1. 1
California’s New
Counselor License
Licensed Professional Clinical
Counselor
LPCC
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2. 2
Each state now licenses three mental health
professions at the Master’s level:
• Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs)
(also named LPCCs, LCPCs, LCMHCs)
– Over 126,000 nationwide (Only 300 licensed in CA as of 3-19-13)
• Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists (LMFTs)
– Over 58,000 nationwide (Over 33,000 in CA)
• Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs)
– Over 224,000 nationwide (Over19,000 in CA)
Source: American Counseling Association: 2013 Master’s-level Mental Health Professional Counts

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It has taken many years for these mental health
professions to be licensed in every state:
– LPCs: 34 years (1976 - 2009)
– LMFTs: 46 years (1963 - 2009)
– LCSWs: 47 years (1945 – 1992)

4. 4
Implementation of the LPCC Law
• 2010: SB 788 became law Jan. 1st
BBS developed rules and regulations
• 2011: Applications became available in July
Grandparenting Path for non-BBS-licensed counselors and
currently licensed LMFTs and LCSWs in CA
Traditional Path for LPCs from other states, PCC Intern
registration
• 2012: First LPCC licenses were issued

5. LPCCs as providers of Medi-Cal services
• California LPCCs and PCC Interns:
– Were approved as providers of Medi-Cal services on December 18,
2012
– Will provide services within their scope under state law through the
county mental health systems
– Will abide by procedures and processes parallel to those currently used
for LMFTs, MFTIs, LCSWs and ASWs
– Source: The California State Plan Amendment (SPA) developed by California’s Department
of Health Care Services (DHCS) and approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) of the Department of Health and Human Services.

6. 6
What do LPCCs do?
• Make up a large percentage of the mental health
workforce in the U.S.
• Are employed in mental health centers, agencies, and
organizations across the country
• Work with individuals, families, and groups
• Treat mental, behavioral and emotional problems and
disorders
• Are covered by managed care organizations and health
plans
• Work with active duty military personnel and their
families, as well as veterans (DoD’s TRICARE, VA)

7. 7
Scope of Practice
for CA LPCCs
Application of counseling interventions and
psychotherapeutic techniques to improve mental
health
The license is not intended to capture other, non-
clinical, non-mental health forms of counseling
B & P Code 4999.20

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Exempt from licensure
• Counselors who do not practice psychotherapy
• Counselors in educational institutions,
government agencies, or non-profit and
charitable agencies
• Clergy, physicians and attorneys
B & P Code 4999.22

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What does the Scope not include?
for CA LPCCs
• The assessment or treatment of couples or
families, or the supervision of MFT interns,
unless the LPCC has:
– 6 semester-units (or 9 quarter-units) focused on MFT
or
– A named specialization in MFT
and
– 500 hours supervised experience working with
couples, families or children
and
– 6 hours of CEUs in MFT in each renewal cycle

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What does the Scope not include?
for CA LPCCs
• Projective techniques in the assessment of personality
• Individually administered IQ tests
• Neuropsychological testing
• Utilization of a battery of 3 or more tests to determine
presence of psychosis, dementia, amnesia, cognitive
impairment or criminal behavior
B & P Code 4999.20

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Comparison of Scopes
LPCC from B & P Code 4999
Empowers individuals to
deal adequately with life
situations, reduce stress,
experience growth, change
behavior and make well-
informed, rational decisions
LMFT from B & P Code 4980
Enables individuals to
mature and grow within
marriage and family.
Examines interpersonal
relationships to achieve
more adequate, satisfying
and productive marrriage
and family adjustments
LCSW from B & P Code 4996
Directed at helping people
achieve more adequate,
satisfying and productive
social adjustments.
Provides or arranges for
social services, helps
communities to organize,
improves social or health
services.
Applies a variety of
counseling interventions
and psychotherapeutic
techniques to identify and
remediate cognitive, mental
and emotional issues, for
the purposes of improving
mental health
Applies marriage and family
therapy principles and
methods, including
psychotherapeutic
techniques, to serve
individuals, couples and
groups
Includes counseling and
applied psychotherapy of a
non-medical nature with
individuals, families and
groups

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LPCC education requirements for those beginning
graduate study on or after August 1, 2012
• A qualifying master’s or doctoral degree that includes:
– 60 semester-units (or 90 quarter-units) in counseling or
psychotherapy from an accredited or approved university with:
• 13 core content areas: At least 3 semester-units (or 4 ½ quarter-
units)
– 3 of 13 areas may be completed post-degree, but all must be
completed before intern registration
• Supervised practicum/fieldwork: 6 semester-units (or 9 quarter-
units) with 280 hours supervised face-to-face clinical experience
• B & P Code 4999.33

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2012 LPCC Core Content Areas
Counseling &
psychotherapy
Human Growth
& Development
Career
Development
Group
Counseling
Assessment Multicultural
Counseling
Diagnostic
Process
Research &
Evaluation
Professional
Orientation
(Law & Ethics)
Psychopharm-
acology
Addictions
Counseling
Crisis or
Trauma
Counseling

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In addition to 13 Core Areas
• Instruction must include:
– Methods of service delivery in recovery-oriented practice environments
– An understanding of various cultures and the social and psychological
implications of socioeconomic position
– Seven contact hours of child abuse assessment & reporting
– Human sexuality, spousal or partner abuse, aging & long-term care
– Fifteen semester-units (22.5 quarter-units) of advanced coursework to develop
knowledge of specific treatment issues or special populations.

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LPCC Supervision
• Supervised experience requires:
– Completion of education requirements
– Registration with the BBS Board
– 3,000 post-degree hours of supervised clinical mental health
experience, with an approved supervisor, over a period of not less than
two years (104 weeks) and no more than six years to include:
– Not less than 1,750 hours of direct counseling
– At least one hour of individual or two hours of group supervision each
week that counseling takes place
– Not less than 150 hours of clinical experience in a hospital or
community health setting
– Not more than 1,250 hours of supervisor contact, test administration,
writing progress notes, attending training sessions, client centered
advocacy, etc.
B & P Code 4999.42, 45, 46, 47, 48

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Approved Supervisor
• Has 2 years of clinical experience in CA as a LPCC,
LMFT, LCSW, licensed clinical psychologist or licensed
physician certified in psychiatry
• Has received professional training in supervision
• Has not provided therapeutic services to the trainee or
intern
• Has a current and valid license that is not under
suspension or probation

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LPCC Examinations
Licensure requires successful passage of:
– The California LPCC Law and Ethics Exam
• Taken during first year of internship
– The National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Exam
• Taken when supervision requirements have been met
– Applicants must attempt an exam at least once each year after
eligibility, until exams have been passed.

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Regulating Agency
• The California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS),
which currently regulates MFTs, LCSWs and LEPs
<www.bbs.ca.gov>
• The BBS Board currently includes 13 members: 2 MFTs,
2 LCSWs, 1 LEP, 1 LPCC and 7 public members

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For Additional Information
Visit the CALPCC website
Website: <calpcc.org>
Email: <info@calpcc.org>
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