Defending or Responding to Allegations before the North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (LPC Board)

No Licensed Professional Counselor ever wants to get notice of a complaint from the LPC Board. If you received such a notice from the Board, you may be uncertain about what to do next, what the procedures are, and what the results may be. You may also be trying to decide whether you need to retain an attorney or firm to represent or assist you in responding to the complaint.

Our firm assists and represents applicants seeking licenses and licensees in defending against allegations of misconduct before the LPC Board. Licensees we represent include Licensed Professional Counselor Associates (LPCA), Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) and Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisors (LPCS) (Hereafter collectively, “LPCs” or “licensees”). Representation at the informal inquiry stage is significantly less expensive than in a formal evidentiary hearing, which is public. Therefore, the investment in protecting your LPC license and livelihood generally is more cost-effective in the informal inquiry stage. The earlier you get an experienced firm like ours involved, the better our chances are of helping you get a favorable or acceptable outcome.

In the sections below, we attempt to address some of the questions you may have and explain the general process, procedures, and possible results in a complaint before the LPC Board.

North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors – Composition and Authority

As background, the North Carolina legislature created the North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors to regulate the activities of persons who render counseling services to ensure the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare. The Board consists of seven members that are appointed by the Governor. At least five members of the Board are Licensed Professional Counselors, and two are public members.

The Board is empowered to carry out the provisions of the Licensed Professional Practicing Counselor Act (LPC Act), which include examining and passing on the qualifications of applicants, issuing licenses and license renewals, adopting ethical standards and examination materials, establishing standards for continuing professional counselor education, and conducting investigations and hearings as necessary to enforce the LPC Act.

Informal Proceedings