Maryland Counseling License

Counselor Licensing Requirements in Maryland

Counselor Licensing Requirements in Maryland can be pretty detailed. We want you to have timely and relevant information about Counselor Licensing Requirements in Maryland for your pursuit of working as a professional counselor in Maryland. Counselor licensing requirements are very important.

There are two main options to pursue when going for education to work as a counselor in Maryland.

  • After first completing your education and testing requirements, you will be able to apply to become a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor.
  • Upon meeting your experience requirements, you can rise to the level of a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor.
Maryland Counseling License

Maryland Counselors Credential Titles

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor Title used while fulfilling the supervised clinical experience requirement.

Maryland Counselor Education Requirements

Master’s degree or higher in professional counseling or related field from an accredited educational institution, with a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours in specific coursework, including completion of an alcohol and drug counseling course and supervised field experience. OR

Doctoral degree with a minimum of 90 graduate semester hours in counseling training approved by the board.

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Maryland Counselor Experiential Requirements

3 years/3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience in professional counseling (2 years/2,000 hours must be post-masters). 1,500 hours must be face-to-face client contact and 100 hours minimum of face-to-face clinical supervision. Supervision must be under a board-approved supervisor. At least half of the hours need to be accumulated under the supervision of an LCPC approved by the board. If obtained a doctoral degree: 2 years/2,000 hours of supervised clinical experience in professional counseling (1 year/1,000 hours must be post-doctorate). 1,000 hours must be face-to-face client contact and 50 hours minimum of face-to-face clinical supervision. Supervision must be under aboard approved supervisor.

Maryland Counselor Examinations

and Maryland Professional Counselors and Therapists Act Exam

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Maryland Requirements for Clinical Supervisors

Licensed as a clinical professional counselor or licensed as another health care provider under the Health Occupations Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, clinical social worker, or psychiatrist nurse. As of August 2012, at least half of the required supervised clinical hours must be obtained under an LCPC approved by the board.

Maryland Requirements for Out of State Applicants

Maryland does not have reciprocity with any other state. Please contact the board for out-of-of-state applicant requirements.

Scope of Practice

“PRACTICE OF CLINICAL PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING” means to engage professionally and for compensation in counseling and appraisal activities by providing services involving the application of counseling principles and methods in the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and amelioration of psychological problems and emotional or mental conditions of individuals or groups. “PRACTICE OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING” means to engage professionally and for compensation in counseling and appraisal activities while representing oneself to be a professional counselor. “COUNSELING” means assisting an individual, family, or group through the client-counselor relationship:
  1. To develop an understanding of intrapersonal and interpersonal problems;
  2. To define goals;
  3. To make decisions;
  4. To plan a course of action reflecting the needs, interests, and abilities of the individual, family, or group; and
  5. To use informational and community resources, as these procedures are related to personal, social, emotional, educational, and vocational development and adjustment.

Salary Expectations for Counselors in Maryland

In the great state of Maryland, there are many counselors making great careers for themselves and when you look at the numbers, it isn’t hard to see why. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a Maryland counselor will bring home anywhere between $34,680 and $91,290 per year. Now that you are familiar with the counselor licensing requirements in Maryland, visit our How to Become a Counselor in Maryland 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 Counselor Licensing Requirements in Maryland

MD Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors and Therapists 4201 Patterson Avenue Baltimore, MD 21215 410-764-4732 http://dhmh.maryland.gov/bopc/Pages/index.aspx Application Processing: $75 Credentials Evaluation fee: $25 Certification and Licensure fee: $100

Sources: http://dhmh.maryland.gov/bopc/Pages/index.aspx http://web.oru.edu