Licensed Professional Counselor / Pennsylvania
2026 data Pennsylvania board official source

Pennsylvania Licensed Professional Counselor License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.

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Provides mental health counseling and therapy services.

What the Pennsylvania data shows for Licensed Professional Counselors

Becoming a licensed licensed professional counselor in Pennsylvania means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 3,068 training hours, a passing score on NCE (National Counselor Exam) or NCMHCE, and 2 years of supervised work experience, plus a background history check once the applicant turns 18. Pennsylvania regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree in Counseling".

Budget $168 to get started, plus $139 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. The license also carries an ongoing 30-hour continuing-education requirement per 2-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

For licensed professional counselors, the reciprocity picture is: Counseling Compact: 40+ states.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
27/100
Licensed Professional Counselor · Pennsylvania

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
3,068 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$168
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$70/yr
$139 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
15.0 hrs/yr
30 hours every 2 years
Experience Required F
2 years
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Pennsylvania

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree in Counseling
3,068 hours
Exam Requirement
NCE (National Counselor Exam) or NCMHCE
Required
Initial License Fee
$168
Renewal Fee
$139
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
30 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years
Work Experience Required
2 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Licensed Professional Counselor All Pennsylvania licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Pennsylvania licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania? ▼
Pennsylvania's requirements cover 3068 hours of education or training, the NCE (National Counselor Exam) or NCMHCE exam, and an initial fee of $168. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania? ▼
Pennsylvania licenses licensed professional counselors who complete its requirements (3068 education hours, 2 years of experience) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Pennsylvania licensing board.
Can I transfer my Licensed Professional Counselor license to Pennsylvania from another state? ▼
Reciprocity for licensed professional counselors nationally works like this: Counseling Compact: 40+ states. Beyond that baseline, interstate compacts exist for many professions and may smooth a transfer into Pennsylvania. Verify the specifics with the Pennsylvania licensing board.
Does Pennsylvania require a background check for Licensed Professional Counselor licensing? ▼
Yes, Pennsylvania requires a criminal background check as part of the licensed professional counselor licensing process. Disqualifying offenses and review criteria are determined by the state licensing board.
What are the continuing education requirements for Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania? ▼
Pennsylvania ties continued licensed professional counselor licensure to 30 continuing-education hours, due every 2 years, alongside a $139 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this licensed professional counselor license

Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a licensed professional counselor-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Pennsylvania licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.