NCMHCE in Texas: LPC Licensure Requirements (TX)
Everything you need to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas, including the NCMHCE exam requirement, supervised hours, fees, and renewal rules — verified against the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (LPC Board).
Texas key fact: Texas switched to the NCMHCE in 2023, so older study materials referencing the NCE are out of date. LPC-Associates must pass the NCMHCE before applying for full licensure.
LPC Requirements at a Glance
| Licensing board | Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (LPC Board) |
|---|---|
| Required exam | NCMHCE (required as of 2023, replacing the NCE) and the Texas Jurisprudence Exam |
| Education | 48-semester-hour master's in counseling that includes a 300-hour supervised practicum. |
| Supervised hours | 3,000 hours of supervised post-graduate experience as an LPC-Associate, including at least 1,500 direct client contact hours. |
| Application fees | $215 application + $58 initial license + ~$130 exam fee |
| Renewal cycle | Biennial |
| Continuing education | 24 CE hours per renewal cycle, including 6 hours in ethics and 3 hours in cultural diversity. |
| Reciprocity / endorsement | License-by-endorsement available; Texas joined the Counseling Compact in 2023 (effective once operational). |
Always verify with the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (LPC Board) before applying — requirements change.
Step-by-Step: How to Get Your LPC in Texas
- Finish a qualifying master's program (48-semester-hour master's in counseling that includes a 300-hour supervised practicum.)
- 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 NCMHCE through the NBCC, then schedule with Pearson VUE
- Pass the NCMHCE (and any Texas-specific exam noted above)
- Submit your full licensure application with transcripts, supervision verifications, and the exam score report
- Maintain your license with 24 ce hours per renewal cycle per renewal cycle
Prep for the Texas 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 Texas, you've already done dozens of full-length cases across every clinical domain.