For students interested in becoming mental health professionals, the terms LPC and psychologist can sound similar—but they represent two very different career paths.
An LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) is a master’s-level clinician licensed to provide counseling and psychotherapy, while a psychologist is typically a doctoral-level professional—often holding a PsyD (Doctor of Psychology)—licensed to provide therapy, conduct psychological testing, and engage in research or supervision.
If you’re deciding between earning a master’s degree to become an LPC or pursuing a doctoral degree to become a licensed psychologist, understanding the differences in education, scope of practice, and career outcomes will help you choose the path that best fits your goals. Both careers allow you to make a meaningful impact on clients’ mental health—but they differ in the training, responsibilities, and credentials required to get there.
What Is an LPC?
When comparing LPC vs. psychologist job duties, it helps to start with what an LPC actually is. The Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential is a master’s-level clinical license that allows practitioners to provide therapy and counseling services to individuals, couples, and groups. LPCs are licensed at the state level, and the specific title can vary depending on location—such as LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor) or LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor).
Education and Training
Most LPCs earn a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, typically from a CACREP-accredited program. These programs include coursework in counseling theory, human development, ethics, and treatment planning, along with extensive supervised clinical training.
Scope of Practice
LPCs are qualified to:
- Provide psychotherapy and counseling for emotional, behavioral, and relational issues.
- Diagnose and treat mental health conditions (depending on state law).
- Work in private practice, community agencies, schools, or hospitals.
However, LPCs generally do not conduct psychological testing or formal assessments—a key distinction from licensed psychologists.
Licensure Requirements
After completing a counseling master’s program, LPC candidates must accumulate supervised clinical experience (often 2,000–3,000 post-degree hours) and pass a licensing exam such as the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE).
LPCs are highly trained counselors who provide therapy and emotional support but typically operate within the scope defined by state counseling boards rather than psychology boards.
What Is a Psychologist and What Does a PsyD Involve?
A psychologist is a doctoral-level mental health professional trained to provide therapy, conduct psychological testing, and, in some cases, engage in teaching, research, or clinical supervision. While psychologists may hold either a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) or a PsyD (Doctor of Psychology), the PsyD is specifically designed for those pursuing careers in clinical practice rather than academic research.
PsyD vs. Psychologist Explained
- The PsyD is the degree—the academic credential earned after completing a doctoral program.
- A licensed psychologist is the professional title—earned only after fulfilling state licensure requirements, which include supervised clinical experience and passing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).
Scope of Practice
Psychologists’ roles overlap with those of LPCs in areas such as therapy and mental health counseling, but their training provides a broader scope that includes:
- Conducting and interpreting standardized psychological assessments (e.g., for learning disabilities, ADHD, or personality disorders)
- Making formal clinical diagnoses
- Supervising mental health professionals
- Engaging in research, teaching, or consultation within clinical and academic settings
Licensure Requirements
Psychologist licensure is regulated by state psychology boards rather than counseling boards. Candidates must complete a doctoral degree (PsyD or PhD), a one-year internship, and typically 1,500–2,000 hours of supervised postdoctoral work, followed by the national EPPP exam.
While both LPCs and psychologists provide therapy, psychologists have more extensive training and a broader scope that includes psychological testing, advanced diagnostics, and leadership roles in clinical settings.
Education and Training Requirements
When comparing LPC vs. psychologist education requirements, the two career paths differ significantly in both academic level and training intensity. Each prepares students for therapeutic practice but through distinct credentials and licensure processes.
LPC Pathway
Becoming an LPC typically requires a master’s degree in counseling—often a Master of Arts (M.A.) or Master of Science (M.S.) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. These programs include courses in counseling theory, ethics, and human development, along with 600 or more supervised practicum and internship hours.
Students exploring program options often wonder about the distinction between counseling and psychology master’s degrees. (For a deeper comparison, see master’s in counseling vs. counseling psychology.)
Most students pursue CACREP-accredited programs, which are essential for licensure in many states. Many schools now offer CACREP accredited online counseling master’s programs that blend online coursework with local clinical placements.
After graduation, LPC candidates typically complete 2,000–3,000 supervised post-degree clinical hours and pass a licensing exam such as the NCE or NCMHCE before earning their license.
PsyD / Psychologist Pathway
To become a licensed psychologist, candidates must complete a doctoral degree—usually a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in psychology. PsyD programs take about 4–7 years and include advanced coursework, research, supervised practica, and a full-year internship.
While some programs incorporate flexible or hybrid formats, all accredited psychology doctorates require significant in-person clinical training. Students interested in distance learning can explore online PsyD programs to see how institutions structure online coursework alongside required residencies and internships.
Some students begin their journey with a master’s degree in psychology as preparation for doctoral study. Options such as an online master’s in clinical psychology can help bridge the gap between undergraduate study and doctoral admission.
Following the PsyD, candidates must complete 1–2 years of supervised postdoctoral work and pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) to qualify for licensure.
In short, LPCs train at the master’s level and can typically complete licensure within a few years, while psychologists complete a much longer doctoral path that allows for broader clinical authority, including psychological testing and supervision.
Job Duties and Scope of Practice
When comparing LPC vs. psychologist job duties, it’s clear that both professionals play vital roles in mental health care—but their responsibilities and authority differ based on education, training, and state licensure.
Shared Responsibilities
Both LPCs and psychologists are trained to:
- Provide individual, group, or family therapy.
- Help clients manage emotional, behavioral, and relational challenges.
- Use evidence-based approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or trauma-informed care.
- Work in diverse settings, including hospitals, community agencies, private practices, and schools.
These overlapping roles make both careers appealing to students who want to work directly with clients in therapeutic environments.
Psychologist-Specific Roles
While LPCs focus primarily on counseling and treatment planning, psychologists have a broader clinical scope due to their doctoral training. Psychologists can:
- Conduct and interpret standardized psychological assessments for conditions like ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, or learning disabilities.
- Perform complex diagnostic evaluations and create detailed psychological reports.
- Provide clinical supervision to counselors, trainees, and interns.
- Engage in research, teaching, or consultation within clinical, academic, or organizational settings.
Scope and Legal Differences
- LPCs: Their authority to diagnose and treat mental health conditions depends on state law. In most states, they can diagnose and provide therapy, but they cannot perform formal psychological testing.
- Psychologists: Have diagnostic authority in every state and may conduct testing, assessments, and evaluations that are outside the LPC scope.
Medication Authority
Neither LPCs nor psychologists are typically permitted to prescribe medication. However, a few states—including New Mexico, Louisiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Idaho—allow psychologists with advanced postdoctoral training in psychopharmacology to prescribe under specific conditions.
In summary, both LPCs and psychologists are qualified mental health professionals, but psychologists’ additional doctoral-level training expands their scope into areas like testing, assessment, and clinical supervision.
Salary and Job Outlook
When comparing LPC vs. psychologist salary potential, both professions offer stable and rewarding careers in mental health care. However, psychologists generally earn higher wages due to their doctoral-level training, broader clinical scope, and eligibility for supervisory and research roles.
The following table summarizes data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):
| Median Annual Salary (May 2024) | Job Growth (2024–2034) | Typical Entry-Level Education | |
| Licensed Professional Counselors | $59,190 | 17% (Much faster than average) | Master’s degree |
| Psychologists (Clinical, Counseling, and School) | $94,310 | 6% (Faster than average) | Doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Psychologists, updated August 2025.
Key Insights
- Psychologists earn higher median salaries—nearly $35,000 more annually—reflecting the advanced training, longer licensure process, and additional responsibilities associated with doctoral-level practice.
- LPCs benefit from a faster and more affordable educational pathway, typically entering the workforce several years earlier than psychologists.
- Job growth for both careers remains strong, but demand for mental health counselors is projected to rise nearly three times faster than for psychologists, driven by expanding access to behavioral health services in healthcare and community settings.
- Both professions offer diverse opportunities for private practice, institutional work, and community service, making either path a stable and meaningful choice in the mental health field.
In the end, deciding between the LPC and psychologist routes often comes down to balancing career goals, training investment, and desired clinical scope—with both options contributing critically to meeting the nation’s growing demand for qualified mental health professionals.
Which Path Is Right for You?
Choosing between becoming an LPC or a psychologist depends on your professional goals, educational timeline, and desired scope of practice. Both careers allow you to provide meaningful mental health care, but the paths differ in length, cost, and focus.
Consider the LPC Path if You:
- Want to start practicing sooner, typically within two to three years after beginning graduate school.
- Are primarily interested in therapy and counseling, not psychological testing or research.
- Prefer a lower-cost educational route with flexible options such as CACREP-accredited online counseling master’s programs.
- Value a career focused on direct client interaction in community, school, or private practice settings.
Consider the Psychologist Path if You:
- Want to gain expertise in psychological assessment, testing, and research in addition to therapy.
- Are seeking broader clinical authority, including opportunities to supervise, teach, or work in hospital or academic environments.
- Are prepared for a longer academic journey (often seven or more years) and the financial investment of doctoral study.
- Aspire to roles requiring doctoral-level licensure, such as licensed clinical psychologist, researcher, or professor.
The LPC path offers accessibility and flexibility for those drawn to counseling-focused work, while the psychologist path provides greater depth, autonomy, and specialization for those ready to commit to doctoral-level training. The right choice depends on whether you’re motivated by the practical rewards of counseling or the expanded professional reach of psychology.
FAQ
Is an LPC a psychologist?
No. An LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) is a master’s-level clinician, while a psychologist typically holds a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD). Both provide therapy, but psychologists also conduct psychological testing and have a broader scope of clinical authority.
Can psychologists prescribe medication?
In most U.S. states, psychologists do not have the authority to prescribe medication. However, a growing number of states now allow limited prescriptive authority for psychologists who complete advanced training in clinical psychopharmacology.
How long does it take to become an LPC vs. a psychologist?
Becoming an LPC usually takes about 6–8 years total, including undergraduate study, a two- to three-year master’s program, and required supervised hours. Becoming a psychologist can take 10–12 years, given the additional time needed for doctoral study, internship, and postdoctoral supervision.
Can I become an LPC with a PsyD?
In most cases, no. The PsyD prepares students for psychologist licensure through psychology boards, not counseling boards. However, someone with a PsyD might qualify for counseling roles in some settings, depending on state law.
Can LPCs open a private practice?
Yes. In most states, LPCs can open private practices once they’ve completed licensure requirements and any necessary post-degree supervision. Many LPCs work independently, providing therapy and counseling services to individuals, couples, and families.
Choosing Your Path Forward
Both LPCs and psychologists play essential roles in mental health care—each offering a rewarding way to help others lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. The LPC path provides a faster, more affordable route to clinical practice, while the psychologist path offers greater depth, authority, and specialization through doctoral training.
Before deciding, consider your goals, timeline, and preferred scope of work. Whether you pursue a master’s in counseling or a doctoral degree in psychology, make sure your program is accredited and aligns with your state’s licensure requirements. With clear direction and preparation, either path can lead to a meaningful career supporting the well-being of others.
