Counseling Degrees & Licenses in Louisiana
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“I see it as an honor and privilege to hold space for my clients and to contribute to the field of counseling through my work as a counselor educator and supervisor.”
Jodi H. Manton, PhD, Associate Professor of Professional Practice, Louisiana State University
Working as a counselor in Louisiana is a rewarding career proposition. Not only is the counseling field growing across the nation, but it is also growing in Louisiana. Those who pursue a counseling degree and license in Louisiana can be rewarded with myriad job prospects, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) predicts that this career field will grow 2218 percent nationally from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations which sits at 3 percent.
The need for counselors, in general, will grow as a growing population seeks mental health counseling. The BLS (2024) predicts the job outlook for rehabilitation counselors to grow 2 percent, and marriage and family therapists to increase 15 percent.
Louisiana has a population of approximately 4.7 million people, with one out of every 20 adults living with serious mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. And yet, only 38.2 percent of adults with mental illness in Louisiana receive any form of treatment. Louisiana is ranked 42 of the 50 states and Washington, DC for providing access to mental health services. Part of the challenge in meeting mental health needs in Louisiana is a lack of access to providers in the rural parts of the state. Reports show only one mental healthcare professional per 400 residents in the state.
Louisiana, like most other states, requires licensure and certification in order to practice as a counselor. The Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners issues credentials to those who have obtained education from an accredited college or university and passed any state or national certification exams.
Louisiana licenses two levels of counseling practitioners, a Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). It offers two for marriage and family therapists: Provisional Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (PLMFT) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).
To achieve a license as a marriage and family therapist, students must graduate from a COAMFTE-approved (Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education) 60-semester-hour graduate degree program in marriage and family therapy/counseling or a related clinical mental health field from a regionally accredited educational institution. Students applying for a counseling license must earn a 60-semester-hour graduate degree in professional mental health counseling from a regionally accredited university.
The Louisiana Department of Education certifies school counselors. Students must have a master’s degree from a CACREP-accredited (Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs) program with either a 100-hour practicum or a 600-hour internship in a school setting.
Read on to explore the many schools offering programs for counseling degrees and licenses in Louisiana.
Ask an Expert: Jodi H. Manton, PhD, LPC-S, NCC
Dr. Jodi H. Manton is an associate professor of professional practice at Louisiana State University, working with students in both the clinical mental health counseling and school counseling tracks. Additionally, Dr. Manton is a licensed professional counselor supervisor, a former certified school counselor in Louisiana, and a nationally certified counselor. She has practiced in various settings, including inpatient, community, and university facilities. She has also served as a school counselor for six years, providing academic and social-emotional support for students in grades 9 through 12.
Currently, she owns and operates a private practice where she uses a transtheoretical approach grounded in a humanistic-existential orientation to assist adolescents and adults with a variety of presenting concerns, including trauma, anxiety, depression and mood disorders, relational challenges, identity exploration, and phase of life difficulties.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Manton supervises provisionally licensed counselors. Dr. Manton’s professional interests include school counseling, clinical mental health counseling, counseling adolescents and emerging adults, counseling service members and veterans and their families, family counseling, wellness-based approaches to counseling, trauma-focused counseling, identity development, counseling across the lifespan, multicultural counseling, social justice and advocacy, research and professional publication, and counselor education and supervision.
CounselingSchools.com: What is something you wish the public understood about the field of counseling?
Dr. Manton: Because counseling is relatively new compared to the other helping professions, the public doesn’t always have a clear understanding of our training and expertise.
Counselors receive a high level of training that emphasizes clinical practice. We actively engage with continuing education to advance our counseling skills and to specialize in certain modalities and areas of practice to better serve our clients. We have a wellness- and strengths-based approach to mental health, seeking to holistically understand our clients both developmentally and contextually. We partner with clients to help them pursue an authentic life that includes meaningful connections with self and others.
I see it as an honor and privilege to hold space for my clients and to contribute to the field of counseling through my work as a counselor educator and supervisor.
CounselingSchools.com: What advice would you give to aspiring students in the field of counseling?
Dr. Manton: Be open and available, and trust the process. As a supervisor and counselor educator, I’ve noticed that counseling students can struggle to receive constructive feedback. Counseling is a skill, and like any skill, it requires practice to develop. It’s important to have patience with yourself through that process and to view feedback as opportunities for growth rather than criticism.
Being an effective counselor requires that we do our own work. We have an ethical obligation to be aware of our own personal experiences, biases, and values and to work to prevent these from impacting the therapeutic process for our clients. This self-development can be invigorating and exciting at times and stressful and challenging at others. However, it is essential to ensure we are able to be fully present for our clients and to walk with them on their journey to wellness.
Accredited Counseling Degree Programs in Louisiana
Louisiana State University – Baton Rouge
Louisiana State University is a public university founded in 1853. Known as LSU, the school offers a master of education in counseling designed to prepare students to become Licensed Professional Counselors in Louisiana.
The MEd allows students to choose from a school counseling specialization or a clinical mental health counseling specialization. Both tracks are 60 credits and nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). They also meet the educational requirements to become Licensed Professional Counselors in the state of Louisiana.
The school also offers a specialist certificate with a concentration in counseling for those who have already earned a master’s degree in school or clinical mental health counseling.
- Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Duration: 60 hours
- Accreditation: CACREP
Louisiana State University – School of Allied Health Professions
The Louisiana State University School of Allied Health Professions is a public university that focuses on health science education, including degrees in clinical mental health counseling and clinical rehabilitation counseling. The master of health sciences degree in clinical rehabilitation and counseling program has a full-semester practicum and internship experience. The practicum is a part-time placement in an agency for at least 100 hours; internship I and II are part-time placements for 300 hours each.
- Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
- Duration: 60 credits, part-time options
- Accreditation: CACREP
Louisiana State University – Shreveport
Louisiana State University has campuses throughout the state, including Shreveport and the main campus at Baton Rouge, listed above. The psychology department at the Shreveport campus offers a master of science in counseling program. The program prepares counselors to practice in various settings, including hospitals, substance abuse treatment centers, schools, colleges, universities, rehabilitation facilities, community counseling agencies, court systems, and other settings.
- Location: Shreveport, Louisiana
- Duration: 60 credits
- Accreditation: CACREP
Loyola University. New Orleans
Loyola University New Orleans is a private Jesuit university chartered in 1912. The school’s master of science in counseling program offers two degree tracks and three dual degrees. Students can choose from degree tracks clinical mental health counseling or marriage, couple, and family counseling, and dual degrees master of science in counseling + master of science in criminal justice, master of science in counseling + master of music therapy, or master of pastoral studies + master of science in counseling.
Upon completing the clinical mental health counseling degree, graduates are eligible to become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC). Graduates of the marriage, couple, and family counseling program will have all the courses necessary for licensure as an LPC in the state of Louisiana and will also have all the courses required should they be interested in further pursuing MFT licensure. Each of the dual degrees requires 75 credits. Individually taken, the degrees would require either 90 or 94 credits.
- Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
- Duration: 60 credits; 75 credits, dual degrees
- Accreditation: CACREP
McNeese State University is a public university founded in 1939 as Lake Charles Junior College. It adopted its present name in 1970. McNeese’s Burton College of Education offers a Master of Education (MEd), which prepares students to work with elementary, middle, and high school students. McNeese’s master’s program features extensive field experience guided by expert faculty. School counseling graduate students get critical hands-on experience through a 600-hour internship and 100-hour clinical practicum.
In addition to the MEd program, which equips students to work in any K-12 school environment, McNeese offers a master of science in clinical mental health counseling program that equips graduates to work as counselors across various environments, such as private and public agencies. The program specializes in individual and group counseling, providing the necessary training for candidates to become licensed professional counselors (LPC).
- Location: Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Duration: 48 credits for school counseling, 60 credits for LPC program
- Accreditation: CACREP
Nicholls State University is a public university founded in 1948. It offers a master of arts in clinical mental health counseling (MCMH) program that aims to train professionals to work in mental health settings. The MCMH program meets the standards established by the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners in Louisiana and other states.
The master of education in school counseling program prepares candidates to work as counselors in school settings. The MESC program meets the standards for certification of school counselors as specified by the Louisiana State Department of Education. It also provides training consistent with requirements for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Louisiana and other states.
- Location: Thibodaux, Louisiana
- Duration: 60 credits
- Accreditation: CACREP
Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University is a public university founded in 1925 as a junior college. It became a university in 1970.
The school offers a master of science in counseling degree with three concentrations: clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, and marriage, couple, and family counseling. Each of these concentrations leads to an MS degree in counseling. The coursework in all concentrations meets the academic requirements for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Louisiana and most other states.
After passing the school counseling Praxis exam, school counseling graduates meet the academic requirements to become certified school counselors in Louisiana. A student’s last two semesters consist of a clinical internship at an approved site that requires approximately 30 hours per week. Students are only allowed to take one additional class along with their internship for a maximum of six hours each semester of internships.
- Location: Hammond, Louisiana
- Duration: 60 credits
- Accreditation: CACREP
Southern University and A&M College
Southern University and A&M College is a public school and the largest historically Black college or university in Louisiana. It offers a 60-credit clinical rehabilitation counseling master’s degree. This program prepares graduates to work with individuals with disabilities to achieve their personal, social, psychological, and vocational goals. Rehabilitation counselors may work in various settings, including rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, universities, schools, and/or government agencies.
- Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Duration: 60 credits
- Accreditation: CACREP
University of Louisiana – Lafayette
The University of Louisiana has nine campuses and the second largest enrollment in Louisiana. At the Lafayette and Monroe campuses, the school offers master of science degrees in school counseling and clinical mental health counseling. COAMFTE accredits the MFT counseling program at the Monroe campus, while the other programs are CACREP accredited.
All students in the master of science in counselor education program must take nine to 12 credits each semester. After completing the core courses and those for the concentration, students will complete a 600-hour internship in a relevant field.
- Location: Lafayette and Monroe, Louisiana
- Duration: A total of 60 credits is required for the school counseling concentration; a total of 60 credits is required for the mental health counseling concentration; and a total of 72 credits is required for the dual concentration
- Accreditation: CACREP
University of Louisiana – Monroe
At the University of Louisiana, Monroe, students can choose from a master of science in counseling with four tracks: school counseling, addiction counseling, clinical mental health counseling, or a combined track. COAMFTE accredits an additional MFT counseling program at the Monroe campus, while the other programs are CACREP accredited.
The master of science in counseling requires 20 courses, typically taking full-time students two years to finish. The school counseling program provides training similar to the clinical mental health track but focuses on the K-12 school setting. Students who pursue a master of science in counseling under the school counseling track may call themselves school counselors and may qualify for School Counselor Certification and LPC licensure. The addiction counseling option also qualifies students for LPC licensure.
Students who pursue a master of science in counseling under the clinical mental health counseling track may call themselves clinical mental health counselors and qualify for LPC licensure. The combined track allows students to specialize in two of the three tracks offered by the program and prepares graduates to practice in two areas competently. Graduates may refer to themselves as either of the two specializations in which they pursue and qualify LPC licensure and school certification if one of the tracks is school counseling.
The ULM is one of only a few U.S. universities offering a master of arts MFT program accredited by COAMFTE and is the only one in Louisiana. The master of science in counseling (clinical mental health) degree is available online.
- Location: Lafayette and Monroe, Louisiana
- Duration: 60 credits
- Accreditation: CACREP and NCATE (counselor education), COAMFTE (marriage and family therapy counseling)
The University of New Orleans was founded as a public university in 1956. The school’s counselor education program leads to a master of education degree. Students can choose one of two specializations: clinical mental health counseling or school counseling.
The clinical mental health counseling concentration prepares graduates to serve as counselors in a variety of community mental health settings, including counseling agencies, business and industry, employee assistance programs, substance abuse treatment programs, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, court systems, and other settings in which counseling or other mental health services are offered.
The school counseling concentration prepares graduates to serve as counselors in public, charter, parochial, and private schools (pre-K through 12th grade). School counseling students can add counseling to their current Louisiana teaching certificates if they have it, or can qualify for initial certification as a school counselor.
All master’s degree students complete the requirements to become National Certified Counselors. Upon graduation, master’s degree students are ready to begin their two years of post-master’s degree supervised experience required to become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) in Louisiana. Field experiences include a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour (minimum) internship. Courses are offered in the late afternoons and evenings.
- Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
- Duration: 60 credits, full- or part-time options available
- Accreditation: CACREP
How Much Do Counselors Make in Louisiana?
These numbers represent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from May 2023—the latest data available as of July 2024.
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
| United States | Louisiana | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 327,660 | 6,210 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $66,990 | $63,440 |
| 10th percentile | $40,140 | $45,650 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $61,710 | $64,440 |
| 90th percentile | $100,050 | $81,220 |
Marriage and Family Therapists
| United States | Louisiana | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 63,340 | 40 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $68,730 | $64,540 |
| 10th percentile | $39,090 | $57,310 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $58,510 | $64,980 |
| 90th percentile | $104,710 | $75,160 |
Rehabilitation Counselors
| United States | Louisiana | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 84,750 | 300 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $48,430 | $44,390 |
| 10th percentile | $31,390 | $27,960 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $44,040 | $38,170 |
| 90th percentile | $73,710 | $75,160 |
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
| United States | Louisiana | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 397,880 | 5,190 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $60,080 | $42,280 |
| 10th percentile | $36,700 | $27,750 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $53,710 | $36,430 |
| 90th percentile | $89,920 | $61,690 |
All Other Counselors
| United States | Louisiana | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 35,580 | 1,030 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $52,360 | $49,160 |
| 10th percentile | $33,300 | $33,550 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $46,130 | $47,340 |
| 90th percentile | $79,880 | $69,830 |
Counseling Professional Associations & Resources in Louisiana
- Louisiana Counseling Association (LCA)
- Louisiana State Board of Licensed Professional Counselors
- Louisiana School Counselor Association (LSCA)
- Louisiana Mental Health Counselors Association (LMHCA)
- Louisiana Department of Education
- Louisiana Association of Substance Abuse Counselors & Trainers (LASACT)
- Louisiana Career Development Association (LCDA)
- Louisiana Association for Play Therapy
Mental Health Counseling (LMHC) Licenses in Louisiana: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners | Louisiana licenses Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) and To become a P-LPC, candidates must submit:
LPCs are required to meet the above requirements in addition to:
|
Renewals for counseling licenses are required every other year in Louisiana. The renewal period is from April 1st to June 30th. Counselors must complete their application, pay the $170 fee, and complete 40 continuing education hours three of which three must be in ethics and six in diagnosis, assessment, and treatment |
School Counseling Licenses in Louisiana
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Department of Education |
The Louisiana Department of Education issues School Guidance Counselor Certifications. The requirements are:
Certified Louisiana teachers who hold a current certification and have completed a CACRE- accredited master’s in school counseling can simply apply for a certification update in order to work as a school counselor. |
School Guidance Counselor Certifications issued in Louisiana are valid for five years. The cost to renew is $25. Counselors must complete 150 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle. |
Substance Abuse Counseling Licenses in Louisiana
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
There are four certifications issued by the Louisiana Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority for substance abuse counselors: Counselor in Training (CIT), Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) Certified Addiction Counselor (CAC), and Registered Addiction Counselor (RAC). CIT certification candidates must:
RAC certification candidates must:
CAC certification candidates must:
LAC certification candidates must:
|
The Louisiana Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority requires that CIT certifications be renewed annually while LAC, CAC, and RAC must be renewed biennially. CITs are required to complete 20 hours of continuing education while LACs, CACs, and RACs must complete 48 hours. All certification holders must complete six hours in ethics per renewal cycle. CIT renewals are $75, while LACs, CACs, and RACs are $200. |
Rehabilitation Counseling Licenses in Louisiana
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
Louisiana rehabilitation counselors must be either Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) or Provisional Licensed Professional Counselors (P-LPC). To become a P-LPC, candidates must submit:
LPCs are required to meet the above requirements in addition to:
|
Renewals for counseling licenses are required every other year in Louisiana. The renewal period is from April 1st to June 30th. Counselors must complete their application, pay the $170 fee, and complete 40 continuing education hours three of which three must be in ethics and six in diagnosis, assessment, and treatment |
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Licenses in Louisiana
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board |
The Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board issues Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) and State Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (SCaBA) licenses. To qualify, candidates must:
|
LBA and SCABA licenses issued in Louisiana expire annually. LBA licenses cost $200 to renew, while SCaBA licenses cost $125. LBA license holders must complete 32 hours of continuing education hours every two years and SBABAs must complete 20 hours. |
Marriage and Family Therapy Licenses in Louisiana
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners |
The Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners credentials Provisional Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (PLMFT) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT). The requirements for a PLMFT license are:
LMFTs are required to meet the above requirements in addition to:
|
Renewals for marriage and family therapy licenses are required every other year in Louisiana. The renewal period is from April 1st to June 30th. Renewal requirements for PLMFTS include:
LMFTS renewal include:
|
Child (Pediatric) Behavioral Therapy Licenses in Louisiana
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners | Louisiana child therapists must be either Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) or Provisional Licensed Professional Counselors (P-LPC). To become a P-LPC, candidates must submit:
LPCs are required to meet the above requirements in addition to:
|
Renewals for counseling licenses are required every other year in Louisiana. The renewal period is from April 1st to June 30th. Counselors must complete their application, pay a $170 fee if an LPC and $85 if a P-LPC, and complete 40 continuing education hours three of which three must be in ethics and six in diagnosis, assessment, and treatment |
Vanessa Salvia
WriterVanessa Salvia is an Oregon-based freelance writer and editor with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. As fun as rigorous studies in math and science were, Vanessa took an independent path and developed a prolific career covering lifestyle and healthcare topics for magazines and newspapers, important industries such as concrete construction and building waterproofing, and even hard science. You can get in touch at Sage Media and Marketing.