In Connecticut, independently licensed counselors are known as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). The state also offers a Professional Counselor Associate license for graduates who have completed the required education and clinical training but are still completing the postgraduate supervised experience required for full LPC licensure. Connecticut’s largest professional association for counselors is the Connecticut Counseling Association, which traces its roots back to the first Guidance Conference in Connecticut in 1927.

LPC licensure in Connecticut is handled by the state Department of Public Health. Licensure details, including requirements for education, supervision, examination, and renewal, are further examined below, along with salary information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and scholarships available to aspiring LPCs in the state.

Connecticut’s educational requirements for counselor licensure depend in part on when you matriculated into your graduate program. Applicants who matriculated before July 1, 2017, must earn a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, or psychology from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants who matriculated on or after July 1, 2017, must either graduate from a CACREP-accredited clinical mental health counseling program or complete at least 60 graduate semester hours in counseling or a related mental health field as part of a qualifying graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution.

In order to qualify for Connecticut LPC licensure, the master’s or doctoral program must include at least 60 graduate semester hours in counseling, with coursework in each of the following content areas:

Internship and practicum requirements for applicants who matriculated on or after July 1, 2017, and for those seeking a Professional Counselor Associate license; Connecticut requires a 100-hour practicum in counseling and a 600-hour clinical mental health counseling internship. In addition, post-2017 applicants must complete coursework in addiction and substance abuse counseling, trauma and crisis counseling, and diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.

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To qualify for full LPC licensure in Connecticut, applicants must complete 3,000 hours of postgraduate supervised experience in professional counseling over a period of at least two years. This experience must include at least 100 hours of direct supervision by one of the following:

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To qualify for licensure as a professional counselor in Connecticut, applicants must pass either the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), as approved by the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Applicants should confirm current exam requirements, registration procedures, and score-reporting instructions with the Department before registering.

National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)

The National Counselor Examination (NCE) is administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). It is designed to assess a candidate’s knowledge, skills, and abilities related to effective counseling practice. Connecticut accepts the NCE as one of the examinations that can satisfy the licensure requirement for professional counselors.

The National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Exam (NCMHCE)

The National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) is also administered by the NBCC. This exam focuses on clinical knowledge and decision-making in areas such as assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and counseling practice. Connecticut also accepts the NCMHCE as an option for meeting the examination requirement for professional counselor licensure.

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

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Connecticut LPC licenses expire in the first birth month following issuance and are renewable annually thereafter. Licenses have a 90-day grace period following expiration, during which the LPC may continue to practice and renew the license. On the 91st day, the license becomes void, and the LPC must apply for reinstatement. Applicants can apply for licensure and renewals through Connecticut’s eLicense portal. 

License renewal involves submitting the appropriate fee and renewal application. Connecticut also requires licensees to complete continuing education and retain proof of completion in case the Department of Public Health requests documentation.

LPC renewal in Connecticut requires at least 15 hours of qualifying continuing education during each one-year renewal period. In addition to the general CE requirement, licensees must complete at least three contact hours in professional ethics each registration period and, at least once every six years, at least two contact hours on mental health conditions common to veterans and their family members. A licensee renewing for the first time is exempt from the CE requirement until the next registration period.

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According to the 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Maps, the following types of counselors in Connecticut can expect to earn the corresponding median annual wage:

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The following scholarships are available to aspiring LPCs in Connecticut:

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS)

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*Licensure information, including requirements, renewals, scholarships, and fees, was reviewed in March 2026. Salary information in the Bureau of Labor Statistics section may reflect a different reporting year.

Information last updated: March 2026