LPC-Associate stands for Licensed Professional Counselor Associate.

No. An LPC-Associate has completed a Master’s Degree in Counseling or a related field (sociology, psychology) that includes 48-60 hours of counseling related courses, and completed at least 300 hours of counseling experience known as “practicum.” A Master’s student working with clients to gain experience is typically referred to as a “Practicum Student.”

The difference between an LPC-Associate and an LPC is three-fold.

1. An LPC-Associate is someone who holds a provisional license. This means he/she has met all the educational and competency requirements to be an LPC in the state of Texas, but the state wants this person to accumulate more hours of counseling experience and training.

2. An LPC-Associate is in the process of completing 3,000 professional counseling hours. It typically takes LPC-Associate two to five years to complete 3,000 hours. An LPC has completed said hours and had them approved by the State LPC Board.

3. An LPC-Associate is supervised. LPC-Associate are required to be trained and guided by a state-approved LPC Supervisor. An LPC is no longer required to have official supervision, and is able to lead their own private practice.

Yes! The various graduate school programs and State Board have decided each LPC-Associate is equipped with enough knowledge and experience to provide beneficial psychotherapy to others.

If you compare an LPC-Associate to a LPC Supervisor who has been counseling clients for 20 years, then of course, the LPC-Associate is not as experienced. However, in comparison to everyday Joe Schmoe, LPC-Associate have ample experience and study that can help. LPC-Associate have studied and practiced counseling specifically for years before sitting with you in a therapy session.

Someone who has completed law school and passed the bar exam.

An Associate Professor at a university, who has finished all the credit hours for a Ph.D. and is completing or waiting to defend his dissertation.

Also, time often leads to wisdom, as it should, but that is not necessarily a guarantee. One also cannot forget passion, compassion, humility, and empathy — characteristics that are irreplaceable to being a good counselor that are either present or absent within particular individuals, no matter the age or experience.

LPC-Associate – $75 per individual session | $80 for couples session (Average Cost)

Practicum Student – $20 per individual session / $30 for couples (Average Cost)