As in many other states, counselors in Georgia are known as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). During supervision hours, counselors are first known as Associate Professional Counselors (APC). The state’s premier professional association for LPC and APCs is the Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia, which “raises public awareness about mental health issues and the role of LPCs, promotes ethical and professional standards for practice and licensure, and provides training and networking for its members.”

APC and LPC licensure in Georgia is facilitated by the state Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists. Licensure requirements, including those for education, supervision, examination, and renewal, are examined in further detail below, along with salary information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as well as available to aspiring LPCs in Georgia.

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To first become an associate professional counselor, applicants must have earned a master’s degree in a primarily counseling content area or program of applied psychology. After September 30, 2018, the degree program may also be accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

The degree program in counseling or applied psychology must include coursework in counseling/psychotherapy theory and six of the following nine content areas:

Following September 30, 2018, the degree program must cover all nine of the above content areas and include 600 practicum or internship experience.

In addition to the coursework listed above, LPC applicants in Georgia should complete a counseling or applied psychology practicum or internship as part of their graduate degree program. At least 300 hours of practicum or internship experience is required. After September 30, 2018, 600 hours will be required.

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“Supervision” is shorthand for post-degree, directed experience in professional counseling under supervision in a work setting acceptable to the Board, which is a requirement for LPC licensure in Georgia. While under supervision, LPCs-to-be are known as Associate Professional Counselors (APCs). The number of years of supervision required for Georgia LPC licensure differs according to the counseling degree obtained by the APC:

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Applicants for the associate professional counselor license must seek board approval before pursuing the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination. APCs applied for LPC licensure do not have to re-take the examination.

National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification

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

National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination

The NCMHCE tests knowledge of assessment, diagnosis, counseling, psychotherapy, administration, consultation, and supervision. It consists of 10 clinical mental health counseling cases and assesses clinical problem-solving ability by testing identification, analysis, and treatment. It is also administered by the NBCC.

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LPCs in Georgia can expect to pay the following fees for their application:

LPC/APC Application: $100

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Georgia LPC licenses expire biennially on September 30th of each even-numbered year. License renewal requires an application, payment of the appropriate renewal fees and the completion of continuing education requirement.

Thirty-five hours of CE are required for licensure as a professional counselor renewal in Georgia. At least five of these hours must focus on professional ethics and may not be obtained through independent study or online. Independent study in general is limited to five hours.

Additionally, at least 15 hours must be “core hours,” focusing on professional counseling content. Core hours may be obtained through graduate-level education, conferences, workshops, seminars, or online courses sponsored, co-sponsored, or approved by a counseling professional association or counseling academic department.

The remaining hours may be “related hours,” exploring connected subjects, such as psychiatry, psychiatric nursing, psychology, or pastoral counseling. These may be obtained through activities sponsored, co-sponsored, or approved by professional associations or academic departments in psychiatry, psychiatric nursing, psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, or allied professions and health specialties.

Finally, no more than 20 hours of CE can be from any one course, workshop, or presentation with the exception of professional conferences offering multiple presentations.

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The following types of counselors in Georgia can expect to earn the corresponding average hourly and annual wages, according to May 2021 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

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The following scholarships are available to aspiring LPCs in Georgia:

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*Licensure information including requirements, salaries, renewals, scholarships and fees were retrieved as of November 2019. Information may have changed since, check with the state’s board of licensing for more information.

Last Updated: May 2022