As in many other states, licensed counselors in Pennsylvania are known as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). The state’s premier professional organization for LPCs is the Pennsylvania Counseling Association, a state branch of the American Counseling Association, whose mission is to promote and support the competent, ethical, and culturally inclusive practice of professional counseling in Pennsylvania, and to protect and advocate for all counselors and the clients we serve.

Licensure for LPCs in Pennsylvania is managed by the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors, a division of the Pennsylvania Department of State. Licensure requirements for counselors in Pennsylvania, including education, supervision, examination, fees, renewal and “licensure by endorsement,” are examined in further detail below, along with salary information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as well as scholarships and loan repayment programs available to aspiring LPCs in the state.

Licensure as a professional counselor in Pennsylvania requires a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling or a field closely related to professional counseling from an accredited educational institution, with graduate coursework that meets the state’s required content areas.

Appropriate degree programs must include at least 2 semester hours or 3 quarter hours in each of the following content areas:

As part of their graduate education, future Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) in Pennsylvania generally complete supervised clinical training experiences through practicum and internship placements built into their counseling program. These graduate training experiences are separate from Pennsylvania’s required post-degree supervised clinical experience. To qualify for full LPC licensure, applicants must meet the state’s education requirements and complete 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience under board rules.

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Pennsylvania requires aspiring LPCs to complete supervised clinical experience after earning the qualifying degree. Applicants with a master’s degree must complete 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience, while applicants with a qualifying doctoral degree must complete 2,400 hours, including at least 1,200 hours earned after the doctoral degree is granted. Pennsylvania also requires supervision at a ratio of 2 hours for every 40 hours of supervised clinical experience. 

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LPC licensure in Pennsylvania requires a passing score on an examination. Pennsylvania requires LPC applicants to pass one of the examinations accepted by the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors. The following exams are also accepted by the Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors:

National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)

The National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) is administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors and is one of the examinations accepted for LPC licensure in Pennsylvania. It assesses knowledge, skills and abilities in effective counseling services.

Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) Examination

The Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) Examination is administered by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification and is accepted for LPC licensure in Pennsylvania.

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LPCs in Pennsylvania can expect to pay the following fees for their license, application and renewal:

LPC Initial Licensing Fee: $100

LPC Licensure Renewal Fee: $95 (biennial renewal)

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LPC licenses in Pennsylvania expire biennially. To renew a license, counselors must pay the required renewal fee and complete 30 hours of continuing education during each renewal cycle. Pennsylvania’s continuing education requirements include at least 1 hour in suicide prevention and 2 hours in child abuse recognition and reporting from an approved provider. The state also allows all required continuing education hours to be completed online.

Pennsylvania LPCs are required to complete 30 hours of continuing education during each two-year renewal period. These hours must include at least 3 hours in ethics, 2 hours in child abuse recognition and reporting, and 1 hour in suicide prevention. Pennsylvania also allows all 30 hours to be completed online through approved providers. Hours beyond the required 30 may not be carried over to the next renewal period.

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For Counselors Licensed in Other States

The Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors has an alternative route to licensure for counselors who have already obtained their licenses in other states. This process is now generally described as licensure by endorsement, and Pennsylvania also allows some out-of-state applicants to qualify under Act 41. Out-of-state applicants must hold a current professional counselor license in another state in good standing and complete Pennsylvania’s application process for endorsement or Act 41 review, including verification of licensure and other documentation required by the board.

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The following types of counselors in Pennsylvania can expect to earn the respective average hourly and average annual wages, according to May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

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The following scholarships and loan repayment programs are available to aspiring LPCs in Pennsylvania:

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*Licensure information including requirements, salaries, renewals, scholarships and fees were retrieved as of March 2026. Information may have changed since, check with the state’s board of licensing for more information.

Last updated: March 2026