As in many other states, counselors in Washington, D.C. who have obtained their licensure are known as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs), and those who have yet to complete the supervision portion of the licensure process are known as Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPCs). The state’s premier professional organizations for LPCs and LGPCs is the District of Columbia Counseling Association, a branch of the American Counseling Association that was founded in 1964 “to provide members with direction, guidance, and information, offering resources and opportunities to assist them in advancing the profession, achieving goals, and realizing potentials.”

Licensure for LPCs and LGPCs in Washington, D.C. is managed by the district’s Board of Professional Counseling, a division of the Washington, D.C. Department of Health. Licensure requirements for counselors in Washington, D.C., including education, supervision, examination, fees, renewal, and “licensure by endorsement,” are examined in further detail below, along with salary information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as well as scholarships and loan repayment programs available to LPCs and LGPCs in D.C.

Begin your career as an LPC with an online master’s in counseling program:

Counselor Education in Washington, D.C. (PDF, 88.4 KB) requires the completion of a master’s degree or higher in counseling or a related subject from an institution of higher education accredited by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education and the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation.

Appropriate degree programs will be 60 semester hours in length and include instruction in all of the following core content areas:

In addition to the coursework listed above, LPC licensure in Washington, D.C. also requires the completion of a counseling internship or practicum. This requirement is distinct from post-graduate supervision, which is also necessary for licensure. (See below for details)

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“Supervision” is shorthand for directed, post-graduate experience in professional counseling under supervision in a work setting. LPC licensure in Washington, D.C. requires the completion of 3,500 hours of supervision in no less than two years and no more than five. At least 200 of those hours must be under the immediate direction of an approved supervisor at a rate of one hour of direction for every 35 hours of practice, with a minimum of 100 hours of individual supervision (as opposed to group supervision).

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Washington, D.C. LPC licensure (PDF, 70 KB) requires a passing score on the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification, a 200-question, multiple-choice examination administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors. It assesses knowledge, skills, and abilities in effective counseling services.

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LPCs in Washington, D.C. can expect to pay the following fees for their application, license, renewal, and examination:

LPC Application: $85

LPC Initial License: $145

LPC Biennial License Renewal: $145

LPC License Late Renewal Penalty: $85

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LPC licenses in Washington, D.C. (PDF, 88.4 KB) expire biennially on December 31 of each even-numbered year. License renewal requires payment of the appropriate fees (see above) and the completion of continuing education.

Washington, D.C. LPCs are required to complete 40 hours of continuing education (CE) during each two-year renewal period. At least six of these hours must focus on ethics and four on trauma counseling. CE hours may be earned through graduate courses at accredited colleges and universities, seminars and workshops, educational programs at conferences, in-service training, and formally organized learning activities, including distance learning and home study.

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For Counselors Licensed in Other States

The Washington, D.C. Board of Professional Counseling has an alternative route to licensure for counselors who have already obtained their licenses in other parts of the United States. This process is called “licensure by endorsement” and is delineated on the Washington, D.C. Department of Health website (PDF, 118 KB).

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Counselors in Washington, D.C. can expect to earn the following average hourly and annual wages, according to May 2021 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

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The following scholarships and loan repayment programs are available to LPCs and LGPCs in Washington, D.C.:

Predoctoral Fellowship in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Program

Violet and Cyril Franks Scholarship

National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students

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*Licensure information including requirements, salaries, renewals, and fees were retrieved as of May 2022. Information may have changed since; check with the state’s board of licensing for more information.

Last Updated: May 2022