How to Become a Licensed Professional Counselor in South Carolina

Becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor in South Carolina runs through the Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists, part of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR). South Carolina uses a two-tier system: Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPCA), then full LPC.

Step 1: Earn a Qualifying Graduate Degree

You need a master's or doctoral degree in counseling from a regionally accredited institution. Graduating from a Clinical Mental Health Counseling program accredited by CACREP satisfies the Board's education requirement most directly.

Step 2: Pass the NCE or NCMHCE and Apply for Your LPCA

South Carolina accepts either the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), both administered by NBCC. The Board must approve your education and application before providing instructions to register for the exam if you haven't already passed it. LPCA applicants who did not graduate from a CACREP-accredited program must submit additional education review documents.

Step 3: Complete Your Supervised Experience

South Carolina requires 1,500 hours of supervised clinical experience (direct client counseling contact) over at least two years, under an LPC supervisor or other qualified licensed mental health practitioner. At least 150 of those hours must be immediate supervision by an LPC supervisor or candidate, with up to 50 hours credited as group supervision. The LPCA license itself is valid for two years.

Step 4: Apply for Full LPC Licensure

Submit your LPC Associate-to-LPC application electronically to the Board with your supervised experience documentation.

Renewing Your License

The LPC renewal fee is $150. Continuing education must come from an approved sponsoring body and can include coursework, workshops, seminars, peer-reviewed publications, or approved self-study. South Carolina joined the Counseling Compact in 2024, which allows licensed counselors in member states to obtain a privilege to practice in other member states.

Apply for Your License

Start or continue your application directly with South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists, the official licensing authority. Applications submitted anywhere else won't be processed.

Apply on the Board's Website

A Note on Accuracy

This post reflects information from the South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors and Psycho-Educational Specialists. Licensing rules, fees, and statutes change. Verify current requirements directly at llr.sc.gov/cou before making any licensure decision.

South Carolina's 1,500-hour supervised experience requirement is notably lighter than the 3,000-hour standard used in most states, which is worth knowing if you're weighing licensure timelines across state lines.