1. Earn a Master’s Degree in Counseling
   • According to the state of Connecticut, the first step in becoming a counselor in CT is to earn a graduate degree. CT General Statutes 383c states that Professional Counselor applicants must have “completed at least sixty graduate semester hours in counseling or a related mental health field at a regionally accredited institution of higher education that included coursework in each of the following areas: Human growth and development; social and cultural foundations; counseling theories; counseling techniques; group counseling; career counseling; appraisals or tests and measurements to individuals and groups; research and evaluation; professional orientation to mental health counseling; addiction and substance abuse counseling; trauma and crisis counseling; and diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders”
2. Complete Necessary Clinical Experiences
   • Connecticut law requires that applicants complete a 100-hour practicum, and a 600-hour internship.
3. Pass the NCE
   • Successful completion of the NCE is a legal requirement to move forward with the LPC.
4. Complete Educational Requirements
   • Supplemental coursework is likely necessary to meet requirements. UConn's LPC Certificate can bridge this gap.
5. Arrange for 3,000 Hours of Supervision
   • After completion of the certificate program you will be eligible for the LPC-A (LPC-Associate). LPC-As will need to complete 3,000 hours of supervised work in a counseling setting and complete the NCE to complete their training and apply to become a full LPC. CT Statutes state, “acquired three thousand hours of postgraduate experience under professional supervision, including a minimum of one hundred hours of direct professional supervision, in the practice of professional counseling, performed over a period of not less than two years”
6. Complete the following Application and Forms
   • CT DPH Verification of Course Study Form Form must be completed by your master’s degree granting institution.
   • CT DPH Postgraduate Clinical Hours Verification Form
   • NBCC NCE Score Verification Request Form
7. Submit State of CT License fee
   • Pay your application fee via CT.Gov’s eLicense portal

LPC Certification Resources

The following websites can be helpful in providing guidance concerning LPC certification and the field of practice.

• CT DPH
• National Board for Certified Counselors