Licensed professional counselor

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Licensed professional counselor (LPC) is a licensure for mental health professionals in some countries.

In the US, licensed professional counselors (or in some states, "licensed clinical mental health counselors" or "licensed clinical professional counselors" or "licensed mental health counselors") provide mental health and substance abuse care to millions of Americans. Licensed professional counselors (LPCs) are doctoral and master's-level mental health service providers, trained to work with individuals, families, and groups in treating mental, behavioral, and emotional problems and disorders. LPCs make up a large percentage of the workforce employed in community mental health centers, agencies, universities, hospitals, and organizations, and are employed within and covered by managed care organizations and health plans. LPCs also work with active duty military personnel and their families, as well as veterans.

Licenses are awarded for professional counselors (LPC) and professional counselor supervisors (LPC-S); Licensed Professional Counselor Associates, who are accruing hours towards full licensure under supervision, may be designated with the suffix "-A"; this also applies to associate Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) who are designated as: LMFT-A.

In the U.S., the exact title varies by state, but the other most frequently used title is licensed mental health counselor (LMHC). Several U.S. states, including Illinois, Maine, and Tennessee, have implemented a two-tier system whereby both the LPC and LCPC (or equivalent) are used. In those states, higher tier professionals are granted the privilege to practice independently. However, in most states, LPC's or LMHC's may practice independently. Licensed Professional Counselors are one of the six types of licensed mental health professionals who provide psychotherapy in the United States.

LPCs are required to complete supervised clinical experience and pass a state licensing exam, which varies across different states. Examples include the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) and the National Certified Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE). Federal and state laws regulate LPCs, protecting their titles and defining their scope of practice, while also ensuring client protections. Additionally, LPCs who are members of professional associations or hold additional certifications must adhere to the respective codes of ethics of those organizations or certification bodies.