Become A Licensed Professional Counselor

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Working As A Licensed Professional Counselor

Assisting and Caring for Others
Documenting/Recording Information
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

Mostly Sitting
Make Decisions
$41,880
Average Salary

What Does A Licensed Professional Counselor Do

A Licensed Professional Counselor helps patients resolve their psychological, emotional, and substance abuse problems. They generally are specialized in areas, such as school, family, substance abuse, and mental health.

How To Become A Licensed Professional Counselor

Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists are typically required to have a master’s degree and a license to practice.

Education

To become a mental health counselor or a marriage and family therapist, applicants typically need a master’s degree in psychology, clinical mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, or a related mental health field. A bachelor’s degree in most fields is acceptable to enter a master’s program.

Counseling programs prepare students to recognize symptoms of mental and emotional disorders and to use effective counseling strategies. Marriage and family therapy programs teach students about how marriages, families, and relationships function and how these relationships can affect mental and emotional disorders.

Many employers prefer to hire counselors who have graduated from programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs.

Training

Candidates gain hands-on experience through postdegree supervised clinical work, sometimes referred to as an internship or residency. In training, they learn to provide family therapy, group therapy, psychotherapy, and other therapeutic interventions, under the supervision of a licensed counselor.

Licenses

All states require mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists to be licensed in the state in which they practice. Licensure requires a master’s degree and 2,000 to 4,000 hours of postdegree supervised clinical experience, sometimes referred to as an internship or residency. In addition, counselors and therapists must pass a state-recognized exam and complete annual continuing education classes.

Contact information for state boards regulating mental health counselors is available through the National Board for Certified Counselors.

Contact and licensing information for marriage and family therapists is available through the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards.

Important Qualities

Compassion. Counselors and therapists often work with people who are dealing with stressful and difficult situations, so they must be compassionate and empathize with their clients.

Interpersonal skills. Being able to work with different types of people is essential for counselors and therapists. They spend most of their time working directly with clients and other professionals and must be able to encourage good relationships.

Listening skills. Good listening skills are essential for mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists, both of whom need to give their full attention to their clients to understand their problems, values, and goals.

Organizational skills. Good organizational skills are especially important for counselors and therapists in private practice, who must keep track of payments and work with insurance companies.

Speaking skills. Mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists need to be able to communicate with clients effectively. They must express ideas and information in a way that clients can understand easily.

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Licensed Professional Counselor jobs

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Licensed Professional Counselor Career Paths

Licensed Professional Counselor

Program Counselor Case Manager Clinical Director

Administrative Director, Behavioral Health Services

11 Yearsyrs

Adjunct Instructor Instructor Case Manager

Career Manager

6 Yearsyrs

Clinical Director Chief Executive Officer Specialist

Case Manager

5 Yearsyrs

Therapist And Program Manager Program Director Career Manager

Clinical Care Manager

8 Yearsyrs

Family Counselor Clinical Supervisor

Clinical Director

9 Yearsyrs

Clinical Psychologist Clinical Supervisor

Clinical Program Manager

10 Yearsyrs

Clinical Director Adjunct Instructor Adjunct Faculty

Clinical Supervisor

8 Yearsyrs

Director Of Social Services

6 Yearsyrs

Career Manager Senior Technician Specialist Case Manager

Family Case Manager

5 Yearsyrs

Therapist And Program Manager Clinical Director

Health Director

9 Yearsyrs

Program Counselor Registered Nurse Occupational Health Nurse

Health Services Manager

7 Yearsyrs

Family Consultant Family Support Specialist Case Manager

Housing Case Manager

6 Yearsyrs

Clinical Counselor Therapist

Lead Therapist

5 Yearsyrs

School Psychologist Clinical Psychologist Clinical Director

Outpatient Services Director

9 Yearsyrs

Family Consultant Case Manager

Senior Case Manager

5 Yearsyrs

Adjunct Instructor Instructional Designer Program Manager

Service Program Manager

9 Yearsyrs

Clinical Psychologist Mental Health Consultant

Social Services Manager

5 Yearsyrs

School Psychologist Adjunct Professor

Social Work Case Manager

6 Yearsyrs

Clinical Counselor Mental Health Counselor

Social Work Supervisor

7 Yearsyrs

Career Manager Clinical Case Manager Therapist

Therapist And Program Manager

5 Yearsyrs

Average Length of Employment

Psychologist, Private Practice 6.0 years
Clinical Psychologist 5.8 years
Clinical Social Worker 4.7 years
Psychotherapist-Counselor 4.5 years
Psychotherapist 4.1 years
Licensed Professional Counselor 4.0 years
Senior Clinician 3.9 years
Mental Health Therapist 3.0 years
Addictions Counselor 3.0 years
Counselor/Art Therapist 3.0 years
Counselor/Case Manager 2.9 years
Clinical Therapist 2.9 years
Marriage And Family Therapist 2.8 years
Child And Family Counselor 2.7 years
Out-Patient Therapist 2.7 years
Mental Health Counselor 2.7 years
Clinical Counselor 2.6 years
Outpatient Physical Therapist 2.5 years
Alcoholic Counselor 2.5 years
Primary Counselor 2.4 years
Group Therapist 2.4 years
Family Counselor 2.3 years
Child And Adolescent Therapist 2.3 years
Counselor 2.0 years
Adolescent Counselor 2.0 years
Counselor Internship 0.9 years
Clinical Social Work Internship 0.9 years

Top Careers Before Licensed Professional Counselor

Top Careers After Licensed Professional Counselor

Licensed Professional Counselor Demographics

Gender

Female
70.6%
Male
27.5%
Unknown
1.9%

Ethnicity

White
81.5%
Hispanic or Latino
9.2%
Asian
6.9%
Unknown
1.7%
Black or African American
0.7%

Languages Spoken

Spanish
62.3%
French
8.7%
German
4.3%
Portuguese
2.9%
Romanian
2.9%
Persian
2.9%
Russian
2.9%
Swedish
1.4%
Hungarian
1.4%
Turkish
1.4%
Korean
1.4%
Japanese
1.4%
Cherokee
1.4%
Arabic
1.4%
Thai
1.4%
Carrier
1.4%

Licensed Professional Counselor

Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.

Licensed Professional Counselor Education

Schools

Liberty University
13.4%
Capella University
11.1%
Walden University
9.6%
Webster University
7.6%
University of Phoenix
6.0%
University of North Texas
5.8%
Texas A&M University
4.5%
Argosy University-Atlanta
4.3%
University of Northern Colorado
3.8%
University of Texas at San Antonio
3.8%
Chicago School of Professional Psychology
3.8%
Grand Canyon University
3.8%
Troy University
3.5%
Georgia State University
3.3%
Missouri State University
3.0%
University of Missouri - Saint Louis
2.8%
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
2.5%
Kent State University
2.5%
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
2.5%
Idaho State University
2.5%

Majors

School Counseling 33.3%
Counseling Psychology 18.9%
Mental Health Counseling 12.1%
Psychology 7.3%
Family Therapy 4.1%
Education 4.0%
Clinical Psychology 4.0%
Rehabilitation Science 3.4%
Educational Leadership 2.3%
Business 2.0%
Social Work 1.7%
Human Services 1.2%
Pastoral Counseling And Specialized Ministries 1.0%
Special Education 0.8%
Elementary Education 0.7%
Human Resources Management 0.7%
Philosophy 0.6%
Nursing 0.6%
Criminal Justice 0.6%
Health Care Administration 0.6%

Degrees

Masters
68.0%
Other
10.8%
Doctorate
9.8%
Bachelors
7.3%
Certificate
2.6%
Associate
1.0%
License
0.5%

Licensed Professional Counselor

Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.

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Real Licensed Professional Counselor Salaries

Job Title	Company	Location	Start Date	Salary
Licensed Professional Counselor	Community Care Service, LLC	Durham, NC	Nov 04, 2011	$100,176
Licensed Professional Counselor	Community Care Service, LLC	Durham, NC	Nov 08, 2011	$100,176
Licensing Professional	University of Notre Dame Du Lac	Notre Dame, IN	Sep 30, 2015	$98,500
Licensed Professional Counselor	Center of Revitalizing Psychiatry, PC	Hackensack, NJ	Oct 01, 2011	$45,000
Licensed Professional Counselor	Fort Valley State University	Fort Valley, GA	Aug 01, 2015	$41,309 - $45,000
Licensed Professional Counselor	Center of Revitalizing Psychiatry, PC	Hackensack, NJ	Oct 01, 2011	$40,000
Pre-Licensed Counseling Professional	Fritz A Galette Psychologist PC	New York, NY	Sep 14, 2016	$37,566
Licensed Professional Counselor	Fort Valley State University	Fort Valley, GA	Aug 01, 2012	$35,000
Licensed Professional Counselor	Fort Valley State University	Fort Valley, GA	Aug 17, 2009	$35,000

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Top Skills for A Licensed Professional Counselor

Top Licensed Professional Counselor Skills

Family Therapy Sessions
Individual Treatment Plans
Mental Health Services

You can check out examples of real life uses of top skills on resumes here:

Facilitated Family therapy sessions to help troubled youth/family rebuild damaged relationships.
Developed and review integrated individual treatment plans.
Coordinate with the client to ensure appropriate mental health services within the agency or within the community.
Provide crisis intervention in situations requiring psychological treatment.
Provided clinical treatment for outpatients with HIV/AIDS and substance abuse issues.