At a Glance
Getting a Louisiana counseling license means moving through two tiers: first, a Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC) license, then full Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) status. You’ll need a 60-credit master’s degree in counseling, pass a national exam from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), and complete 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience over two to six years. The Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners (LA LPCBE) oversees the process.
Louisiana regulates licensed professional counselors and related behavioral health professionals through the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners (LA LPCBE), and demand for qualified counselors across the state continues to grow. If you want to practice independently as a mental health counselor in Louisiana, the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential is the required endpoint. Getting there takes deliberate steps, and understanding each one in order makes the path clearer.
Louisiana’s Two-Tier Licensing System
Louisiana uses a two-stage licensing model. Before you can become a fully licensed LPC, you’ll work under the Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC) credential. The PLPC license authorizes you to practice counseling under approved supervision while you accumulate the required post-graduate hours. Once those hours are complete and you’ve passed the NBCC exam, you apply for the full LPC.
In addition to the LPC, two optional designations are available. After three years of practice, eligible LPCs can add a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (LPC-S) designation, which authorizes them to supervise PLPCs. And LPCs who meet additional training requirements can add a teletherapy specialization to their license, allowing them to provide counseling services via synchronous audio and video platforms.
Steps Toward Licensure
Here’s the complete path from a graduate program to licensure as an LPC in Louisiana.
Step 1: Earn a qualifying graduate degree
You need a master’s degree in counseling of at least 60 semester credits from a program accredited by a regional body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The program must include required content areas (see the Education section below) as well as a qualifying practicum and internship. Have your school email official transcripts and confirmation of practicum and internship completion directly to the LA LPCBE (verify the current credentialing email on the LA LPCBE website before submitting).
Step 2: Register for an NBCC exam
You must take either the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), both administered through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). For PLPC licensure, you only need to take the exam, not pass it. You’ll register via the NBCC’s ProCounselor portal through the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE) and have your scores sent directly to the LA LPCBE.
Step 3: Find an approved supervisor and apply for PLPC licensure
Locate an LA LPCBE-approved supervisor before you apply. The board maintains a searchable online directory of approved supervisors. Your supervisor will complete and sign their portion of the Statement of Declaration of Practices and Procedures, which you’ll include with your PLPC application. Apply through your online LA LPCBE account. Current board materials list the application fee as $100. Confirm the current fee on the LA LPCBE website before submitting. Once approved, you’ll hold the PLPC license and can begin accumulating supervised hours.
Step 4: Complete supervised clinical experience
As a PLPC, you need 3,000 hours of post-graduate supervised counseling experience completed over at least two years and no more than six. That total breaks down as at least 1,900 hours of direct client contact, up to 1,000 hours of indirect client contact and counseling-related activities, and 100 hours of face-to-face supervision. Once you’ve completed the hours, your supervisor submits a Documentation of Experience Form to the LA LPCBE. For qualifying additional graduate counseling coursework beyond your initial 60-credit degree, the board may allow indirect-hour credit, subject to current board rules and the minimum overall requirements.
Step 5: Pass the NBCC exam and apply for LPC licensure
If you haven’t already passed the NCE or NCMHCE during your PLPC period, you must pass one of them before applying for the full LPC. Have the NBCC send your passing scores to the LA LPCBE. Then apply for LPC licensure through your online account with the board. You’ll include a Statement of Declaration of Practices and Procedures with your application. Current board materials list the application fee as $200. Confirm the current fee on the LA LPCBE website before submitting. Once the LA LPCBE approves your application, you’ll receive your LPC license.
Education Requirements
Your graduate degree must be at least 60 semester credits and include coursework of at least three semester credits each in the following areas:
- Counseling or psychotherapy theories of personality
- Human growth and development
- Abnormal behavior
- Techniques of psychotherapy or counseling
- Group dynamics, processes, and psychotherapy or counseling
- Career and lifestyle development
- Appraisal of individuals
- Professional orientation and ethics
The program must also include a qualifying practicum and internship. The practicum requires at least 100 hours total, including 40 hours of direct counseling or psychotherapy with individuals or groups. The internship requires at least 600 hours, including 240 hours of direct counseling or psychotherapy.
Both must include at least one hour per week of individual supervision and at least 1.5 hours per week of group supervision. Louisiana currently has CACREP-accredited graduate programs available. Verify the current count and program list at the CACREP program directory before publication.
A qualifying supervision course taken as part of your graduate program can satisfy the academic requirement for the LPC-S designation later. Similarly, a graduate-level telemental health counseling course (at least three semester credits) can satisfy the academic requirement for the teletherapy specialization.
Required Exams
Louisiana accepts either of the two major exams from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). Both are administered through the ProCounselor portal via the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE). Here’s how they differ:
| Feature |
NCE |
NCMHCE |
| Format |
200 multiple-choice questions |
10 clinical simulation scenarios |
| Content focus |
Broad counseling knowledge from graduate training |
Clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning |
| Time allowed |
At least 3 hours |
At least 3 hours |
| Required for PLPC? |
Take (pass not required) |
Take (pass not required) |
| Required for LPC? |
Must pass |
Must pass |
You can find detailed preparation materials in the NCE and NCMHCE candidate handbooks available through the NBCC.
LPC-Supervisor Designation
After holding your LPC license and actively practicing for at least three years, you can apply to become an LA LPCBE-designated supervisor (LPC-S). This allows you to supervise PLPCs. To qualify, you’ll complete one of the following:
- A graduate-level supervision course worth at least three semester credits or 45 hours of supervisor training
- An LA LPCBE-approved professional training program in supervision that includes at least 25 hours of face-to-face instruction
Your application must include a Statement of Declaration of Practices and Procedures and a signed letter from a colleague verifying you’ve held the LPC for at least three years. Current board materials list the application fee as $100. Confirm the current fee with the LA LPCBE before applying. Supervisor-training documentation requirements are evolving. Confirm the current LPC-S application checklist on the LA LPCBE website before applying.
Teletherapy Specialization
LPCs who have been practicing for at least one year can apply to add a teletherapy designation to their license. This authorizes you to provide counseling services through synchronous audio and video platforms. Training requirements and CE obligations for this designation can change, so confirm the current LA LPCBE eligibility and training rules on the board’s website before applying. Board materials have referenced both a graduate-level telemental health course option and a shorter professional training route. Your application will need to meet whichever criteria are current at the time you apply.
Renewing Your License
Renewal deadlines, CE hour requirements, and fees should be confirmed on the current LA LPCBE renewal page before submitting, as these figures are time-sensitive. Based on current board materials, the structure is as follows:
| License Type |
CE Hours Required |
Renewal Fee |
Expiration |
| PLPC |
20 hours |
$85 |
October 31 |
| LPC |
40 hours |
$170 |
June 30 |
| LPC-S |
40 hours (3 in supervision) |
$220 |
June 30 |
PLPCs must also take an NBCC exam during each renewal period and have the results sent directly from the NBCC to the LA LPCBE. You don’t need to pass to renew. Taking the exam is a requirement.
Reciprocity
If you hold a PLPC, LPC, or LPC-S license in another state and your out-of-state requirements were equivalent to Louisiana’s, you can apply for Louisiana licensure by endorsement. Create an online account with the LA LPCBE and arrange for the following to be emailed to the board’s current credentialing address (confirm on the LA LPCBE website):
- Official transcripts from your graduate school
- Official exam scores from the NBCC or equivalent organization
- Official verification of your out-of-state license from your state’s Board of Counseling
How Long Does It Take?
Plan on about eight years from the start of your bachelor’s degree to your LPC license. That includes four years for a bachelor’s degree, two years for a master’s degree in counseling, and a minimum of two years as a PLPC completing your supervised hours. After that, optional designations add time: the teletherapy specialization is available after one additional year of practice, and the LPC-S after three additional years of practice.
Salary and Career Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 17 percent employment growth for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the 3 percent average for all occupations. BLS projects about 48,300 annual openings on average across the decade, combining new positions and replacement demand.
The national median annual wage for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors was $59,190 in May 2024. Marriage and family therapists, a related credential path, earned a national median of $63,780 that same year, with 13 percent projected employment growth through 2034. Louisiana salaries vary by specialty, experience, and setting. Counselors working in private practice or supervisory roles typically earn more than those in community-based or nonprofit settings.
| Counseling Occupation |
National Median Annual Wage (May 2024) |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors |
$59,190 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists |
$63,780 |
Resources and Career Opportunities
The Louisiana Counseling Association (LCA) is the primary professional organization for counselors in the state, offering continuing education, networking, and updates on legislative developments. The Louisiana School Counselor Association (LSCA) focuses specifically on K-12 and post-secondary school counselors and maintains close ties with the State Department of Education. For counselors considering related credential paths in the state, see our guides to the Louisiana substance abuse counseling certification and the Louisiana social work license.
The Louisiana Association of Addiction and Offender Counselors (LAAOC) supports counselors working in criminal justice and addiction settings. At the same time, NAMI Louisiana offers professional networking alongside its public-facing educational and support programs.
On the employer side, the Louisiana Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), a division of the Department of Health, is the largest state-level employer in this space. Other significant settings include University Medical Center New Orleans (with a 60-bed inpatient unit and a 26-bed behavioral health emergency room), Community Care Hospital in New Orleans, Capital Area Human Services (serving seven parishes), and UNITY of Greater New Orleans.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a PLPC and an LPC in Louisiana?
The PLPC (Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor) is a pre-licensure credential that lets you practice under approved supervision while completing your required clinical hours. The LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) is the full license that allows independent practice. You must hold the PLPC and complete 3,000 supervised hours before applying for the LPC.
Do I need to pass the NBCC exam to get my PLPC?
No. For PLPC licensure, you only need to take an NBCC exam (either the NCE or NCMHCE), not pass it. You must pass one of those exams before you can apply for the full LPC license.
Can I reduce my required supervised hours?
Yes, partially. For qualifying additional graduate counseling coursework beyond your 60-credit degree, the LA LPCBE may allow credit toward the indirect client contact portion of your supervised experience, subject to current board rules. The overall minimum remains 3,000 hours. Confirm the current rules on indirect-hour credit with the LA LPCBE before relying on this option.
How do I apply for a Louisiana counseling license by endorsement?
If you’re already licensed as a PLPC, LPC, or LPC-S in another state and your requirements were equivalent to Louisiana’s, you can apply by endorsement. Create an online account with the LA LPCBE and arrange for your official transcripts, exam scores, and out-of-state license verification to be emailed to [email protected].
What continuing education is required to renew a Louisiana LPC?
LPCs must complete 40 hours of continuing education per two-year renewal cycle. LPC-Ss must also include at least three of those hours in supervision content. PLPCs need 20 hours per cycle, plus must take (not necessarily pass) an NBCC exam each renewal period.
Key Takeaways
- Louisiana uses a two-tier system: you’ll get the PLPC first, then the full LPC after completing 3,000 supervised hours over two to six years.
- A 60-credit master’s degree in counseling from a CACREP- or regionally accredited program is required, along with a qualifying practicum and internship.
- You’ll need to pass either the NCE or the NCMHCE from the NBCC before applying for the full LPC. Taking (not passing) an exam is required for the PLPC and for each PLPC renewal.
- Optional add-ons include a teletherapy specialization (available after one year of LPC practice) and an LPC-S supervisor designation (available after three years).
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 17% employment growth for mental health and substance abuse counselors from 2024 to 2034, with about 48,300 annual openings on average, well above the national average for all occupations.
Ready to find a CACREP-accredited counseling program in Louisiana? Browse degree options by state and compare programs that meet the LA LPCBE’s education requirements.
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Laura Bennett, MPH is a public health professional with over 12 years of experience in community health education and program coordination. She specializes in helping aspiring professionals explore flexible education pathways, including online and hybrid public health degree programs. Laura is passionate about making public health careers more accessible through practical, accredited training
2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market figures for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists represent national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2026.
