Virginia LPC License: Requirements You Need to Meet
Understand the requirements for becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Virginia, from the Virginia Board of Counseling education standards to the residency and exam process.
Becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Virginia
Virginia licenses professional counselors through the Virginia Board of Counseling, a division of the Department of Health Professions. The LPC credential allows for independent counseling practice, and Virginia also offers the Resident in Counseling status for supervised practice.
Education Requirements
You must hold a master's or doctoral degree in counseling from a program accredited by CACREP or an equivalent accrediting body. The degree must include at least 60 semester hours of graduate coursework. Required content areas include:
- Professional identity and ethics
- Social and cultural diversity
- Human growth and development
- Career development
- Counseling and helping relationships
- Group work
- Assessment
- Research and program evaluation
- Diagnosis and treatment
- A supervised practicum and internship
Supervised Experience Hours
Virginia requires a residency of at least 3,400 hours of supervised experience, including at least 2,000 hours of direct client contact. The residency must be completed over a minimum of two years and no more than four years. You will be registered as a Resident in Counseling during this time.
Your supervisor must be a Virginia Board-approved supervisor. You need at least one hour of individual face-to-face supervision per week and may supplement with group supervision. The total supervision requirement is at least 200 hours, with a minimum of 100 hours being individual supervision.
Exam Requirements
Virginia requires passage of the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). You choose which exam to take based on your career goals and the recommendation of your graduate program. Each exam costs approximately $275. Virginia does not have a separate state jurisprudence exam.
Application Process and Fees
Register as a Resident in Counseling with the Virginia Board of Counseling. The registration fee is approximately $100. After completing your residency and passing your chosen exam, apply for full LPC licensure with a fee of approximately $130. Submit transcripts, residency documentation, and exam scores.
License Renewal
LPC licenses in Virginia renew every two years. You must complete 20 hours of continuing education per cycle, including at least 2 hours in ethics. Certain specialty areas may have additional CE requirements. The renewal fee is approximately $130.
Reciprocity and Endorsement
Virginia offers licensure by endorsement for counselors holding active licenses in other states. You must demonstrate that your qualifications are substantially equivalent to Virginia's requirements. The board reviews education, supervised experience, and exam history on a case-by-case basis.
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