact is good practice.

20 CSR 2263-1.025

Psychologists

Informed consent

Get written informed consent covering all aspects of services before you start.

  • Document the purpose, nature and alternatives of treatment in plain language.
  • Tell clients if services are voluntary or mandatory.
  • Get permission before recording, and explain who may access confidential information.
  • Tell minors and guardian clients the legal limits of confidentiality. In couples and family work, clarify confidentiality with everyone.

20 CSR 2235-5.030(4)(A)12, (8)(B), (9)

Records

Keep records at least 5 years after your last date of service with a client.

  • Make entries within 10 days of each service.
  • Include test data, fees, releases and written informed consent.
  • Make a plan for records if you die or can't practice.

Not yet confirmed: No separate minor rule was found. Other laws such as HIPAA may require longer.

20 CSR 2235-5.030(4)-(5)

Complaints

Tell clients how to file a complaint when they ask or when they report a possible violation.

  • Include the standards of practice and how to file.
  • Complaints go in writing to PO Box 1335, Jefferson City, MO 65102.

Not yet confirmed: No rule requires a posted or standing notice. Adding one to your consent form is good practice.

20 CSR 2235-5.030(15)(B)

Practice

Telehealth, recording, AI notes, and reporting in Missouri

Telehealth consent

No extra Missouri items beyond a standard telehealth consent were found. Keep the basics: the client's location each session, an emergency contact, and what happens if the connection drops.

Recording

Missouri is a one-party consent state under its general recording law (RSMo 542.402). Whatever the law, get written consent before recording a session or using an AI tool that listens to one.

AI note tools

No state law or board rule specific to AI note tools confirmed as of Oct 2026. Federal HIPAA, state confidentiality law, and board ethics rules still apply.

More in AI scribe consent for therapists.

Your consent should
  • Name the AI tool and what it does (drafts notes from a recording, transcript, or the therapist's summary)
  • Say whether the session is recorded or transcribed, and how long any audio, transcript, and AI data is kept before deletion
  • Client may say no or withdraw at any time without losing care
  • the therapist reviews and signs every note

Reporting abuse

Report suspected child abuse or neglect immediately to the Missouri Children's Division, yourself.

  • Call the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-800-392-3738 (also 1-844-CAN-TELL), open 24 hours a day, or use the state's online system (OSCR).
  • If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
  • No internal investigation may start first, and no supervisor may block your report.
  • The Division will contact you within 48 hours to get more detail.

Not yet confirmed: RSMo 210.115 names psychologists, mental health professionals and social workers. It doesn't name counselors or marital and family therapists by title. Most practitioners treat themselves as covered. Confirm with the committee or your attorney.

RSMo 210.115

The order

The order to do it in

The same steps as anywhere, with Missouri's rules above plugged in. The full walk-through, with costs and a timeline, is in how to start a private practice.

01.

Read your board's rules

02.

Decide who you help and how clients pay

03.

Name it and set up the business

04.

Get malpractice insurance

05.

Set up HIPAA-ready systems

06.

Write your paperwork with these rules

07.

Set your fee

08.

Get found, early

Your Missouri checklist, done for youThe free checklist fits every step to your license and Missouri: your board's rules, your entity steps with filing links, and starter intake forms filled in with Missouri's requirements.
Get your Missouri checklist →

Next steps

Guides for your Missouri practice

Free, and written for therapists. Start with the free private practice checklist for Missouri: it fits each step to your license.

Do therapists need a PLLC or LLC?Entity types, costs, and taxes, state by state.How much should I charge for therapy?A simple fee formula and a free calculator.Credentialing with insurance companiesGetting on insurance panels, in order.Informed consent for therapyWhat your form must include, with a checklist.AI scribe consent for therapistsState laws on AI note tools in 2026.Good Faith Estimate for therapistsWhat it must include and when to give it.Google Business Profile for therapistsSetup and privacy for a therapy practice.How much does it cost to start a private practice?Every cost, line by line, with three budgets.Liability insurance for therapistsWhat malpractice coverage costs and what to ask.How much do therapists make?Pay by license, and private practice math.

Nearby states: How to start a private practice in Kansas · How to start a private practice in Illinois · How to start a private practice in Arkansas · How to start a private practice in Iowa

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a PLLC to start a private practice in Missouri?

In Missouri, plan on a regular LLC (there's no separate PLLC). Missouri has no separate PLLC. A sole proprietorship needs no state filing, but it doesn't separate your business from your personal assets. Check what your licensing board allows before you file.

How many CE hours do therapists need in Missouri?

Counselors: Complete 40 hours of CE before each license expires, every 2 years. Marriage and family therapists: Complete 40 contact hours of CE every 2 years. Clinical social workers: Complete 30 clock hours of CE every 2 years. Psychologists: Complete 40 hours of CE in the 2 years before each renewal.

How long do I have to keep therapy records in Missouri?

Counselors: Keep records at least 5 years after your last date of service with a client. Marriage and family therapists: Keep records at least 5 years after your last date of therapy. Clinical social workers: Keep records at least 5 years after your services end. Psychologists: Keep records at least 5 years after your last date of service with a client.

Is Missouri a one-party or all-party consent state for recording sessions?

Missouri is a one-party consent state under its general recording law (RSMo 542.402). Even so, ethics rules and HIPAA mean you should get your client's written consent before recording any session or using an AI note tool that records.

Can an LPC open a private practice in Missouri?

The Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) is Missouri's full license for counselors, issued by the Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors, Division of Professional Registration, Department of Commerce and Insurance (20 CSR 2095, RSMo 337.500 to 337.540). The level before it is Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC). On your website and ads: use your accurate license title, such as "Licensed Professional Counselor," and never misstate your credentials. Then set up your business (in Missouri, usually a regular LLC, there's no separate PLLC) and confirm with the board that nothing else applies to your setup, such as a separate private-practice approval.

Can an LCSW open a private practice in Missouri?

The Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) is Missouri's full license for clinical social workers, issued by the Missouri State Committee for Social Workers, Division of Professional Registration, Department of Commerce and Insurance (20 CSR 2263, RSMo 337.600 to 337.689). The level before it is Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). On your website and ads: show your title, such as "Licensed Clinical Social Worker" or "LCSW," in every ad, directory listing and solicitation. Then set up your business (in Missouri, usually a regular LLC, there's no separate PLLC) and confirm with the board that nothing else applies to your setup, such as a separate private-practice approval.

What title do LMFTs use on their website in Missouri?

Use your protected title, "Licensed Marital and Family Therapist" or "LMFT," and only if you hold the license. Only licensees may use "marital and family therapist.". Source: RSMo 337.703.

Can associates see private-pay clients in Missouri?

Missouri's associate and pre-licensed levels include Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC), Provisional Licensed Marital and Family Therapist (PLMFT), and Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). Our research did not confirm whether Missouri lets associates own a practice, bill in their own name, or see private-pay clients outside a supervisor's practice, so confirm with your board and your supervisor before you set one up.

Which board licenses psychologists in Missouri?

The Missouri State Committee of Psychologists, Division of Professional Registration, Department of Commerce and Insurance (20 CSR 2235, RSMo 337.010 to 337.090). Continuing education: complete 40 hours of CE in the 2 years before each renewal. Renewal: renew by January 31 of each even-numbered year. The next date is January 31, 2028. Confirm current requirements on the board's site.

Sources

Board rules checked October 25, 2026 from official board, statute, and state filing sites. If something has changed, email [email protected] and we'll update it.

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