What Is an LPCC? A Guide to Licensed Clinical Counseling

Updated on: May 5, 2026 | 9 minutes read

By: David Stewart

Psychology

A group of people sitting in chairs clapping

Clinical counseling is a vital calling within the helping professions, dedicated to improving individual well-being and building healthier communities. But what are the specifics behind day-to-day clinical counseling work? And how does one best prepare to enter this field and become a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC)?

Clinical Counseling Overview

What is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)?

A Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) is a mental health professional who works primarily with individuals while also providing counseling to couples, families, and groups when appropriate. They can assess, diagnose, and treat mental health concerns while guiding those they serve through disability, personal growth, and life’s many transitions.

LPCCs support people facing challenges such as anxiety, depression, grief, loss, anger management, and relationship difficulties, including infidelity. Importantly, however, they do not prescribe medication.

In California, LPCC is the official title for licensed clinical counselors and is one of three Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS)-regulated pathways to independent mental health practice, alongside Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) and Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs).

The BBS has regulated LPCC licensure in California since 2012. The California Association for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (CALPCC), established in 2011, supports the profession by promoting the license, advocating for its members, and advancing the role of LPCCs across the state.^[1]

At Alliant University, we share that vision by preparing clinical counseling students to become LPCCs and effective mental health professionals through a comprehensive clinical mental health counseling program.

What Do LPCCs Do?

Understanding the role of a licensed professional clinical counselor starts with knowing where they work and what they do each day. LPCCs often work in community mental health clinics, government agencies, hospitals, universities, substance abuse treatment facilities, employee assistance programs (EAPs), or their own private practices. While their list of responsibilities can vary depending on the setting in which they work, some of the more common responsibilities include:

Using clinical assessment to evaluate and diagnose mental health disorders in individuals.
Providing psychoeducation to individuals and groups to bring awareness to individual, psychosocial, and environmental challenges.
Teaching coping strategies for dealing with mental health disorders to improve individual and group functioning and quality of life.
Applying psychotherapeutic interventions to treat mental, emotional, and behavioral problems in clients.
Employing crisis intervention techniques in individual and group settings.
Helping clients manage stress, implement personal development strategies, and make more informed life choices.
Working with active-duty military personnel, veterans, and their families.

While LPCC status allows you to perform a broad range of duties, including working with both individuals and groups, licensees who aspire to treat couples and families must meet additional requirements as set forth by the BBS.

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Where Do LPCCs Work?

One of the biggest advantages of becoming an LPCC is the flexibility to practice in a wide range of professional settings. As mentioned earlier, counselors provide professional services across healthcare, education, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and private practice. The work may look different from one setting to another, but every role centers on helping people improve their mental health and overall well-being.

Many LPCCs begin their careers in community mental health clinics, where they provide individual and group counseling to people from diverse backgrounds. These settings often serve children, adults, families, and older adults experiencing challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, or substance use disorders.
Others choose to work in hospitals and integrated healthcare systems, collaborating with physicians, nurses, psychologists, and other healthcare professionals. In these clinical settings, counselors help patients cope with serious illnesses, adjust to life-changing diagnoses, and access behavioral health services during treatment or recovery.
Some LPCCs eventually move into private practice, where they have greater flexibility to shape their careers. Many develop expertise in areas such as trauma, grief, couples counseling, mood disorders, or addiction recovery while building long-term therapeutic relationships with clients.
Career opportunities also exist in substance abuse treatment facilities, employee assistance programs (EAPs), schools and universities, government and military/veteran agencies, correctional facilities, and nonprofit organizations.

Although each work environment presents different challenges, the profession’s foundation remains the same: treating mental health disorders with both clinical knowledge and compassion. LPCCs combine that foundation to help people improve their quality of life, one person or community at a time.

How Does an LPCC Differ from an LPC?

Although the titles are similar, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) are not always interchangeable. The biggest difference is scope:

An LPCC is trained and licensed for the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions.
The LPC title is often used in other states for counselors whose scope and licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction.

In California, LPCC refers to both the licensed professional and the credential issued by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to qualified clinicians who hold a counseling degree, typically a master’s degree in counseling or a closely related doctoral degree.

How to Become an LPCC in California

The requirements to become a licensed professional clinical counselor in California start with a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling and include several training and examination steps established by the BBS.

These include:

Earning a qualifying 60-semester-unit master’s or doctoral degree, such as a Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling or another qualifying degree in counseling or a related field, that covers the BBS’s 13 required core content areas, including at least six semester units of supervised practicum or field study.^[2]
Registering as an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) with the BBS.
Completing 3,000 hours of supervised post-degree experience over a minimum of two years and no more than six years.
Passing both the California Law and Ethics Examination and the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE), which tests readiness for independent practice.

California also follows the 90-Day Rule, which allows graduates to begin earning supervised experience for up to 90 days while their APCC registration is being processed, provided all eligibility requirements are met.^[3]

LPCC vs. LPC Requirements: What’s the Difference?

Both LPCCs and LPCs help people improve their mental health through counseling and evidence-based therapeutic approaches. However, licensing titles and practice authority differ from one state to another.

In many states, professionals who perform work similar to California’s LPCCs hold the title Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). While the day-to-day responsibilities are often very similar, here are some of the biggest differences:

Education: LPCC education places a strong emphasis on diagnosing and treating mental health conditions through advanced clinical coursework and supervised training. LPC education requirements are comparable in many states but vary by state licensing board.
Hands-On Training: Both LPCC and LPC pathways generally require approximately 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience before independent licensure, though exact timelines depend on state regulations. This clinical supervision period helps new counselors refine their skills before sitting for their clinical exam and pursuing full licensure.
Licensure Requirements: California LPCC candidates must pass both the California Law and Ethics Examination and the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE). LPC requirements differ by state but commonly include the National Counselor Examination administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), along with any additional state-specific licensing requirements. Becoming licensed is only the beginning: California LPCC licenses must be renewed every two years. To maintain an active license, counselors must complete continuing education requirements established by the BBS and meet all renewal deadlines to remain eligible to practice.

Can You Become an LPCC Outside California?

Although this guide focuses on California’s Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) license, the profession extends far beyond one state. Every state regulates counselor licensure through its own licensing board, and the title you earn may differ depending on where you plan to practice. While California uses LPCC, other states may license counselors as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) or Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs).^[4]

State licensing boards establish their own licensure requirements for education, supervised experience, examinations, and continuing education.

Some states require additional coursework in specific subject areas.
Others have different supervision requirements or use alternative licensing examinations.

Even when two states recognize similar counseling competencies, the pathway to licensure or certification may not be identical. That’s why it’s important to think about your long-term career path before choosing a graduate-level counseling program. If you know where you want to practice after graduation, reviewing that state’s educational requirements early can help you avoid delays later in the licensure process.

To support prospective students across the country, Alliant University provides a state-by-state licensure resource that outlines whether its clinical counseling master’s program meets each state’s educational requirements for licensure. Because licensing regulations are periodically updated, students should also send specific eligibility questions directly to the board before applying for licensure.

Whether you plan to build your career in California or elsewhere, understanding your state’s licensing process is an important first step toward becoming an LPCC.

Start Your LPCC Path at Alliant University

If you are passionate about helping people overcome life’s challenges, becoming a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor could be the career you have been looking for. Every conversation you have, every breakthrough you witness, and every client you help move forward has the power to change a life. It all starts with the right education.

Alliant’s Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and designed with licensure in mind from day one, preparing future LPCCs with the clinical knowledge, supervised training, and real-world experience needed for professional practice. Our curriculum satisfies California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) educational requirements, including the required 60-semester-unit degree and all 13 core content areas.

Ready to take the next step? Connect with an Alliant admissions counselor and start building the skills to make a lasting impact in the lives of others.

Sources:

^[1] California Board of Behavioral Sciences. “Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor.” January 2026. https://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lpcc.html. Accessed July 31, 2026.

^[2] California Board of Behavioral Sciences. “Guide to Licensure Requirements.” October 2024. https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/lpc/lpcc_oos_req_guide.pdf. Accessed July 31, 2026.

^[3] California Board of Behavioral Sciences. “Don’t Lose Your Hours: Know the 90-Day Rule.” September 2025. https://www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/90day_rule.pdf. Accessed July 31, 2026.

^[4] Rossi, Madeleine. “Breaking Barriers: Cross-State Licensing Reform for Licensed Professional Counselors.” Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology. 2024. https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/mjlst/vol25/iss2/5/. Accessed July 31, 2026.