Licensed Professional Counselor (professional counselor) · Connecticut · regulated by Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section · high confidence
| Pre-license credential | LPCA (Licensed Professional Counselor Associate) |
|---|---|
| Supervised experience | three thousand hours of postgraduate experience under professional supervision |
| Supervision | 100 hours of direct professional supervision |
| Minimum time | not less than two years |
| Exams | NCE or NCMHCE (NBCC) |
Supervision
- How much: 100 hours of direct professional supervision
- How often: direct professional supervision = not less than a monthly review with written evaluation
- Group supervision: not provided for; 'direct professional supervision' is defined as one supervisor and one supervisee
- Who may supervise: LPC, LCSW, LMFT, licensed psychologist, psychiatrist (ABPN-certified), or psychiatric APRN (ANCC-certified)
When hours count and what to keep
- Before your degree: not counted (postgraduate experience only; practicum/internship are separate degree requirements)
- Paperwork: Verification of Postgraduate Degree Supervised Professional Counseling Experience (supervisor sends directly to DPH)
Can you be supervised remotely in Connecticut?
Mostly, with some limits. What shapes this: video status not stated.
- Video supervision: Statute requires 100 h of 'direct professional supervision' defined as face-to-face consultation with at least a monthly review and written evaluation; neither statute nor DPH pages say whether live video is face-to-face.
- Supervisor licensed in Connecticut? other: statute names professionals licensed under Connecticut chapters (LPC 'licensed pursuant to this chapter', psychologist ch. 383, LMFT ch. 383a, LCSW ch. 383b, CT physician/APRN); DPH verification form asks the supervisor's 'State in which licensed'
- Board approval first: No supervision plan or supervisor approval found; LPCA license required for in-state experience (graduates may practise ≤120 days under supervision before licensure).
- If you live outside Connecticut: DPH: experience occurring in Connecticut requires a Connecticut LPCA license. No rule on an associate physically outside CT treating CT clients.
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
LPCA license created by P.A. 19-117; LPCA educational rules phased in (grandfather for degrees on or before July 1, 2022).
Where the rules are unclear
Connecticut’s own documents disagree or are silent on these points. Ask the board if they affect you:
- Does live two-way video satisfy 'face-to-face consultation' for the 100 hours of direct professional supervision (CGS §20-195aa(7))?
- Must an LPCA's supervisor hold a Connecticut license when the experience is in Connecticut (statute cites CT chapters; DPH form accepts any 'State in which licensed')?
In the board’s own words
“acquired three thousand hours of postgraduate experience under professional supervision, including a minimum of one hundred hours of direct professional supervision” — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-195dd(a)(2)✓ matched in the source
“performed over a period of not less than two years” — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-195dd(a)(2)✓ matched in the source
“consists of not less than a monthly review with a written evaluation and assessment by the supervisor” — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-195aa(7)✓ matched in the source
““Direct professional supervision” means face-to-face consultation between one supervisor, who is a professional described in subdivision (6) of this section, and one person” — Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-195aa(1), (6), (7) (ch. 383c)✓ matched in the source
“not less than a monthly review with a written evaluation and assessment by the supervisor” — Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-195aa(1), (6), (7) (ch. 383c)✓ matched in the source
““Licensed professional counselor” or “professional counselor” means a person who has been licensed as a professional counselor pursuant to this chapter” — Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-195aa(1), (6), (7) (ch. 383c)✓ matched in the source
“a psychologist licensed pursuant to chapter 383, a marital and family therapist licensed pursuant to chapter 383a” — Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-195aa(1), (6), (7) (ch. 383c)✓ matched in the source
“State in which licensed:” — CT DPH form: Verification of Postgraduate Degree Supervised Professional Counseling Experience (rev. 04/2012)✓ matched in the source
“Note that if the experience occurs in Connecticut, the applicant must hold a Connecticut Professional Counselor Associate license.” — CT DPH, Professional Counselor License Requirements✓ matched in the source
“may practice professional counseling for a period not greater than one hundred twenty calendar days after the date such person completed such course of study” — Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-195cc(d) (ch. 383c)✓ matched in the source
“The Counseling Compact is hereby enacted into law and entered into by the state of Connecticut” — Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-195hh Counseling Compact (ch. 383c)✓ matched in the source
Other licenses in Connecticut
- LMFT (marriage and family therapist)
- LCSW (clinical social worker)
- Psychologist
- All Connecticut licenses · every state
Sources
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-195dd(a)(2)-(3), (b), (d) (Chapter 383c)
- CT DPH, Professional Counselor License Requirements
- CT DPH form: Verification of Postgraduate Degree Supervised Professional Counseling Experience (rev. 04/2012)
- CT DPH, Professional Counselor Associate
Checked against Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.