Become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Online

Help your patients lead happier and healthier lives by offering them a safe space for reflection and pragmatic resolutions.

  • Top online program — Join a program ranked #13 in best online master’s degrees in psychology.1
  • Earn your LPC licensure — Gain the skills and knowledge required to take the professional LPC licensure exam.
  • 27-month program — Complete your degree in as few as 27 months online.

The Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy online from Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology empowers you to provide the guidance and counseling people need to lead healthier, more well-balanced lives.

Through interactive online course work led by distinguished Pepperdine faculty and clinical training in or near your own community, you will be prepared to pursue work as an LPC in as few as 27 months.

What Does a Licensed Professional Counselor Do?

Licensed professional counselors are trained to provide mental health and substance abuse care to individuals, families, and groups.

As a licensed professional counselor, you may see clients who are:

  • Suffering through depression.
  • Affected by substance abuse.
  • Affected by psychological disorders.
  • Going through stress caused by abuse, grief, emotional pain, fear, anger, or guilt.

You will help your clients by:

  • Being a thorough listener.
  • Highlighting problematic behavioral patterns.
  • Evaluating and finding effective and pragmatic resolutions to problems.
  • Helping replace dysfunctional behaviors with healthier alternatives.

LPC Licensure Requirements

To pursue a career as an LPC, first you will need to have earned a bachelor’s degree. Students of all educational backgrounds are able to apply. You will then need to:

Licensing requirements vary by state. You can learn more about LPC requirements by state by visiting your state’s licensing board.

Did You Know?

Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology has been preparing students for lives of purpose, service, and leadership since 1971. Our online master’s in clinical psychology program is an extension of that mission—as such, our curriculum features the latest in multicultural counseling, trauma in diverse populations, substance abuse counseling, and more.

Earn Your Master’s. Help People Thrive.

Learn more about Pepperdine’s online Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program today.

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Access Your Application

Now is the time. Advance your career with Pepperdine. Take the next step today.

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LPC Career Options

LPC career options are many. Licensed counselors can work in hospitals, schools, and social service agencies; consult for organizations; or even start their own practice. LPCs can also choose to focus their work with a specific population, such as children or couples.

As you earn your master’s and complete your fieldwork hours, you’ll have time to explore your areas of interest within the field.

18%

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 18 percent from 2022 to 2032.2

Start Your LPC Path at Pepperdine

You want to help people lead healthier lives, and Pepperdine has empowered students to do just that since 1971. Join us—we’re just getting started.

Access Your Application

Now is the time. Advance your career with Pepperdine. Take the next step today.

Apply Now

FAQs About the Online LPC Program

  • Both LPC and LMFT are clinical programs that lead to licensure. The primary difference is the focus. The LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) track focuses on treating individuals, couples, and families from a relational and systemic perspective. The LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) track has a broader focus, preparing you to diagnose and treat a wide range of mental, emotional, and behavioral issues in individuals and groups.

  • Pepperdine University is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). This program is designed to meet the academic requirements for LPC licensure set by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS). You should confirm with your state’s board if they have specific programmatic accreditation requirements.

  • The program can be completed in as few as 27 months. We offer both full-time and part-time pacing options to fit the schedules of working professionals.

  • Our program is designed for active, engaged learning. It features a blend of:

    • Asynchronous coursework you complete on your own schedule each week.
    • Synchronous (live) weekly online classes, where you interact directly with faculty and peers in a small-group setting.

  • The program consists of 62–68 units. Core courses include:

    • Diagnosis and Treatment of Mental Health Disorders
    • Multicultural and Diversity Issues
    • Group Therapy
    • Clinical Intervention with Children and Adolescents
    • Trauma in Diverse Populations
    • Psychopharmacology for Mental Health Professionals

  • Yes. To prepare you for licensure, this program requires you to complete a clinical practicum and clinical internship, which involve in-person, supervised fieldwork. These clinical training hours are completed at an approved site in or near your own community.

  • Our faculty are scholar-practitioners who are actively engaged in the field. You will learn from licensed psychologists, LPCs, and LMFTs who bring real-world clinical experience into the online classroom. You can read more about our psychology faculty on our faculty page.

  • Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. You do not need a bachelor’s in psychology to apply. While the GRE is not required, the application packet includes transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. You can view a full list of application requirements on our admissions page.

  • Tuition is calculated on a per-unit basis. For the most current, detailed breakdown of the cost per unit, total program cost, and available financial aid options, please visit our Tuition and Financial Aid page.

  • This program is designed to meet the academic requirements for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of California. The curriculum includes all core coursework, and the program includes a clinical practicum component to help you begin accruing the supervised clinical hours required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS).

  • This program is designed to meet California’s requirements. Licensure requirements vary significantly from state to state. While our curriculum may meet the academic requirements for many other states, we recommend you contact the licensing board in the state where you intend to practice to confirm specific reciprocity or educational requirements or check our resource here.

  • Upon completing your degree and obtaining state licensure, you will be prepared for clinical roles in a variety of settings, including community mental health agencies, private practice, hospitals, schools, and substance abuse treatment centers. Common job titles include Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Clinical Therapist, and Mental Health Clinician.

Pepperdine University partners with 2U to support the delivery of these online programs. Pepperdine University has full control over the programs, including all core academic functions. Click here to learn more about 2U’s roles and responsibilities.

  1. Best Online Master’s Degrees in Psychology. (2024). OnlineU Best Online Colleges. Retrieved June 13, 2024. ↩︎
  2. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors. (2024). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved June 13, 2024. ↩︎