How many hours do I need for an LPC in Alabama?

three thousand (3000) hours of supervised experience in professional counseling; reducible by 1,000 per 15 post-master's semester hours, floor 1,000

How much supervision does an LPC in Alabama require?

Annual average of 100 hours from the Supervising Counselor: 50 direct (25 individual in-person) + 50 'other' approved activities; 100 supervision hours per year (annual average); shortfall prorates client hours

Is there a time limit for completing the hours in Alabama?

ALC license available 6 continuous years; then expires with forfeiture of accrued supervision hours

Which exams are required for an LPC in Alabama?

NCE (National Counselor Examination) required for LPC; may be taken at ALC stage or deferred

Can I be supervised by video in Alabama?

Only partly. Some supervision or presence must be in person or on site. Of the 50 direct supervision hours an ALC needs each year, 25 must be individual, in-person, one-to-one and real-time. The other 25 direct hours may be virtual, but only if the LPC-S has completed ABEC's 2-hour virtual-supervision training. Without that training, all 50 direct hours must be in person. The remaining 50 of the 100 annual hours are "other" approved supervision activities.

Alabama requirements

LPC requirements in Alabama

What it takes to become a Licensed Professional Counselor in Alabama: 3,000 supervised hours, plus supervision, time limits, exams and whether you can be supervised by video. Every figure is sourced to the state board and dated.

Sourced to Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling (ABEC)Checked September 25, 2026Not individually reviewed by a clinicianAbout this site

Licensed Professional Counselor (professional counselor) · Alabama · regulated by Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling (ABEC) · high confidence

Pre-license credential	Associate Licensed Counselor (ALC)
Supervised experience	three thousand (3000) hours of supervised experience in professional counseling; reducible by 1,000 per 15 post-master's semester hours, floor 1,000
Direct client contact	2,250 hours direct counseling service; 750 indirect
Supervision	Annual average of 100 hours from the Supervising Counselor: 50 direct (25 individual in-person) + 50 'other' approved activities
Time limit	ALC license available 6 continuous years; then expires with forfeiture of accrued supervision hours
Exams	NCE (National Counselor Examination) required for LPC; may be taken at ALC stage or deferred

Supervision

How much: Annual average of 100 hours from the Supervising Counselor: 50 direct (25 individual in-person) + 50 'other' approved activities
How often: 100 supervision hours per year (annual average); shortfall prorates client hours
Who may supervise: Board-approved Supervising Counselor (LPC-S): LPC with 5 yrs full-time (20+ hrs/wk) practice + 24-hr ABEC supervisor training; max 5 supervisees

When hours count and what to keep

Before your degree: Not counted: no accrual until ALC license issued; practicum/internship excluded
Paperwork: Proposed Plan of Supervision (PPoS) with ALC application; Final Supervision Report within 30 days of supervision ending

Can you be supervised remotely in Alabama?

Only partly. Some supervision or presence must be in person or on site. What shapes this: in-person minimum, state-only supervisor credential, prior board approval, video limited.

Video supervision: Of the 50 direct supervision hours an ALC needs each year, 25 must be individual, in-person, one-to-one and real-time. The other 25 direct hours may be virtual, but only if the LPC-S has completed ABEC's 2-hour virtual-supervision training. Without that training, all 50 direct hours must be in person. The remaining 50 of the 100 annual hours are "other" approved supervision activities.
In-person minimum: 25 of the 50 direct supervision hours each year must be individual, in-person, one-to-one and real-time (all 50 if the LPC-S lacks the 2-hour virtual-supervision training)
Supervisor licensed in Alabama? required
Supervisor credential: ABEC-approved Supervising Counselor (LPC-S). Requirements: an Alabama LPC with 5 years of full-time clinical practice, 24 hours of ABEC-approved supervisor training, and peer recommendations from 3 Alabama LPCs. Virtual supervision also needs a one-time 2-hour training.
Supervisee cap: No more than 5 supervisees in supervision for ABEC licensure at one time
Board approval first: A Proposed Plan of Supervision (PPoS) must be filed with the ALC application. All supervision must come from the LPC-S named on the ALC's license. The ALC license becomes invalid if the supervisor or work site changes without approval.

The client’s location decides which state’s rules apply. This is not legal advice; confirm with the board before building a program. Compare every state on the remote-supervision map.

Recent and pending changes

255-X-3-.01 and -.02 amended effective June 14, 2025; 60-semester-hour CACREP/CORE degree required effective Jan 1, 2024

Where the rules are unclear

Alabama’s own documents disagree or are silent on these points. Ask the board if they affect you:

r. 255-X-3-.02(4)(b)2 says the final report must verify "one hundred (100) total hours of supervision each week". Is this an error for "each year" (see (4)(a), "minimum annual average of one hundred (100) hours")?
Does "virtual" supervision include telephone/audio-only?

In the board’s own words

“Applicants must have three thousand (3000) hours of supervised experience in professional counseling with Board approved supervision.” — Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-3-.01(3)(b)✓ matched in the source

“The Supervising Counselor must personally provide to the ALC a minimum annual average of one hundred (100) hours.” — Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-3-.02(4)(a)✓ matched in the source

“Any ALC license will permanently expire after six (6) years from the initial date of issue” — Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-2-.03✓ matched in the source

“No accrual of required supervised experience shall occur until the Associate Licensed Counselor license has been issued.” — Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-3-.01(3)(a)✓ checked by hand

“Of the 50 direct supervision hours required annually, 25 hours must be conducted individually, in-person, one-to-one, real-time” — Ala. Admin. Code ch. 255-X-3 (rev. 6/14/25), r. 255-X-3-.02(4), -.03✓ matched in the source

“the remaining 25 hours of supervision hours can be conducted virtually if the Supervising Counselor has completed at least two (2) hours” — Ala. Admin. Code ch. 255-X-3 (rev. 6/14/25), r. 255-X-3-.02(4), -.03✓ matched in the source

“has not completed a minimum of two (2) hours of virtual supervision training, 50 hours of direct supervision must be in person.” — Ala. Admin. Code ch. 255-X-3 (rev. 6/14/25), r. 255-X-3-.02(4), -.03✓ matched in the source

“ALC’s must provide these in-person and virtual counseling service hours to clients located within the State of Alabama at the time of service.” — Ala. Admin. Code ch. 255-X-3 (rev. 6/14/25), r. 255-X-3-.02(4), -.03✓ matched in the source

“Supervising Counselors shall be licensed professional counselors” — Ala. Admin. Code ch. 255-X-3 (rev. 6/14/25), r. 255-X-3-.02(4), -.03✓ matched in the source

“authorizes a licensee to engage in the private practice of counseling in the State of Alabama only.” — Ala. Admin. Code ch. 255-X-2, r. 255-X-2-.01(1)✓ matched in the source

“peer recommendations from three (3) LPCs who have a current Alabama license” — Ala. Admin. Code ch. 255-X-3 (rev. 6/14/25), r. 255-X-3-.02(4), -.03✓ matched in the source

“acquire a Supervising Counselor approved as an LPC-S by ABEC, submit a new PPoS” — Ala. Admin. Code ch. 255-X-3 (rev. 6/14/25), r. 255-X-3-.02(4), -.03✓ matched in the source

3 more quotes are in the state explorer.

Other licenses in Alabama

Sources

Checked against Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling (ABEC)’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.

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General information, not legal advice. Requirements are summarized from each state’s licensing board, statutes and regulations on the date shown; the board decides, and rules change. Becoming Licensed is not affiliated with any licensing board.