Post-Master's Certificate in Professional Counselor Licensure Preparation (LPC)

College of Education and Social Work

The post-master's licensure preparation program is designed to meet the education and internship requirements of counselors who already hold a master’s degree in professional counseling (e.g. community counseling, school counseling, etc.) and who aspire to obtain licensure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (or other states as appropriate). This individualized post-master's program, culminating in a certificate, consists of a minimum of 12 credits. Students in this program must hold a master’s degree (or higher) in professional counseling prior to beginning the program.

The program is tailored to individual students based on their prior master's level coursework and their interests. The admissions process includes the development of an individualized, planned course of study designed to allow students to complete course work in areas necessary to be eligible for licensure as a professional counselor. The Department of Counselor Education cannot assess previously completed coursework for its applicability toward LPC requirements; in order to develop an individualized course of study, applicants are strongly encouraged to first discuss their specific coursework needs with the Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors (or other state board, as appropriate).

Students, in close consultation with program advisors, select courses from the current graduate offerings in the Department of Counselor Education. These courses are as follows:

Required Courses12
Complete 12 credits from the following:
Orientation to Professional School Counseling and Ethics
Counseling Research Methods and Program Evaluation
Social and Cultural Considerations in Counseling
Human Development Through the Lifespan
Trauma Counseling and Crisis Intervention
Introduction to Addictions Counseling
Grief Counseling
Marriage and Family Counseling
Career Development and Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Counseling Military Professionals, Veterans, and Their Families
Diagnosis and Appraisal I
Contemporary Trends and Issues in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Counseling Children and Adolescents
Counseling & Human Sexuality
Counseling Supervision and Consultation
Animal Assisted Therapy in Counseling
LGBT Considerations in Counseling
Group Dynamics
Fundamentals of the Helping Relationship
Counseling Theory and Practice
Diagnosis and Appraisal II
Total Minimum Credits Required12