Academic Requirements: Licensed Professional Counselor

Accreditation:
All of your graduate course work needed to meet the academic requirements must be awarded by a regionally accredited college or university, recognized by the United States Department of Education.

Degrees:
In order to qualify for LPC licensure you must have at least a master’s degree in counseling or a mental health degree that is substantially content-equivalent.

At least sixty (60) semester credit hours or ninety (90) quarter credit hours of graduate counseling-related course work, including internship, must be earned.

In order to be considered acceptable, your graduate degree(s) must follow a planned, sequenced mental health program. Your program must be reflected in the university catalog and approved by the governing authority of the college or university. The primary focus of the program must clearly prepare the applicant for a career in counseling. The college or university catalog must also list the core courses from the knowledge areas listed below (at least five (5) of the sixteen (16) knowledge areas must be included).

Core Courses:
You must have at least one (1) or more courses of at least three (3) semester credit hours or four (4) quarter credit hours per course in each of the following core counseling areas:

• Human growth and development – at least one (1) course which deals with the process stages of human intellectual, physical, social and emotional development of any of the stages of life from prenatal through old age.
  
• Abnormal human behavior – at least one (1) course that offers a study of the principles of understanding dysfunction in human behavior or social disorganization.
  
• Appraisal/assessment techniques – at least two (2) courses which deal with the principles, concepts and procedures of systematic appraisal, assessment, or interpretation of client needs, abilities, and characteristics, which may include the use of both testing and non-testing approaches.
  
• Counseling theories/methods – at least two (2) courses which survey the major theories and/or techniques of counseling.
  
• Professional orientation/ethics – at least one (1) course which deals primarily with the objectives of professional counseling organizations, codes of ethics, legal aspects of practice, standards of preparation and the role of persons providing direct counseling services.
  
• Research – at least one (1) course in the methods of social science or mental health research which includes the study of statistics or a thesis project in an area relevant to the practice of counseling.
  
• Practicum/internship – at least one (1) course of an organized practicum with at least three hundred (300) clock hours in counseling with planned experiences providing classroom and field experience with clients under the supervision of college or university approved counseling professionals.

Elective Courses:
You must have at least five (5) courses of at least three (3) semester credit hours each or four (4) quarter credit hours each from the knowledge areas.

The knowledge areas are listed below:

Additional courses to reach the 60-hour requirement may be in increments of one (1), two (2) or three (3) semester hour courses or one (1), two (2), three (3) or four (4) quarter hour courses.

Forms:
For your convenience this office has created an academic worksheet to help you determine if you meet the Licensed Professional Counselor academic requirements. To obtain this form please click the link below:

• Academic Worksheet for Licensed Professional Counselors

Board Pre-Approved Programs and Courses:

The following programs have been reviewed and approved by the Board. Each course has been pre-assigned an academic category. For inquiries regarding the acceptability of out-of-state coursework please email  Info.BehavioralHealth@bbhl.ok.gov

• Cameron University, Master of Science in Behavioral Sciences, Master of Arts in Mental Health - Counseling
• Capella University, Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health
• East Central University, Master of Education - School Counselor - LPC Option
• East Central University, Master Science in Psychological Services - Counselor Psychology
• East Central University, Master of Science in Human Resources - Counselor Option
• Langston University, Master of Science, Rehabilitation Counselor - License Professional Counselor Option
• Liberty University, Master of Arts in Professional Counseling
• Mid-America Christian University, Master of Science in Counseling
• Northeastern Oklahoma State University, Master of Science in Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counselor
• Northeastern Oklahoma State University, Master of Science in Counseling: School Counseling
• Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Master of Counseling Psychology - Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Track
• Oklahoma City University, Master of Education in Applied Behavioral Studies: Professional Counselor
• Oklahoma State University, Master of Science in Counseling
• Oral Roberts University, Master of Arts in Professional Counseling
• Rogers State University - Master of Science in Community Counseling
• Southern Nazarene University, Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology
• Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Master of Science in Community Counseling
• Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Master of Education in School Counseling - LPC Option
• Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Special Program: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Curriculum
• St. Gregory, Master of Arts - Counseling
• University of Central Oklahoma, Master of Education in School Counseling and  School and Professional Counseling
• University of Central Oklahoma, Master of Arts in Psychology - Counseling
• University of Oklahoma, Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• University of Oklahoma, Master of Education - Professional Counseling