Licensed Professional Counselor ( LPC )

Abstract

Licensed professional counselors (LPCs) are master's level mental‐health professionals. Known by a variety of other terms, depending on jurisdiction, professional counselors can now be licensed in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The path to licensure includes completion of a master's degree program in counseling, supervised postmaster's counseling experience, and passing a licensure examination. Licensed professional counselors provide a variety of mental health services in a wide array of settings, with each state specifying the scope of practice for professional counselors. Licensed professional counselors are diverse in their training programs and specializations. As a result, developing a cohesive professional identity has been challenging. However, the profession is expected to grow rapidly and LPCs provide many needed mental health services in communities.