How to Become a Counselor in Texas

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.

Counselor Education in Texas

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 60 graduate semester hours long and include coursework in each of the following areas:

1. Normal human growth and development
2. Abnormal human behavior
3. Appraisal or assessment techniques
4. Counseling theories
5. Counseling methods or techniques
6. Research
7. Lifestyle and career development
8. Social, cultural, and family issues
9. Addictions counseling
10. Counselor ethics
11. Couples, marriage, or families
12. Psychopathology
13. Professional orientation
14. Practicum

Internship Requirements

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.

Supervision Hours

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

Examinations

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.

LPC Licensure Fees

As of November 2025, Texas LPCs can expect to pay the following fees for their application, license, renewal, and examination:

• LPC Application: $165
• LPC Biennial License Renewal: $141
• Texas Jurisprudence Exam: $39

LPC License Renewal

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

Continuing Education

LPCs in Texas are required to complete 24 hours of continuing education (CE) during each two-year renewal cycle. Six of these hours must focus on ethics, with another three in cultural diversity and competency.

Additional Information

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.

Average Counselor Salary in Texas

Texas counselors can expect to earn these average hourly and annual wages, according to May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data:

Texas Counseling Scholarships

As of October 2025, the following scholarships, grants, and loan repayment programs are available to Texas LPCs and LPCIs:

Texas School Counselor Association (TSCA) Scholarships

• Type: Grants
• Amount: Up to $500
• Description: TCA offers 1 grant of up to $500 for members who are interested in pursuing a continuing learning opportunity. This could be through a continued education course, attending a conference, or put towards the completion of a graduate degree.

National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program

• Type: Loan Repayments
• Amount: Varies
• Description: LPCs in Texas are eligible to apply for loan repayment assistance in exchange for working in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) at a site approved by the National Health Service Corps. Funding is tied to HPSA score and is in exchange for three years of service.

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students

• Type: Scholarships
• Amount: To Be Decided
• Description: The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program provides funds to schools, which in turn offer scholarships to full-time, financially needy students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are studying professional counseling, amongst other health professions.

*Licensure information, including requirements, renewals, scholarships, and fees, was retrieved as of October 2025. Information may have changed since then; please check with the Texas Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors for more information.