Georgia is one of the fastest-growing therapy markets in the Southeast. Atlanta’s metro area alone has over 6 million residents, and much of rural Georgia is designated as a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area — creating massive demand for therapists willing to serve via telehealth. Factor in no franchise tax and a straightforward LLC formation process, and Georgia is one of the most practitioner-friendly states to launch a solo practice.
This guide, written by Jason Roy and reviewed by licensed clinicians, walks you through each step — from the Associate Professional Counselor (APC) pathway to credentialing with Anthem BCBS and Georgia Medicaid.
Exploring other states? See our guides for New York, Texas, California, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.
How Georgia Compares to Other States
| Factor | Georgia | Florida | Texas | New York | Illinois |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entity Type | LLC / P.C. | LLC / PLLC | LLC / PLLC | PLLC only | PLLC / P.C. |
| State Income Tax | 5.49% flat | 0% | 0% | Up to 10.9% | 4.95% flat |
| Supervision Hours | 3,000 | 1,500 | 3,000 | Varies | 3,360 |
| Jurisprudence Exam | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Credentialing Time | 90–120 days | 90–120 days | 60–120 days | 90–120 days | 90–120 days |
| Franchise Tax | None | None | Yes (report) | None | None |
The Complete Georgia Private Practice Roadmap
Confirm Your Georgia LPC License
Georgia’s licensing is governed by the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage & Family Therapists. Verify your license status through the Georgia Secretary of State Licensing Lookup.
You must hold a full, unrestricted LPC or LCSW to operate an independent private practice. If you hold an Associate Professional Counselor (APC) credential, you cannot practice solo — you must complete your supervised hours first.
Need a Georgia License?
Whether you’re applying for initial licensure, transferring from another state, or navigating the APC-to-LPC pathway, we handle the paperwork and Board communications for you.
Complete 3,000 Supervised Hours (APC to LPC)
As an Associate Professional Counselor, you must accumulate:
- 3,000 total hours of post-master’s counseling experience (minimum 2 years).
- 105 hours of clinical supervision minimum.
- A Board-approved “Directed Experience Under Supervision” contract must be on file.
- Update the Board within 14 days of any supervisor or worksite change.
Supervisor Qualifications: Must hold an NBCC Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) or LPCAGA Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor (CPCS) credential. APCs cannot be self-employed or own a practice during the supervision period.
Pass Your Licensing Exams
Georgia requires two exams for full LPC licensure:
- NCE (National Counselor Examination) or NCMHCE
- Georgia Jurisprudence Exam — covers state-specific counseling laws and ethics (similar to Texas).
Education Requirement: Master’s degree with at least 60 semester hours. Programs must include a 600-hour supervised practicum/internship.
Form Your LLC (or P.C.)
Georgia is one of the more flexible states for entity formation. Therapists can form a standard LLC — no PLLC or special professional entity is required (unlike New York, Illinois, or California).
- File Articles of Organization with the Georgia Secretary of State online (~$100).
- Designate a registered agent with a GA street address.
- File an Annual Registration ($50/year) to maintain your LLC.
- No publication requirement. No franchise tax.
Get Your EIN & Open Business Banking
Apply for a free EIN at irs.gov. Open a dedicated business checking account. Register with the GA Department of Revenue for state tax obligations.
Register Your NPI Numbers
The NPI is required for all HIPAA-covered billing. Register at NPPES — free, same-day processing.
Complete Your CAQH ProView Profile
CAQH ProView is mandatory for credentialing with Anthem BCBS and all commercial payers. Grant access to each insurer and re-attest every 120 days.
Secure Malpractice Insurance
Georgia Medicaid requires minimum coverage of $1M per occurrence / $3M aggregate. Commercial panels generally require $1M/$3M as well. HPSO and CPH & Associates are popular providers. Expect $200–$600/year.
Begin Insurance Credentialing
Georgia’s insurance landscape is anchored by Anthem. Key panels to target:
- Anthem BCBS of Georgia — Dominant commercial payer
- Aetna
- UnitedHealthcare / Optum
- Cigna
- GA Medicaid — Enroll via GAMMIS, then credential through the state CVO
- Peach State Health Plan — Major Medicaid managed care organization
Expect 90–120 days per panel. Use Alma, Headway, or Grow Therapy for faster panel access while waiting.
Choose Your Practice Setting
Set Up Your Tech Stack
SimplePractice or TherapyNotes
Scheduling, billing, telehealth, HIPAA portal.
Spruce Health
HIPAA-compliant phone, fax, messaging.
Heidi Health or Upheal
AI-powered notes. BAA required.
Clinical Resources:
Lock Down Your Billing Strategy
Accurate medical billing is the lifeline of an insurance-based practice. Key resources:
Grow Your Practice with Local SEO
- Google Business Profile: Post weekly, respond to every review.
- Local SEO: How to Be #1 in Local Search.
- Directories: Psychology Today, Zencare, TherapyDen, Open Path Collective.
Ongoing Compliance
- License Renewal: Biennial via the Georgia Secretary of State portal.
- CAQH Attestation: Re-verify every 120 days.
- CE Hours: 35 hours every two years (including ethics and multicultural competency).
- LLC Annual Registration: $50/year with the GA Secretary of State.
- Tax Planning: Georgia has a flat 5.49% state income tax (reduced from the graduated scale in 2024). Make quarterly estimated payments to both the IRS and GA Department of Revenue.
Pro-Tip: Bookmark this guide for your next credentialing cycle.
Georgia Break-Even Calculator
Estimate sessions per week to cover overhead and reach your income goal. GA state income tax is a flat 5.49%.
Sessions Per Week Needed
Georgia is one of the most flexible states for entity formation. Unlike New York (PLLC), California (P.C.), or Illinois (PLLC), GA lets therapists form a standard LLC — simpler, faster, and cheaper.
Exclusive Provider Bundle:
Licensure + Billing + Growth
$499/month
- GA Licensure Application Support
- Professional Medical Billing
- FREE Insurance Credentialing (Anthem, Aetna, UHC)
- FREE TherapyDial Profile Listing
- Priority Practice Support
Whether you need help getting a GA license or managing your claims. We handle the paperwork.
HIPAA Compliant & Expertly Managed.
More State Practice Guides
Building a multi-state practice or relocating? Explore our guides:
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Georgia is one of the more flexible states. Therapists can form a standard LLC — no PLLC or professional corporation is required. Filing costs approximately $100 with the GA Secretary of State.
3,000 hours of post-master’s counseling experience over at least 2 years, with a minimum of 105 hours of clinical supervision. Your supervisor must hold an ACS or CPCS credential.
Telehealth-only: $500–$1,500 (LLC ~$100, malpractice ~$200–$600/yr, EHR ~$30–$100/mo). Atlanta office adds $1,200–$2,500/month. Suburbs are $700–$1,400/mo.
No. Associate Professional Counselors cannot be self-employed or own a practice. You must complete 3,000 supervised hours and obtain full LPC licensure before practicing independently.
Yes. In addition to the NCE (or NCMHCE), Georgia requires a state-specific Jurisprudence Exam covering GA counseling laws and ethics. This is similar to Texas.
Start with Anthem BCBS of Georgia (the dominant payer), then Aetna, UHC/Optum, and Cigna. For Medicaid, enroll via GAMMIS then join Peach State Health Plan.
Georgia transitioned to a flat 5.49% state income tax in 2024 (down from a graduated scale topping at 5.75%). The rate applies equally regardless of income level.
