How to Become a Licensed Counselor in South Carolina (LPC Guide)
Looking to start a counseling career in South Carolina? The timing is perfect with promising job prospects for South Carolina LPC requirements. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows counseling careers are projected to grow 18% nationally from 2022 to 2032—much faster than other jobs.
South Carolina reflects this trend, with marriage and family therapists seeing a 15% job growth rate. The state has over 9,100 counseling professionals working in specialties of all types. Your path to becoming a school counselor in South Carolina or getting an LPC South Carolina license requires a master’s degree, supervised clinical experience, and passing specific exams.
Educational, guidance, and career counselors in South Carolina make an average of $56,940 yearly, while marriage and family therapists earn around $41,570. Mental health and substance abuse counselors earn about $49,310 per year. These specialists represent the state’s fastest-growing counseling field, with a projected 23.4% growth through 2030.
This piece covers everything about South Carolina LPC requirements—from education prerequisites to licensing fees. Let’s walk through the steps to begin your counseling career in the Palmetto State.
Education Requirements in South Carolina
Your South Carolina LPC license’s life-blood lies in meeting educational requirements. The South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors provides clear guidelines that aspiring counselors must follow.
A master’s or doctoral degree in counseling or a related discipline is mandatory for licensure in South Carolina. The program should include a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours where we focused on counseling. This educational foundation will shape your counseling career.
You can fulfill the education requirements through two main paths:
- CACREP-Accredited Program: Graduate from a Clinical Mental Health counseling program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) at graduation. The University of South Carolina’s 60-credit hour Master of Arts in Counseling and Rehabilitation meets these standards perfectly.
- Non-CACREP Accredited Program: Complete a master’s, specialist’s, or doctoral degree with at least 60 graduate semester hours in counseling. Your program must be from an institution accredited by the Commission on the Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, one of its transferring regional associations, or the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada.
Non-CACREP programs must cover these vital areas:
- Human growth and development
- Social and cultural foundations
- Helping relationships and counseling techniques
- Group counseling and dynamics
- Career and lifestyle development
- Appraisal of individuals
- Research and evaluation
- Professional orientation
- Psychopathology and diagnostics
Your education must also include hands-on experience: a 150-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship. These components provide significant preparation to assess and treat clients with serious mental health concerns.
The final step after completing your education is passing either the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). The National Board for Certified Counselors administers both exams.
Counseling Programs in South Carolina
South Carolina has several CACREP-accredited counseling programs that meet the educational requirements to become an LPC in the state. These programs deliver essential coursework and hands-on experience to help you build a successful counseling career.
- University of South Carolina (Columbia) USC’s Master of Education in Counselor Education program requires 60 credit hours with focuses on Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling. This CACREP-accredited program’s core courses cover counseling theory, multicultural counseling, and career development. Students get practical experience through practicum and internship that South Carolina’s LPC requirements demand.
- The Citadel (Charleston) The Citadel’s Master of Education in Counselor Education program offers Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling tracks. This 60-credit program builds theoretical knowledge and practical skills through supervised field work. Students prepare for the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and future LPC licensure in South Carolina.
- Winthrop University (Rock Hill) Winthrop University’s CACREP-accredited Master of Education in Counseling and Development program lets students specialize in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling. The program’s curriculum covers all licensure requirements, focusing strongly on diagnosis and treatment planning.
- South Carolina State University (Orangeburg) SC State’s Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling prepares students to work with people who have physical, mental, or emotional disabilities. The program meets educational requirements for both rehabilitation counselor certification and general counseling licensure in South Carolina.
- Webster University (Multiple SC Locations) Webster University’s Master of Arts in Counseling is available at several South Carolina locations. The program offers specializations in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling. The curriculum matches South Carolina’s LPC requirements and school counselor certification needs through flexible evening and weekend classes that working professionals can attend.
These programs all meet the 60-credit hour requirement and have the coursework categories needed for counseling licensure in South Carolina.
Internship and Other Requirements
Your path to becoming a licensed counselor in South Carolina starts with hands-on experience. Once you complete your education, you can qualify for the Licensed Professional Counselor Intern (LPC/I) credential.
The transition from intern to full licensure requires substantial supervised experience. You’ll need to complete a minimum of 1,500 hours of post-master’s clinical experience over at least two years. This includes 1,380 hours of documented direct client contact and 120 hours of documented supervision.
Your supervisor must be a licensed professional counselor supervisor (LPCS) or another qualified licensed mental health practitioner approved by the Board. The supervision requirement breaks down into 120 total hours. At least 60 hours must be individual/triadic supervision, and you can complete the remaining 60 hours through either individual/triadic or group supervision.
The Board requires you to submit a Plan for Clinical Supervision form before starting your supervised experience. You can’t provide counseling services until the Board approves your supervision plan and issues your Associate license.
Your supervision will include several strategies:
- Regular live observation of counseling sessions
- Review of audio/video recordings
- Discussion of self-reports
- Role-playing and modeling techniques
Your graduate program requires a 150-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship. These experiences are vital preparation for working with clients who have serious concerns listed in standard diagnostic literature.
South Carolina offers internship opportunities in many institutions. The VA in Upstate provides mental health counseling internships that require 600 hours over two semesters, including 240 direct client contact hours. USC Upstate’s Counseling Center offers yearlong unpaid internships where graduate students maintain 10-12 weekly sessions.
A clear understanding of these South Carolina LPC requirements will help you progress smoothly from education to full licensure.
Exams
Your South Carolina LPC requirements depend on passing the right exam. The Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE) will check your education and LPC Associate application to decide if you can take one of the required exams.
The South Carolina Board of Examiners lets you take either of these exams:
National Counselor Examination (NCE) – This complete assessment has 200 multiple-choice questions that test your knowledge and skills needed to provide effective counseling services. The exam has 160 scored items spread across six areas: Professional Practice and Ethics (19 items), Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis (19 items), Areas of Clinical Focus (47 items), Treatment Planning (14 items), Counseling Skills and Interventions (48 items), and Core Counseling Attributes (13 items).
National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) – This advanced exam features 11 case studies, and 10 of them count toward your score. Each case study tells a story and asks 9-15 multiple-choice questions to test how well you can use your knowledge in real clinical situations.
Both exams take about three hours. You can take them at any Pearson VUE testing center nationwide, including locations in Columbia, Greenville, and North Charleston.
Testing happens during the first two to three full weeks each month. The exam fee was $275 as of December 2022, but some sources say it’s $195. You should check the current price when you register.
You must wait three months to retake the exam if you don’t pass the first time. Make sure you finish the exam before your LPC application expires. Taking it later means you’ll need to reapply under current rules and pay new fees.
After you pass either exam, CCE and the South Carolina Board will tell you what to do next in your South Carolina LPC licensure process.
Licensing Fees
Professional counselors in South Carolina must understand the financial requirements of licensure. The South Carolina LPC requirements include several fees you’ll need to pay throughout your career.
You start by submitting your materials to the Center for Credentialing Education (CCE) for review. This costs $170. The Board charges a $150 original license fee to get your Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPCA) credential after approval.
The LPCA license stays valid for two years. This gives you enough time to complete your supervised experience requirements. You can request more time with an extension form and $150 fee if needed.
The full Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential requires another $150 licensing fee. Licensed supervisor status (LPC/S) applicants pay $100, plus $100 every two years to renew.
South Carolina licenses expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years. This applies to all licenses, no matter when they were issued. LPC license renewal costs $150. You must also show proof of 40 continuing education hours, with six hours in ethics.
Late renewals come with extra costs. A $50 late fee applies if you renew before November 30. Your license lapses after November 30. Getting it back requires a $300 reinstatement fee plus the standard renewal fee.
The Board also charges various administrative fees:
- License verification: $5
- Name change with new license card: $10
- Duplicate wall certificate: $25
- Duplicate license card: $10
- Returned check charge: $30
These LPC South Carolina fees help you plan your professional development budget better. Staying on top of renewal deadlines saves you money as you build your counseling career in the Palmetto State.
Counseling Salaries in South Carolina
Money plays a key role when you think about getting your LPC license in South Carolina. Your pay as a counselor depends on your specialty, where you work, your experience, and the type of workplace you choose.
South Carolina counselors’ earnings show mixed results compared to national numbers. Licensed counselors in big cities like Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville earn more than those in rural areas. Urban centers have higher living costs and more people who need mental health services.
New counselors who just got their license start with modest pay, usually between $38,000 to $45,000 per year. In spite of that, seasoned LPCs with special certifications or their own practice can make $65,000 to $75,000 yearly based on their clients and expertise.
Where you work affects your earnings by a lot. School counselors in South Carolina’s public schools get structured pay based on their education and years of service. State agencies offer their counselors detailed benefits packages along with base pay.
Running your own practice could lead to higher earnings, especially when you have expertise in high-demand areas like trauma therapy, addiction recovery, or family counseling. But this path needs business skills and comes with extra costs.
You can boost your salary through several routes. Getting your LPC/S supervisor status helps. Other options include earning a doctorate, developing special treatment methods, growing a strong private practice, or moving into leadership roles in clinical settings.
Money matters, but South Carolina counselors say they love their jobs because of how they help people rather than just the pay. This mix of personal satisfaction and professional rewards makes counseling an excellent career choice in the Palmetto State.
Counseling Organizations in South Carolina
Professional counseling organizations are a great way to get support while pursuing your South Carolina LPC requirements. These networks provide resources, continuing education opportunities, and advocacy that can substantially improve your counseling experience.
Professional associations in South Carolina are essential resources throughout your development. These organizations provide guidance specific to practicing in the Palmetto State, from your original education through full licensure and beyond.
State-level organizations keep track of regulatory changes that affect the LPC South Carolina process. Members get exclusive access to job boards, supervision directories, and discounted continuing education. These resources help newly licensed professionals establish their practices.
Specialty counseling organizations cater to counselors who work with specific populations or treatment approaches. These groups offer targeted professional development that helps distinguish your practice and builds expertise in specific counseling niches.
Professional membership comes with several benefits:
- Mentorship programs that connect early-career counselors with experienced practitioners
- Latest updates about South Carolina LPC requirements and regulatory changes
- Reduced rates for workshops and conferences that count toward continuing education
- State-level advocacy for policies that support the counseling profession
- Networking with potential employers, supervisors, and referral sources
- Leadership growth through committee work and organizational governance
Organizations focused on educational settings support school counseling candidates. These specialized groups help aspiring school counselors in South Carolina and address unique challenges in educational institutions.
Regional counseling networks host regular meetings across South Carolina. These meetings create opportunities for face-to-face professional connections whatever your practice location.
These professional organizations strengthen the counseling profession through advocacy, public awareness campaigns, and professional standards development. Their work improves the status of individual counselors and builds the profession’s reputation throughout South Carolina.
Counseling Scholarships in South Carolina
The cost of counseling education can be a barrier to meeting South Carolina LPC requirements. Students in the Palmetto State can access several scholarship opportunities that make their educational journey more affordable.
CACREP-accredited programs throughout South Carolina provide institutional scholarships based on academic performance, financial needs, or specific demographics. The University of South Carolina’s graduate assistantships reduce tuition costs and provide stipends to qualified students. Winthrop University awards several departmental scholarships that benefit counseling program students exclusively.
Students can tap into statewide financial support through programs like the South Carolina Need-Based Grant and the SC Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program. These programs prove especially valuable when you have plans to become a counselor in south carolina.
Professional organizations serve as excellent scholarship sources. Students who commit to practicing within the state after licensure can receive funding from the South Carolina Counseling Association (SCCA). The American Counseling Association Foundation makes national scholarships available to South Carolina residents pursuing lpc south carolina credentials.
Students with specialized counseling interests can explore targeted opportunities such as:
- NBCC Foundation Minority Fellowship Program for students committed to serving underrepresented populations
- NAADAC Minority Fellowship Program for addiction counseling students
- American School Counselor Association scholarships for school counseling candidates
- Chi Sigma Iota chapter grants for counseling honor society members
Your scholarship success depends on these key strategies:
- Research opportunities a year before your program starts
- Create a scholarship application calendar with deadlines
- Build strong relationships with faculty who can write recommendation letters
- Write a compelling personal statement about your counseling career goals
Students should meet with their financial aid office right after program acceptance. This helps them explore all funding options that can reduce the cost of meeting South Carolina LPC educational requirements.
Begin Your Education Now
Getting your professional counseling license in South Carolina needs steadfast dedication and careful planning. Your experience will include finishing a 60-credit master’s program, getting extensive supervised experience, passing national exams, and meeting all licensing requirements. The path might look tough at first, but the career rewards make the investment of time and resources worth it.
South Carolina gives counseling professionals great opportunities, with an 18% growth rate expected through 2032. This is a big deal as it means that the growth surpasses the national average for most occupations. The outlook gets even better for substance abuse and mental health counseling, showing a remarkable 23.4% projected growth through 2030.
Money matters when you choose this career path. Smart steps include looking into scholarships, knowing your licensing fees, and planning your education costs. You’ll find different paths to financial stability through various specializations, locations, and experience levels while doing meaningful work.
Professional organizations are a great way to get support during your licensing experience. These groups provide resources, networking chances, and continuing education you need to get and keep your credentials. Starting your membership early helps you connect with mentors who have already gone through these requirements.
South Carolina’s complete licensure process will give counselors thorough preparation for their profession. Mixing academic knowledge, supervised practical experience, and exam validation creates skilled professionals ready to help clients with various needs. Your dedication to these requirements shows your commitment to the counseling profession’s highest standards.
Note that while this process needs hard work, thousands of successful counselors have walked this path before you. Each step you take—choosing the right program, finishing supervised hours—brings you closer to a career where you help others direct their way through life’s challenges.