Maryland Counseling Licensure & Supervision Roadmap

Maryland licenses counselors through the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists using a two-stage pathway: Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC) followed by Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC).

Applicants must complete a qualifying graduate degree of at least 60 semester hours, complete graduate practicum and internship training, pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE), and complete 3,000 hours of supervised clinical professional counseling experience, including 1,500 hours of direct client contact, over a minimum of two years. Supervised experience must occur under an approved supervision contract.

Maryland Counseling Licensure & Supervision Quick Summary

Requirement	Maryland
Official Licensing Board	Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists
Full Clinical License Title	Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
Initial/Associate License Title	Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC)
Total Supervised Hours Required	3,000 hours
Minimum Direct Client Contact Hours	1,500 hours
Required National Exam(s)	National Counselor Examination (NCE)
State Jurisprudence Exam Required?	Yes

The Path to Licensure in Maryland

Step 1: Complete a Qualifying Graduate Degree

Degree Level Required

• Master’s or doctoral degree.
  

Minimum Graduate Credit Hours

• At least 60 graduate semester credit hours.
  

CACREP Requirement

• CACREP accreditation is not required. Prospective applicants can explore Maryland counseling degrees to find relevant programs, including CACREP-accredited counseling programs.
  
• The Board evaluates whether the program meets the required coursework areas.
  

Practicum Requirement

• Minimum 100 hours of practicum.
  

Internship Requirement

• Minimum 600 hours of internship.

Step 2: Pass the Required Examination(s)

Applicants must pass the following examinations:

• National Counselor Examination (NCE counseling exam)
  
• Maryland Law Assessment.

Step 3: Apply for Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC)

Maryland requires individuals to obtain LGPC licensure before accruing supervised clinical counseling experience for LCPC licensure.

Supervision Agreement

• A supervision contract or agreement must be approved before supervision hours accrue.
  

Background Check

• Yes. Applicants must complete a criminal history records check.
  

Independent Practice

• LGPC licensees must practice under supervision and may not practice independently.
  

Title Requirements

• Individuals practicing under supervision must use the LGPC title and may not represent themselves as LCPCs.
  

Step 4: Complete Supervised Clinical Professional Counseling Experience

Total Hours Required

• 3,000 hours of supervised clinical professional counseling experience.
  

Direct Client Contact Requirement

• At least 1,500 hours of direct client contact.
  

Minimum Timeframe

• At least two years of supervised experience.
  

Supervision Ratio

• Minimum 1 hour of supervision for every 40 hours of clinical practice, including required individual supervision hours.
  

Supervisor Qualifications

Supervision must be provided by:

• A Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), or
  
• Another board-approved qualified mental health professional.
  

Supervisor Experience Requirement

• Supervisor must have at least three years of clinical practice after licensure.
  

Supervision Documentation

• Applicants must submit documentation verifying supervision and clinical experience hours.
  

Hour Validity Requirements

• Supervised experience must occur under approved supervision.
  
• Hours obtained outside approved supervision may not count toward licensure.

*Sponsored Counseling Programs

Supervision & Ethics in Maryland

Who Qualifies as a Supervisor in Maryland?

Supervision must be provided by:

• A Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), or
  
• Another board-approved qualified mental health professional.
  

The supervisor must have at least three years of clinical practice after licensure.

Supervisors are responsible for overseeing and evaluating the clinical services provided by the supervisee.

Can Associates Practice Independently in Maryland?

No. Licensed Graduate Professional Counselors must practice under supervision and may not engage in independent practice.

What Are the Required Supervision Ratios?

Maryland requires:

• 1 hour of supervision for every 40 hours of clinical practice.
  

This supervision must include required individual supervision components.

What Documentation or Supervision Agreements Are Required?

• A supervision contract must be approved before supervision begins.
  
• Applicants must submit documentation verifying supervision and experience hours when applying for LCPC licensure.
  

Hours obtained outside approved supervision may not count toward the required supervised experience.

Common Licensure Pitfalls in Maryland

Pro Tip

Before beginning supervised clinical counseling experience:

• Obtain LGPC licensure, and
  
• Ensure the supervision contract is approved by the Board.
  

Track progress toward:

• 3,000 total supervised hours
  
• 1,500 direct client contact hours
  
• Minimum supervision ratio (1:40)
  

Warning

• Hours accrued without approved supervision may not count toward licensure.
  
• LGPC licensees may not practice independently.
  
• Failure to properly document supervision hours may delay licensure approval.
  

Frequently Asked Questions About Counseling Licensure in Maryland

Can I Start a Private Practice as a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC) in Maryland?

No. LGPC licensees must practice under supervision and cannot engage in independent practice.

How Long Does It Take to Become Fully Licensed in Maryland?

Applicants must complete:

• 3,000 hours of supervised clinical professional counseling experience, and
  
• A minimum of two years of supervised practice.

Does Maryland Require CACREP Accreditation for Licensure?

No. CACREP accreditation is not required. The Board evaluates whether the applicant’s graduate program meets the required coursework standards under COMAR 10.58.

List of Programs