Best Counseling Programs in South Carolina (2026)
Top CACREP-accredited counseling programs in South Carolina for 2026, with tuition, LPC-A and LPC requirements, NCMHCE prep, Counseling Compact membership (effective July 2024), MUSC and Prisma Health placement networks, and the 1,500 supervised hours pathway.
Key Takeaways
- South Carolina has roughly nine CACREP-accredited counseling programs, including University of South Carolina (Ed.S. CMHC), Clemson, Winthrop, Charleston Southern, South Carolina State (HBCU), Webster Columbia, South University Columbia, and Liberty (online serving SC). USC also runs a separate CACREP MA in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling.
- South Carolina uses a two-tier license structure. LPC-A (Licensed Professional Counselor Associate) is the post-master's supervised credential. LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) is the independent practice license earned after 1,500 supervised hours.
- Becoming an LPC in South Carolina requires a 60-credit CACREP master's, 1,500 post-master's clinical hours over a minimum of 2 years (one of the lowest hour requirements nationally for CACREP graduates), 1,380 direct client contact hours, 120 documented supervision hours (60 individual/triadic minimum), and passing the NCMHCE.
- South Carolina enacted the Counseling Compact effective July 1, 2024 (H.3784). Compact privilege-to-practice is being issued nationally as of 2025-2026, allowing in-person and telehealth practice across member states. SC LPCs can pursue privileges in 38+ Compact states.
- In-state public university tuition runs roughly $580 to $720 per credit at USC, Clemson, Winthrop, and SC State. Private CACREP options at Charleston Southern and Webster Columbia range $625-$725/credit. SC State (HBCU) is the only HBCU CACREP counseling program in South Carolina.
- South Carolina has three healthcare hubs: Charleston (MUSC, Roper St. Francis), Greenville (Prisma Health, the largest nonprofit health system in SC), and Columbia (Lexington Medical Center, Prisma Health Midlands). Rural PeeDee and Lowcountry counties carry severe Mental Health HPSA designations with strong loan repayment leverage.
- The SC AHEC Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program offers LPCs 2-year minimum service awards at public/nonprofit sites in federally designated Mental Health HPSAs. Strong fit for Joint Base Charleston, Fort Jackson (Army's largest initial-entry training base in Columbia), and Shaw AFB military behavioral health pathways.
South Carolina is one of the more efficient LPC markets in the country, primarily because of the relatively low supervised hour requirement (1,500 hours, one of the lowest in the country for CACREP graduates) and Counseling Compact membership effective July 1, 2024. Combined with three distinct healthcare hubs (Charleston, Greenville, Columbia) and strong rural Mental Health HPSA loan repayment leverage, South Carolina offers meaningful career trajectory options for CACREP graduates.
The SC licensing path: complete a 60-credit master's from a CACREP-accredited program (CACREP graduates automatically meet content requirements), apply for LPC-A with the SC Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors under LLR, accumulate 1,500 post-master's clinical hours over a minimum of 2 years with at least 1,380 hours of direct client contact and 120 hours of documented supervision (60 individual/triadic minimum), and pass the NCMHCE. Total time from master's to LPC: typically 2 years.
What makes South Carolina distinct: the military behavioral health pipeline. Joint Base Charleston, Fort Jackson (the Army's largest initial-entry training base, in Columbia), Shaw AFB (Sumter), and Parris Island MCRD (Beaufort) are major employers for counselors working with active-duty members and dependents through MFLC, Military OneSource, and VA contractors. Charleston also hosts the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. SC is one of the strongest military mental health workforce markets in the Southeast.
CACREP-Accredited Counseling Programs in South Carolina
All 9 programs ranked in this guide, with tuition, format, and accreditation at a glance.
| # | School | In-State Tuition | Format | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of South Carolina (College of Education) | ~$685/credit (~$41,100 total) | On-campus | |
| 2 | Clemson University | ~$615/credit (~$36,900 total) | On-campus afternoons/evenings | |
| 3 | Winthrop University | ~$580/credit (~$34,800 total) | On-campus + fully online | |
| 4 | Charleston Southern University | ~$685/credit (private, flat rate, ~$41,100 total) | On-campus | |
| 5 | South Carolina State University (HBCU) | ~$495/credit (~$29,700 total) | On-campus + 4 approved online courses | |
| 6 | University of South Carolina (School of Medicine) | ~$685/credit (~$41,100 total) | On-campus + online | |
| 7 | Webster University (Columbia + SC Online) | ~$725/credit (private, flat rate, ~$43,500 total) | On-campus + online | |
| 8 | South University Columbia | ~$775/credit (private, flat rate, ~$46,500 total) | On-campus | |
| 9 | Liberty University (online, serves SC students) | $290/credit (online flat rate, 2025-26) | Fully online with two in-person residency weekends |
University of South Carolina (College of Education)
In-State
~$685/credit (~$41,100 total)
Out-of-State
~$1,465/credit
Length
2.5 to 3 years (60 credits, Ed.S. or M.Ed.)
Field Hours
700 (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- CACREP-accredited Ed.S. and M.Ed. in Counselor Education at USC College of Education
- Three CACREP-accredited tracks: CMHC, School Counseling, and Marriage/Couples/Family Counseling
- Located in Columbia with placement access to Prisma Health Midlands and Lexington Medical Center
- Active CACREP-accredited doctoral counselor education program
- R1 research university with strong faculty engagement
Clemson University
In-State
~$615/credit (~$36,900 total)
Out-of-State
~$1,275/credit
Length
2 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
700 (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- CACREP-accredited M.Ed. in Counselor Education
- Approximately 2/3 of courses delivered at Clemson's Greenville University Center for Upstate metro access
- Afternoons and evenings scheduling built around working adults
- 2-year full-time accelerated completion
- Strong placements with Prisma Health Upstate (the largest nonprofit health system in SC)
Winthrop University
In-State
~$580/credit (~$34,800 total)
Out-of-State
~$1,165/credit
Length
2.5 to 3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
700 (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- CACREP-accredited M.Ed. in Counseling and Development with Clinical Mental Health track
- On-campus and fully online delivery (on-campus residency required for online students starting fall 2026)
- Located in Rock Hill serving Charlotte metro and Upstate SC placements
- 700 hours of practicum + internship
- Affordable in-state public tuition compared to private alternatives
Charleston Southern University
In-State
~$685/credit (private, flat rate, ~$41,100 total)
Out-of-State
~$685/credit (private, flat rate)
Length
2.5 to 3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
700 (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- CACREP-accredited MS in Clinical Counseling
- Christian-affiliated university with values-integrated curriculum welcoming students of all faiths or none
- Located in North Charleston with placement access to MUSC, Roper St. Francis, and Joint Base Charleston
- 700 clinical hours required
- Strong Charleston metro placement network
South Carolina State University (HBCU)
In-State
~$495/credit (~$29,700 total)
Out-of-State
~$995/credit
Length
2.5 to 3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
700 (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- <strong>The only HBCU CACREP counseling program in South Carolina</strong>
- MA in Rehabilitation Counseling prepares graduates for CRC + NCC + LPC eligibility
- CACREP extension cycle ended October 31, 2025; verify current accreditation status before enrolling
- Located in Orangeburg serving rural Midlands and PeeDee regions
- Affordable in-state public university tuition
University of South Carolina (School of Medicine)
In-State
~$685/credit (~$41,100 total)
Out-of-State
~$1,465/credit
Length
2.5 to 3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
700 (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- CACREP-accredited MA in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling at USC School of Medicine
- Prepares graduates for both LPC and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) credentials
- On-campus and online delivery formats
- Located within the USC School of Medicine for integrated medical-behavioral health training
- Affordable in-state public university tuition
Webster University (Columbia + SC Online)
In-State
~$725/credit (private, flat rate, ~$43,500 total)
Out-of-State
~$725/credit (private, flat rate)
Length
2.5 years (60 credits, 15-month clinical experience)
Field Hours
700 (100 practicum + 600 internship over 15 months)
Concentrations
- CACREP-accredited MA in Counseling with CMHC emphasis
- On-campus at Columbia + SC online program (Charleston campus closed March 2023)
- 15-month clinical experience structure
- Located in Columbia with placement access to Fort Jackson military behavioral health
- Strong military-family counseling pipeline given Fort Jackson presence
South University Columbia
In-State
~$775/credit (private, flat rate, ~$46,500 total)
Out-of-State
~$775/credit (private, flat rate)
Length
2.5 to 3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
700 (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- CACREP-reaccredited 2025 for the maximum 8-year term (continuously accredited since July 2013)
- Located in Columbia with placement access to Prisma Health Midlands and Fort Jackson
- Strong placement support coordinator for clinical fieldwork
- Smaller cohort sizes for personalized faculty mentoring
- Long CACREP accreditation history demonstrates program stability
Liberty University (online, serves SC students)
In-State
$290/credit (online flat rate, 2025-26)
Out-of-State
$290/credit (online flat rate)
Length
3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
700 (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- One of the largest CACREP-accredited online counseling programs in the country, serving SC students
- <strong>Most affordable CACREP online option</strong> at $290/credit (~$17,400 total)
- Five CACREP-accredited concentration options including Trauma and Crisis Counseling
- Two required in-person residencies preserve clinical skill development
- Field placements coordinated in students' local SC communities
LPC-A and LPC Licensure Requirements in South Carolina
The licensing board, exam pathway, and supervised hours you'll need to practice independently.
Licensing Board
South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, MFTs, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists (LLR)
(803) 896-4658
South Carolina regulates LPCs through the SC Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists, housed under the SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR).
You'll move through two stages in SC. First, the LPC-A (Licensed Professional Counselor Associate), the post-master's supervised credential. Second, the full LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor), the independent practice license. SC requires only 1,500 post-master's clinical hours over a minimum of 2 years, which is among the lowest hour requirements in the country for CACREP graduates.
SC-specific items: at least 1,380 hours of direct client contact (92% of total hours, an unusually high direct contact ratio), 120 documented supervision hours with at least 60 individual/triadic, NCMHCE is the standard exam (NCE has historically been accepted at LPC-A stage but NBCC retired NCE for new LPC licensure in many states; verify current acceptance with the Board). South Carolina enacted the Counseling Compact via H.3784, effective July 1, 2024.
Licensed Professional Counselor Associate
Supervised post-master's counseling practice while accumulating hours toward LPC
Hours
N/A
Duration
Associate
Exam: NCE or NCMHCE (verify current Board policy)
Licensed Professional Counselor
Independent clinical practice, mental health diagnosis and treatment, private practice, third-party billing, Counseling Compact privileges
Hours
1,500
Duration
2 years minimum (60 hours individual/triadic supervision; supervisor must be board-approved LPC/S)
Exam: NCMHCE
South Carolina offers endorsement for counselors licensed in another state with substantially equivalent requirements. SC enacted the Counseling Compact via H.3784, effective July 1, 2024. Compact privilege-to-practice is being issued nationally as of 2025-2026, allowing in-person and telehealth practice across member states. SC LPCs can pursue privileges in 38+ Compact states, a real recruiting advantage for SC graduates considering telehealth or border work into NC and GA.
Counselor Salary in South Carolina
BLS state median wages by counseling specialty, with national comparison and top-paying metros.
South Carolina counselor salaries run somewhat below the national median. The BLS South Carolina OEWS estimates place median wages around $54,000 for the combined occupation. Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville-Spartanburg pay the highest medians; rural Lowcountry and PeeDee counties pay materially less but offer the strongest loan repayment leverage.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
National median: $59,190
Top metro: $58,920 (Charleston-North Charleston)
Mental Health Counselors (excluding substance abuse)
National median: $59,610
Top metro: $57,840 (Charleston-North Charleston)
Marriage and Family Therapists
National median: $63,780
Top metro: $60,420 (Greenville-Anderson)
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors (School Counselors)
National median: $64,210
Top metro: $64,910 (Charleston-North Charleston)
South Carolina Counseling Job Market and Workforce
Major employers, mental health shortage context, and loan repayment programs that erase debt for service.
South Carolina has three distinct workforce regions: Charleston (MUSC, Roper St. Francis, Joint Base Charleston), Greenville-Spartanburg (Prisma Health, the largest nonprofit health system in SC), and Columbia (Lexington Medical Center, Prisma Health Midlands, Fort Jackson). Rural PeeDee (Florence, Marlboro, Marion, Dillon, Williamsburg counties) and Lowcountry (Allendale, Hampton, Jasper, Colleton) carry the most severe Mental Health HPSA designations.
Major employers include Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) (Charleston, one of the top academic medical centers in the Southeast), Prisma Health (largest nonprofit health system in SC, with major behavioral health operations in Greenville and Columbia), Roper St. Francis Healthcare (Charleston), Lexington Medical Center (West Columbia), AnMed Health (Anderson), the SC Department of Mental Health (operating Bryan Psychiatric Hospital and other state facilities), VA Medical Centers at Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center (Charleston) and William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center (Columbia), and a growing private group practice sector.
Three workforce dynamics shape practice in SC:
Counseling Compact opportunity: SC is an active Compact member (effective July 1, 2024) and Compact privileges are now being issued nationally. SC LPCs can pursue privileges in 38+ Compact states, particularly meaningful for cross-border telehealth practice into NC and GA.
Military behavioral health: Joint Base Charleston, Fort Jackson (the Army's largest initial-entry training base, in Columbia), Shaw AFB (Sumter), and Parris Island MCRD (Beaufort) are major military employers. Charleston also hosts the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. SC is one of the strongest military mental health workforce markets in the Southeast.
HBCU representation: South Carolina State University (Orangeburg) is the only HBCU CACREP counseling program in SC. Important for any "diversity in the SC counseling workforce" framing. Verify CACREP cycle status before publishing.
Loan Repayment & Scholarship Programs
SC AHEC Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program: Administered by SC AHEC. 2-year minimum full-time (or 2-year half-time at 50%) at a public/nonprofit site in a federally designated Mental Health HPSA.
NHSC Loan Repayment Program: Federal program. LPCs are eligible at NHSC-approved sites in SC Mental Health HPSAs. Up to $50,000 for 2 years full-time service or $25,000 for half-time. SC has extensive NHSC site availability concentrated in PeeDee and Lowcountry counties.
NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce LRP: Up to $75,000 over 3 years for LPCs at SUD-focused NHSC sites. Strong fit for LPCs working in SC's opioid crisis response.
Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): LPCs employed at SC state agencies (SCDMH), VA Medical Centers, MUSC nonprofit affiliates, Prisma Health nonprofit affiliates, and other qualifying nonprofit health systems all qualify for federal PSLF after 10 years of qualifying payments under an income-driven repayment plan.
How to Choose a Counseling Program in South Carolina
Decision factors that actually matter, not generic checklist filler.
Choosing a counseling program in South Carolina mostly comes down to two questions: Charleston vs Greenville vs Columbia vs rural placement pipeline, and whether you want to leverage Counseling Compact privileges for cross-border practice into NC and GA. SC's relatively low 1,500-hour supervised requirement makes the path from master's to LPC unusually quick.
If you want the strongest Charleston metro pipeline: Charleston Southern and USC School of Medicine both have established placement relationships with MUSC, Roper St. Francis, and Joint Base Charleston. Charleston also hosts the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center.
If you want the strongest Greenville / Upstate pipeline: Clemson University (Greenville University Center) is the dominant feeder into Prisma Health Upstate (the largest nonprofit health system in SC).
If you want the strongest Columbia / Midlands pipeline: USC College of Education, Webster Columbia, and South University Columbia all serve Prisma Health Midlands, Lexington Medical Center, and Fort Jackson military behavioral health.
If you want Charlotte metro adjacency: Winthrop University (Rock Hill) serves both SC and Charlotte NC metro placements.
If you want the lowest tuition: SC State (HBCU, ~$495/credit) and Winthrop (~$580/credit) are the most affordable CACREP-accredited counseling programs for SC residents. Liberty's online MA at $290/credit serves SC students fully online for ~$17,400 total.
If you want an HBCU experience: South Carolina State University (Orangeburg) is the only HBCU CACREP counseling program in South Carolina. Verify current CACREP accreditation status before enrolling (extension cycle ended October 31, 2025).
If you want military behavioral health placement: Webster Columbia is located at Fort Jackson Blvd with direct military pipeline access. Charleston Southern serves Joint Base Charleston.
If you want to leverage Counseling Compact portability immediately: SC is an active Compact member (effective July 1, 2024). Any SC CACREP program prepares you for SC LPC, which carries Compact privilege rights from day one of independent licensure.
Related Pages
Best Online Counseling Programs
National ranking of the top CACREP-accredited online counseling programs
Best Online Master's in Psychology
If you're still weighing psychology vs counseling at the master's level
Counselor Career Guide
What LPCs, LMHCs, and LPCCs actually do day-to-day
MSW Programs in South Carolina
If you're weighing the social work pathway instead
Counseling Programs by State
Compare counseling programs across all 50 states
Sources
- CACREP, Directory of Accredited Programs
- SC LLR Board of Examiners for LPC, MFT, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists
- SC LLR Counselor Exam page
- SC LLR License Lookup
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS South Carolina Estimates
- NBCC, National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)
- SC AHEC Behavioral Health Loan Repayment Program
- Counseling Compact, Member States