I have a master's in counseling, am licensed as an LPC in multiple states, and I'm here to tell you that it's a terrible life choice. I doubt I'll change your mind enough to keep you from attending, but consider this your informed consent. I practiced as an LPC for a number of years before returning for a Ph.D. Here are things you need to know (edited):
1. The pay is low. Once you finish your degree, you'll make 32-35k at a community mental health clinic or less if you try to do private practice. Pre-licensed clinicians are typically only able to bill Medicaid so clinics tend to stack you with clients due to the low reimbursement rate. If you try the PP route, you'll have a rough time recruiting clients because you're competing with both licensed master's level licensed clinicians and psychologists. I wouldn't send my family member to an unlicensed twenty-something mid-level when there are plenty of licensed experienced people to choose from. This tough competition tends to squeeze out LPCs licensed or otherwise. If you want to make money as an LPC, the best ways are to either get a county contract doing some kind of mandated court work or move to a rural area from what I've seen. I've also seen LPCs do okay in UCCs, but they are the considerable minority on the staff.
2. Getting licensed is a hustle. Most psychologists won't touch you post-graduation because of the liability. If you choose a community clinic, make sure that the supervisor gives you AN HOUR PER WEEK. If you choose to try to get private supervision, you will have to pay for it. It costs as much as a therapy session out of pocket. I found a psychologist from a master's practicum who trusted me enough to take me on as a supervisee, but I was very very lucky, it was on the condition that I still had agency supervision, and attended trainings on evidenced based practices, and yes, I paid for it.
3. Once you're licensed, you'll deal with the perception problem LPCs have. LPCs are usually regarded as dilettantes by many professionals in the field. This is because LPC training maximizes supportive listening skills and minimizes training on evidenced based practices. Because of this, you end up leaving school with a theoretical idea of how some psychotherapeutic systems work, but very little experience actually practicing with them. The larger health care community has noticed this trend leading to the general consensus is that though some LPCs can stand out, many don't, and why take a chance on an LPC when there are many social workers and psychologists out there who have the training and want jobs. Many positions that hire therapists (mainly hospitals and VAs) will not consider your application. It was so demoralizing when I was an LPC to see my social work colleagues snatched up while my application was passed over again and again.
4. Your reimbursement rates are lower than psychologists in some states, but not all. Some insurance panels create a competitive process for LPCs to get paneled where they do not for other helping professions.
5. If you (as you likely will) to go through with this. Consider alternate career paths for a master's in counseling aside from therapy. Higher education administration, human resources, career counseling, research assistant/coordinator/interventionist, financial planning, psychometrist are a few that come to mind. I've known some who have gone to work for insurance companies. These kind of jobs might pay you more or at least provide you another source of income aside from just doing therapy. Be advised though: you'll be at a disadvantage as there are specific degrees for many of these paths so you'll be selling yourself. I'm thinking mainly of higher education administration and human resources.
6. Take this for what it's worth, but I would guess that about 50% of my master's peers whom I graduated with have left counseling completely for other industries. I'd guess that about an additional 25% are doing it part-time and have another gig on the side for money. These outcomes map on to salary data made available by the BLS and the most recent ACA salary survey putting mid-career LPCs in the high $40s. Just for a point of reference, the average elementary school teacher makes more than this according to the same database.
I'm also just not sure that how I stumbled into several things is actually reproducible hahaha.
