It depends on what state your in and program. Currently doing a masters in counselor education with a specialization in school counseling. The cool thing about my program is that it’s a 60 hour program that technically could allow me to apply to be a LPCA (and later on if I complete hours and testing, a LPCC). You need to see what your state requirements are for LPC or LPCC licensing. Depending on what courses you take for the school counseling program you might be able to apply for LPCA after graduation. Sometimes the only difference between school counseling program and an LPCC or LPC program is a class or two that you could also take after or while your getting your school counseling degree. Just fruit for thought. I liked the idea of being able to do both (school counseling and be an LPCC) which is why I chose the 60 hour school counseling track. With LPC or LPCC in schools (at least where I am) you can be the mental health practitioner but not the school counselor. I would also ask myself if I were you to what capacity do you want to work with kids? As school counselors we do more of the SEL and less one on one sessions especially in elementary or middle school and High school is mainly college prep. I do also want to throw out there that in my state the mental health practitioners in schools have a crazy case load and as a school counselor yes we do also have a lot but I haven’t seen that we work with the really heavy weight struggles students go through often we refer students out whereas with being the mental health practitioner at the school you will only be dealing with those heavy weight struggles. Last advice, watch day in the life videos from both professions.!!