Department of Psychology

Q. What is an LPA?
A. LPA stands for Licensed Psychological Associate. It is a credential issued by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (TSBEP) for persons with a master's degree in psychology who must work under the supervision of a licensed psychologist (doctoral level) unless they work in an agency that is exempt from the Psychologists' Licensing Act (e.g., state agencies, local governmental agencies, etc.)

Q. What are the requirements to become an LPA?
A. In Texas, the person's master's degree in psychology must be a minimum of 42 hours with 24 of those hours in courses in psychology and they must have had a 450 clock hour internship practicum with supervision on site by a licensed psychologist. The Clinical Approaches Track of the Texas State University Health Psychology Program meets these requirements. After graduation, application can be made to take the examinations required by the TSBEP. There are a letters of reference required from 2 licensed psychologists, one of whom must be the supervisor of the practicum. There are 2 examinations, one over Texas laws and TSBEP rules and one that covers the broad spectrum of the practice of psychology, the Examination on the Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP). These are the same examinations that doctoral level applicants must take, but the cutoff for master's level is lower. Also note that, if the individual goes on to a doctoral program and applies for licensure as a psychologist within 5 years, they may not have to retake these examinations if their score met the doctoral level requirement. Information on these requirements may be found at the TSBEP website at http://www.tsbep.state.tx.us/.

Q. What are the requirements to become an LPC?
A. In Texas, one must have a minimum of 48 hours in specific areas within a graduate program to be licensed. When the program has national accreditation, the number of hours may be more than those required for state licensure, as is the case with the Texas State Professional Counselor Program. Within those hours, the individual must have a minimum of 100 practicum hours of face-to-face contact with clients. (Note: the Health Psychology practicum requires 450 clock hours of practicum. Between these hours and hours accrued in the COUN 5689 Practicum course, there should be plenty.) Once the academic courses have been completed, the individual may apply for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor Intern (LPCI). The individual must also take the national counselor examination, a jurisprudence examination and get 3,000 hours of supervision from a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (Note: hours in excess of the 100 direct accrued in practicum may be applied to the internship requirement). It should be noted, that LPCIs can work, though not independently, while getting this supervision, and they can pay for an hourly rate for a supervisor if they do not have one at their place of employment. When students decide to take the additional courses to become an LPC, they are provided the name and contact information for the Professional Counselor Training Program Faculty liaison and will be required to meet with the liaison and complete an informed consent document that relates to that program's requirements. That faculty liaison can assist with questions about the additional coursework and about licensure. Also, the rules of the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors can be found at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/counselor/lpc_rules.shtm

Q. Where do LPCs work?
A. Most LPCs work in private practice, though many work in public agencies, such as mental health centers and family counseling programs. Because they can bill Texas Medicaid, more clinic and hospital settings are employing them.

Q. Where do LPAs work?
A. In Texas, LPAs either work for a licensed psychologist who is in private practice or who is employed by a company or organization in the private sector, or they may work for an exempt state or governmental agency such as a mental health center, state hospital, state school for persons with developmental disabilities, a university, the Veterans Administration, etc. There are not many insurers who reimburse for the services of LPAs, but there is a Texas Medicaid rule that is expected to be passed by at least January 2010 that would allow Licensed Psychologists to be reimbursed of the work done by LPAs under supervision their supervision in private practice or if both are employed by an organization.

Q. If I get an LPA or LPC in Texas, will it transfer to another state?
A. Not necessarily. All states create their own licensing boards and laws for professional practice. LPCs have a national organization that has created accreditation standards for graduate programs, and there is a national professional counselor examination. In addition, most states have adopted the national exam as their requirement. Because of this, it may be fairly easy to transfer the LPC license from one state to the next. That has been their intent. It is not so clear cut with the LPA. The title of the license often differs from state to state and requirements may vary. Some states have reciprocity with other states regarding licenses, but there are usually at least some additional requirements. Often this involves taking a jurisprudence examination over state laws. If you plan on moving to another state after graduation, you should investigate the laws of that state.

Q. Are there federal laws regarding licensure as an LPA or LPC?
A. The federal government does not license professionals, each state must do so, and you must be licensed (in some states certified) in order to provide any services in each state in which you plan to practice. There are, however, federal rules that relate to reimbursement for services billed to Medicare. LPAs and LPCs may not independently bill for such services, though the licensed psychologist for whom an LPA is employed is employed may bill Medicare for specific services the LPA performed as an extender of the psychologist.

Q. What about Medicaid? Can an LPA provide services or bill under Medicaid?
A. Each state is responsible for developing and enforcing its own rules for Medicaid services. Under current rules, LPAs may not bill for services under Texas Medicaid independently, nor can a licensed psychologist bill for LPA services as their extender or employee. However, the latter may be changed by a new rule making its way through the state process as noted above. LPCs can bill Medicaid for specific services. .