Steps to Getting Your LPC License in New Jersey
Detailed walkthrough of the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensure process in New Jersey, including education, clinical hours, exams, and the Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners.
Becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in New Jersey
New Jersey regulates professional counselors through the Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners, Professional Counselor Examiners Committee, under the Division of Consumer Affairs. The state offers the LPC for independent practice and the Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) for those completing supervised experience.
Education Requirements
You must hold a master's or doctoral degree in counseling from an accredited institution with at least 60 semester hours of graduate coursework. CACREP-accredited programs are accepted, but New Jersey also evaluates non-CACREP programs on a case-by-case basis. Required coursework areas include:
- Counseling theory
- Counseling techniques
- Human growth and development
- Career and lifestyle development
- Group dynamics and counseling
- Appraisal and assessment
- Research and evaluation
- Professional ethics
- Social and cultural foundations
- Psychopathology and diagnosis
- A supervised clinical practicum or internship
Supervised Experience Hours
New Jersey requires 4,500 hours of supervised counseling experience after completing your degree. Of these, at least 2,250 hours must be in direct client contact. The experience must be completed over a minimum of three years. You will hold LAC status during this period.
Your supervisor must be a licensed professional counselor, licensed psychologist, or licensed psychiatrist with supervisor training. Supervision must include at least one hour of individual supervision per week and may also include group supervision.
Exam Requirements
New Jersey requires passage of the National Counselor Examination (NCE) for the LAC and the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) for the full LPC. Both exams are approximately $275 each. You must pass the NCE to obtain your LAC and the NCMHCE to advance to full LPC status.
Application Process and Fees
Apply for LAC status through the Division of Consumer Affairs. The LAC application fee is approximately $175. After completing all supervised hours and passing the NCMHCE, apply for full LPC status with a fee of approximately $175. Submit official transcripts, exam scores, supervision logs, and a criminal background check.
License Renewal
LPC licenses in New Jersey renew every two years. You must complete 40 hours of continuing education per cycle, including at least 3 hours in ethics. At least 20 of the 40 hours must be in clinical topics directly related to counseling practice. The renewal fee is approximately $160.
Reciprocity and Endorsement
New Jersey allows endorsement-based licensure for counselors licensed in other states. Your qualifications must be substantially equivalent to New Jersey's standards. Given New Jersey's 60-credit and 4,500-hour requirements, applicants from states with lower standards may need to complete additional education or supervised experience before qualifying.
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