How to Track LPCC Hours in California
California requires 3,000 supervised hours for LPCC licensure — all earned post-degree as a registered APCC. With no specialty sub-minimum but a unique couples/family restriction, the LPCC path has its own nuances. This guide covers every category, cap, and rule, sourced from the BBS APCC FAQ revised February 2025.
Total Hours
3,000
Direct Clinical
1,750 min
Non-Clinical Cap
1,250
Supervised Weeks
104
LPCC hour categories
The BBS breaks LPCC hours into two main buckets. Unlike LMFT, there is no specialty sub-minimum within the direct clinical hours:
| Category | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Direct clinical counseling (assessment, diagnosis, treatment, psychotherapy) | Minimum 1,750 hours |
| — Specialty sub-minimum (e.g., couples/family) | None required |
| Non-clinical (workshops, trainings, consultation, research, supervision contact) | Maximum 1,250 hours |
| Total | 3,000 hours / 104 weeks |
No pre-degree hours
Unlike LMFT (which allows up to 1,300 pre-degree trainee hours), LPCC requires all 3,000 hours to be earned post-degree as a registered APCC. Practicum, internship, and fieldwork hours completed during your master's program do not count. The 90-day rule applies: if you submit your APCC registration application within 90 days of graduation, hours earned between graduation and registration issuance can count.
Supervision ratios and weekly caps
- Weekly minimum: 1 unit of supervision per work setting (1 hr individual/triadic or 2 hrs group)
- Ratio trigger: If more than 10 hours of direct clinical counseling in a week in any setting, 1 additional unit required
- Weekly experience cap: 40 hours in any 7 consecutive days
- Weekly supervision cap: 6 hours
- 104 supervised weeks total, with 52 including individual/triadic
The couples and family restriction
A standard LPCC license does not authorize treatment of couples or families. To gain this authorization, you must:
- Complete additional graduate coursework in marriage and family therapy topics
- Accumulate supervised experience specifically in couples and family counseling
- Apply to the BBS for the separate couples and family therapy authorization
This is a significant distinction from LMFT, where couples and family therapy is built into the core license. If couples/family work is central to your practice goals, factor this into your licensure planning.
Primary BBS form
APCCs use form 37A-638 (APCC Weekly Log) to document supervised experience. This form captures your weekly hours broken into clinical and non-clinical categories, along with supervision received. Your supervisor reviews and signs each entry. HourJourney auto-fills this form based on your logged hours.
The clinical exam: NCMHCE
LPCC candidates take the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). Unlike LMFT's California-specific Clinical Exam, the NCMHCE is a national exam using clinical simulation scenarios. You can take the exam before completing your hours, but you must pass it before applying for licensure.
How LPCC differs from LMFT and LCSW
| Difference | LPCC | LMFT / LCSW |
|---|---|---|
| Direct clinical minimum | 1,750 | 1,750 (LMFT) / 2,000 (LCSW) |
| Specialty sub-minimum | None | 500 CFC (LMFT) / 750 psychotherapy (LCSW) |
| Non-clinical cap | 1,250 | 1,250 (LMFT) / 1,000 (LCSW) |
| Pre-degree hours | Not allowed | Up to 1,300 (LMFT) / Not allowed (LCSW) |
| Couples/family scope | Requires add-on authorization | Included (LMFT) / Included (LCSW) |
| Clinical exam | NCMHCE (national) | LMFT Clinical (CA) / ASWB Clinical (national) |
Source: BBS APCC FAQ revised February 2025, BBS LPCC Experience Chart
Frequently asked questions
How many hours do I need for LPCC licensure in California?
Can I count pre-degree hours toward LPCC?
What is the supervision ratio for APCCs?
What clinical exam do LPCC candidates take?
Can an LPCC treat couples and families in California?
What is the weekly hour cap for APCCs?
Track your LPCC hours with HourJourney
BBS-compliant tracking for APCCs. Auto-validates supervision ratios and fills your weekly logs.