Counselors
LPC- PLLC
- Yes
- Professional corporation
- Yes
Licensing board: DC Board of Professional Counseling (DC Health)
Join the waitlist for your counseling practiceLoading the guide
Which business structures each therapy license may use, where to file and what it costs, the taxes to expect, and the order to do it in. Every fee shows the date we checked it.
For all four licenses, we confirmed: PLLC and Professional corporation. A sole proprietorship works in every state and needs no company filing.
From state law and board rules as we last read them, not advice for your situation. “Yes” means we confirmed it. When we could not, the card says to confirm with your board.
Licensing board: DC Board of Professional Counseling (DC Health)
Join the waitlist for your counseling practiceLicensing board: DC Board of Professional Counseling (marriage and family therapy licensing, DC Health)
Join the waitlist for your marriage and family therapy practiceLicensing board: DC Board of Social Work (DC Health)
Join the waitlist for your social work practiceLicensing board: DC Board of Psychology (DC Health)
Join the waitlist for your psychology practiceCounselors: Professional counselors are licensed by the Board of Professional Counseling under D.C. Code 3-1207.10; the board's rules (17 DCMR chapter 66) do not address business structure. A professional corporation is available: D.C. Code 29-502(3) defines professional service to include the services of health professionals as defined in D.C. Code 3-1201.01(8), which means anyone licensed under the Health Occupations Revision Act, and 29-508(b) requires every shareholder, director and officer to be licensed in that service (the secretary of a one-shareholder corporation need not be). A professional limited liability company is also available: D.C. Code 29-101.02(38) defines a PLLC as an LLC organized solely to render professional services, 29-103.02(f) requires its name to contain "professional limited liability company", "P.L.L.C." or "PLLC", and DLCP Form DLC-1 directs that the articles describe the professional service, naming health professionals under 3-1201.01(8) as eligible. An ordinary LLC may have any lawful purpose (29-801.04(b)), and neither the Health Occupations Revision Act nor the board's rules address business structure. Because an LLC organized only to provide therapy meets the PLLC definition, whether such a practice may instead use a plain "LLC" name is not settled; the DLCP Corporations Division (202-442-4432) can say how it classifies that filing.
Marriage and family therapists: Marriage and family therapists are licensed by the Board of Professional Counseling under D.C. Code 3-1208.31 (the separate Board of Marriage and Family Therapy, 3-1202.17, was repealed); the marriage and family therapy rules (17 DCMR chapter 77) do not address business structure. A professional corporation is available: D.C. Code 29-502(3) defines professional service to include the services of health professionals as defined in D.C. Code 3-1201.01(8), which means anyone licensed under the Health Occupations Revision Act, and 29-508(b) requires every shareholder, director and officer to be licensed in that service (the secretary of a one-shareholder corporation need not be). A professional limited liability company is also available: D.C. Code 29-101.02(38) defines a PLLC as an LLC organized solely to render professional services, 29-103.02(f) requires its name to contain "professional limited liability company", "P.L.L.C." or "PLLC", and DLCP Form DLC-1 directs that the articles describe the professional service, naming health professionals under 3-1201.01(8) as eligible. An ordinary LLC may have any lawful purpose (29-801.04(b)), and neither the Health Occupations Revision Act nor the board's rules address business structure. Because an LLC organized only to provide therapy meets the PLLC definition, whether such a practice may instead use a plain "LLC" name is not settled; the DLCP Corporations Division (202-442-4432) can say how it classifies that filing.
Social workers: Independent clinical social workers are licensed by the Board of Social Work under D.C. Code 3-1208.04; the board's rules (17 DCMR chapter 70) do not address business structure. A professional corporation is available: D.C. Code 29-502(3) defines professional service to include the services of health professionals as defined in D.C. Code 3-1201.01(8), which means anyone licensed under the Health Occupations Revision Act, and 29-508(b) requires every shareholder, director and officer to be licensed in that service (the secretary of a one-shareholder corporation need not be). A professional limited liability company is also available: D.C. Code 29-101.02(38) defines a PLLC as an LLC organized solely to render professional services, 29-103.02(f) requires its name to contain "professional limited liability company", "P.L.L.C." or "PLLC", and DLCP Form DLC-1 directs that the articles describe the professional service, naming health professionals under 3-1201.01(8) as eligible. An ordinary LLC may have any lawful purpose (29-801.04(b)), and neither the Health Occupations Revision Act nor the board's rules address business structure. Because an LLC organized only to provide therapy meets the PLLC definition, whether such a practice may instead use a plain "LLC" name is not settled; the DLCP Corporations Division (202-442-4432) can say how it classifies that filing.
Psychologists: Psychologists are licensed by the Board of Psychology (D.C. Code 3-1202.11); the board's rules (17 DCMR chapter 69) do not address business structure. A professional corporation is available: D.C. Code 29-502(3) defines professional service to include the services of health professionals as defined in D.C. Code 3-1201.01(8), which means anyone licensed under the Health Occupations Revision Act, and 29-508(b) requires every shareholder, director and officer to be licensed in that service (the secretary of a one-shareholder corporation need not be). A professional limited liability company is also available: D.C. Code 29-101.02(38) defines a PLLC as an LLC organized solely to render professional services, 29-103.02(f) requires its name to contain "professional limited liability company", "P.L.L.C." or "PLLC", and DLCP Form DLC-1 directs that the articles describe the professional service, naming health professionals under 3-1201.01(8) as eligible. An ordinary LLC may have any lawful purpose (29-801.04(b)), and neither the Health Occupations Revision Act nor the board's rules address business structure. Because an LLC organized only to provide therapy meets the PLLC definition, whether such a practice may instead use a plain "LLC" name is not settled; the DLCP Corporations Division (202-442-4432) can say how it classifies that filing.
A PLLC is a domestic LLC (D.C. Code 29-101.02(38)) and files the same Form DLC-1, which refers to the corporate fee schedule; DLCP lists $99 for a domestic LLC certificate of organization and no separate PLLC fee. Same expedite options.
DLCP's professional corporation fee table says filings other than conversion follow domestic business corporation fees: $99 for articles with authorized capital up to $100,000 (higher tiers $550, $1,100 and $1,650). Expedited service adds $50 (3-day) or $100 (same day).
This is an estimate, added up from the fees on this page: the state filing fee, the first annual report or yearly state fee, and any flat minimum tax our data names. It leaves out board application fees, a registered agent company, expedited filing, newspaper notices, name reservations, local licenses and income tax. The state sets the real amounts.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| State filing fee | $99 |
| First annual report or yearly state feeThis state asks for a report every two years, so the first one may fall in year two. Not counted in the total. | $300 (not counted) |
| Known state costs in year one (not complete) | $99 |
Shown but not counted in the total, because it may not apply in year one or is unconfirmed: First annual report or yearly state fee.
Does not include state taxes unless a flat minimum is listed above.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| State filing fee | $99 |
| First annual report or yearly state feeThis state asks for a report every two years, so the first one may fall in year two. Not counted in the total. | $300 (not counted) |
| Minimum franchise tax for corporationsFor DC gross receipts of $1 million or less. | $250 |
| Known state costs in year one (not complete) | $349 |
Shown but not counted in the total, because it may not apply in year one or is unconfirmed: First annual report or yearly state fee.
Check with the state tax agency which state taxes apply to your business type before you file. Its official pages are linked below.
State tax information More tax information
City and county: DLCP requires most businesses to hold a Basic Business License (BBL); the category depends on activity, and DLCP's systems moved to a new portal called BOSS (launched Aug 10, 2026), so confirm the category list there. Home-based practices may also need a Home Occupation Permit. DLCP phone 202-671-4500. See https://dlcp.dc.gov/page/what-kind-license-do-i-need Ask your city or county whether a local business license or home occupation permit applies to a practice like yours.
Ask an accountant before you choose how the company is taxed. This page does not tell you which tax treatment to pick.
The order below follows the rules we found for District of Columbia. A board approval or a newspaper notice changes where a task falls, so a different state may order these differently.
Your District of Columbia licensing board can add its own rules to the state's business law. Read them for your license before you file anything.
Check that no one in the state already has the name, and follow the state's name rules for professional practices.
The state requires a registered agent with a street address in the state. That can be you, if you have a street address in the state, or a registered agent company.
Use the form and fee for the structure you chose, listed above.
It is free. Apply only on irs.gov, after the state approves your filing.
You may already have one. Get a second, organization number only if your practice is a company that bills under its own name.
Bring your state filing, EIN letter and ID. Keeping practice money in its own account keeps your records clean.
Ask your city or county whether a local business license or home occupation permit applies to a practice like yours.
Put your every-two-years report and any state taxes on your calendar so your company stays in good standing.
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Last checked: Oct 18, 2026. We change this date only when someone re-checks the facts, never when the page is rebuilt.
We checked these facts against the official sources listed below, including the state filing office and the licensing boards.
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