Counselors in Alabama are known as licensed professional counselors (LPCs). Supervision is a required part of LPC licensure, and while under supervision, counselors must be licensed as associate licensed counselors (ALC).

The Alabama Counseling Association (ALCA) is the state’s professional organization for counseling graduate students, ALCs and LPCs. Formally founded in 1966 but with roots dating back to 1954, ALCA was one of the few state organizations that was racially integrated prior to the desegregation movement.

Counselor licensure in Alabama is handled by the Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling (ABEC). The state board of examiners maintains all education, supervision, examination, and renewal requirements for LPCs, which are examined in detail below, as well as salary information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and scholarships available to aspiring LPCs in Alabama.

LPC licensing in Alabama requires completion of a master’s degree in counseling with at least 60 graduate semester hours or 90 graduate quarter hours at a regionally accredited college or university. The degree program should be accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and should contain coursework in the following areas:

One hundred clock hours of individual and group counseling experience, under appropriate supervision, are required. A minimum of 40 of these hours should be working directly with clients in a capacity that corresponds with the program’s emphasis. One hour per week must be dedicated to individual supervision, while 1.5 hours are devoted to group supervision.

At least 600 internship hours are also necessary, with a minimum of 240 in direct service work with clients appropriate to the program’s focus. At least 80% of the direct service work in the internship must be counseling sessions. Assessment activities with clients may not account for more than 20% of the direct services in the internship. A minimum of one (1) clock hour per week must be of individual supervision by program faculty, and a minimum of one and one-half (1 1/2) clock hours per week must be group supervision.

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Before becoming a licensed professional counselor, as recognized by Alabama, applicants must first apply for an associate licensed counselor (ALC) designation. To pursue licensure as a professional counselor, ALCs must accrue 3,000 hours of supervised experience, 2,250 of which are direct services with individuals, couples, families, or groups, and 750 of which are indirect. 

An applicant may subtract one thousand hours of the required professional experience for every 15 graduate semester hours or 22.5 quarter hours obtained beyond the master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, provided that such hours are clearly related to the field of professional counseling, are focused on increasing knowledge and use of skills in the private practice of counseling in one or more of the following areas: counseling theory and practice, human growth and development, social and multicultural foundations, helping relationships, group dynamics, lifestyle and career development, appraisal of individuals, research and evaluation, or professional orientation, and are acceptable to the Board.

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A passing score on the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) is a requirement for LPC licensure. 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.

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LPCs in Alabama can expect to pay the following counseling licensure fees for their application, renewal, examination and other licensure expenses:

Fees for LPCs
LPC Application: $200
LPC License: $300
LPC License Renewal: $300
LPC License Reactivation: $50 per year (not to exceed $250)

Fees for ALCs
ALC Application: $200
ALC License: $150
ALC License Renewal: $150

Other Fees
Provisional License: $150
Duplicate or Replacement License: $15
Written License Verification: $25

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LPC licenses must be renewed every two years and on July 31 of the renewal year. ALCs must renew their licenses annually. Failure to renew a license for more than 6 years will require the LPC to reapply for licensure under the current regulations for Initial ALC licensure, with forfeiture of all accrued supervision and all client experience hours.

Licensed professional counselor renewal requires LPCs and ALCs to submit the appropriate fees, complete an application, and provide evidence of the completion of all relevant continuing education clock hours/experience.

According to the Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling, LPC’s are required to complete at least 40 hours of formal contact in relevant professional and continuing education (CE) experience for each two-year renewal. Of those 40 hours, a minimum of six must be devoted to ethical concerns for practice, assessment, supervision, or research in counseling.

Ten hours of CE may be obtained by supplying documentation for two of the following activities:

Ten hours of CE may be obtained by supplying documentation for two of the following activities:

ALCs are required to complete at least 10 formal contact clock hours of relevant professional and continued education experience for renewal of an ALC license. The 10 hours of continuing education required for ALC licensure renewal must include at least 2 clock hours devoted to ethical concerns in counseling practice, assessment, supervision, or research.

Of the 10 hours of CE, three may be obtained by supplying documentation for one of the following activities:

Additionally, at least 75% of CE activities for LPCs and ALCs must consist of real-time participation in seminars, classes, workshops, presentations, training programs, or similar activities. Such real-time participation must involve the LPC’s presence at the activity location or the LPC’s use of interactive technology for the activity as it occurs.

All CE hours must be approved in advance by ABEC or be formal graduate academic coursework, excluding thesis or dissertation credit. Additionally, all CE hours toward the renewal of a license that has been expired for more than 2 years must be accrued within the 24 months preceding the renewal request.

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For Counselors Licensed in Other States

Counselors licensed by other states, U.S. territories, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico may receive LPC licensure from ABEC provided it finds the requirements of their licensure (PDF, 348 KB) equivalent to its own. If it does not, ABEC may issue a provisional license, which may be renewed for one additional year.

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Counselors in Alabama can expect to earn the corresponding mean annual wages according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2024. 

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The following scholarships are available to aspiring LPCs in Alabama:

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

Information last updated March 2026