Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
Information for Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) and
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) applicants.
- Education
Requirements - Effective August 1, 2012
Applies to:
- Applicants for licensure or registration who began graduate study on or after August 1, 2012; OR
- Applicants who began graduate study before August 1, 2012, and did not complete that study on or before December 31, 2018
Refer to Business and Professions Code §4999.33 for details.
Also see In-State Degree Program Certification Form B
Requirements - No Longer Effective August 1, 2012
Applies to:
- Applicants who began graduate study before August 1, 2012 and completed before December 31, 2018.
Refer to Business and Professions Code §4999.32 for details.
- Register as an APCC
Applicants cannot accrue supervised experience, without registering with the Board, except under the 90-day rule.
- Apply (In-State Degree)
- Apply (Out-of-State Degree)
- Subsequent Associate Registration (For existing registrants, after the 5th renewal)
- 90-Day Rule FAQ
- Live Scan
- Live Scan available only in California
- Results submitted to DOJ and FBI electronically
- Live Scan Request Form and Instructions
- Additional information
- Criminal Background Check
- Evaluation of the applicant’s criminal history is part of the application process
- Criminal Background FAQ – AB2138 – Updated 12/17/2020
- Take and Pass the California Law & Ethics Exam
Exam must be TAKEN annually to renew Associate Registration; PASSED to receive a Subsequent Associate Registration
- Accrue Supervised Experience
- All hours in California must be gained while registered, except under the 90-day rule.
- 3,000 total supervised hours, over 104 weeks (minimum)
- Hours must be submitted with the Application for Licensure
- See also:
- Apply for Licensure
- Take and Pass the Clinical Exam (NCMHCE)
Applicants must complete all the above requirements, before exam eligibility will be relayed to NBCC.
- NCMHCE Candidate Handbook
- Schedule Exam with NBCC (Requires BBS Approval)
- Obtain official LPCC license
Applicants must request license after passing the NCMHCE
- LPCC Assessment and Treatment of Couples and Families
LPCCs must meet specific qualifications, in order to assess and treat couples and families
- 6-year Life Span
- Registrations issued by the Board are valid for a 6-year period (five renewals)
- Registrants who have not completed all hours of supervised experience within the 6-year life span, must apply for a subsequent registration number, to continue the path toward licensure
- Many registrants apply for a second (or third, etc.) registration number to gain additional supervised work experience or for employment purposes
- Private Practice Settings
- Registrants cannot work in a private practice setting with a subsequent registration number.
- Examination Requirements
- Applicants must PASS the California Law and Ethics Exam before a subsequent registration can be issued.
- APCC Subsequent Registration Application
The list below identifies California schools with LPCC programs which have been evaluated by the Board. At the time of evaluation, these programs were found to meet the LPCC licensure requirements, pursuant to California Business and Professions Code (BPC) §4999.33, for students who began graduate studies on or after August 1, 2012.
Since schools occasionally change program curriculum and course descriptions, the list below may not reflect these changes. Please contact the school directly to ensure that the degree program meets the educational requirements for licensure. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the applicant to comply with all requirements for licensure.
The Board does not publish a list of schools with LPCC programs, which are based outside of California, online or otherwise.
- California State Universities (CSU)
- California State University, Bakersfield
- California State University, Dominguez Hills
- California State University, East Bay
- California State University, Fresno
- California State University, Fullerton
- California State University, Long Beach
- California State University, Los Angeles
- California State University, Northridge
- California State University, Sacramento
- California State University, San Bernardino
- California State University, Stanislaus
- San Diego State University
- San Francisco State University
- San Jose State University
- Sonoma State University
- Alliant International University
- Antioch University
- Azusa Pacific University
- Bastyr University (CA)
- Brandman University
- California Baptist University
- California Institute of Integral Studies
- M.A. in Counseling Psychology with a Concentration in Community Mental Health
- M.A. in Counseling Psychology with a Concentration in Drama Therapy
- M.A. in Counseling Psychology with a Concentration in Integral Counseling Psychology
- M.A. in Counseling Psychology with a Concentration in Somatic Psychology
- California Southern University
- Cambridge College
- Chapman University
- Chicago School of Professional Psychology
- Concordia University
- Dominican University of California
- Fuller Theological Seminary
- Fuller Theological Seminary
- Fuller Theological Seminary (Pasadena Campus)
- Golden Gate University
- Holy Names University
- Hope International University
- John F. Kennedy University
- La Sierra University
- Loma Linda University
- Loyola Marymount University
- Meridian University
- Mount St. Mary's University
- National University
- Notre Dame De Namur University
- Pacific Oaks College
- Pacifica Graduate Institute
- Palo Alto University
- Pepperdine University
- Point Loma Nazarene University
- Rhombus University
- Saint Mary's College of California
- Santa Clara University
- Saybrook University
- Simpson University
- Sofia University
- Southern California Seminary
- Touro University Worldwide
- University of La Verne
- University of Phoenix - California campus only
- University of the Pacific
- University of Redlands
- University of San Diego
- University of San Francisco
- Vanguard University of Southern California
- Western Institute for Social Research
- Western Seminary, Sacramento, San Jose
- William Jessup University
- The Wright Institute
- Forms
Expedite Requests
- Military Veteran Expedite Request
- Military Spouse/Domestic Partner Expedite Request
- Refugee/Asylee/Special Immigrant Visa Holders Expedite Request
Associate Registration Applications
- APCC Registration Application IN-STATE
- APCC Registration Application OUT-OF-STATE
- Degree Program Certification (IN-STATE, Form A)
- Degree Program Certification (IN-STATE, Form B)
- Degree Program Certification (OUT-OF-STATE)
- APCC Subsequent Registration Application
Supervision Forms
- APCC Weekly Summary of Experience Hours
- LPCC In-State Experience Verification
- LPCC Out-of-State Experience Verification
- LPCC Supervisory Plan (In-State Hours Only)
- LPCC Supervisor Responsibility Statement (In-State Hours Only)
- Sample Written Oversight Agreement for Supervision (In-State Hours Only)
- Sample Verification of Employment as a Volunteer (In-State Hours Only)
Licensure Applications
Exam Requests and Info
- Application for INITIAL Law and Ethics Exam (First-time Applicants ONLY)
- Application for Re-Examination (Law and Ethics Exam Only)
- Schedule Law and Ethics Exam with Pearson Vue
- Schedule NCMHCE with NBCC (Requires BBS Approval)
Initial License Request
Assessment and Treatment of Couples and Families
- Publications
- Handbook for future LPCCs ( Text Only Version )
- Answers to Most Frequently Asked Questions Relating to APCCs
- APCC Supervisor Qualification Summary
- APCC Guide to Supervision
Exams
- Law and Ethics Examination FAQs
- Law and Ethics Examination Candidate Handbook
- NCMHCE Candidate Handbook
Out-of-State Applicants