Steps to Becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Louisiana

1. Complete 60 credit hours of coursework

Students complete 60 credit hours of required coursework, including practicum and internship experiences.

Practicum typically occurs during the summer before your third year. Students spend 10 hours per week at their practicum site, working toward 40 hours of direct counseling service and 100 hours of indirect service.

Internship takes place during the fall and spring of the third year. Each semester includes 120 hours of direct counseling experience and 180 hours of indirect service.

Practicum and internship are unpaid training experiences that provide supervised, real-world counseling practice.

2. Pass the Comprehensive Examination
Beginning the summer before the third year, students prepare for the program’s written comprehensive examination.

In the final semester of the program (spring), students complete an oral defense of their comprehensive exam.

3. Take the National Counselor Examination (NCE)

Our program facilitates scheduling the National Counselor Examination (NCE) during your final fall or spring semesters, allowing many students to complete this step before graduation. While passing the NCE is not required to apply for provisional licensure (PLPC), it is required before applying for full Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensure.

We strongly encourage students to take the exam during their final fall or spring semesters, when the material is still fresh and they are actively engaged in their coursework and preparation.

4. Apply for Provisional Licensure
After graduating, you will apply for provisional licensure in the state where you plan to practice.

In Louisiana, graduates apply to become a Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC).

To qualify for full LPC licensure in Louisiana, PLPCs must complete:

• 1,900 hours of supervised indirect experience
• 1,100 hours of supervised direct counseling experience
• 100 hours of face-to-face supervision

These 3,000 supervised hours must be completed in no fewer than two years and no more than seven years.

PLPC positions are paid counseling roles, and our program will guide graduates through the application process.

5. Apply for LPC Licensure
After completing the required 3,000 hours of supervised experience, you will be eligible to apply for full LPC licensure!