How to Become a Licensed Professional Counselor
Licensed professional counselors help people work through anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship struggles, and major life transitions. If you want to do meaningful therapeutic work without spending a decade in school, the LPC path is one of the most practical routes into mental health practice. Here's what the journey actually looks like.
Taylor Rupe
B.A. in Psychology, University of Washington — Seattle
Key Takeaways
- Mental health counselors earn a median salary of $59,190 per year according to the most recent BLS data, with top earners exceeding $98,000.
- You'll need a master's degree (typically 60 credits from a CACREP-accredited program) plus 2,000 to 4,000 supervised clinical hours — a significantly faster path than clinical psychology.
- Employment is projected to grow 17% through 2034, much faster than average, with about 48,300 openings annually.
- The National Counselor Examination (NCE) from NBCC is the standard licensing exam accepted in most states, though some states use the NCMHCE instead.
- One in five U.S. adults lives with a mental illness, and there simply aren't enough licensed providers to meet demand — which is why this field is growing so fast.
What Does a Licensed Professional Counselor Do?
Licensed professional counselors (LPCs) — also known as licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs), licensed clinical professional counselors (LCPCs), or licensed professional clinical counselors (LPCCs) depending on your state — provide assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health and emotional disorders. The title changes across state lines, but the work is fundamentally the same.
In practice, you're sitting with individuals, couples, families, or groups and using evidence-based therapeutic approaches to help them understand their patterns, develop coping strategies, and make real changes. Most LPCs gravitate toward specific modalities — cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), person-centered therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, EMDR for trauma — and build expertise in working with particular populations or presenting concerns over time.
What distinguishes counseling from clinical psychology isn't the quality of the work — it's the philosophical lens. The counseling profession has historically emphasized wellness, strengths, and human development rather than pathology. You're trained to see the whole person, not just the diagnosis. That said, LPCs absolutely work with serious mental illness, and the scope of practice is broad enough that most counselors eventually develop a clinical niche that reflects their interests and the needs of their community.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- Conduct biopsychosocial assessments and clinical intake interviews to understand each client's history, symptoms, and goals
- Diagnose mental health conditions using DSM-5-TR criteria and develop individualized treatment plans
- Provide individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapy using evidence-based modalities like CBT, DBT, EMDR, and motivational interviewing
- Monitor client progress through ongoing assessment and adjust treatment approaches as needed
- Maintain detailed clinical documentation and treatment notes that meet ethical and legal standards
- Coordinate care with psychiatrists, social workers, physicians, and other providers on behalf of clients
- Develop crisis intervention and safety plans for clients experiencing suicidal ideation or acute distress
- Stay current with continuing education requirements and emerging research in counseling practices
Common Specializations
How to Become a Licensed Professional Counselor
Here's the good news: compared to the clinical psychology track, the path to becoming an LPC is significantly shorter. You're looking at roughly six to eight years of training after high school, including your bachelor's degree, master's program, and supervised clinical hours. That's still a real commitment, but it means you can be independently licensed and seeing clients in your early-to-mid twenties if you move through the pipeline efficiently.
The less glamorous reality is that the post-master's supervision period — often called the "associate" or "provisional" licensure phase — can feel like a grind. You're doing the same work as a fully licensed counselor but typically earning less while you accumulate the required hours. Most people in the field will tell you it's worth it, but go in with your eyes open about that stretch.
Earn a Bachelor's Degree
4 years
Start with a four-year degree, ideally in psychology, counseling, social work, or a related field. While most master's programs don't strictly require a psychology undergraduate degree, coursework in abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, statistics, and research methods will give you a meaningful head start. Use this time to get some real exposure to helping roles — volunteer at a crisis hotline, work as a peer counselor, or intern at a community mental health agency. These experiences will strengthen your graduate school applications and help you confirm this is the right path.
Complete a Master's Degree in Counseling
2–3 years
This is the core of your training. You'll need a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling, counseling psychology, or a closely related field — typically 60 credit hours if the program is CACREP-accredited, which is the gold standard. CACREP accreditation matters because it ensures your program meets national standards, and an increasing number of states require graduation from a CACREP-accredited program for licensure. Your coursework will cover theories of counseling, psychopathology, group dynamics, multicultural counseling, ethics, assessment, and research methods. You'll also complete a practicum and internship totaling at least 700 hours of supervised clinical experience.
Pass a National Licensing Examination
2–4 months of preparation
Most states require passing the National Counselor Examination (NCE) administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). The NCE is a 200-item multiple-choice exam covering eight CACREP content areas, with a total test time of about four hours and 15 minutes. Some states instead require the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), which focuses more heavily on clinical case scenarios and treatment planning. Check your state board's specific requirements early — the last thing you want is to prepare for the wrong exam.
Complete Supervised Post-Master's Clinical Hours
2–3 years
After earning your master's degree, you'll work under a provisionally licensed title (such as LPC-Associate, LMHC-Provisional, or Licensed Associate Counselor, depending on your state) while accumulating supervised clinical hours. Most states require between 2,000 and 4,000 hours of direct client contact under the supervision of a fully licensed clinician. This phase typically takes two to three years, depending on whether you're working full-time and how your state counts hours. Finding a good supervisor — someone who genuinely invests in your clinical development — makes an enormous difference during this stage.
Obtain Full Licensure
Ongoing maintenance
Once you've completed your supervised hours and passed the required exam(s), you can apply for full licensure through your state's licensing board. The title varies: LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) in most states, LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) in states like New York, Florida, and Washington, LCPC (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor) in states like Illinois and Maryland, or LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor) in states like Ohio and California. Full licensure allows you to practice independently, supervise trainees, and — in most states — bill insurance directly. You'll also need to complete continuing education credits (typically 20–40 hours per renewal cycle) to maintain your license.
Licensed Professional Counselor Education Requirements
The educational bar for counseling is a master's degree — which is a genuinely important distinction from clinical psychology, where you need a doctorate. For people who want to do direct therapeutic work but don't want to spend 10+ years in training, this is one of the most appealing aspects of the LPC path.
That said, not all master's programs are created equal. CACREP accreditation is the benchmark you should be looking for. CACREP-accredited programs meet rigorous national standards for curriculum, clinical training, and faculty qualifications. More practically, graduating from a CACREP program makes the licensure process smoother — several states (including Ohio, Kentucky, and Florida) now require it outright, and more states are moving in that direction.
Most CACREP programs require 60 credit hours, which typically takes two to three years of full-time study. This includes at least 700 hours of supervised clinical experience through practicum and internship placements. Many programs now offer online or hybrid formats, which can work well for career changers who can't relocate or attend full-time on campus — just make sure the program still has strong mechanisms for arranging clinical placements in your area.
- A master's degree in clinical mental health counseling or a closely related field (typically 60 credit hours)
- Graduation from a CACREP-accredited program (required in some states and strongly preferred in all others)
- Completion of a supervised practicum and internship (minimum 700 hours during graduate training)
- A passing score on the NCE or NCMHCE (depending on state requirements)
- 2,000 to 4,000 hours of post-master's supervised clinical experience (varies by state)
- Ongoing continuing education credits to maintain licensure — typically 20 to 40 hours per renewal cycle
Recommended Degree Programs
Best Online Counseling Programs
Our ranked list of CACREP-accredited online master's in counseling programs based on outcomes, affordability, and clinical placement support.
Best Online Master's in Psychology
Top-ranked online master's in psychology programs — some of which can serve as a pathway to counseling licensure depending on your state's requirements.
How Much Do Licensed Professional Counselors Make?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors was $59,190 in May 2024. That's notably lower than clinical psychologists ($94,310), and it's worth being honest about this: counselors are often doing similar direct-care work but earning less because the field's pay structure hasn't caught up with the demand for services.
The salary range is wide — from under $39,090 at the 10th percentile to over $98,210 at the 90th. Where you land depends on your setting, specialization, geographic location, years of experience, and whether you take insurance or operate on a private-pay model. Private practice counselors who build a full caseload and specialize in high-demand areas (trauma, couples work, addiction) can earn well into six figures, but it takes time to get there.
The financial trade-off to consider: you'll be in practice and earning a real salary years before a clinical psychologist finishes their doctorate, and your total educational debt will typically be a fraction of what Psy.D. graduates carry. The lifetime earning picture is more nuanced than a simple median-salary comparison suggests.
10th Percentile
$39,090
Median
$59,190
90th Percentile
$98,210
Top-Paying Factors
- Government agencies (state and local) and hospitals tend to offer the highest base salaries for counselors, often with full benefits packages
- Private practice counselors with established caseloads and specialized niches can earn $80,000 to $120,000+, though it takes time to build
- States with higher cost of living — California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Alaska — consistently pay higher average wages
- Specializations in high-demand areas like trauma (EMDR), addiction counseling, or couples therapy command premium compensation
- Telehealth has expanded earning potential by allowing counselors to see clients across state lines (where licensure compacts allow) and maintain fuller caseloads
What's the Job Outlook for Licensed Professional Counselors?
Growth Rate
17%
Total Jobs
483,500
The BLS projects 17% employment growth for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors from 2024 to 2034 — that's roughly three times the average growth rate for all occupations. About 48,300 openings are projected annually, driven by a combination of new positions and the need to replace counselors who retire or leave the field.
This kind of growth isn't abstract. It reflects something urgent: more than one in five U.S. adults lives with a mental illness, and the supply of licensed mental health providers has not kept pace with the demand. The COVID-19 pandemic amplified this gap significantly — rates of anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders surged, and while the acute crisis phase has passed, the demand for mental health services hasn't come back down.
Several structural trends are sustaining this demand: expanded insurance coverage under mental health parity laws, growing acceptance of therapy as a normal part of self-care, increased investment in school-based and workplace counseling, and the opioid crisis driving need for addiction counselors. Telehealth has also been a game-changer — it's opened access in rural and underserved areas and made it easier for counselors to maintain full caseloads.
Frankly, this is one of the strongest job markets in the entire healthcare and social services sector right now. If you're entering the field, you'll have options.
Where Do Licensed Professional Counselors Work?
Private Practice
Many counselors aspire to open or join a group private practice. You control your schedule, your specialization, and your caseload. The trade-off is that you're running a small business — handling marketing, billing, insurance credentialing, and overhead costs. Some counselors go entirely private-pay to avoid the headaches of insurance, but that limits your client pool.
Highly variable; $55,000–$120,000+ depending on caseload, specialization, and payer mix
Community Mental Health Centers
These are the backbone of the public mental health system. You'll serve diverse, often underserved populations and gain broad clinical experience quickly. Caseloads can be heavy and the pay tends to be on the lower end, but many positions qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness — a meaningful consideration if you have graduate debt.
Median approximately $45,000–$58,000
Hospitals & Health Systems
Hospital-based counselors work on behavioral health units, in emergency departments, and on integrated care teams. The pace is faster, the acuity is higher, and you'll collaborate closely with psychiatrists and other medical providers. These roles come with structured benefits and more predictable income.
Median approximately $55,000–$70,000
Substance Abuse & Addiction Treatment Centers
Residential and outpatient treatment facilities are a major employer of LPCs, especially those with addiction counseling training. This work is intense and rewarding — you're supporting people through some of the most challenging transitions of their lives. Relapse is part of the landscape, and that takes resilience to navigate.
Median approximately $48,000–$62,000
Schools & Universities
School-based counselors (different from school psychologists) work with students on academic, social-emotional, and behavioral concerns. University counseling centers employ LPCs/LMHCs to serve college students, who are seeking therapy at historically high rates. Academic calendars can mean more favorable schedules.
Median approximately $50,000–$65,000
Government & Military
Federal, state, and local government agencies — including the VA system, correctional facilities, and public health departments — employ counselors. Government positions tend to offer competitive benefits, job stability, and loan repayment programs.
Median approximately $55,000–$75,000 with full benefits
Pros & Cons of Being a Licensed Professional Counselor
Pros
- Significantly shorter training timeline than clinical psychology — you can be fully licensed in 6 to 8 years after high school instead of 10 to 12
- One of the fastest-growing occupations in the country, with 17% projected growth and strong demand across nearly every setting
- Genuine flexibility in how you practice — private practice, hospitals, schools, telehealth, community agencies, or some combination
- Lower educational debt compared to doctoral programs, especially if you attend a reasonably priced CACREP program
- Deeply meaningful work that allows you to build long-term therapeutic relationships and witness real change in people's lives
Cons
- Lower starting salary than clinical psychologists and psychiatrists — the median of $59,190 can feel tight, especially in high-cost areas with student loan payments
- The post-master's supervision period (2,000–4,000 hours) can take 2 to 3 years and often comes with lower pay and limited autonomy
- Licensing titles and requirements vary significantly by state, which complicates relocation — an LPC in Texas isn't automatically an LMHC in New York
- Emotional toll is real — compassion fatigue and burnout are occupational hazards, particularly in high-caseload community mental health settings
- Insurance reimbursement rates for counselors are often lower than for psychologists or psychiatrists, which can cap earning potential in insurance-based practices
A Day in the Life of a Licensed Professional Counselor
A counselor's daily schedule depends heavily on the setting, but here's a realistic look at a typical day for an LPC working in an outpatient community mental health center or group practice. Most counselors see between five and eight clients per day, with time built in for documentation, consultation, and self-care. The emotional rhythm of the day matters — experienced counselors learn to build in buffer time between heavy sessions.
Typical Schedule
8:00 AM — Arrive and review the day's schedule; check for any client messages or crisis follow-ups from the previous evening
8:30 AM — First session: individual CBT with a client managing generalized anxiety disorder and work-related stress
9:30 AM — Documentation break: complete session notes and update the treatment plan
10:00 AM — Intake assessment with a new client referred for depression following a major life transition
11:00 AM — Couples counseling session using Gottman Method with a pair working through communication breakdowns
12:00 PM — Lunch break and brief walk — intentional decompression is part of the job, not a luxury
1:00 PM — Group therapy session for adults recovering from substance use disorders
2:30 PM — Phone consultation with a client's psychiatrist about medication adjustment and coordinating care
3:00 PM — Individual EMDR session with a client processing childhood trauma
4:00 PM — Clinical supervision meeting (if still in associate/provisional status) or peer consultation with colleagues
5:00 PM — Final documentation, respond to referral requests, and plan for tomorrow's sessions
Expert Insight
"What I tell every new counselor is this: the supervision years feel long when you're in them, but they're where you actually become a clinician. Grad school gives you the theory, but sitting with real clients under good supervision is where you learn to trust your clinical instincts. Don't rush through it — find a supervisor who challenges you, not just one who signs off on your hours. The other thing I wish someone had told me earlier: your first job doesn't have to be your dream job. Community mental health gave me a clinical range I never would have developed in private practice, and that foundation has served me for my entire career."
Dr. Maria Gonzalez, Ph.D., LPC-S, NCC
Clinical Director, Southwest Behavioral Health Associates
Related Careers
Clinical Psychologist
Doctoral-level practitioners who provide assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapy — a longer training path with higher earning potential and broader scope in research and testing.
School Psychologist
Works within educational settings to support students' academic, behavioral, and emotional wellbeing through assessment, consultation, and intervention.
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
Applies principles of applied behavior analysis to treat behavioral challenges, particularly in autism spectrum disorder — a master's-level credential with strong job growth.
Social Worker
Social work is a related career path with a systems-level lens — social workers and counselors work in many of the same settings with similar scopes of practice.
Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
LCSWs work in similar clinical settings as LPCs, providing therapy and mental health treatment with a social work perspective on systems and social determinants.
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, Occupational Outlook Handbook (2024)
- National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) — National Counselor Examination (NCE)
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- American Counseling Association (ACA) — Licensure Requirements
- NIMH — Mental Illness Statistics (2022 data)
Frequently Asked Questions
The biggest difference is the level of education required. An LPC holds a master's degree (typically 60 credits, 2–3 years) while a clinical psychologist holds a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D., 5–7 years). Both can diagnose and treat mental health disorders, but clinical psychologists have additional training in psychological testing and research. Psychologists also tend to earn more — the median salary for psychologists is $94,310 compared to $59,190 for counselors. However, the LPC path gets you into practice significantly faster and with less educational debt. In terms of day-to-day therapeutic work, many clients wouldn't notice a practical difference.
LPC stands for Licensed Professional Counselor, and it's the most common title used across the U.S. However, states have their own licensing boards and terminology. In New York, Florida, and Washington, the equivalent credential is LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor). In Illinois and Maryland, it's LCPC (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor). Ohio and California use LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor). The educational and clinical requirements are broadly similar, but the specific details — required supervised hours, accepted exams, and whether CACREP accreditation is mandated — vary enough that you should check your state board's requirements early in the process. This patchwork of titles is one of the profession's ongoing frustrations, and organizations like the American Counseling Association have been pushing for greater portability across state lines.
From start to finish, plan for about six to eight years after high school: four years for a bachelor's degree, two to three years for a master's degree, and two to three years of post-master's supervised clinical hours. Some states require fewer supervised hours (as low as 2,000), while others require up to 4,000 — which affects how long the post-master's phase takes. If you work full-time and accumulate hours efficiently, you can sometimes shorten the supervision period. Compared to clinical psychology (10–12 years), this is a meaningfully faster path to independent practice.
CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) is the gold standard accrediting body for counseling graduate programs. CACREP-accredited programs meet national standards for curriculum content, clinical training hours, and faculty qualifications. It matters more than ever because a growing number of states — including Ohio, Kentucky, and Florida — now require graduation from a CACREP-accredited program for licensure, and more states are moving in that direction. Even in states that don't yet mandate it, graduating from a CACREP program simplifies the licensure process and is increasingly expected by employers. If you're choosing between programs, CACREP accreditation should be near the top of your decision criteria.
The National Counselor Examination (NCE) is a 200-item multiple-choice exam with a total test time of about four hours and 15 minutes. It covers eight content areas aligned with CACREP standards: human growth and development, social and cultural foundations, helping relationships, group work, career and lifestyle development, appraisal, research and program evaluation, and professional orientation and ethics. Most well-prepared graduates from CACREP programs pass on their first attempt — the exam is designed to assess entry-level competence, not trip you up. That said, structured study using an NCE prep course or study guide is worthwhile. If you don't pass on the first try, you can retake it after a 30-day waiting period.
The demand is very real and growing. The BLS projects 17% employment growth through 2034 — roughly three times the national average for all occupations — with about 48,300 openings annually. The mental health workforce shortage has been well-documented: there are designated shortage areas across the country where people simply cannot access a therapist. Rising rates of anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders, combined with greater cultural acceptance of seeking therapy, have created a market where licensed counselors are genuinely needed. If anything, the current challenge is that there aren't enough licensed counselors to meet the demand, not that there are too many.
Yes, but with an important caveat. Many fully online master's programs in counseling hold CACREP accreditation and are well-regarded. The coursework translates naturally to an online format. However, you'll still need to complete your practicum and internship hours in person with real clients at an approved site near you — there's no way around the hands-on clinical training requirement. The practical question to ask any online program is: how do they help you find and arrange clinical placements in your geographic area? Strong programs have field placement coordinators who assist with this. Weak programs leave you on your own, which can create real problems.