South Carolina Counseling Licensure & Supervision Roadmap

South Carolina licenses professional counselors through the Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors, and Psycho-Educational Specialists.

The state utilizes a two-tier system consisting of the Professional Counselor Associate (LPCA) and the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Individuals must first obtain the associate license and complete supervised post-master’s experience before qualifying for full licensure.

South Carolina Counseling Licensure & Supervision Quick Summary

Requirement	Details
Official Licensing Board	South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors, and Psycho-Educational Specialists
Full Clinical License Title	Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Initial / Associate License Title	Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPCA)
Total Supervised Hours Required	1,500 hours of post-master’s clinical experience
Minimum Direct Client Contact Hours	1,380 hours
Required National Exam(s)	NCE or NCMHCE
State Jurisprudence Exam Required?	No

The Path to Licensure in South Carolina

Step 1: Complete a Qualifying Graduate Degree

Applicants must complete a graduate degree in counseling or a related field.

Educational requirements include:

• Master’s, specialist’s, or doctoral degree
  
• Minimum of 60 graduate semester hours
  
• Degree must be:
  
  • CACREP-accredited, or
    
  • Accredited by a national accrediting body with substantially similar standards, subject to Board review

Prospective applicants can explore South Carolina counseling degrees to find relevant programs, including CACREP-accredited counseling programs.

Step 2: Obtain Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPCA) License

Applicants must obtain the Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPCA) credential before beginning post-master’s supervised clinical experience.

Requirements include:

• Submission of an application to the Board
  
• Approval of a supervision plan
  
• Passing or registering for a Board-approved examination (NCE exam or NCMHCE)
  

Important: Associates may not begin providing counseling services until the supervision plan has been submitted to and received by the Board.

Step 3: Complete Supervised Clinical Experience

To qualify for LPC licensure, applicants must complete supervised post-master’s clinical experience while licensed as an LPCA.

Requirements include:

• 1,500 hours of supervised clinical experience
  
• 1,380 hours of direct client contact
  
• Minimum duration of 2 years
  

Supervision requirements include:

• 120 hours of supervision total
  
  • At least 60 hours must be individual or triadic supervision
    
  • Remaining 60 hours may be individual/triadic or group supervision
    

All supervised experience must:

• Occur under an approved supervision plan
  
• Be completed while holding an active LPCA license
  
• Be supervised by a qualified, Board-approved supervisor

Step 4: Pass the Required Examination

Applicants must pass a Board-approved examination.

Accepted examinations include:

• National Counselor Examination (NCE)
  
• National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE)

The Board determines acceptable examinations for licensure.

*Sponsored Counseling Programs

Supervision & Ethics in South Carolina

Who Qualifies as a Supervisor in South Carolina?

Supervision must be provided by:

• A Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S), or
  
• Another Board-approved licensed mental health professional
  

Supervisor qualifications include:

• Appropriate licensure and good standing
  
• Demonstrated expertise in professional counseling, including diagnosis and treatment
  
• For LPC-S designation, either:
  
  • A doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision, or
    
  • At least 5 years of continuous clinical experience, along with required supervision training and coursework

Can Associates Practice Independently in South Carolina?

No. Licensed Professional Counselor Associates must practice under supervision. They may not begin providing counseling services until a supervision plan has been submitted to and received by the Board, and they may not practice independently until fully licensed as an LPC.

What Are the Required Supervision Ratios?

South Carolina requires:

• 120 total hours of supervision within the 1,500-hour supervised experience period
  
• At least 60 hours must be individual or triadic supervision

What Documentation Is Required?

Applicants must submit Board-approved documentation verifying supervised clinical experience.

Required documentation includes:

• Supervision plan
  
• Supervision logs
  
• Supervisor verification/confirmation forms
  

All documentation must demonstrate that experience and supervision requirements have been met.

Who Is Responsible for Clinical Decisions?

Supervisors are responsible for:

• Overseeing the associate’s clinical work
  
• Ensuring services are provided within professional and ethical standards
  
• Providing guidance on diagnosis and treatment

Common Licensure Pitfalls in South Carolina

Pro Tip
Submit and confirm receipt of the supervision plan before beginning any counseling services. Hours completed prior to Board receipt of the plan may not count toward licensure.

Warning
Supervised experience must be completed while holding an active LPCA license. Clinical work performed outside of this status may not qualify for LPC licensure.

Frequently Asked Questions About Counseling Licensure in South Carolina

Can I Start a Private Practice as an LPCA in South Carolina?

No. Licensed Professional Counselor Associates must practice under supervision and may not independently provide counseling services until licensed as an LPC.

How Long Does It Take to Become Fully Licensed in South Carolina?

South Carolina requires a minimum of two years of supervised post-master’s clinical experience.

The total timeframe will depend on completing:

• Graduate education requirements
  
• Examination requirements
  
• Required supervised clinical experience

Does South Carolina Require CACREP Accreditation for Licensure?

No. South Carolina accepts degrees from CACREP-accredited programs or programs accredited by a national accrediting body with substantially similar standards, subject to Board review.

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