Counseling Degrees & Licenses in South Carolina

South Carolina issues credentials for Professional Counselors (LPCs) and Professional Counselor Associates (LPC Associates). Licensing is done through the Center for Credentialing and Education.

Candidates for LPC Associate licensure must:

• Pass the NCE or NCMHCE exam
• Complete the Plan and Arrangements for Clinical Supervision of Post-Master’s Clinical Experience in Counseling
• Submit a completed application and education review form
• Pay a $170 application fee and $150 licensing fee
• Provide official transcripts demonstrating a master’s degree in counseling from a regionally accredited institution, with at least 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours. The program must also have a 100-hour practicum and meet course requirements in nine areas. If the candidate wishes to have a greater scope of practice as a LPC Associate, then a 600-hour internship is also required.
• Show proof of right to work in the US

To be licensed as an LPC, applicants must meet the above requirements in addition to completing 1,500 hours of supervised clinical work experience over two years. The hours must be direct counseling with individuals, couples, families or groups. Of those hours, 150 must include direct supervision.

LPC and LPC Associate licenses in South Carolina are valid for two years.

Renewals cost $150 and must be accompanied by an application and proof of 40 hours of continuing education credits, six of which must be in ethics

The South Carolina Department of Education issues School Counselor/Guidance- Elementary and Secondary certificates.

The requirements for an initial certificate are:

• Pass the Praxis Professional School Counselor exam
• Have a master’s degree or higher in school counseling
• Submit a completed application
• Pay $105 application fee
• Pass a background check

To advance from an initial to a professional certificate, school counselors must:

• Complete the Assisting, Developing, and Evaluating Professional Teaching (ADEPT) program
• Complete the ADEPT summative evaluation process

Once a school counselor has met all the requirements, advancement happens automatically.

Initial school counselor certificates issued in South Carolina are valid for three years and may not be renewed.

Professional certificates are valid for five years. School counselors with professional certificates must complete 120 renewal credits per renewal cycle.

South Carolina Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (SCAADAC)

The South Carolina Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (SCAADAC) certifies Alcohol and Drug Counselors (ADC) and Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselors (AADC).

ADC certification eligibility includes:

• An online application
• A bachelor’s degree or higher in human services from a regionally accredited institution
• Signed South Carolina Certification Ethical Standards.
• Two years and at least 4,000 hours of work experience in drug and alcohol counseling
• 300 hours of education and training the four domains of addiction counseling
• 200 hours of clinical supervision in the four domains of addiction counseling (at least ten hours in each domain)
• Three hours of continuing education in HIV/AIDS and six hours in ethics
• An Evaluator’s Statement from a current clinical supervisor
• Job description for current employment
• Passing score on the ADC from IC&RC
• Passing an oral exam if the candidate has a bachelor’s degree
• $175 oral exam fee and $225 application fee

If the applicant has a bachelor’s degree, then a Narrative Philosophy of Addictions Treatment and a sample case are required. This is not required if the applicant has a graduate degree.

Requirements for AADC certification includes:

• An online application
• A bachelor’s degree or higher in human services from a regionally accredited institution
• Signed South Carolina Certification Ethical Standards
• Four years and at least 8,000 hour of work experience in drug and alcohol counseling
• 450 hours of education and training the four domains of addiction counseling
• 200 hours of clinical supervision in the four domains of addiction counseling (at least ten hours in each domain)
• Three hours of continuing education in HIV/AIDS and six hours in ethics
• An Evaluator’s Statement from current clinical supervisor
• Job description for current employment
• Passing the AADC from IC&RC
• Passing an oral exam if the candidate only has a bachelor’s degree. This is not required if the applicant has a graduate degree.
• $225 application fee

ADC and AADC certificate holders in South Carolina must renew every two years.

Counselors must complete 40 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle. There must be at least six hours in ethics and for at least 20 of the hours the counselors must be an attendee. Renewals cost $225.

South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors, and Psycho-Educational Specialists

Rehabilitation counselors in South Carolina must be either Professional Counselors (LPCs) or Professional Counselor Associates (LPC Associates). Licensing is done through the Center for Credentialing and Education.

Candidates for LPC Associate licensure must:

• Pass the NCE or NCMHCE exam
• Complete the Plan and Arrangements for Clinical Supervision of Post-Master’s Clinical Experience in Counseling
• Submit a completed application and education review form
• Pay a $170 application fee and $150 licensing fee
• Provide official transcripts demonstrating a master’s degree in counseling from a regionally accredited institution, with at least 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours. The program must also have a 100-hour practicum and meet course requirements in nine areas. If the candidate wishes to have a greater scope of practice as a LPC Associate, then a 600-hour internship is also required.
• Show proof of right to work in the US

To be licensed as an LPC, applicants must meet the above requirements in addition to completing 1,500 hours of supervised clinical work experience over two years. The hours must be direct counseling with individuals, couples, families or groups. Of those hours, 150 must include direct supervision.

LPC and LPC Associate licenses in South Carolina are valid for two years.

Renewals cost $150 and must be accompanied by an application and proof of 40 hours of continuing education credits, six of which must be in ethics

Currently, there are no state certification or licensing requirements for applied behavior analysts in South Carolina.

However, holding a BCBA certification and maintaining membership with the South Carolina Association for Behavior Analysis can help with employment opportunities or job advancement.

South Carolina issues Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Associate (LMFT Intern) licenses. Licensing is done through the Center for Credentialing and Education.

Candidates for LMFT Associate licensure must:

• Pass the AMFTRB exam
• Complete the Plan and Arrangements for Clinical Supervision of Post-Master’s Clinical Experience in Counseling
• Submit a completed application and education review form
• Pay $170 application fee and $150 licensing fee
• Provide official transcripts demonstrating a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from a regionally accredited institution, including a 300-hour practicum (if the candidate wishes to have a greater scope of practice as an LMFT Associate, then a 600-hour internship is required)
• Provide proof of right to work in the US

To be licensed as an LMFT, applicants must meet the above requirements, in addition to:

• Completing 1,500 hours of supervised clinical work experience over two years (150 must include direct supervision)

LMFT and LMFT Associate licenses in South Carolina are valid for two years.

Renewals cost $150 and must be accompanied by an application and proof of 40 hours of continuing education credits, six of which must be in ethics.

South Carolina Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Addiction Counselors, and Psycho-Educational Specialists

Child therapists in South Carolina must be either Professional Counselors (LPCs) or Professional Counselor Associates (LPC Associates). Licensing is done through the Center for Credentialing and Education.

Candidates for LPC Associate licensure must:

• Pass the NCE or NCMHCE exam
• Complete the Plan and Arrangements for Clinical Supervision of Post-Master’s Clinical Experience in Counseling
• Submit a completed application and education review form
• Pay a $170 application fee and $150 licensing fee
• Provide official transcripts demonstrating a master’s degree in counseling from a regionally accredited institution, with at least 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours. The program must also have a 100-hour practicum and meet course requirements in nine areas. If the candidate wishes to have a greater scope of practice as a LPC Associate, then a 600-hour internship is also required.
• Show proof of right to work in the US

To be licensed as an LPC, applicants must meet the above requirements in addition to completing 1,500 hours of supervised clinical work experience over two years. The hours must be direct counseling with individuals, couples, families or groups. Of those hours, 150 must include direct supervision.

LPC and LPC Associate licenses in South Carolina are valid for two years.

Renewals cost $150 and must be accompanied by an application and proof of 40 hours of continuing education credits, six of which must be in ethics