Frequently Asked Questions: LPC Associate Supervision

  • Always read the rules directly on the BHEC website for yourself and don’t take anyone’s word for it, even mine!

    In general, to apply for an LPC Associate license in Texas, you need ensure you have completed your required education, passed your examinations, and compile all your documentation including a supervisory agreement form to submit online.

    After this is approved you will be required to submit for fingerprinting. Use the link provided from the application process to register for the fingerprinting process or it won’t attach to your account. Doing fingerprinting on your own does not count and delays the processing.

    Only after all this approved can you begin practicing under a “provisional license”, known as LPC Associate license.

    Read the official regulations at the Texas Administrative Code website under Chapter 681, and be familiar with Rule §681.72 for further information. Please read the complete instructions to apply for LPC Associate licensure in the state of Texas at the BHEC website here.

  • An Associate needs to complete 3,000 clock hours under supervision with 1,500 hours being direct counseling hours. These should be completed within 18-60 months before submitting for independent licensure.

    Many clinicians will refer to this as being “fully licensed”; this is an upgrade from the provisional license to independent license where you no longer need to be under supervision.

  • Associates need to meet with their supervisors for a total of 4 hours monthly. This can be offered virtually, in person, or a combination. Virtual sessions should be secure as you will be discussing clients’ cases.

    I have found the hours are best done either one-hour weekly or two-hours biweekly. This will depend on your caseload, hours accumulated, and availability.

    If an Associate does NOT meet with a supervisor for that month, the direct hours cannot be counted towards licensure. This also leaves both parties at risk for additional legal and ethical ramifications if something erroneous occurs.

  • As of last year, LPC Associates in Texas can open and run their own private practices; be their own business owners. I love this journey for them! However, I do not have the capacity of business skills to appropriately supervise an Associate running their own practice. I recommend you seek a supervisor with extensive private practice training and experience with the business aspects. The potential combined ethical ramifications are beyond my expertise from the supervisor perspective.

  • It depends! We can discuss your specific professional goals and if I have the training or capacity to assist you then we may be a good fit. There are some areas where I am not the best fit for supervising Associates. I include these areas because you may already have an idea of what demographic or specialty you want to work in. Although we will all work with clients who experience these issues in some capacity or are impacted in these areas, if you desire to specialize in these fields or issues, then I am not the best fit for you. I am not certified or do not have specific training in these fields, or I have not sought out additional training to be competent in guiding you on these specific journeys. (ACA Code of Ethics, C.2.a.)

    Art or music therapy

    School counseling or play therapy

    Animal assisted counseling

    Addiction issues as primary presenting concern

    Primary perinatal or prenatal concerns

    Working with families or young children

    Fertility, pregnancy, or child/infant loss

How Do I find a Supervisor if We won’t work Well Together?

Your supervisor should be your biggest advocate, your most constructive critic, and a stable piece of your support system. Choosing one should be a journey of its own to figure out what kind of relationship you need to be successful as a counselor and to continue to foster whatever sparked your interest in the helping profession of counseling.

• Do your research: read their websites, blogs, or reviews.

• Interview potential supervisors: If they don’t offer interviews, this might be a sign they won’t spend time with you on your needs.

• Ask for references or to speak to their current/past Associates

• Consider which areas you want to grow or specialize in: where can they help you grow?

• Where possible, consider your identities and intersectionalities when interviewing also. I know for sure there are not enough supervisors of color to meet the needs of all the Associates and upcoming graduates, so we sure don't have enough if you have more than one marginalized identity and intersectionalities. Which makes the research and interview so important!

Read more on my info sheet for Prospective Associates.