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Maryland licenses Mental Health Counselors/Therapists as Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). Applicants generally complete a qualifying graduate degree, accrue post-degree supervised clinical experience, and pass a national examination. Verify current education, supervised-experience, examination, renewal, and continuing education requirements directly with the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists.
A master's degree of at least 60 graduate semester hours (or a doctoral degree of at least 90 hours) in professional counseling or a related field, with at least 3 graduate semester hours in each designated core content area and a supervised practicum including a minimum of 125 hours of face-to-face client counseling. Verify current requirements with the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists.
A Board-approved national examination — the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) — plus the Maryland Law Assessment, a no-fail jurisprudence assessment of state statutes and COMAR ethics provisions. Verify current requirements with the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists.
Not less than 3 years and 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience (at least 2 years and 2,000 hours post-master's), including a minimum of 1,500 hours of direct clinical counseling and 100 hours of face-to-face clinical supervision (minimum 50 individual). Verify current requirements with the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists.
Maryland participates in the Counseling Compact. It was enacted in 2021 (Chapter 135, SB 571). License portability is also available by endorsement/reciprocity. Verify current requirements with the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists.
Telehealth practice is governed by state law and board rules. Verify current telehealth requirements with the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists.
Other licensed behavioral-health professions in Maryland. Each links to its own full state guide — always verify current requirements with the relevant official board.
This guide is for general informational purposes only and should not be treated as legal, licensing, or employment advice. Counselor licensing laws, board rules, education and supervised-experience requirements, examinations, and renewal requirements vary by state and may change. Always verify current requirements directly with the official state counseling licensing board or applicable regulatory agency.