Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (professional counselor) · Ohio · regulated by Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board (CSWMFT), Counselor Professional Standards Committee · high confidence
| Pre-license credential | LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) |
|---|---|
| Supervised experience | two years of post-LPC supervised experience in clinical counseling; three thousand hours of supervised experience (1,500 hours per year) |
| Direct client contact | each year: ≥50% of the 1,500 hours is face-to-face client contact delivering clinical counseling (≈1,500 over two years) |
| Minimum time | two years (max 1,500 hours credited per 12 months) |
| Weekly cap | Not more than fifteen hundred hours of experience may be accrued in any twelve month period |
| Exams | From 2026-01-01: NCE or NCMHCE for LPC; no second exam for LPCC |
Supervision
- How often: average of one hour of contact per twenty hours of work
- Group supervision: counts; individual = supervisor + ≤2 supervisees, group = ≤8 supervisees; no group cap
- Who may supervise: In Ohio: LPCC with training supervision designation (24 hrs supervision training, 1 yr/1,500 hrs post-LPCC clinical experience)
When hours count and what to keep
- Before your degree: not counted for master's applicants (must be post-LPC); doctoral applicants may count up to 1 year/1,500 hrs of doctoral internship
- Paperwork: Supervisee keeps logs signed quarterly; supervision evaluations at 1,500 and 3,000 hours; field evaluation; final hours submitted by last supervisor via online form
Can you be supervised remotely in Ohio?
Mostly, with some limits. What shapes this: state-only supervisor credential.
- Video supervision: Training supervision (LPC→LPCC and trainee→LPC) starts with an initial face-to-face meeting that may be by videoconference; afterwards in person, videoconference, or phone. Avg 1 h per 20 h of work.
- Phone only: allowed after the initial meeting (phone)
- In-person minimum: None set by the state (initial meeting may be by video)
- Supervisor licensed in Ohio? required in effect: training supervisor must be an LPCC with an Ohio board-issued supervision designation (LPCC-S); out-of-state supervision experience accepted with supervisor vita
- Supervisor credential: Ohio board-issued supervision designation (LPCC-S; LPC-S for trainees) with training in supervision, ethics, multicultural competencies
- Supervisee cap: no overall cap found; individual = ≤2 supervisees per meeting, group ≤8
- Board approval first: none found: supervisee keeps the log; supervisor submits hours online after completion (no pre-approved plan)
- If you live outside Ohio: Board newsletter addresses client location only (Ohio licensees may see clients only in Ohio); the licensee's own location is not addressed
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
From 2026-01-01 the NCMHCE is no longer required as a second exam for LPCC (Board news 2025-10-17). OAC 4757-17-01 updated 2025-08-18; 4757-13-03 page updated 2026-04-13.
In the board’s own words
“two years of post-licensed professional counselor supervised experience in clinical counseling” — Ohio Adm. Code 4757-13-03(A)(1)✓ matched in the source
“At least fifteen hundred hours of work ... of which a minimum of fifty per cent of the work consists of face-to-face client contact” — Ohio Adm. Code 4757-13-03(A)(4)(a)✓ matched in the source
“an average of one hour of contact between the supervisor and supervisee for every twenty hours of work” — Ohio Adm. Code 4757-17-01(B)✓ matched in the source
“initial face to face meeting, which may be conducted via videoconferencing, after which communication may be in person, via videoconferencing, or by phone” — Ohio Adm. Code 4757-17-01(B)✓ matched in the source
“LPCs who complete the required supervision hours will no longer need to pass a second exam (currently the NCMHCE)” — CSWMFT Board news 2025-10-17✓ matched in the source
“an initial face to face meeting, which may be conducted via videoconferencing, after which communication may be in person, via videoconferencing, or by phone.” — OAC 4757-17-01 (counselor supervision)✓ matched in the source
“Have a board issued supervision designation” — OAC 4757-17-01 (counselor supervision)✓ matched in the source
“shall be under the supervision of a licensed professional clinical counselor with supervision designation.” — OAC 4757-17-01 (counselor supervision)✓ matched in the source
“an interactive face-to-face meeting with one supervisor and no more than eight supervisees.” — OAC 4757-17-01 (counselor supervision)✓ matched in the source
“A licensed professional counselor (LPC) may be in solo private practice.” — OAC 4757-17-01 (counselor supervision)✓ matched in the source
“once Ohio LPCCs can apply for Counseling Compact privileges or Ohio Social Workers can obtain multi-state licenses, the Board will communicate” — CSWMFT Board Summer 2025 Newsletter✓ matched in the source
“We cannot give a licensee permission to see a client anywhere other than Ohio.” — CSWMFT Board Summer 2025 Newsletter✓ matched in the source
Other licenses in Ohio
- IMFT (marriage and family therapist)
- LISW (clinical social worker)
- Psychologist
- All Ohio licenses · every state
Sources
- Ohio Adm. Code 4757-13-03 (LPCC experience and examination)
- Ohio Adm. Code 4757-17-01(B), (D), (E), (I) (counseling supervision)
- Ohio Rev. Code 4757.22
- CSWMFT Board news, 'Changing Counselor Licensure Exam Requirements' (2025-10-17)
- CSWMFT Board Summer 2025 Newsletter
Checked against Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board (CSWMFT), Counselor Professional Standards Committee’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.