How to Become a Licensed Counselor in Texas: Path to LPC

The job market for counselors looks promising. These positions should grow 19 percent by 2033, almost three times faster than other jobs nationwide. This growth makes becoming a counselor in Texas an excellent career choice.

Getting your LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) license in Texas takes specific steps and commitment. You’ll need a master’s or doctoral degree with at least 60 graduate semester hours. After that, you must complete 3,000 supervised hours over 18 months or more. The final steps include passing the National Counselor Examination and paying your licensing fees.

The path to your Texas counseling license follows clear steps, and the benefits make it worthwhile. Texas mental health counselors typically earn between $49,510 and $63,770 per year. The field offers many chances to specialize. You can also find scholarships from $500 to $5,000. On top of that, professionals working in underserved areas can get up to $100,000 in loan repayment help.

This detailed guide shows you each step to become a licensed counselor in Texas. We cover everything from education requirements to exam details. Your path toward this meaningful profession starts here!

Education Requirements in Texas

Getting your counselor’s license in Texas starts with the right education. The Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors has set specific academic requirements you need to meet before applying for licensure.

You’ll need a master’s degree or higher in counseling or a related field to qualify for LPC licensure in Texas. Your degree must come from an accredited college or university that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board recognizes. There’s no wiggle room here – the board won’t accept programs without proper accreditation.

The graduate program requires at least 60 semester hours of coursework. This goes beyond what other states ask for, as most only need 48 semester hours. This shows Texas’s steadfast dedication to producing skilled mental health professionals.

Your coursework must cover these specific areas:

• Human growth and development
• Abnormal behavior/psychopathology
• Assessment techniques
• Counseling theories
• Counseling methods and techniques
• Research
• Lifestyle and career development
• Social, cultural, and family issues
• Professional orientation
• Ethics and legal issues in counseling

CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) accredited programs are a great choice. These programs typically arrange well with Texas licensing requirements and can make the application process smoother.

Texas offers both traditional in-person and online programs to get your education. But make sure to examine online programs carefully – they must meet all Texas requirements. The board will get into every detail of your transcript to verify you’ve completed all required coursework.

Many successful applicants reach out to the licensing board while studying to verify their program meets state requirements. This smart move can help avoid getting pricey delays during the licensing process.

Your education is the life-blood of your counseling career. So choosing the right program needs careful research to make sure your investment of time and money guides you to licensure successfully.

Counseling Programs in Texas

Texas has programs for aspiring counselors everywhere you look. Students can choose from over 70 schools that offer counseling programs of all types. Here are five outstanding programs that will help you become a licensed counselor in Texas:

1. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi has a CACREP-accredited Master of Science in Professional Counseling. Students can specialize in Addictions Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, or Marriage, Family, and Couples Counseling. The 60-credit program meets all Texas LPC licensure requirements. The marriage specialization gives you an extra advantage – you’ll qualify for LMFT licensure too.
2. University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) runs a Clinical Mental Health Counseling program that focuses on creativity, diversity, and ethics. The 60-hour degree is a big deal as it means that your training meets state and national standards. The program costs about $32,500 per year, and 89% of students get financial aid.
3. Texas Tech University (TTU) stands out with their 60-credit Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. They were among the first U.S. programs to combine clinical counseling skills with telehealth training. Graduates can become Nationally Certified Counselors and apply for LPC licensure.
4. University of North Texas at Dallas features a 60-hour Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. You’ll learn to counsel clients in mental health centers, private agencies, and business settings. The program’s CACREP accreditation makes it perfect for meeting Texas licensing requirements.
5. Texas State University runs a nationally recognized Professional Counseling Program with three paths: Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling, and School Counseling. Each path meets Texas academic requirements for licensure and certification. All three areas have CACREP accreditation through March 2032.

CACREP accreditation should top your priority list because it guarantees quality education and makes licensing easier. Schools like Lamar University and University of Houston-Victoria offer online and hybrid options that combine flexibility with high standards.

Internship and Other Requirements

Practical experience is a vital step toward licensure after completing your graduate coursework. The experience to become a licensed professional counselor in Texas needs supervised clinical work during and after your degree program.

Your educational program includes a supervised practicum of at least 300 hours. You need a minimum of 100 hours with direct client contact. This practicum fits into your master’s or doctoral program and must show on your academic transcript.

You must get an LPC-Associate license (previously called LPC-Intern) after graduation before starting your post-graduate supervised experience. Texas now requires all applications through the Online Licensing System and no longer accepts paper applications.

Your LPC-Associate application needs these documents:

• Practicum Documentation Form completed by your program faculty
• Jurisprudence Examination Completion Certificate (taken within six months of application)
• Supervisory Agreement Form signed by both you and your board-approved supervisor

As an LPC-Associate, you need 3,000 hours of supervised experience over at least 18 months. Direct client contact must make up 1,500 of these hours. A board-approved supervisor will oversee your work during this time, and you cannot practice independently.

You can apply for full LPC licensure after completing your supervised hours, passing required examinations, and clearing the fingerprint background check.

The supervised experience phase puts your academic knowledge into practice. You get hands-on experience with clients in a variety of clinical scenarios. This bridges classroom learning and professional practice naturally. Many supervisors help you build your practice with marketing strategies and networking opportunities as you prepare for independent work.

Examinations

Getting your Texas counseling license requires you to pass specific examinations, which marks a significant milestone in your career path. The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) gives you two examination choices for LPC licensure.

You must pass either the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) administers both exams and confirms counselor qualifications across the country.

Most candidates choose the NCE, which includes 200 multiple-choice questions that test your knowledge and abilities to provide effective counseling services. The exam covers six main areas:

• Professional Practice and Ethics (12%)
• Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis (12%)
• Areas of Clinical Focus (29%)
• Treatment Planning (9%)
• Counseling Skills and Interventions (30%)
• Core Counseling Attributes (8%)

The Texas Jurisprudence Exam is another requirement you need to complete. This no-fail assessment shows your understanding of the Texas State Board’s rules and applicable laws. You can take this online exam through the Board’s website within six months before submitting your license application.

NBCC processes and confirms your NCE or NCMHCE scores in 4-6 weeks. Your scores automatically go to BHEC if you took the exam for Texas licensure. You’ll need to ask NBCC to send your scores to the Texas Licensing Portal if you took the exam in another state.

The jurisprudence exam requires an 80% score on roughly 40 multiple-choice questions. You can use reference materials during this open-book test, which makes it more manageable.

Smart timing of these exams helps you move smoothly toward your goal of becoming a licensed professional counselor in Texas.

Licensing Fees

The cost of getting your counselor license plays a vital part in planning your career path. The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) has a fee structure that covers each stage of the licensing process.

The initial application fee for an LPC Associate, LPC, or Provisional License comes to $165. This amount breaks down into a $154 base fee, a $6 Texas.gov fee, and a $5 electronic processing fee. Your license upgrade after completing supervised experience will cost $106, though these rates might change.

The Texas Jurisprudence Exam costs $39 each time you take it. You must pass this exam before you can submit your license application.

Becoming a supervisor later in your career requires a Supervisor Status Application that costs $54. This fee includes a $50 base fee and a $4 processing charge.

Licensed counselors need to renew their credentials every two years. The LPC license renewal fee runs $141, which includes a $135 base fee, a $4 Texas.gov fee, and a $2 OPP fee. Supervisors pay an extra renewal fee of $50.

Late renewals come with hefty penalties. Licenses expired for 90 days or less require 1.5 times the base renewal fee. This amount doubles for licenses expired between 90 days and one year.

Most LPC Associates pay separately for supervision. One-on-one supervision typically costs $125 per hour, while group sessions run about $75 per hour.

Additional fees you might encounter:

• Duplicate license or renewal permit: $10
• Written verification of licensure: $10
• Written state-to-state verification: $50
• Returned check fee: $25
• Criminal history evaluation: $150
• Request for inactive status: $106

These expenses represent a significant investment in your professional future as a licensed counselor in Texas. Planning your budget carefully will help you manage these costs effectively throughout your career journey.

Counseling Salaries in Texas

Texas offers rewarding financial opportunities for aspiring mental health professionals who choose counseling as their career path. Your salary depends on your specialty, where you work in the state, how much experience you have, and the type of practice you choose.

Recent data shows Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) in Texas earn between $49,510 and $59,560 yearly. Notwithstanding that, experience and specialization can expand this range. New counselors usually start at $40,000, while those with years of experience and special certifications can make over $80,000 a year.

Your location in Texas plays a big role in what you can earn. The Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin metropolitan areas pay better than rural parts of the state. To name just one example, Dallas-Fort Worth counselors make 15-20% more than the state average.

The type of practice setting shapes your income potential:

• Private Practice: Starting your own practice could lead to the highest earnings, with experienced practitioners making $70,000-$100,000+ yearly.
• Healthcare Organizations: Hospitals and medical centers offer steady salaries of $55,000-$65,000 plus benefits.
• Community Mental Health Centers: These places start at $45,000-$50,000 and offer clear paths to advancement.
• School Settings: School counselors with proper certification earn about $50,000-$60,000, great benefits, and maintain good work-life balance.

It’s worth mentioning that extra certifications beyond your LPC can boost your earnings. Specialists in addiction counseling, trauma therapy, or specific therapeutic approaches typically earn 10-15% more.

The licensing costs in Texas are reasonable, and the return on investment looks promising. Mental health services are in high demand, practice settings are varied, and the pay is competitive. This makes counseling in Texas a solid career choice with room to grow.

Counseling Organizations in Texas

Building your counseling career in Texas requires more than just education and licensure. Professional organizations are a great way to get networking opportunities, continuing education, and advocacy benefits that can boost your professional trip.

Texas counselors can join both state and national organizations to support their growth:

The Texas Counseling Association (TCA) leads the way as the main professional organization for counselors across the state. TCA’s 7,000+ members benefit from state legislature advocacy, an annual conference, and continuing education options that are vital for license renewal. Their divisions cover different areas like school counseling, mental health counseling, and college counseling.

Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (TAMFT) helps marriage and family therapists with resources specific to relationship counseling. Members can get legal advice, ethical guidance, and attend specialized training events.

The American Counseling Association (ACA) has a strong Texas presence and provides liability insurance, scholarly publications, and help with job searches. The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) focuses on resources for clinical mental health counselors.

These organizations provide many benefits:

• Discounted continuing education rates
• Lower-cost liability insurance
• Connections with experienced professionals
• Guidance for new counselors
• Career resources and job listings
• Updates on counseling legislation

Student memberships cost less, making these organizations available during training. Annual fees range from $70-$225 based on the organization and membership type.

Active membership in these professional communities shows your credibility and deepens their commitment to growth. Supervisors and employers often see organizational membership as a sign of dedication, which can affect your career growth and advancement in Texas’s counseling field.

Counseling Scholarships in Texas

Texas offers multiple ways to fund your counseling education. Scholarships are a great way to get financial support for aspiring mental health professionals.

Many Texas universities offer program-specific scholarships to graduate counseling students. To cite an instance, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s departmental scholarships range from $500 to $3,000 for students with excellent academic records. The University of North Texas also provides merit-based awards to counseling students who need financial assistance.

Professional associations create more scholarship opportunities. The Texas Counseling Association Foundation gives multiple scholarships each year to graduate students in counseling programs. Their Graduate Student Scholarship awards $1,000 to promising future counselors.

The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Foundation provides additional financial help through rural and military scholarships. These awards range from $5,000 to $8,000 and help students who want to serve underrepresented communities after graduation.

Students can also benefit from loan repayment programs after graduation:

• Licensed counselors can get up to $50,000 through the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program by working in shortage areas for two years
• The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board helps mental health professionals repay loans when they work in underserved communities
• Mental health professionals in priority areas receive substantial financial relief through the Mental Health Loan Repayment Program

Most scholarship deadlines fall between January and March. Strong applications need recommendation letters, academic transcripts, personal statements, and proof of community involvement.

You should start your scholarship search early – about a year before your program begins. This timing will boost your chances of getting financial support throughout your counseling education.

Start Your Career as a Texas LPC Today

A career as a licensed professional counselor in Texas provides a rewarding path with excellent growth potential. This piece walked through the steps to get your LPC license, from education basics to final licensing requirements. Of course, you’ll need to invest time and resources to complete a 60-credit master’s degree, log 3,000 supervised hours, and pass complete examinations.

Even so, your investment will pay off well. The counseling field grows almost three times faster than other jobs nationwide, creating many chances in various settings. The financial rewards match the personal satisfaction this career brings, with salaries ranging from $49,510 to over $80,000 for specialists.

You’ll find financial help at every step of your path. Education funding comes through scholarships between $500 and $8,000, while loan repayment programs offer up to $50,000 after you graduate. The Texas Counseling Association supports your growth with networking events, continuing education, and advocacy resources.

Becoming a licensed counselor takes commitment and determination. The mix of job security, competitive pay, and the chance to change countless lives makes this profession worth pursuing. Your path to Texas LPC licensure starts with picking the right educational program and leads to a rewarding career where you help others overcome challenges and achieve mental wellness.

The path to becoming a licensed counselor in Texas raises questions that go way beyond the reach and influence of standard requirements. Future counselors face several common questions during their experience that need clear answers.

Most people want to know how long it takes to complete all licensure requirements. The whole process typically spans 3-4 years after finishing your undergraduate degree. Your master’s program takes 2-3 years, followed by 18-24 months of supervised practice experience.

Texas will think over licenses from other states, though requirements differ. The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council scrutinizes out-of-state credentials individually. They assess your education, examination scores, and supervised experience hours against Texas standards.

Texas recognizes many specialty certifications to name just one example, see play therapy, trauma counseling, and substance abuse treatment. These credentials need extra training beyond LPC requirements but can improve your practice scope and earning potential.

Your license maintenance depends on continuing education. Texas counselors must complete 24 hours of continuing education every two years. This includes at least four hours of ethics and one hour of suicide prevention training.

Future counselors often ask about online degrees’ eligibility for licensure. Yes, it is possible to get licensed through online programs that meet all CACREP accreditation standards and offer appropriate in-person clinical components.

The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council offers formal appeal processes if your license gets denied or faces disciplinary action. Legal representation during appeals helps significantly but isn’t required.

International applicants must prove their English proficiency through standardized tests. They also need credential evaluation from a recognized service that confirms their education matches U.S. standards.

Note that regulations change occasionally. The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council’s website should be your regular reference point throughout your licensing experience to stay current with requirements and procedures.