June 2025 Texas LPC Board Meeting Recap: What LPCs Need to Know
June 6, 2025 LPC Board Meeting Recap
Key rule changes, legislative updates, and passionate public comment.
The Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors (TSBEPC) met on June 6, 2025, and the meeting covered a wide array of significant topics for licensed professional counselors (LPCs), Supervisors, and Associates.
This summary includes key rule changes, legislative updates, and passionate public comment with pressing ethical concerns raised by stakeholders.
Key Rule Changes and Adoptions
1. Supervision Course Expiration Removed – PASSED
Rule §681.72: Required Application Materials
The board unanimously adopted a change removing the 2-year (for supervisor training courses) and 5-year (for doctoral equivalents) expiration windows for LPC Supervisor training completion. Clinicians who completed a qualifying 40-hour course or a doctoral-level supervision course no longer need to retake it if applying after those previous time limits. This removes a common barrier for returning or delayed supervisors. While the rule was adopted, it will be sent to the BHEC board for review and potential adoption into the register.
2. Revised Continuing Education Language – PASSED
Rule §681.140: Continuing Education Requirements
The term “cultural diversity” has been replaced with “distinct populations.” Although the change raised concerns, board members clarified that cultural diversity trainings can still fulfill this CE requirement. The intent is to broaden the scope of population-specific competence, not eliminate diversity-related training. While the rule was adopted, it will be sent to the BHEC board for review and potential adoption into the register.
3. New Rules for Associates and Supervisors – Approved for Proposal
Rules §681.91 (LPC Associate License) & §681.93 (Supervisor Requirements)
These proposed changes:
Clarifies that Associates may own a private practice but must remain under active supervision.
Requires Associates to submit appropriate forms when changing or adding a supervisor and notify current supervisors of the change.
Requires Associates to inform supervisors of pending complaints.
Requires Supervisors to maintain documentation of session duration and practice locations where associates provide services.
The board discussed that these rules aim to address accountability concerns while ensuring supervisors are informed of associate activities and licensure status. The proposals were accepted and will advance to BHEC for further review.
Legislative and Licensing Updates
Bills That Did Not Pass
Counseling Compact (SB 498 / HB 1537) – Texas will not be joining the Counseling Compact, for now.
HB 3515 (Safe Haven Act related to reunification therapy) – While discussed during public comment, this bill did not pass.
Medicaid reimbursement bills for counselors (HB 1716 / SB 469) – Advanced in the House but died in Senate committees.
Reciprocity Expansion (HB 11) – A bill that would have granted BHEC authority to negotiate licensure reciprocity with other states was gutted late in session.
Art Therapy Licensing Board (SB 1081) – Relating to the regulation of art therapy, including the establishment of the Texas Art Therapy Board
Bills That Did Pass
SB1 (State Budget Bill): Funding was secured to retain agency staff, though only partial funding was allocated for litigation support. Hiring attorneys remains a high priority due to the volume of complaints.
Requests for Rulemaking – Petitions Discussed at Today’s Meeting
Separation of a Counselor from a Practice
Petition by Laurel Clement, LPC-S and Attorney
Clement submitted a petition calling for adoption of a rule that addresses the separation of a counselor from a practice and the ethical protection of a client's interests. Clement provided examples to illustrate the need for the rule, including:
Counselors being locked out of EHRs immediately after giving notice.
Counselors being denied termination sessions with clients.
Practices refusing to release or charging for client records.
Non-compete clauses and “client bounties” in exit contracts.
While the board denied the petition procedurally, they expressed shared concern and referred the issue to the Rules Committee for further research and possible rule development. Several members acknowledged the tension between counselor ethics and business contracts, while also noting the board’s limited authority to regulate business practices and operations.
Fair Compensation and Supervision Fee Reform
Petition by La’Nika Graham, LPC-Associate
Graham’s petition discussed financial burdens faced by LPC-Associates:
Many are paid $0–$50 per client hour.
Often required to pay $200–$600+ per month in supervision fees, even within agencies where they provide billable services.
Lack of wage protections or compensation for cancellations, documentation, or non-billable work.
Although the board denied the petition 6–0, they acknowledged the validity of systemic concerns and referred the matter to the Rules Committee for review. Board members again discussed their limited scope and inability to regulate businesses as well as difficulty of regulating “fairness.” Others emphasized both Associates’ and Supervisors’ “free will” and agency to determine who they work with. Some noted that the current supervisory structure could be creating unintentional barriers to entry for new clinicians.
Board members agreed to investigate if and how other states define and regulate ethical supervisory relationships, agreements or contracts, and regulation around Associate compensation and protections. This research will help inform future rulemaking proposals with a more balanced and enforceable approach.
Hot Topics from Public Comment
This session had strong and divergent public comment on related to supervision, equity, professional values, and evolving legislation:
Supervisor Compensation + Power Dynamics
Supervisors voiced concern about increased liability, administrative burdens, and the need to protect their right to run profitable businesses.
Associates expressed frustration over low pay, high supervision fees, lack of mentorship, and exploitative structures. Some asked the board to address misclassification (1099 vs W-2), ethics, and equity in contracts.
Reunification Therapy (HB 3515 / SAFE Act)
Though it did not pass, a clinician spoke about the need for ethical, collaborative reunification practices, especially in trauma-informed cases involving children.
CE + Jurisprudence Exam Concerns
One clinician questioned the relevance of a jurisprudence exam that “can’t be failed,” calling for a more meaningful exam, especially given its associated cost.
Gender Affirming Care + SB12
A speaker referenced SB12 (Parental Bill of Rights), which restricts school-based social transitioning without parental consent.
The board was urged to educate licensees proactively about new legal risks tied to gender-affirming work in schools.
Final Notes
Key Takeaways for Clinicians
If BHEC approves rule adoptions:
Supervision training no longer expires – a win for flexibility and access.
New documentation expectations for supervisors may be on the horizon – start preparing.
Associates must actively notify all supervisors of complaints or supervision changes under proposed rules.
Ethical and systemic issues around supervision and practice exits continue to gain attention, but rule changes will take time and collaboration.
How You Can Engage — Stay Informed. Stay Empowered.
Submit written public comment for proposed rule changes (usually due by 5 pm CST the day prior to the meeting) to the board for any issue affecting your professional practice.
Follow advocacy updates from organizations like TCA
Join the board’s Leadership Listening Hour Sessions, which are aimed at deepening stakeholder engagement.
Stay tuned to WisePractice’s Blog, Collective Wisdom — Subscribe to our newsletter for expert insights, ethical guidance, and real-time updates on policies that shape our profession.
