Resources · Path to Licensure

Step-by-step licensure pathways in Maryland.

Maryland splits behavioral-health licensing between the Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists (counseling, addiction, MFT, behavior analysis) and the Board of Social Work Examiners. Counseling, addiction, and MFT licenses also require the Maryland Law Assessment; social work and behavior analysis do not. Most tracks let you submit a pre-application credential review before paying for a full application.

Want the one-line summary instead? See the Maryland licensure overview →
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Professional CounselingAddiction & Substance Use CounselingSocial WorkMarriage & Family TherapyBehavior Analysis

Professional Counseling

Prep for the NCMHCE / NCE →
LGPC

Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor

Required exam: NCE (NBCC) + Maryland Law Assessment

Scope: Provisional graduate credential — counsel under supervision while you build hours toward the LCPC.
  1. EducationMaster's (60+ graduate credits) or doctoral degree in professional counseling or a related field from a board-approved, accredited institution, with 3+ graduate credits in each required content area.
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required to obtain the LGPC; this is the credential you hold while accruing the clinical hours toward the LCPC, under an approved supervisor.
  3. ExamPass the National Counselor Exam (NBCC) and the Maryland Law Assessment.
  4. ApplicationSubmit your application after meeting education requirements; a pre-application course evaluation is available. Renew every two years; request an extension three months before expiration if needed.
LCPC

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor

Required exam: NCE or NCMHCE (NBCC) + Maryland Law Assessment

Scope: Independent diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders through counseling.
  1. EducationMaster's (60+ graduate credits) or doctoral degree in professional counseling/related field, with 3+ graduate credits in each of ~14 content areas including diagnosis, psychotherapy, and professional/legal/ethical practice.
  2. Supervision / experienceMaster's level: 3 years and at least 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience (two years / 2,000 hours must be post-master's). Doctoral level: 2 years / 2,000 hours, with one year post-doctoral. At least half under a board-approved LCPC supervisor.
  3. ExamPass the NCE or NCMHCE (NBCC) and the Maryland Law Assessment.
  4. ApplicationSubmit a pre-application supervised-clinical-experience evaluation if desired, then the full application. Your file requires a criminal history records check (CHRC). Renew every two years.

Official Professional Counseling resources

Addiction & Substance Use Counseling

Prep for the MAC / NCAC exam →
ADT

Alcohol and Drug Trainee

Required exam: None to obtain trainee status

Scope: Entry-level training status under a board-approved supervisor.
  1. EducationAssociate's degree (or equivalent) from a board-approved institution in a health/human-services counseling field, with specified coursework.
  2. Supervision / experienceIdentify a board-approved A&D supervisor before starting; no hours must be completed before attaining ADT status.
  3. ExamNo exam is required to become a trainee.
  4. ApplicationSubmit a pre-application credential review, then the ADT application with a background check. Renewable in 2-year increments up to 6 years total.
CSC-AD

Certified Supervised Counselor — Alcohol and Drug

Required exam: NCAC I (NAADAC/NCC AP) + Maryland Law Exam

Scope: Supervised, associate-level addiction counseling within a certified/licensed agency.
  1. EducationAssociate's degree from a board-approved institution in a health/human-services counseling field, with the required coursework and internship.
  2. Supervision / experiencePractice as an employee of a state-certified or licensed agency under close board-approved supervision; candidates may begin accruing hours with an approved supervisor.
  3. ExamAfter the board determines eligibility, pass the NCAC Level I exam and the Maryland Law Assessment.
  4. ApplicationSubmit a pre-application credential review, then the CSC-AD application with a CHRC receipt; renew every two years.
CAC-AD

Certified Associate Counselor — Alcohol and Drug

Required exam: NCAC II (NAADAC/NCC AP) + Maryland Law Exam

Scope: Bachelor-level addiction counseling; with board approval may supervise CAC-ADs, CSC-ADs, and ADTs.
  1. EducationBachelor's degree from a board-approved institution in a health/human-services counseling field, with the required coursework, an internship, and supervised clinical experience.
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete at least 1 year and a minimum of 2,000 hours of supervised clinical experience; each supervisor completes a supervision-verification form.
  3. ExamAfter the board determines eligibility, pass the NCAC Level II exam and the Maryland Law Assessment.
  4. ApplicationSubmit a pre-application credential review (three professional references required), then the CAC-AD application with a CHRC receipt; renew every two years.
LGADC

Licensed Graduate Alcohol and Drug Counselor

Required exam: MAC (NBCC) + Maryland Law Exam

Scope: Graduate-level addiction counseling under supervision while building hours toward the LCADC.
  1. EducationMaster's or doctoral degree in a health/human-services counseling field from a board-approved, regionally accredited institution, with the required coursework.
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required to attain the LGADC; it lets you begin accruing the hours required for clinical (LCADC) licensure.
  3. ExamOnce eligibility is determined, pass the Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) exam (administered through NBCC) and the Maryland Law Assessment.
  4. ApplicationSubmit a pre-application credential review, then the LGADC application. Renewable in 2-year increments up to 6 years total while you finish clinical hours.
LCADC

Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor

Required exam: MAC (NBCC) + Maryland Law Exam

Scope: Independent clinical addiction counseling — diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
  1. EducationMaster's or doctoral degree in a health/human-services counseling field from a board-approved, regionally accredited institution, with the required coursework.
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete the board-specified post-master's supervised clinical experience under an approved licensed-clinical A&D supervisor (set by COMAR 10.58.07.03; commonly about two years post-master's). Track dates, organization, and supervisor on the application form.
  3. ExamPass the MAC exam (NBCC) and the Maryland Law Assessment.
  4. ApplicationSubmit a pre-application credential review, then the LCADC application and the approved-supervisor application; renew every two years.

Official Addiction & Substance Use Counseling resources

Social Work

Prep for the ASWB exam →
LBSW

Licensed Bachelor Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Bachelors exam

Scope: Generalist, non-clinical social work (under supervision unless approved for independent practice).
  1. EducationBachelor's in social work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program; transcripts sent directly from the institution.
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required for initial licensure. (Independent practice is a separate later approval requiring 3+ years and 4,500+ hours with 150 hours of face-to-face supervision.)
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Bachelors exam. Note: the ASWB exam framework changes on August 3, 2026.
  4. ApplicationApply through the online portal; renew every two years.
LMSW

Licensed Master Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Masters exam

Scope: Master's-level social work; clinical diagnosis and psychotherapy require the LCSW-C.
  1. EducationMaster's in social work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required for initial licensure. (Independent-practice approval mirrors the LBSW pathway.)
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Masters exam (framework changes August 3, 2026).
  4. ApplicationApply through the online portal; renew every two years.
LCSW-C

Licensed Certified Social Worker — Clinical

Required exam: ASWB Clinical exam

Scope: Independent clinical social work, including diagnosis and psychotherapy.
  1. EducationMSW from a CSWE-accredited program plus 12 academic credit hours of clinical coursework (up to 6 may come from a BSW program).
  2. Supervision / experienceTwo years (at least 104 weeks) and at least 3,000 hours of supervised clinical social work, including 100 hours of periodic face-to-face supervision under an LCSW-C supervisor, documented on a Supervision Verification Form.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Clinical exam (framework changes August 3, 2026).
  4. ApplicationApply online with the clinical-coursework documentation and supervision verification; renew every two years. No Maryland Law Assessment is required for social work.

Official Social Work resources

Marriage & Family Therapy

Prep for the National MFT Exam →
LGMFT

Licensed Graduate Marriage and Family Therapist

Required exam: AMFTRB exam + Maryland Law/regulations exam

Scope: Graduate-level MFT under supervision while building hours toward the LCMFT.
  1. EducationMaster's (60+ graduate credits) or doctoral degree in an MFT field, with 45+ credits across the six core areas including a supervised clinical practice.
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required to attain the LGMFT; it is the credential held while accruing the 2,000 clinical hours toward the LCMFT under an approved MFT supervisor.
  3. ExamPass the AMFTRB national exam and the Maryland law/regulations exam.
  4. ApplicationSubmit a pre-application course evaluation, then the LGMFT application with a background check.
LCMFT

Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist

Required exam: AMFTRB exam + Maryland Law/regulations exam

Scope: Independent clinical MFT — diagnosis and treatment for individuals, couples, families, and groups.
  1. EducationSame degree and credit structure as the LGMFT (60+ graduate credits, 45+ in the core MFT content areas).
  2. Supervision / experienceAt least two years and 2,000 hours of supervised clinical MFT experience after your degree, including 1,000 hours of face-to-face client contact and 100 hours of face-to-face clinical supervision (up to half may be group).
  3. ExamPass the AMFTRB Examination in Marital & Family Therapy and the Maryland law/regulations exam.
  4. ApplicationSubmit a transfer application from LGMFT (or a direct LCMFT application), three professional references, and the approved-supervisor application; renew every two years.

Official Marriage & Family Therapy resources

Behavior Analysis

Prep for the BCBA exam →
LBA

Licensed Behavior Analyst

Required exam: BCBA exam (BACB) — no separate Maryland exam

Scope: Independent practice of behavior analysis.
  1. EducationMaster's degree or higher from a BACB-approved behavior-analysis program, plus a current BCBA or BCBA-D certification from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.
  2. Supervision / experienceMet through the BCBA certification's own supervised-fieldwork pathway; Maryland does not impose a separate state hour count beyond an active BCBA/BCBA-D.
  3. ExamNo separate Maryland exam and no Maryland Law Assessment — licensure relies on the passed BACB BCBA examination.
  4. ApplicationComplete a criminal history records check before submitting the application, which also requires three professional references; renew every two years.

Official Behavior Analysis resources

All licenses

Maryland licensing portals & background checks.

How to use this page. Each card shows the education, supervised experience, exam, and application steps for one Maryland license, plus its scope of practice. Licensing rules change — always confirm current requirements with the official board before you apply. Verified against the official state boards in June 2026.

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