Licensure Renewals (FAQ) – Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling

Each LPC and ALC license is required to be renewed before the end of its valid time (as shown on the license certificate).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I use graduate coursework for my license renewal?

To use graduate coursework for licensure renewal purposes, ABEC will require an official transcript to show completion of the course, and a course description to support the counseling focus of the course (a syllabus also works). The hours for CEs effectively equals the instructional time of the course (the average graduate level course is >35 instructional hours). See also ABEC Administrative Rules 255-X-7-.01(4)(b) and 255-X-7-.02(3)(b).

I have had my LPC for less than the standard two (2) years. How do I determine how many CEs I need to acquire for renewal?

Per ABEC Policy (available here: Codes, Rules, & Policies):

For Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensees securing an initial license of less than 24 months, continuing education requirements shall be prorated at a rate of 1.67 clock hours for every month, or part thereof, for the initial LPC renewal. This number will be rounded up to the nearest whole number.

At least six (6) of these hours must be in ethics.

It has been less than a year since I renewed my ALC and I am now applying for my LPC. Do I need to submit CE documentation with my LPC application? And how do I determine how many CEs I need to acquire for renewal?

Per ABEC Policy (available here: Codes, Rules, & Policies):

ALC’s who have applied for LPC licensure will be required to provide, at the time of their LPC application, documentation of continuing education for their time as an ALC since their last renewal.

The standard Continuing Education (CE) hourly requirement for ALCs shall be prorated to account for the time since the ALC’s last renewal. ALCs must submit documentation to show that they have accrued 0.83 continuing education contact hours for each month, or part thereof, of their ALC since their last renewal. This number will be rounded up to the nearest whole number.

The hours of continuing education required for LPC application must contain a minimum of two (2) CE clock hours of continuing education devoted to ethical concerns for practice, assessment, supervision, or research in counseling. In the event the applicant only needs one (1) or two (2) CE hours, then those hours must be in ethics.

My one year is almost up on my Provisional License and I have not met all of the provisional requirements to apply for LPC licensure. What should I do?

This provisional agreement is directly tied to the provisional ALC license and is only valid for one year. At the end of that year, or before, you must apply for LPC licensure with ABEC, or request an extension to your provisional license. Before your license becomes lapses you should send to the Board: a renewal application with CE documentation (meeting the requirements of either an ALC or an LPC as is appropriate to your Provisional License) and fee; a letter outlining the requirements of the Provisional and how you have advanced towards meeting those requirements, and why this merits the Board renewing your Provisional License for another year.

As this will be reviewed by the Board at one of its regular meetings, you should plan to have the renewal application and documents to the Board office in time for the Board meeting before your Provisional License lapses, and 2 weeks prior to the board meeting date.