How to Become a Licensed Counselor in Texas: Step-by-Step Guide [2026]

Licensed counselors in Texas must dedicate themselves to a trip that takes about eight years from their bachelor’s degree to full licensure. Texas counselors earn between $48,000 and $64,000 on average, with variations based on their specialty and work environment. Marriage and family therapist roles show particularly strong growth, with projections indicating a 14% increase by 2031 – almost triple the national average across all jobs.

Texas requires aspiring licensed professional counselors to complete 3,000 supervised practice hours. At least 1,500 of these hours must focus on direct counseling practice. Licensed supervisors must oversee this work for a minimum of 18 months. Mental health professionals, including clinical mental health counselors, will remain in high demand throughout Texas until at least 2036. This guide outlines every step you’ll take toward licensure, from education requirements to the ways you can maintain your credentials as a counseling professional in the Lone Star State.

Types of Licensure in Texas

Texas has several different types of counseling licenses. Each license serves specific practice areas and settings. Understanding these options is vital to plan your mental health career path.

Most counseling licenses in Texas fall under the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (TBHEC). School counselors are different – they answer to the Texas Education Agency. Learning about these paths will help you make better decisions about your education and career goals.

The Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) serves as the main credential to practice general counseling in Texas. You’ll start with an LPC Associate license (previously known as Licensed Professional Counselor Intern or LPCI). This temporary license lets you build up your supervised clinical experience. After completing your supervised hours, you can upgrade to a full LPC license.

Here’s what you need to become an LPC in Texas:

• A master’s degree in counseling or a related field
• Pass the National Counseling Exam (NCE) or National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)
• Pass the Texas Jurisprudence exam
• Clear a criminal background check
• Complete 3,000 supervised hours over at least 18 months, with 1,500 hours of direct client contact

The Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) credential works well for those who focus on family systems and relationships. You’ll begin as an LMFT-Associate while getting your supervised experience. LMFT requirements match the LPC path but need:

• A master’s degree in marriage and family therapy or related field
• Pass the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB) exam
• Complete 3,000 supervised hours within 24-72 months, including 1,500 hours of direct counseling practice

The School Counselor credential has its own requirements:

• A master’s degree in counseling, school counseling, or related field
• Complete an approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP)
• Pass the TExES School Counselor Exam (#252)
• Since September 2023, teaching experience is no longer required

Texas also has specialty licenses like Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) and Licensed Sex Offender Treatment Provider (LSOTP). The Health and Human Services Commission regulates these licenses.

Counselors licensed in other states can get Texas licenses through reciprocity. The process to get an LPC (already licensed out of state) involves credential verification and meeting Texas standards.

Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) work with counselors in mental health settings. LCSWs take a comprehensive approach that includes social systems and justice issues. LPCs focus more on individual mental health concerns. Both need master’s degrees and supervised clinical experience but take different licensing exams based on their professional focus.

Your career goals and interests should guide your choice of license type. Each path gives you a chance to help different people and work in various settings across Texas.

Earn Your Degree

Your path to becoming a counselor in Texas starts with the right academic credentials. Anyone who wants to learn how to become a licensed counselor in Texas needs education as a vital first step in their experience.

Texas asks you to complete a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling or related fields from an accredited college or university. Related fields can cover psychology, psychiatry, social work, or marriage and family therapy.

Programs with CACREP accreditation (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) give you great advantages. These programs meet nationally recognized standards to prepare professional counselors. Yes, it is worth noting that CACREP-accredited degrees often create the clearest path to becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas. Graduates have better chances when they apply for jobs, internships, and advanced certifications.

The Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors has required a 60 graduate semester credit program since August 2017. Your studies must cover these key areas:

• Normal human growth and development
• Abnormal human behavior
• Appraisal or assessment techniques
• Counseling theories and methods
• Research methodology
• Lifestyle and career development
• Social, cultural, and family issues
• Professional orientation
• Practicum experience

Your program needs specialized courses in addictions counseling, counselor ethics, couples/marriage/family counseling, and psychopathology.

The practicum part plays a key role—Texas needs 300 supervised practicum hours with at least 100 direct client contact hours. This hands-on work gets you ready for supervised clinical practice after graduation.

Several Texas universities have CACREP-accredited programs in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, and Lubbock. You can choose from traditional campus-based classes, hybrid formats, or programs that run mostly online with some in-person sessions.

Most counseling programs share these admission requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
• Minimum GPA (usually 3.0 on a 4.0 scale)
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal statement
• Relevant prerequisite coursework

Different schools have different deadlines. To name just one example, some universities take applications for spring (December 15), summer (April 15), and fall (July 15) start dates.

Program accreditation status matters a lot. Programs without CACREP accreditation might still help you get licensed in Texas if they meet state educational requirements.

You’ll need to keep a 3.0 GPA or higher to graduate. Students must finish all coursework in their approved degree plan within seven years of their original registration.

The program you pick builds the base for your counseling career and substantially affects how to become a clinical mental health counselor in Texas. Take time to find a program that matches your career goals, schedule, and learning style.

Get Licensed

The licensing requirements continue with several key steps after you complete your degree program to get your counseling credentials in Texas. You’ll need to pass examinations, complete supervised practice, and submit a formal application through the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC).

Your path to licensing starts with two required examinations. The first test is either the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) administered by the Center for Credentialing & Education (CCE). Texas lets you register for these exams without prior approval, and you can take them as many times as needed. The score processing usually takes 4-6 weeks after completion. The Texas Jurisprudence Examination must be passed within six months of your application submission.

The next phase requires you to apply for your LPC Associate license through BHEC’s online system. This temporary credential needs several documents:

• Practicum Documentation Form verifying your 300 supervised practicum hours
• Supervisory Agreement Form signed by you and your board-approved supervisor
• National Practitioner Data Bank self-query report
• Official transcripts sent directly from your institution to BHEC

BHEC will send you instructions for fingerprinting and a criminal background check after you submit your application. Your LPC Associate approval allows you to work under supervision while you complete the required 3,000 hours of supervised post-graduate experience. You must receive at least four hours of supervision monthly. These hours should be completed over 18 months minimum and include 1,500 hours of direct client counseling contact.

Your supervisor needs to keep detailed records during your supervised practice including:

• Signed Supervisory Agreement Forms
• Documentation of all supervisory sessions
• Records of any concerns or remediation plans
• Written approval for any leaves of absence

Your board-approved supervisor must submit the Supervised Experience Documentation Form once you complete the required hours. You can then apply to upgrade to full LPC status through the BHEC online system.

Texas regulations require all LPC Associates to stay under supervision until they receive their full license. You’ll need to reapply for licensure and meet current requirements if you don’t complete your supervised hours within the designated timeframe. Your previously completed hours will still count toward the new license.

Texas offers a pathway that verifies existing credentials against state standards for counselors licensed in other states. The licensing process will give a solid foundation to practice as a counselor in Texas, whatever path you choose.

Find Employment

Texas offers excellent job opportunities to newly licensed professional counselors. The mental health sector is booming, with 98% of Texas counties needing qualified providers. New counselors will find plenty of opportunities in this underserved market.

The future looks bright for counseling professionals. Texas adds approximately 1,500 new counseling positions yearly. The counseling field’s growth rate of 17% through 2034 is nowhere near average occupational growth rates. This is a big deal as it means that professionals who completed their trip to become how to become a licensed counselor in Texas have promising prospects.

Mental health professionals are in demand throughout the state. Texas Health Resources, a major hospital network, lists counseling positions regularly. Communities In Schools and other educational institutions keep expanding their mental health support services for students. Community organizations and Texas Health and Human Services also actively recruit mental health professionals.

Your earning potential depends on location and experience. Recent data shows these top-paying cities for Licensed Professional Counselors in Texas:

• Southlake: $102,046 annually
• Burleson: $67,087 annually
• Odessa: $65,657 annually
• Fort Worth: $65,328 annually
• Houston: $64,289 annually

The state needs professionals in several counseling specialties. Social workers play vital roles in hospitals, schools, and community organizations. Treatment centers need substance abuse counselors as addiction problems are systemic. Geriatric counselors see increased demand due to an aging population that needs help with life transitions. Rehabilitation counselors help people with disabilities gain independence, while Employee Assistance Program counselors support workplace mental health programs.

Your job search should include Careers.txca.org, which lists positions at institutions like Southern Methodist University. WorkInTexas.com serves as the official portal for Texas government jobs. Texas counseling associations’ networking events are a great way to get connected with potential employers.

Note that many employers support new graduates who learned how to become a licensed professional counselor in Texas by offering supervision opportunities while working toward full licensure.

Remain Compliant

Your Texas counselor license needs regular upkeep through continuing education and renewals. The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) sets specific standards. These standards help licensed counselors stay current with professional practices and ethical guidelines.

Licensed Professional Counselors need 24 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years. Ethics training takes up 6 of these hours, and cultural diversity and competency require another 3 hours. You’ll need an extra hour of human trafficking training.

The Texas jurisprudence exam is a must for each renewal period. You can count 1 hour toward your ethics CE requirements after passing this exam. This exam helps you stay updated on Texas laws that affect your practice while meeting legal requirements.

The Council randomly picks 5% of renewal-eligible licensees each month for CE audits. You’ll need to show proof of all your CE hours if they select you. Keep detailed records of your completed courses. Your certificates should show your name, topic, training dates, and hours earned.

Starting January 2024, you must get at least half your CE hours from Council-approved providers. These providers include professional healthcare associations, educational institutions, government entities, hospitals, and approved supervisors.

LPC Supervisors need 6 extra CE hours in supervision during each renewal period. These hours count toward your total CE requirement.

LPC Associate licenses work differently. They last 60 months and can’t be renewed. You’ll need to apply for a new license if you don’t complete your supervised hours within this time.

You’ll get renewal notices about 30 days before your due date. It’s smart to finish your requirements early to protect your licensed professional counselor in Texas status.

Next Steps

Beginning your path to become a licensed counselor in Texas requires steadfast dedication, but the rewards make every step worthwhile. This piece shows that while it takes about eight years from bachelor’s degree to full licensure, Texas’s growing need for mental health professionals creates plenty of opportunities for qualified practitioners.

You should start by choosing an appropriate educational program, preferably CACREP-accredited, that meets the 60-credit hour requirement. The program should include core coursework in human development, counseling theories, and ethics. Your next steps after completing the degree include passing national examinations and the Texas Jurisprudence Exam before you can apply for your LPC Associate license.

The LPC Associate phase requires you to complete 3,000 supervised hours over at least 18 months, with 1,500 hours of direct client contact. This supervised practice serves as the base of your professional development and prepares you for independent practice once you receive full licensure.

The job market looks exceptionally promising. All but one of these Texas counties report shortages of mental health providers. Licensed counselors can earn competitive salaries between $48,000 and $100,000 based on location, specialization, and experience. Cities like Southlake, Burleson, and Houston provide lucrative opportunities for counseling professionals.

Your professional development continues after licensure through ongoing education requirements—24 hours every two years. This includes specialized training in ethics and cultural competency. This commitment to continuous learning will give you the tools to stay effective and compliant throughout your career.

The path to becoming a licensed counselor in Texas is challenging, but each step builds valuable skills to help you make meaningful differences in clients’ lives. Mental health services are increasingly needed across the state, making your expertise valuable for years to come. This detailed roadmap gives you the knowledge to direct your path toward a rewarding career in the Lone Star State.