Pennsylvania LPC Licensure Requirements & Counseling Exam (PA)
Everything you need to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania, including the NCMHCE exam requirement, supervised hours, fees, and renewal rules — verified against the Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors.
Pennsylvania key fact: Pennsylvania accepts either national exam, so many candidates take the NCE. If you may relocate to an NCMHCE-only state, taking the NCMHCE now avoids a second exam.
LPC Requirements at a Glance
| Licensing board | Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors |
|---|---|
| Required exam | NCE or NCMHCE (other board-approved exams may apply) |
| Education | 48–60 semester-hour master's in counseling or a closely related field. |
| Supervised hours | 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience after a 48-credit master's, reduced with a 60-credit degree or doctorate. |
| Application fees | Board application fee plus the NBCC exam fee — check the board's current fee schedule. |
| Renewal cycle | Biennial (renewed by March 1 of odd years) |
| Continuing education | 30 CE hours per renewal, including ethics and child abuse recognition training. |
| Reciprocity / endorsement | Licensure by endorsement available for counselors licensed in other states meeting Pennsylvania's standards. |
Always verify with the Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors before applying — requirements change.
Step-by-Step: How to Get Your LPC in Pennsylvania
- Finish a qualifying master's program (48–60 semester-hour master's in counseling or a closely related field.)
- Apply for the pre-license / associate credential and begin accruing supervised hours
- Complete 3 of supervised clinical experience under a board-approved supervisor
- Apply to sit for the required national exam (NCE or NCMHCE) through NBCC, then schedule with Pearson VUE
- Pass the national exam (and any Pennsylvania-specific exam noted above)
- Submit your full licensure application with transcripts, supervision verifications, and the exam score report
- Maintain your license with 30 ce hours per renewal per renewal cycle
Prep for the Pennsylvania NCMHCE
The NCMHCE is the same exam in every state — what changes is the supervised hours and paperwork around it. Our prep gives you unlimited AI-generated case simulations in the exact NBCC format, so when you sit for the exam in Pennsylvania, you've already done dozens of full-length cases across every clinical domain.