How to Become a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Maine
Maine issues two counseling credentials through the Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure (BCPL), part of the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation: the non-clinical Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and the clinical Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), which allows diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions. Both require practicing under a conditional license first.
Step 1: Earn a Qualifying Master's Degree
You need a master's or doctoral degree in counseling or psychology, with at least 60 graduate semester hours, covering content areas including human growth and development, counseling theories, group dynamics, career development, appraisal, research, and professional ethics.
Step 2: Apply for Conditional Licensure
Before accruing supervised hours, you'll hold a Conditional LPC or Conditional LCPC license, valid for two years, with a Disclosure Statement and an approved supervisor in place.
Step 3: Complete Your Supervised Experience
LPC candidates need 2,000 supervised hours, including at least 1,000 hours of direct client contact. LCPC candidates need 3,000 hours, including at least 1,500 hours of direct clinical contact and 100 hours of clinical supervision. During this period, you'll also complete 55 hours of continuing professional education.
Step 4: Pass a Licensing Exam
LPC licensure requires the National Counselor Examination (NCE). LCPC licensure requires both the NCE and the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), registered through the CCE-Global portal, with scores sent directly to BCPL.
Step 5: Apply for Full Licensure
Submit your application online or by mail to BCPL, along with a background check ($21) and the license fee.
Apply for Your License
Start or continue your application directly with Maine Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure (BCPL), the official licensing authority. Applications submitted anywhere else won't be processed.
A Note on Accuracy
This post reflects information from Maine's Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure and the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Licensing rules, fees, and statutes change. Verify current requirements directly at maine.gov/pfr before making any licensure decision.
Maine's LPC and LCPC tracks diverge more than in many states, since only the LCPC allows diagnosis and treatment, so confirm which credential actually matches your intended scope of practice before choosing a supervision path.
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