Louisiana Counseling Licensure & Supervision Roadmap

Louisiana licenses professional counselors through the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners using a two-stage pathway: Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC) followed by Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

To become an LPC, applicants must complete a qualifying graduate degree, obtain PLPC status, complete 3,000 hours of supervised counseling experience, pass a national examination, and meet supervision requirements.

Louisiana Counseling Licensure & Supervision Quick Summary

Requirement	Louisiana
Official Licensing Board	Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners
Full Clinical License Title	Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Associate License Title	Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC)
Total Supervised Hours Required	3,000 hours
Direct Client Contact Hours	1,900 hours
Minimum Timeframe	2 years
Required National Exam(s)	NCE or NCMHCE
State Jurisprudence Exam	No

The Path to Licensure in Louisiana

Step 1: Complete a Qualifying Graduate Degree

Degree Level Required

• Master’s or doctoral degree in counseling or a related field.
  

Minimum Graduate Credit Hours

• 60 graduate semester hours
  

CACREP Requirement

• CACREP accreditation is not required.
  
• The Board evaluates programs for equivalency to required coursework areas.
  

Graduate Clinical Training Requirements

Graduate programs must include supervised clinical training:

Practicum

• Minimum 100 hours
  

Internship

• Minimum 600 hours
  

These experiences must be part of the qualifying graduate degree program.

Step 2: Apply for Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC)

After completing the graduate degree, applicants must obtain PLPC status before accruing supervised counseling hours.

Background Check

• A criminal background check is required for licensure.
  

Title Requirement

Individuals practicing under provisional licensure must use the title:

Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC).

Step 3: Establish a Supervision Agreement

Before beginning supervised experience:

• A supervision agreement must be approved by the Board.
  
• Supervision must be provided by a board-approved supervisor.
  

Supervised hours do not count until the supervision agreement is approved.

Step 4: Complete Supervised Counseling Experience

Applicants must complete:

Total Supervised Hours

• 3,000 hours of post-graduate counseling experience
  

Direct Client Contact Requirement

• At least 1,900 hours must involve direct client counseling
  

Minimum Timeframe

• Supervised experience must be completed over at least two years.

Supervision Requirements

Minimum Supervision Hours

• 100 hours of supervision
  

Individual Supervision

• A portion of supervision must be individual supervision as required by board rules.

Supervisor Qualifications

Supervision must be provided by:

• A Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S) approved by the Board.
  

To qualify as an LPC-S, supervisors must:

• Hold LPC licensure
  
• Have at least five years of counseling practice after licensure
  
• Complete board-approved supervision training

Supervision Documentation

Applicants must submit documentation verifying:

• Total supervised counseling hours
  
• Direct client contact hours
  
• Supervision hours
  
• Supervisor approval and verification
  

These records must be submitted to the Board when applying for LPC licensure.

Examination Requirement

Applicants must pass one of the following examinations:

• National Counselor Examination (NCE exam), or
  
• National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE).
  

Practice Rights During PLPC Status

PLPC licensees:

• Must practice under supervision
  
• May not practice independently
  
• Must follow the supervision agreement approved by the Board
  

Failure to maintain supervision may invalidate supervised experience hours.

*Sponsored Counseling Programs

Supervision & Ethics in Louisiana

Who Can Supervise PLPCs?

Supervision must be provided by a board-approved LPC Supervisor (LPC-S).

Supervisors must:

• Have at least five years of counseling practice after licensure
  
• Complete supervisor training approved by the Board
  

Supervisors are responsible for:

• Monitoring clinical work
  
• Ensuring ethical practice
  
• Evaluating the supervisee’s professional counseling services

When Do Supervised Hours Count?

Supervised hours are valid only if:

• The individual holds PLPC status
  
• A supervision agreement has been approved by the Board
  
• Supervision is provided by a board-approved LPC-S
  

Hours obtained outside these conditions may not count toward LPC licensure.

Common Licensure Pitfalls in Louisiana

Pro Tip

Track the three major experience requirements simultaneously:

• 3,000 total supervised hours
  
• 1,900 direct client contact hours
  
• 100 supervision hours
  

Ensure supervision is approved before starting clinical work.

Warning

• Hours obtained before PLPC licensure may not count.
  
• Hours obtained before supervision approval may not count.
  
• Only board-approved LPC-S supervisors can supervise PLPC candidates.

Frequently Asked Questions About Counseling Licensure in Louisiana

Can PLPCs Practice Independently in Louisiana?

No. PLPC licensees must practice under supervision and may not independently provide counseling services.

How Long Does It Take to Become an LPC in Louisiana?

Applicants must complete:

• 3,000 hours of supervised counseling experience, and
  
• At least two years of supervised practice.

Does Louisiana Require CACREP Accreditation?

No. CACREP accreditation is not required, but graduate programs must meet the coursework requirements established by the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners. Prospective applicants can explore Louisiana counseling degrees to find relevant programs, including CACREP-accredited online counseling programs.

List of Programs