Maine LPC Requirements

Maine Counselor Licensing Requirements

We want to ensure that you have helpful information about Counselor Licensing Requirements in Maine regarding gaining your license to work as a professional counselor in Maine.

The Maine Board of Counseling Professionals has created specific requirements for professional counselors. The Licensure process can go in two directions: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC).

Maine Counselor Credential Titles

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Conditional LCPC A license granted to an applicant for licensure as an LCPC who has met all the requirements except for the supervised clinical experience; valid for 2 years. Conditional LPC A license granted to an applicant for licensure as an LPC who has met all the requirements except for the supervised clinical experience; valid for 2 years.

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Maine Counselor Educational Requirements

LCPC / Conditional LCPC Master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution that consists of 60 semester hours and is CACREP accredited, or consists of coursework in 10 core areas, 3 additional areas, and a practicum and internship of 900 clock hours. LPC / Conditional LPC

Master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution that consists of 48 semester hours and is CACREP or CORE accredited, or consists of coursework in 10 core areas and a practicum and internship of 600 clock hours.

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Maine Counselor Experiential Requirements

LCPC 2 years/3,000 hours of post-master’s supervised clinical counseling experience. (4,000 if qualifying degree did not have practicum/internship) To include 1,500 hours of direct client contact and 1 hour of clinical supervision per 30 hours of client contact with an approved supervisor. LPC 2 years/2,000 hours of post-master’s supervised counseling experience. To include 1,000 hours of direct counseling and 67 hours of supervision with an approved supervisor.

Maine Counselor Examinations

LCPC NCMHCE LPC, Conditional LCPC, and Conditional LPC NCE

Maine Requirements for Clinical Supervisors

Licensed as a clinical professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, pastoral counselor, master social worker conditional (clinical), clinical social worker, certified social-worker- independent practice, psychologist, or psychiatrist, not under suspension or probation, who is approved to provide supervision to the conditional licensee through meeting one of the following additional criteria: licensed practice for a minimum period of 5 years (not more than 2 years of practice as an entry-level conditional licensee), certification by a national professional organization in training and/or supervision, or 30 contact hours of training in supervision.

Maine Requirements for Out of State Applicants

Pathway 1 – An applicant who is licensed under the laws of a jurisdiction that has a reciprocal agreement with the Board of Counseling Professionals may obtain a license under the terms and conditions as agreed upon through the reciprocal agreement. Currently, Maine has not entered into any reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions. Pathway 2 – An applicant who is licensed in good standing at the time of application to the board under the laws of a jurisdiction that has not entered into a reciprocal agreement with the Board of Counseling Professionals may qualify for licensure by submitting evidence to the board that the applicant has actively practiced with a substantially equivalent license for at least 5 consecutive years immediately preceding application to the board at the level of licensure applied for in this state. Pathway 3 – An applicant who does not meet these requirements may qualify for licensure by submitting evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant’s qualifications for licensure are substantially similar to Maine’s requirements for licensure.

Scope of Practice

“CLINICAL PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR” means a professional counselor who renders or offers to render for a fee, monetary or otherwise, to individuals, families, groups, organizations or the general public, a counseling service involving the application of the principles and procedures of counseling to assess and treat intrapersonal and interpersonal problems and other dysfunctional behaviors and to assist in the overall development and adjustment of those served. “PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR” means a person who, for a fee, monetary or otherwise, renders or offers to render to individuals, families, groups, organizations or the general public a service involving the application of principles and procedures of counseling to assist those served in achieving more effective personal, emotional, social, educational and vocational development and adjustment.

Salary Expectations for Counselors in Maine

In the state of Maine, counselors can earn between $34,210 and $86,170 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Now that you are familiar with the counselor licensing requirements in Maine, visit our How to Become a Counselor in Maine page for a more detailed look into the steps you will need to take to make your dream of becoming a counselor a reality.

Additional Information about LPC Requirements in Maine

ME Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure #35 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333 207-624-8674 http://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/index.shtml LCPC License: $250 LPC License: $250 Conditional LCPC License: $150 Conditional LPC License: $200 Registered Counselor biennial renewal fee: $75 Criminal Background Check: $21 Marriage and Family License: $250 Pastoral License: $250

Sources: http://www.maine.gov/pfr/olr http://web.oru.edu