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Frequently Asked Questions
Questions
of Interest to the Profession
Questions
of Interest to the General Public
| Q:
How do I become a Licensed Professional Counselor
in North Carolina? |
| A:
Information provided on the
http://www.ncblpc.org website. |
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| Q:
What is the difference between LPCANC and NCBLPC? |
|
A:
LPCANC stands for Licensed Professional Counselors
Association of North Carolina. It is your membership
association whose primary goal it is to serve
you, the LPC. This is done through advocacy, legislation,
marketing, and professional development events
such as the annual conference and local workshops.
The association consists of a board elected by
you and several committees as appointed by the
board. We publish a newsletter, The Counselor's
Voice , three or four times a year. LPCANC
what you can join every year (dues vary according
to the type of membership you want) and get as
involved with as you like. LPCANC is your organization.
You can reach the LPCANC administrative office
at 888-287-1403 or
lpcanc@bluestarservices.net.
NCBLPC
stands for the North Carolina Board of Licensed
Professional Counselors. This board consists of
people appointed by the governor and is representative
of the various fields in which LPCs work as well
the congressional districts of NC. This is the
board who grants your state LPC license for a
fee. In addition, the function of this board is
to renew your license very two years, establish
standards for continuing professional counselor
education, and conduct investigations and hearings.
For more information about NCBLPC, you can call
919-661-0820 or go to their website at www.NCBLPC.org. |
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| Q:
How does a mental health professional become an
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)? |
|
| A:
Through the North Carolina Board of Licensed Professional
Counselors (NCBLPC). There is an application process
which one has to follow as well as an examination
which one may have to take in some cases. You
can receive more information about this process
as well as an application packet by contacting
the NCBLPC at 919-661-0820 or by visiting their
website at www.NCBLPC.org. |
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| Q:
Can I get malpractice insurance through LPCANC? |
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| A:
No, LPCANC does not offer malpractice insurance
at this time. However, you can get it through
CPH and Associates which is an insurance carrier
endorsed by the American Mental Health Counselors
Association (AMHCA). Their website address is
www.cphins.com
or you can call them at 800-875-1911. |
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| Q:
Can I attend LPCANC board meetings without an
invitation? |
|
A:
All board meetings are open to any member unless
it is designated as a "closed meeting."
For dates and locations of meetings, check the
Calendar of Events on this website or contact
our current president or our office at 888-287-1403
or
lpcanc@bluestarservices.net.
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| Q:
How are LPCANC board members and officers chosen? |
|
| A: All officers are
elected by the membership each year. In addition,
5 board members are elected by the membership
and 6 are appointed by the president each year.
Officers and the 5 elected board members are elected
into office by secret ballot at the Annual Membership
Meeting which is always held at the annual conference.
Any member of LPCANC can nominate any other member
to serve as an officer or as a member of the board.
A call for nominations is sent out 90 days before
the Annual Membership Meeting, and the names of
the nominees is made public at least 30 days before. |
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| Q:
What do I do if I want to be on a committee or
serve on the board? |
|
| A:
Your participation on a committee or on the board
is always welcome. When you join LPCANC or renew
your membership, there is a place on the application
form where you can indicate your interest. Or
you can contact any current board member to discuss
your interest with them. For a list and description
of the committees, see the Committee
Directory on this website. |
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| Q:
How can I meet other LPCs? |
|
| A:
There are several ways you can meet your LPC
colleagues:
- Attend the LPCANC Annual Conference
held each year in October. The location and
exact dates change from year to year, so check
the website for specific information. There
are hundreds of LPCs present, and it is a
great opportunity to network and make friends
within the profession.
- Also, watch to see if there is
an LPCANC Regional Meeting taking place near
you. These held in locations all over the
state for the express purpose of getting LPCs
together locally to meet each other, to discuss
topics and issues relevant to our profession,
and to learn what LPCANC is doing on our behalf.
Check the Calendar of Events on the website
for specific information about these meetings.
- Lastly, attend an LPCANC Professional
Development Workshop. These are high quality,
low cost workshops facilitated by LPCs for
LPCs. NBCC approved CEUs are available. These
are scheduled for various locations across
the state, so check the Calendar of Events
on the website to find one near you.
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| Q:
Can I get supervision and/or case consultation
through LPCANC? |
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| A:
While LPCANC does not formally offer supervision
or case consultation to members, the organization
is a great way to meet seasoned LPCs all over
the state who might be willing to offer such services
to you. Many LPCANC members are NBCC certified
supervisors. Attend the annual conference or a
regional meeting and become acquainted with your
LPC colleagues, and you will more than likely
meet someone who is qualified and willing to be
a supervisor while you get your LPC required hours.
You can also check the LPCANC Member
Referral Directory and the LPCANC
Member Database on this website to find names
of LPCs. |
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| Q:
Where can I get information about setting up a
private practice? |
|
| A:
At present, LPCANC has no "official"
information regarding the setting up of a private
practice, but because so many LPCANC members are
in private practice, there are lots of folks you
could talk to about this. Check the LPCANC Member
Referral Directory and the LPCANC Member Database
on this website for the names of LPCs. |
FAQs for
the Public
| Q:
What is a Licensed Professional Counselor? |
| A:
A Licensed Professional Counselor, also known
as an LPC, is a professional with either a master’s
degree (MA, MS, M.Ed., M.A.Ed., or MAE), a specialist
degree (Ed.S.), or a doctorate degree (Ph.D.,
Ed.D.), in counseling or a related field. This
person also has passed the National Counseling
Exam (NCE) administered by the National Board
for Certified Counselors (NBCC). In North Carolina,
this person will have met the requirements for
the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential,
administered by the North Carolina Board for Licensed
Professional Counselors (NCBLPC). See website
links for NBCC
and NCBLPC
for more information. |
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| Q:
What population groups do LPCs work with? |
|
| A:LPCs
work with all population groups including children,
adolescents, and adults. They work with groups,
couples, and families as well. In addition, LPCs
work with individuals challenged by mental and
physical disabilities. |
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| Q:
In what fields and/or settings do LPCs work? |
|
A:
LPCs work in many different fields and/or settings
such as:
| mental health |
universities |
private practice |
| chemical dependency |
schools |
business and industry |
| vocational rehabilitation |
hospitals |
physicians offices |
| career development |
prisons |
residential facilities |
| ministry |
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| Q:
What kinds of problems do LPCs treat? |
|
| A:
LPCs treat a wide range of mental and emotional
problems including depression, anxiety/panic,
bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, eating disorders,
addictions, personality disorders, post-traumatic
stress disorder, behvaior problems, and many more.
LPCs also help people cope with such life events
as divorce, grief, retirement, and chronic illness.
LPCs may also work with individuals challenged
by learning differences and development disabilities. |
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| Q:
Can LPCs prescribe medication? |
|
| A:
No. Currently, only medical doctors such as psychiatrists
and other physicians as well as nurse practitioners
can prescribe medication. However, many LPCs work
closely with psychiatrists and family care physicians
and will refer clients for medical and psychopharmacological
evaluations when called for as well as educate
clients about their medications and help monitor
their effectiveness. |
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| Q:
How are LPCs trained? Where do they go to school? |
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| A:
LPCs are required to complete a minimum of a master’s
level education in counseling or a related field
at a university but many complete a doctorate
degree. This degree includes both extensive coursework
and completion of an internship. In addition,
in NC, to obtain an LPC, the counselor must complete
two years of supervised clinical experience beyond
the graduate degree. |
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| Q:
How can I find an LPC in my town? |
|
A:
There are several ways to find an LPC:
- One way to find an LPC is to use
the yellow pages of your telephone directory.
Many LPCs are listed under such headings as
Counselors, Counselors-Human Relations, Psychotherapists,
Marriage and Family Counselors, and others.
- You may contact the North Carolina
Board for Licensed Professional Counselors
(NCBLPC) at 919-661-0820 or at www.NCBLPC.org.
You may also contact the National Board for
Certified Counselors (NBCC) at 336-547-0607
or at www.NBCC.org.
- Lastly, you can get the names of
LPCs from the LPCANC
Member Referral Directory located on this
website.
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| Q:
Will insurance pay for me to see an LPC? |
|
| A: Most
insurance plans will pay for services rendered
by an LPC. Call your insurance provider and ask
if they cover Licensed Professional Counselors
or give them the name of the particular LPC you
wish to see. |
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| Q:
How can I file a complaint against an LPC? |
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| A:
If you wish to file a complaint against a North
Carolina licensed professional counselor, you
may do so by placing that complaint in writing
and sending it to the North Carolina Board of
Licensed Professional Counselors. Click
here
for details. |
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