As in many other states, counselors in Texas who have obtained their licensure are known as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). Texas counselors who are still in the supervision portion of the licensure process are referred to as Licensed Professional Counselor Interns (LPCIs).

The state’s premier professional organization for LPCs and LPCIs is the Texas Counseling Association , a local branch of the American Counseling Association, whose mission is “to enhance the quality of life in society by promoting the development of professional counselors, advancing the counseling profession, and using the profession and practice of counseling to promote respect for human dignity and diversity.”

Licensure for Texas LPCs is managed by the state Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, a branch of the Texas Department of State Health Services. Licensure requirements for counselors in Texas, including education, supervision, examination, fees, renewal, and “provisional licensure,” 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 LPCs in the state.

Texas LPC licensure requires the completion of a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling or a counseling-related field from an accredited college or university. Counseling-related fields include psychology, psychiatry, social work, and marriage and family therapy.

Appropriate degree programs will be at least 48 graduate semester hours long and include coursework in each of the following areas:

*Beginning August 1, 2017, Texas State Board Examiners of Professional Counselors will require a 60 graduate semester credit program. Additional required coursework includes:

In addition to the coursework listed above, Texas LPC licensure also requires the completion of a supervised practicum experience, sometimes referred to as an internship. The practicum should consist of at least 300 hours, with a minimum of 100 hours of direct client contact. This practicum requirement is distinct from post-graduate supervision, which is also necessary for LPC licensure in Texas.

(Back to Top)

Texas requires LPCs to complete 3,000 hours of supervision in a minimum of 18 months, with at least 1,500 hours of client contact under the direction of an approved supervisor.

(Back to Top)

Texas LPC licensure requires a passing score on the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification and the Texas Jurisprudence Exam.

National Counselor Examination (NCE) for Licensure and Certification

The NCE is a 200-question, multiple-choice examination administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors. It assesses knowledge, skills, and abilities in effective counseling services.

Texas Jurisprudence Exam

The Texas Jurisprudence Exam is a no-fail assessment designed to demonstrate familiarity with Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors’ rules. It is available online through the Board’s website.

(Back to Top)

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

LPC Application and License: $190

LPC Biennial License Renewal: $106

Out-of-state Application: $200

Texas Jurisprudence Exam: $40

(Back to Top)

Texas LPC licenses expire biennially. License renewal requires payment of the appropriate fees and the completion of continuing education and the Texas Jurisprudence Exam.

LPCs in Texas are required to complete 24 hours of continuing education (CE) during each two-year renewal cycle. Four of these hours must focus on ethics, with the Texas Jurisprudence Exam qualifying for one.

(Back to Top)

For Counselors Licensed in Other States

The Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors has an alternative route to licensure for counselors who have already obtained their licenses in other states. Out-of-state applicants are required to submit a completed application, appropriate fee, submit a letter of verification from the originating state licensing board, provide proof of a passing score on the NCE and submit graduate transcripts.

(Back to Top)

Texas counselors can expect to earn these average hourly and annual wages, according to May 2021 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

(Back to Top)

The following scholarships and loan repayment programs are available to Texas LPCs and LPCIs:

(Back to Top)

*Licensure information including requirements, renewals, scholarships and fees were retrieved as of May 2022. Information may have changed since, check with the state’s board of licensing for more information.

Last Updated: May 2022