Mental health is a huge challenge in modern society, with nearly one in five U.S. adults experiencing conditions such as depression or anxiety, and many others reporting heightened stress or loneliness. Thankfully, many resources promise to help patients navigate these concerns. Among the most valuable? Licensed professional counselors (LPCs), who offer crucial services ranging from assessment to group counseling and beyond.
Committed to fostering resilience, LPCs have a powerful role to play in addressing current and future mental health challenges. These professionals face challenges of their own, however, and many struggle to navigate the complexities of getting licensed. Below, we will explain what this role involves and provide valuable insights on how to become a licensed professional counselor.
Understanding the Role of a Licensed Professional Counselor
Licensed professional counselors bring expertise, passion, and empathy to the counseling profession. Their credentials signal their extensive knowledge and their impressive skill sets, not to mention their inspiring commitment to continuing education. This designation can be used to highlight the hard work LPCs have put into training, but is also used as a job title, revealing scopes of practice and demonstrating which services LPCs are prepared to provide.
What Is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)?
Many people are familiar with counselors but may struggle to understand: what is a licensed professional counselor? After all, while all LPCs are authorized to serve as counselors, not all counselors qualify as LPCs.
The title “Licensed Professional Counselor” conveys a high level of educational attainment, with this designation reserved for counseling professionals who have trained at the graduate level and passed challenging professional exams. To secure this title, LPCs must pursue not only high-level training, but also supervised clinical experience.
Once designated as LPCs, counseling professionals are authorized to provide a range of services that may not be within the scope of practice for other types of counselors. This includes everything from mental health disorder diagnosis to psychotherapy and crisis intervention.
National Certified Counselors (NCC)
Recognized by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), National Certified Counselors (NCCs) command a great deal of respect in their field. This designation verifies counseling competency, confirming that counselors are capable of meeting high professional standards, but it is not a license to practice.
The main distinction between a licensed professional counselor and a National Certified Counselor involves how and where the credential is granted. LPC is a state-based designation, offering not only verification of counselors’ training and competency, but also, legally required to practice. NCC status is granted at the national level, and while not as relevant from a legal perspective, can boost credibility and facilitate ongoing professional development.
Benefits of Becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor
Working as a counselor can be personally gratifying, as these professionals love giving back to their communities and take pride in knowing that, with each session or appointment, they make a difference. However, LPCs enjoy unique advantages related to their unique training and credentials. It takes considerable effort to become an LPC, but this can lead to impressive career outcomes and can also help counselors better serve their patients.
Fulfilling Career Path
Many LPCs are driven by a strong desire to empower their patients. These professionals want to know that their work matters. They find great satisfaction in knowing that they equip patients with the practical tools and knowledge needed not only to manage their symptoms, but also, to fully recover from a range of mental health challenges. On a day-to-day basis, LPCs enjoy interacting with clients and even learning from them.
High Demand and Job Security
The counseling field is experiencing rapid growth in response to escalating rates of mental illness, along with the decreased stigma surrounding mental health concerns. These days, patients are more willing to seek the interventions needed to achieve optimal mental and emotional health.
Speaking to this skyrocketing demand, a report from the American Psychological Association (APA) reveals that many mental health practitioners are working beyond capacity and are often unable to accommodate all prospective clients. While this can present challenges for maintaining work-life balance, it also means that LPCs enjoy access to a wealth of job opportunities. Meanwhile, those working in private practice find it easier to develop a sizable clientele.
Flexibility in Work Settings
Many aspiring LPCs feel drawn to work with specific types of populations or in specific settings. This career path provides plenty of flexibility for passion-driven counselors to serve how and where they see fit. While this role is often associated with private practice and mental health clinics, LPCs can also be found in hospitals, substance abuse treatment centers, schools, or even corporate settings. Depending on how they choose to practice, LPCs can set their own hours, pursue shift work, or work in a traditional 9-to-5 capacity.
Career Growth
LPCs enjoy many opportunities for career advancement. Some, upon securing initial experience in community health centers or mental health clinics, may choose to open private practices, where they get the chance to shape their caseload and to explore interventions they find compelling. Other LPCs may seek specialized skills or credentials so they can better serve specific patient populations, and many enjoy guiding other counselors by acting as supervisors or mentors.
Steps to Becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor
The journey to becoming an LPC can be complicated, even in the best of circumstances. Confusion stems not only from the range of available credentials and professional designations, but also from state-specific requirements, which can look dramatically different. That said, most LPCs can expect to follow these key steps:
Step 1: Earn a Master’s Degree in Counseling
Every aspiring LPC must pursue high-level training from a reputable master’s program. A master’s degree in counseling is a must, providing a thorough overview of assessment procedures, case conceptualization, developmental theories, research techniques, and more. The ideal program will also promote practical experience through laboratory training.
MS in Counseling Program at Baker College
Offering the chance to earn a Master of Science in Counseling, Baker College encourages aspiring LPCs to develop a comprehensive skill set that draws heavily on research-backed counseling techniques. In addition to exploring the foundational concepts highlighted above, this program delves into several important applications of counseling relevant to future LPCs, such as addiction counseling, trauma counseling, and group counseling.
Step 2: Complete a Supervised Clinical Experience
Some aspiring LPCs find it difficult to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and counseling practice. This is where supervised clinical experiences come into play. Offering the opportunity to put research-backed techniques into action, this expands upon experiences such as lab training and practicums to incorporate site placements, which involve direct interactions with real-world clients. In addition to providing invaluable experience, internships may help satisfy strict supervised experience requirements, which must be fulfilled prior to officially becoming an LPC.
Practicum and Internship Opportunities at Baker College
Baker College encourages counseling students to develop real-world experience through meaningful learning opportunities such as practicums and internships. While practicums involve supervised lab environments, internships place aspiring LPCs in the field. While completing these internships, students continue to receive guidance and support from licensed counselors. Students will need to complete a supervised clinical experience post-graduation as well to earn the total required hours for licensure.
Step 3: Pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE)
The National Counselor Examination (NCE) is a rigorous exam designed to determine whether aspiring LPCs are prepared to provide high-quality counseling services. This comprehensive assessment touches on several critical concepts, such as developmental stages, assessment tools, and group counseling methods, to name a few. Passing this exam is a core requirement for becoming an LPC.
Preparation Through Baker College
Offering extensive coverage of the many concepts referenced in the NCE, Baker College’s master’s degree in counseling includes in-depth coursework designed to prepare students to pass this crucial exam, and ultimately thrive as counselors. Foundational insights into the theories of counseling are especially valuable, while experiences such as practicums provide a more well-rounded understanding of concepts covered in the exam.
Step 4: Apply for Licensure
The application process varies significantly from one state to the next, but often calls for graduate program transcripts, supervised experience verification, and proof of passing the NCE. Additional documentation may be required, along with application fees, background checks, or even licensing interviews.
Baker College Support
Committed to supporting future LPCs through the process of getting licensed, Baker College encourages graduate students to meet with academic and career advising, who can provide valuable guidance every step of the way. By working with advisors, counseling students can gain a better understanding of state-specific licensing requirements. What’s more, students can also feel more confident about their ability to fulfill these essentials.
Why Choose Baker College’s MS in Counseling Program
As you prepare for your future as an LPC, you will want to look closely at various master’s programs to determine which align best with your goals and aspirations. Baker’s online master’s degree in counseling deserves careful consideration. Integrating a comprehensive curriculum with valuable real-world learning opportunities, our MS in counseling program has been purposefully developed to make sure that you’re on track to take the NCE and secure your license after graduation.
Flexible Learning Option
Offering immersive online learning opportunities, Baker’s program aims to accommodate students from all walks of life, including those with demanding schedules or geographic limitations. This is an excellent option for working professionals, offering the chance to maintain optimal work-school-life balance while learning from afar.
Expert Faculty and Support
Representing some of the industry’s most passionate and impactful professionals, Baker’s counseling faculty bring a wealth of experience to the table and a level of passion that is sure to inspire future LPCs.
In addition to encouraging powerful connections with talented and caring faculty members, Baker offers extra support — such as academic advising and career counseling — which makes it easier to navigate the challenges of both academic life and professional planning. We also provide an abundance of peer networking opportunities to help students develop valuable connections that will remain useful in the years following graduation.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Many LPCs agree that graduate-level training is well worth the investment, but robust financial aid opportunities can make it easier to navigate the financial concerns related to pursuing a graduate degree. Students are encouraged to apply for scholarships or to take advantage of grants and other sources of financial aid.
Baker College Prepares You for Licensure and Beyond
There is no easy path to becoming an LPC, but the right degree program can make a world of difference. At Baker College, we are eager to support you in this journey.
Our online master’s degree in counseling provides thorough preparation, addressing the many skills and concepts needed to pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and satisfy state-specific licensing requirements.In addition to helping you seek licensure, we are pleased to provide ongoing support as you take the next steps in your career journey. From networking opportunities to professional development, we remain committed to encouraging and guiding our valued alumni. Reach out today to learn more about our role in helping you become a licensed counselor and ensuring that you make a difference for years to come.