Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Job Description Template

Job Overview

Licensed Professional Counselors work across a wide range of settings including outpatient behavioral health clinics, community mental health centers, private practices, schools and universities, telehealth platforms, employee assistance programs (EAPs), integrated primary care practices, and hospital behavioral health units. They typically report to a clinical director, behavioral health supervisor, or practice owner depending on organizational structure.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor, you will be responsible for conducting clinical assessments, providing individual and group psychotherapy, developing and monitoring treatment plans, managing a caseload of clients with varying clinical needs, and contributing to an integrated, team-based care environment. You will apply evidence-based therapeutic modalities and maintain rigorous documentation standards that support both clinical quality and reimbursement compliance.

This position requires independent clinical judgment, strong therapeutic alliance skills, and the professional discipline to manage a demanding caseload without sacrificing clinical quality or documentation accuracy. Success is measured by client treatment outcomes, session attendance and retention rates, documentation timeliness, and contributions to the clinical team's overall quality of care.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive clinical intake assessments including presenting problem, psychiatric history, trauma history, social and family history, substance use history, and mental status examination to inform diagnosis and treatment planning.

• Provide individual psychotherapy using evidence-based modalities matched to client presentations, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Trauma-Focused CBT, and other evidence-based approaches.

• Facilitate psychotherapy groups across clinical focuses such as anxiety management, depression recovery, trauma processing, anger management, grief, or relationship skills, adapting group facilitation to therapeutic goals and group dynamics.

• Develop individualized treatment plans with measurable goals, targeted interventions, and defined timelines, reviewing and updating plans at prescribed intervals in compliance with clinical and payer standards.

• Assess and manage client safety when risk of harm to self or others is present, conducting structured suicide risk assessments, developing safety plans, and coordinating appropriate level of care changes in collaboration with the clinical team.

• Provide DSM-5-TR diagnostic formulations for assigned clients within the licensed scope of practice, documenting clinical reasoning in compliance with organizational, accreditation, and insurance payer requirements.

• Collaborate with psychiatrists, primary care providers, case managers, peer support specialists, and community resource organizations to ensure clients receive coordinated, whole-person care.

• Complete clinical documentation including session progress notes, treatment plans, diagnostic assessments, and discharge summaries within established timeframe requirements using the organization's EHR system.

• Connect clients with community supports including housing resources, financial assistance, support groups, vocational programs, and other social services that address social determinants impacting mental health.

• Maintain caseload productivity expectations set by the organization, balancing direct client service hours with documentation requirements and team participation.

• Participate in clinical supervision, peer consultation, case conferences, and required continuing education activities to maintain licensure and advance clinical competency.

• Support telehealth service delivery by conducting video-based psychotherapy sessions in compliance with state telehealth regulations, payer requirements, and organizational telehealth policies.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Master's degree in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, or a closely related field from a CACREP-accredited program required; non-CACREP master's degrees considered with equivalent supervised experience.

• Current, active Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensure, or state equivalent such as LPCC, LCPC, or LMHC, in the state of practice required.

Experience

• Minimum 2 years of post-licensure clinical counseling experience in a behavioral health or community mental health setting.

• Demonstrated experience conducting clinical assessments, providing individual psychotherapy, and managing a caseload with varied clinical presentations.

• Experience with telehealth service delivery is preferred given the growth of virtual care in behavioral health.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency with EHR or practice management platforms such as SimplePractice, Therapynotes, Epic, Athenahealth, or similar behavioral health systems.

• Working knowledge of behavioral health CPT billing codes and documentation requirements for Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial payer compliance.

• Competency in DSM-5-TR diagnostic formulation and evidence-based treatment planning.

• Proficiency with telehealth video platforms and understanding of state-specific telehealth practice standards.

Core Competencies

• Advanced clinical assessment skills, including suicide risk assessment and safety planning.

• Trauma-informed, culturally responsive clinical practice.

• Clear, accurate, and timely clinical documentation that satisfies licensure board, accreditation, and insurance requirements.

• Professional ethics and boundary management in complex therapeutic relationships.

• Productivity management and caseload organization in high-demand settings.

Preferred Qualifications

• Specialized certification in a clinical modality such as EMDR, DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Gottman Method, or Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT).

• Experience providing counseling services to specific populations including adolescents and young adults, couples, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, or individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.

• Board Approved Supervisor status or equivalent for providing clinical supervision to LPC-associates or pre-licensed counselors.

• Familiarity with the ASAM criteria for substance use disorder treatment level-of-care determination.

• Bilingual fluency is a meaningful differentiator in many community mental health markets.

• Experience working within integrated behavioral health or collaborative care models embedded in primary care or specialty medical settings.

Essential Skills and Competencies for Licensed Professional Counselors

Technical Skills

• DSM-5-TR diagnostic assessment and clinical formulation

• Evidence-based psychotherapy modalities (CBT, ACT, MI, SFBT, TF-CBT)

• Suicide risk assessment and safety planning

• Individual and group therapy facilitation

• EHR documentation and billing compliance

• Telehealth delivery and platform proficiency

• Treatment plan development and outcome monitoring

• Co-occurring disorders assessment and treatment coordination

Soft Skills

• Advanced therapeutic empathy and alliance-building

• Cultural humility and equity-centered clinical practice

• Professional boundary management and ethical reasoning

• Clear and precise clinical documentation

• Caseload prioritization and time management

• Collaborative communication with interdisciplinary teams

• Resilience and self-care in high-acuity clinical settings

• Client advocacy and community resource navigation

Leadership Skills

• Clinical supervision of pre-licensed associates

• Program and service development contributions

• Quality improvement and outcome measurement

• Training and consultation for clinical staff teams

Salary Range and Benefits for Licensed Professional Counselors

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), mental health counselors earn a median annual salary of approximately $53,710, with LPCs in clinical and healthcare settings typically earning between $50,000 and $80,000 depending on setting, specialty, and geographic market. Private practice LPCs who manage their own billing and caseloads can earn $75,000 to $110,000 annually. Community mental health and nonprofit LPCs typically earn lower base salaries but often qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through their employing organizations.

Top-Paying Areas

California (where the credential is known as LPCC), New Jersey, New York, Washington, and Connecticut are the highest-paying states for Licensed Professional Counselors according to BLS state-level data. Major metropolitan areas offer the highest base salaries, particularly within hospital-affiliated behavioral health systems, large group practices, and employer-sponsored EAP networks. Telehealth platforms have expanded geographic earning potential for LPCs who can serve clients across multiple states with appropriate multi-state licensure.

Benefits Package

Full-time LPCs employed by healthcare organizations typically receive comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) or 403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions, 20 or more days of PTO, paid holidays, and paid professional development allowances. Many nonprofit and community mental health employers offer PSLF eligibility. Continuing education reimbursement (typically $1,000 to $2,500 annually), licensure renewal fee coverage, and malpractice insurance are commonly included. Flexible scheduling and telehealth work arrangements are increasingly standard at outpatient behavioral health organizations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Licensed Professional Counselors

Q: What does a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) do?
A: A Licensed Professional Counselor provides independent clinical mental health services including comprehensive intake assessments, individual and group psychotherapy, DSM-5-TR diagnosis, treatment planning, crisis intervention, and case coordination. LPCs work with clients navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, grief, and other mental health challenges in outpatient clinics, community mental health centers, private practices, telehealth platforms, and integrated care settings.

Q: What qualifications do you need to be a Licensed Professional Counselor?
A: LPCs must hold a master's degree in counseling or clinical mental health counseling, preferably from a CACREP-accredited program, and a current LPC license in the state of practice. Licensure requires completion of 2,000 to 4,000 supervised post-graduate clinical hours and passing the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), depending on state requirements.

Q: How much does a Licensed Professional Counselor make?
A: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), mental health counselors earn a median annual salary of approximately $53,710, with LPCs in clinical settings typically earning $50,000 to $80,000. Private practice LPCs can earn $75,000 to $110,000 annually. California, New York, and New Jersey offer the highest state-level median salaries.

Q: What skills are required for a Licensed Professional Counselor?
A: Core skills include DSM-5-TR diagnostic formulation, evidence-based psychotherapy modalities (CBT, ACT, Motivational Interviewing), suicide risk assessment, group facilitation, EHR documentation, and billing compliance. Advanced therapeutic empathy, cultural humility, professional ethics, strong time management across a demanding caseload, and the ability to communicate clearly within interdisciplinary teams are equally essential.

Q: What is the difference between an LPC and an LCSW?
A: Both LPCs and LCSWs are licensed to provide independent psychotherapy and are recognized by most insurance payers. The distinction lies primarily in educational background and scope: LPCs hold a counseling-focused master's degree and typically concentrate on therapeutic intervention. LCSWs hold an MSW with broader training in systems theory, policy, community practice, and social determinants of health, often carrying greater responsibility for case management, advocacy, and resource coordination alongside clinical work.

Q: What states recognize the LPC credential?
A: The Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) title is used in most U.S. states, though the credential name varies. Equivalent designations include Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Illinois and Montana, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in California, Minnesota, and Ohio, and Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in New York, Florida, Washington, and several other states. Counselors practicing across state lines should verify reciprocity agreements and state-specific licensure transfer processes.