Master’s in Mental Health Counseling Programs in Maryland

Maryland is a state in the nothern United States known for its seafood and picturesque landscapes. Home to Baltimore and many suburbs of our nation’s capital, Maryland’s need for mental health resources has grown recently in urban, suburban, and rural communities. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Maryland has 781,000 adults who are diagnosed with a mental health condition along with 57,000 people between the ages of 12-17. 

With over 800,000 people in Maryland being diagnosed with a mental health condition, O*Net Online predicts that the need for mental health counselors will grow by 23% which is higher than the national average. With this high need for mental health services, Maryland has introduced the “Maryland Mind Health Program” which works with various state departments to increase awareness and promote positive mental wellbeing.

Many colleges and universities across Maryland offer graduate programs in mental health counseling. Those seeking to become mental health counselors in Maryland can look forward to ample job opportunities in cities like Baltimore or Annapolis, within suburban areas, and in rural communities. Mental health counselors in Maryland also have the opportunity to join the Maryland Counseling Association to connect with other counselors in the state.

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Master of Counseling Programs in Maryland

To become a mental health counselor in Maryland, you must have a master’s degree with 60 credit hours or 90 quarter credits or a doctorate. The program must be approved by the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists. While there is no requirement for accreditation by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), counseling programs in Maryland are required to meet specific course requirements. Mental health counseling graduate programs can be categorized as Online Programs, CACREP-Accredited Programs, and programs that do not require the graduate records examination.

Online Master of Counseling Programs in Maryland

There are many benefits to attending an online master of counseling program. Some benefits include the flexibility of courses, continued access to course materials, and the ability to take courses at your own pace. One program in Maryland is based online.

CACREP-Accredited Master of Counseling Programs in Maryland

Accreditation by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is becoming an increasingly popular feature of many masters of counseling programs nationwide. Some of the benefits of attending a CACREP-accredited program include meeting the requirements for most states and familiarity with other programs that are accredited. Three programs in Maryland are CACREP-Accredited.

Maryland Online, No GRE & CAREP Accredited Counseling Masters Programs

Specialty	University Name	Degree	City	State	Accreditation	Modality	GRE Required?	Program Length	URL
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Bowie State University	M.A.	Bowie	MD	CACREP				Clinical Mental Health Counseling
School Counseling	Bowie State University	M.Ed.	Bowie	MD	CACREP				School Counseling
Rehabilitation Counseling	Coppin State University	M.Ed.	Baltimore	MD	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required	2½ Years	Rehabilitation Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Hood College	M.S.	Frederick	MD	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required	1 Years	Clinical Mental Health Counseling
School Counseling	Hood College	M.S.	Frederick	MD	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required	1 Years	School Counseling
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	Johns Hopkins University	M.S.	Baltimore	MD	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required	1 Years	Clinical Mental Health Counseling
School Counseling	Johns Hopkins University	M.S.	Baltimore	MD	CACREP	Online & Campus	No GRE Required	3 Years	School Counseling
School Counseling	Loyola University Maryland	M.A./M.Ed.	Timonium	MD	CACREP				School Counseling
Rehabilitation Counseling	University of Maryland Eastern Shore	M.S.	Princess Anne	MD	CACREP	Campus	GRE Required	2 Years	Rehabilitation Counseling
Counseling Psychology	University of Maryland	Ph.D.	College Park	MD	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required	4 Years	Counseling Psychology
Counseling Psychology	Towson University	M.A.	Towson	MD	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required	60 credit hours	Counseling Psychology
Clinical Mental Health Counseling	McDaniel College	M.S.	Westminster	MD	CACREP	Online	No GRE Required	60 credit hours	Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Counseling Psychology	Frostburg State University	M.S.	Frostburg	MD	CACREP		No GRE Required	2 Years	Counseling Psychology
Professional Counseling (LCPC) Licensure	Coppin State University	Post-Master's Certificate	Baltimore	MD	CACREP	Campus	No GRE Required		Professional Counseling (LCPC) Licensure
School Counseling	McDaniel College	M.S.	Westminster	MD	CACREP	Online			School Counseling
Counselor Education (with a focus on School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling)	University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES)	M.Ed.	Princess Anne	MD	CACREP	Hybrid			Counselor Education (with a focus on School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling)

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No GRE Required Master of Counseling Programs in Maryland

The Graduate Records Examination (GRE) is a standardized test used to determine the aptitude of potential college admittance. However, many people get anxious about standardized tests or do not want their college admission based on test scores. 

Six programs in Maryland do not require the GRE. One program under the Online Programs category does not require the GRE and is located at McDaniel College. Three programs under the CACREP-Accredited Programs category do not require the GRE and are located at Bowie State University, Hood College, and Johns Hopkins University.

Most Affordable Master of Counseling Programs in Maryland

Choosing an affordable program is important. Located under the No GRE Required Programs category is the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. This program has a price tag of $346 per credit hour for residents of Maryland. However, if you are from out-of-state, the most affordable program would be under the Online Programs category at McDaniel College for a price tag of $609 per credit hour.

Accelerated Master of Counseling Programs in Maryland

Due to the nature of licensure requirements, all graduate programs in Maryland in mental health counseling must contain 60 credit hours or 90 quarter credits. As a result, there are not any programs on this list that are listed as accelerated. When breaking down the timeline of a mental health counseling program, most can be completed within 2-3 years. The only program on the list above that stated its completion time is Johns Hopkins University with a timeframe of 3-5 years to complete the graduate program in mental health counseling.

Required Courses for Licensure in Maryland

According to the Maryland Department of Health Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists, there is a list of required courses to obtain licensure. The courses that are required to obtain licensure include:

• Human Growth and Personality Development
• Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling
• Counseling Theory
• Counseling Techniques
• Group Dynamics, Processing, and Counseling
• Lifestyle and Career Development
• Appraisal
• Research and Evaluation
• Professional, Legal, and Ethical Responsibilities
• Marriage and Family Therapy
• Alcohol and Drug Counseling
• Psychotherapy and Treatment of Mental and Emotional Disorders
• Diagnosis and Psychopathology
• Supervised Field Experience
• Supervised Clinical Experience

Counseling Licensure Requirements in Maryland

There are two levels of mental health counseling licensure in Maryland. According to the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists, the first level is the Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC) license and the second is the Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) license. 

Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC): 
To obtain this license you must have graduated from an approved master’s in mental health counseling program, passed the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and the Maryland Law Exam, and completed a criminal background check. 

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC):
To obtain this license you must meet all of the requirements of the LGPC license and obtain three years (3,000 hours) of supervised clinical experience of which two years (2,000 hours) must be completed after a graduate degree is awarded.

Maryland Counseling FAQs (Obtain via the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists)

How long does it take to receive a license/certificate once I apply?
The review period can take around 30 days from the application’s submission date. Once the application is reviewed, you can expect to receive word on the next steps. After the required exams are passed and the licensing fee is paid, you can expect to receive licensure information within 7-10 days. 

When does my license or certificate expire? 
Graduate licenses and certificates expire two years from the date of issuance. Clinical licenses expire on January 31st annually.

How many continuing education hours are required for license renewal? 
40 hours are required. 30 of those hours must come from “Category A” activities, including courses, workshops, seminars, or symposiums.

How Much Does a Mental Health Counselor Make in Maryland

According to O*Net Online, the average salary for a mental health counselor in Maryland is $57,380. This is higher than the national average of $49,710.

How to Become a School Counselor in Maryland

According to the Maryland State Department of Education, there are five options for obtaining your school counselor licensure. 

Option I:
To obtain your school counselor license with Option I, you must have a master’s degree in school counseling or school guidance counseling from an IHE, a National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) certificate, and two years of performance as a teacher or school counselor in a school setting. 

Option II:
To obtain your school counselor license with Option II, you must have a master’s degree in school counseling or school guidance and counseling from a Maryland-approved program that includes 500 hours in a supervised practicum.

Option III:
To obtain your school counselor license with Option III, you must have a master’s degree in school counseling or school guidance and counseling from a program approved by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Option IV:
To obtain your school counselor license with Option IV, you must have a master’s degree in school counseling or school guidance and counseling leading to certification in the state in which it is located and 2 years of satisfactory performance as a teacher or school counselor or 500 clock hours in a supervised practicum in school counseling or school guidance and counseling. 

Option V:
To obtain your school counseling license with Option V, you must have a master’s degree, a valid professional school counseling license from another state, and Verification of at least 27 months of satisfactory performance as a school counselor during the past 7 years.

How Much Does a School Counselor Make in Maryland

According to O*Net Online, the average salary for a school counselor in Maryland is $64,570. This is higher than the national average of $60,140.

How to Become a Substance Abuse Counselor in Maryland

According to the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists, 5 different credentials are issued for those wanting to work in substance abuse. 

Alcohol and Drug Trainee (ADT):
To obtain this credential, one must have an associate’s degree in a health and human services counseling field with coursework in specific substance abuse content areas. 

Certified Supervised Counselor – Alcohol and Drug (CSC-AD):
To obtain this credential, one must have an associate’s degree in a health and human services counseling field with coursework in specific substance abuse content areas. In addition, the applicant must have completed an internship and pass the NCAC I and Maryland Law examinations. 

Certified Associate Counselor – Alcohol and Drug (CAC-AD):
To obtain this credential, one must have a bachelor’s degree in a health and human services counseling field. In addition, the applicant must have completed an internship, supervised clinical experience, and passed the NCAC II and the Maryland Law examinations. 

Licensed Graduate Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LGADC):
To obtain this credential, one must have a master’s degree in a health and human services counseling field. In addition, the applicant must have completed coursework in substance abuse treatment and passed the MAC and Maryland Law examinations. 

Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC): 
To obtain this credential one must have a master’s degree in a health and human services counseling field. In addition, the applicant must have completed coursework in substance abuse treatment, completed supervised experience in alcohol and drug counseling, passage of the Master’s Addiction Counseling (MAC) and Maryland Law examinations.

How Much Does a Substance Abuse Counselor Make in Maryland

According to O*Net Online, the average salary for a substance abuse counselor in Maryland is $57,380. This is higher than the national average of $49,710.

What Other Career Options Are Available to Those with a Degree in Mental Health Counseling

The skills learned in a Master’s of Counseling program open the door for many positions outside of the counseling profession. Some positions with this degree include human resources, governmental social services, education, and non-profit leadership. Many people in the field also get into counseling consulting where they work alongside other counselors without working with clients.