How to Fill Out the Maryland Professional Counselor License (LCPC) Application + FAQs

The Maryland Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) application is the form you send to the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists to earn the right to practice counseling on your own, without a supervisor watching over your work. It is the final step that turns years of school, supervised hours, and exams into a license you can hang on your wall.

Most people who fill this form out are nervous. You have spent thousands of hours and a lot of money to get here, and one wrong box can slow you down for months. In a recent year, the Board reported that incomplete applications were the single biggest reason files sat unprocessed, and a missing signature or unsealed reference form can push your start date back by a full quarter. This guide walks you through the form line by line so you can avoid those delays.

Here is what you will learn:

  • ✅ How to fill out every section of the LCPC application, box by box
  • 📂 The exact documents you must gather before you open the form
  • 🧑‍⚖️ Which lines trip people up most and how to get them right
  • 💵 The current fees, deadlines, and where to send everything
  • ❓ Clear answers to the questions counselors ask most

A note on timing: Beginning June 20, 2026, the Board is moving to an online-only application process. The fields below match the official paper form, and the online portal asks for the same information in the same order, so this guide works for both. Always check the revision date on the form you download to confirm you have the current version.

What the LCPC License Is and Who Must File It

The LCPC is Maryland’s top-level counseling license. It lets you diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, run your own practice, and supervise others, all without anyone signing off on your sessions. The lower license, the Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC), only lets you practice under supervision, so the LCPC is the goal almost every Maryland counselor works toward.

You must file this application if you want to practice clinical counseling independently in Maryland. The agency that receives the form is the Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists, a unit of the Maryland Department of Health. The law that requires the license is found in Md. Code, Health Occupations Title 17, and the detailed rules live in the Code of Maryland Regulations 10.58. These two sources control who qualifies, what hours count, and which exams you must pass.

There are three versions of the application, and picking the wrong one is a common first mistake. The Transfer from LGPC to LCPC form is for counselors who already hold an active Maryland LGPC license and have now finished their supervised hours. The plain LCPC application is for people who never held a Maryland LGPC. The LCPC Out-of-State application is for counselors licensed in another state. This guide focuses on the most common path, the LGPC-to-LCPC transfer, and flags where the other two differ.

If you skip the license and practice anyway, you are breaking Maryland law and can face fines and a permanent mark on your record. The Board does not treat unlicensed practice lightly. For example, Diana finished her hours but kept seeing private clients before her LCPC was issued, and a single complaint forced her to stop work and explain herself to the Board.

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Open the form only after you have everything in one place. Hunting for a transcript halfway through is how good applications stall. Gather these items first:

  1. Your active LGPC license number. The Board uses it to pull your prior file. Without it, staff cannot link your old records, and you may have to resend documents you already sent.
  2. Official sealed transcripts from every counseling-related graduate program. An opened or emailed transcript does not count, and the Board will reject it.
  3. Your master’s degree details, including the exact degree name, major, and the date your degree was awarded. A guessed date can clash with your transcript and trigger a hold.
  4. Supervised experience records, showing every site, supervisor, date range, and hours worked. Missing dates force the Board to write back for more, costing weeks.
  5. Names and credentials of your Board-approved supervisor(s). Only a Board-approved supervisor can verify post-graduate hours, so confirm their status now.
  6. Three professional references, with at least one who supervised your clinical work. Picking references who barely know you leads to weak forms the Board may question.
  7. Your NCE exam score, if you have already passed the National Counselor Examination. A copy must ride along with the form.
  8. Your Maryland Law Assessment (MLA) Certificate of Completion. It is valid for only one year, so check the date before you file.
  9. A new criminal history records check (CHRC) receipt. Maryland law makes you repeat this even though you did one for your LGPC.
  10. A recent 2”x2” photo and payment for the fee, which is a check or money order, not cash.

Missing any one of these can turn a clean file into a “deficient” file. Marcus, an LGPC in Baltimore, mailed his form without the CHRC receipt and lost six weeks waiting for the Board to tell him what was wrong.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

The only safe place to get the form is the Board’s own site. Download the Application to Transfer From LGPC to LCPC directly from the Professional Counselors page, where all three LCPC forms are listed together. Do not use a copy a friend emailed you, because the Board updates forms and an old version can get you rejected.

Once you reach the page, look under the heading Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). You will see three links: the transfer application, the standard LCPC application, and the out-of-state LCPC application. Click the one that matches your path. The transfer form opens as a PDF that includes the application, the supervision verification forms, the reference forms, and the criminal background instructions, all in one packet.

Starting June 20, 2026, you will instead log into the Board’s electronic system and complete the same fields on screen. The Maryland OneStop portal already hosts related licensing services and is the gateway many applicants use. Whether you file on paper or online, keep a full copy of everything for your own records, because the Board does not return documents once it receives them.

If you are unsure which form is current, check the small revision line printed near the top or bottom of the PDF. Matching that date against the website listing takes two minutes and saves you from filing on an outdated form.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the LCPC Transfer Application Line by Line

The form is broken into numbered sections. Work through them in order, top to bottom, and do not skip ahead. Below, each section gets its own walkthrough so you know what it asks, how to answer, and where people go wrong.

Section I: Veterans and Spousal Preference

This section asks two simple yes-or-no questions about military service. The first asks if you are an active service member or the spouse of one. The second asks if you are a veteran, or the spouse of a veteran, discharged under conditions other than dishonorable within the past year.

To answer, check Yes or No for each line. If you check Yes, Maryland may move your application ahead of others under its veterans preference rules, so it is worth answering honestly.

For example, Sergeant Tara Reyes, who left the Army eight months ago, checks Yes on the veteran line to claim faster handling.

One nuance: the one-year window matters. If you were discharged 14 months ago, you check No on the second question even if you are proud of your service, because the preference no longer applies.

A common mistake is leaving both boxes blank because they feel optional. Blank answers can make staff pause your file to ask what you meant, which slows you down. The misconception here is that claiming veteran status triggers extra paperwork or scrutiny; it does not, it only speeds your place in line.

Section II: Demographic Information

This is the heart of who you are: name, Social Security number, date of birth, LGPC license number, contact details, and addresses. The Board uses every field here to match you to your existing record and to reach you.

Enter your full legal name as it appears on your transcripts and license, with last, first, middle initial, and maiden name if you have one. Write your SSN, date of birth in standard format, and your LGPC license number in the spaces given. Fill in home, work, and cell phone numbers, your email, and your home address; add a prior address only if you have lived at your current one for less than three years.

For example, Maria Lopez writes her name as Lopez, Maria, A, her birth date as 03/14/1985, and her LGPC number as LG12345.

A nuance: if you use a P.O. Box for mail but live at a street address, put the street address under Home Address and the box under Mailing Address. The Board needs a physical address on file.

A common mistake is writing a nickname or a married name that does not match your transcript. When names do not line up, the Board cannot verify your degree and puts a hold on the file. The misconception is that the gender and ethnicity boxes are required; they are optional and used only for statistics, so you may leave them blank without harm.

Section III: Information Regarding Background

This section has three yes-or-no questions about discipline and criminal history. It asks whether any licensing board has ever disciplined you, whether you have pled or been found guilty of a crime, and whether you are now on parole or probation.

Answer each line with Yes or No, honestly. If you answer Yes to any, attach a separate page that explains each event in full, with dates, locations, and the outcome, plus certified court or board documents.

For example, James Carter, who had a DUI ten years ago, checks Yes on the second question and attaches a signed page with the date, the court, and a certified copy of the disposition.

A nuance: minor traffic tickets do not count, so a parking fine or a speeding ticket does not require a Yes. But anything involving a court judgment beyond a minor traffic matter does.

The most serious mistake on the whole form lives here: hiding a past conviction. If you fail to disclose, the Board can close your application without review, force you to refile and pay again, and call you in to explain. The misconception is that an old or expunged-feeling matter will never surface; the CHRC pulls national and state records, so the Board almost always sees it, and honesty protects you far more than silence.

Section IV: Education

Here you list the colleges and universities that satisfy your counseling coursework. The Board cross-checks this against your official transcripts to confirm you have the right degree and credits.

List your most recent school first. For each, write the school name, city, state, the dates you attended, the degree awarded, your major, and the exact date the degree was granted. Then make sure official sealed transcripts are on the way for each one.

For example, Maria Lopez lists Loyola University Maryland, Baltimore, MD, attended 08/2018 to 05/2020, degree M.S. in Clinical Professional Counseling, awarded 05/22/2020.

A nuance: list only counseling-related degrees. Your unrelated bachelor’s in biology does not belong here and only clutters the review.

A common mistake is writing a degree-awarded date that does not match the transcript, which forces the Board to pause and reconcile the two. The misconception is that an unofficial or student copy of a transcript is “good enough”; only a sealed official transcript sent through proper channels counts, and an opened envelope voids it.

Section VI: Examinations

This section confirms you have passed the two required tests: the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and the Maryland Law Assessment (MLA). The Board will not issue a license until both are done.

Check Yes or No for the NCE, and if Yes, include a copy of your score report. Check Yes or No for the MLA and write the date you took it.

For example, Maria Lopez checks Yes for the NCE, staples her score copy, checks Yes for the MLA, and writes the exam date 02/10/2026.

A nuance: if you have not yet passed the NCE, check No, and the Board will review your file and send written authorization to register once you are eligible. You do not sign up on your own first.

A common mistake is treating the MLA like a normal exam you can pass long in advance. The MLA is a no-fail assessment, but its Certificate of Completion expires one year after you take it, so taking it too early means redoing it and paying again. The misconception is that the MLA has a passing score to worry about; it has none, you simply keep answering until every item is correct.

Section VII: Professional References

You must name at least three professional references who can speak to your counseling skills and clinical work. Each one fills out a separate Professional Reference Assessment form and returns it to you in a sealed envelope.

Fill in each reference’s name, degree, license, position, business name, address, and phone. For each, check whether that person will also verify part of your supervised experience.

For example, Maria Lopez lists her clinical supervisor Dr. Anita Shah, LCPC, a former professor, and a colleague, and checks Yes next to Dr. Shah for the supervision question.

A nuance: at least one reference should be the supervisor who oversaw your clinical hours, since the Board values a supervisor’s view above a casual colleague’s. A supervisor reference must also sign the Supervision Verification form.

A common mistake is opening the sealed reference envelope to peek inside. Once the seal is broken, the Board may reject that reference, and you have to start over with that person. The misconception is that any three friends will do; references who barely know your clinical work give thin answers that can make the Board ask follow-up questions.

Section VIII: Supervised Clinical Experience

This is the section that decides whether your years of work actually count. With a master’s degree, you must show at least 3 years and 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience, of which at least 2 years and 2,000 hours came after your degree, all under a Board-approved supervisor, as set in COMAR 10.58.01.05B. With a doctoral degree, the floor drops to 2 years and 2,000 hours, with one year after the degree.

Check the box that matches your degree. Under Part A, list practicum or internship hours from your program; up to 1,000 of these may count toward the 3,000. Under Part B, list each post-graduate job: the agency, the supervisor’s name and credential, the date range, your title, months worked, hours per week, and the split between direct and indirect counseling hours. Then total your direct hours, indirect hours, and your individual and group supervision hours.

For example, Maria Lopez enters her practicum at Loyola’s clinic with 700 direct hours, then a post-graduate job at Sheppard Pratt with 2,400 direct hours and 100 hours of individual supervision under Dr. Anita Shah, LCPC.

A nuance: know the difference between direct and indirect services. Direct means face-to-face counseling, intake, diagnosis, and crisis work. Indirect means case notes, staff meetings, consultation, and record keeping. Mixing them up can make your direct-hour total look short.

A common mistake is counting hours from a supervisor who was not Board-approved during the supervision period. Those hours do not count, and discovering this late can cost you months of redone work. The misconception is that all 3,000 hours can come from your internship; only up to 1,000 internship hours apply, and the rest must be post-graduate.

Supervision Verification Forms (Attached)

Your supervisors complete these forms to back up the numbers you wrote in Section VIII. There is one version for internship hours and one for post-graduate hours.

Hand each supervisor the right form. They fill in your name, the agency, the date range, your direct and indirect hours, and, on the post-graduate form, the individual and group supervision hours they gave you. They sign, list their license type and number, and note any reservations about you practicing alone.

For example, Dr. Anita Shah completes the post-graduate form for Maria Lopez, listing 2,400 direct hours and 100 individual supervision hours, and checks No for reservations.

A nuance: “face-to-face” supervision includes live video, but never phone calls, texting, or messaging apps, under COMAR 10.58.12.02. Hours of phone-only supervision do not count.

A common mistake is having a supervisor list group supervision as individual supervision. The Board often requires a set amount of individual hours, and mislabeling can leave you short. The misconception is that you can fill out this form yourself and just have the supervisor sign; the supervisor must complete and attest to it personally.

Section IX: Affidavit and Notary

The affidavit is your sworn promise that everything in the application is true. It must be signed in front of a notary, who confirms your identity and watches you sign.

Read the affidavit statements, then sign and date in front of a notary public. The notary fills in the state, county, date, your name, their signature, and their commission expiration. Attach your recent 2”x2” photo where shown.

For example, Maria Lopez signs the affidavit at her bank, where a notary public stamps it and writes the commission expiration date.

A nuance: do not sign before you reach the notary. If you sign at home, the notary cannot witness it, and the affidavit is invalid.

A common mistake is forgetting the photo or sending an old one that does not look like you. A missing photo makes the file incomplete and stalls it. The misconception is that any witness will do; only a commissioned notary can complete this block, and a coworker’s signature will not be accepted.

Criminal History Records Check (CHRC)

Even though you did a background check for your LGPC, Maryland law requires a fresh one for the LCPC, under Health Occupations §§17-501. The check covers both state and national records and requires fingerprints.

Complete the Live Scan Pre-Registration Form in the packet and bring it to a fingerprinting provider. The form carries the Board’s CJIS authorization number and FBI ORI number so results go straight to the Board. Bring valid government ID and payment, then include the receipt from the fingerprinting with your application.

For example, Maria Lopez gets printed at a state-listed provider, keeps her receipt, and staples a copy to her form.

A nuance: do not mail the Live Scan form to the Board. You present it at the fingerprint site, not the Board office.

A common mistake is reusing the old LGPC background check. The Board will not accept it, and your file waits until a new check clears. The misconception is that the Board sends you the results; instead, CJIS sends them to the Board within 5 to 7 business days, and you only need to keep your receipt.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

Below are three counselors on three different paths. Each table shows what they enter in the form’s main sections.

Scenario 1: Maria, an LGPC Transferring to LCPC

Maria finished her master’s at Loyola, worked three years under a Board-approved supervisor, and is upgrading from LGPC to LCPC.

Form Section What Maria Enters
Section I: Veterans Preference Checks No to both questions
Section II: Demographic Info Lopez, Maria, A; LGPC #LG12345; Baltimore home address
Section III: Background Checks No to all three questions
Section IV: Education Loyola University Maryland, M.S. Clinical Counseling, awarded 05/2020
Section VI: Examinations NCE Yes with score copy; MLA Yes, dated 02/10/2026
Section VII: References Dr. Anita Shah, LCPC (supervisor), a professor, a colleague
Section VIII: Experience 700 internship + 2,400 post-grad direct hours; 100 individual supervision
Section IX: Affidavit Signs before a notary, attaches 2”x2” photo
CHRC New fingerprint receipt attached; fee $350

Scenario 2: David, a New Master’s Graduate (Standard LCPC)

David never held a Maryland LGPC but completed all 3,000 hours under supervision at a community agency, so he uses the standard LCPC application.

Form Section What David Enters
Section I: Veterans Preference Checks No to both questions
Section II: Demographic Info Nguyen, David, T; no LGPC number to enter; Rockville address
Section III: Background Checks No to all three questions
Section IV: Education Johns Hopkins University, M.S. Counseling, awarded 05/2021
Section VI: Examinations NCE Yes with score copy; MLA Yes, dated 01/15/2026
Section VII: References Two clinical supervisors and one former professor
Section VIII: Experience 900 internship + 2,200 post-grad direct hours; 104 individual supervision
Section IX: Affidavit Signs before a notary, attaches 2”x2” photo
CHRC First-time fingerprint receipt attached; fee $200

Scenario 3: Priya, an Out-of-State Counselor (LCPC Out-of-State)

Priya holds an active LPC in Virginia and uses the LCPC Out-of-State application to practice in Maryland.

Form Section What Priya Enters
Section I: Veterans Preference Checks No to both questions
Section II: Demographic Info Patel, Priya, R; lists Virginia home address
Section III: Background Checks No; attaches Virginia license verification
Section IV: Education George Mason University, M.A. Counseling, awarded 05/2017
Section VI: Examinations NCE Yes with score copy; MLA Yes, dated 03/2026
Section VII: References Two Virginia supervisors and one colleague
Section VIII: Experience 3,500 total supervised hours documented from Virginia work
Section IX: Affidavit Signs before a notary, attaches 2”x2” photo
CHRC New Maryland fingerprint receipt attached; fee $200

How to File the Completed LCPC Application

Right now, the LCPC transfer application is filed by mail, and the Board does not accept it by fax or email. After June 20, 2026, you will file through the Board’s online system. Below is what each channel needs.

By mail (current method): Send the full packet to the Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists, Attn: Licensing Coordinator, 4201 Patterson Avenue, Suite 316, Baltimore, MD 21215. Include a check or money order, never cash. The transfer fee is $350, while the standard and out-of-state LCPC application fee is $200, per the Board’s fee schedule. Use certified mail with tracking so you have proof of filing, since the Board will not confirm receipt by phone.

Online (starting June 20, 2026): Log into the Board’s electronic licensing system and complete the same sections on screen. You will upload documents and pay by card. Save the confirmation page and any reference number as your proof of filing. Reference forms and transcripts may still need to arrive sealed through approved channels, so read the on-screen instructions.

In person and fax: The Board does not accept this application by fax. In-person drop-off is not a standard channel for this form, so plan on mail today or the portal after the transition. Whichever route you use, processing commonly takes several weeks to a few months, driven mostly by how fast your CHRC, transcripts, and references arrive.

Keep a complete copy of everything you send. The Board does not return documents, and if a piece goes missing, your copy lets you resend fast.

What Happens After You File

Once the Board has your packet, staff review it for completeness first. They confirm your fee cleared, your transcripts and references arrived sealed, your CHRC result came in from CJIS, and your exam records are on file. If anything is missing, the Board marks the file deficient and contacts you for the missing piece.

If you have not yet passed the NCE, the Board reviews your eligibility and mails written authorization with instructions to register. You take the computerized exam and your score returns to the Board. The MLA Certificate must already be on file and current within one year. Only when every requirement is met, coursework, hours, exams, CHRC, and references, does the Board issue your license.

Processing time varies, but the slowest links are almost always the background check and the supervision verifications. David watched his file sit for weeks only because one supervisor mailed the verification form late. Once your license is granted, it is valid for two years, and you must renew it with continuing education to keep practicing.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the LCPC Application

  • Using the wrong version of the form. The transfer, standard, and out-of-state forms differ, and the wrong one gets returned.
  • Forgetting a fresh CHRC. Reusing your LGPC background check stalls the file until a new check clears.
  • Opening a sealed reference envelope. A broken seal can void that reference and force you to start over with that person.
  • Listing non-Board-approved supervisors. Hours under an unapproved supervisor do not count toward your 3,000.
  • Mismatching your name and transcript. A nickname or married name the school does not have on file blocks degree verification.
  • Signing the affidavit before the notary. An unwitnessed signature makes the affidavit invalid.
  • Sending an unofficial transcript. Only sealed official transcripts count; an opened or emailed copy is rejected.
  • Hiding a past conviction. Non-disclosure can close your application and require a new filing and fee.
  • Letting the MLA certificate expire. A certificate older than one year must be retaken at your cost.
  • Mailing cash or the wrong fee. The Board takes checks or money orders only, and the transfer fee differs from the standard fee.
  • Confusing direct and indirect hours. Mislabeling can make your direct-hour total fall short of the requirement.
  • Skipping the 2”x2” photo. A missing photo makes the application incomplete and delays review.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do:Do download the form fresh from the Board’s site, so you have the current version. – Do gather every document before you start, to avoid a stalled file. – Do confirm your supervisor was Board-approved during your hours, so they count. – Do keep a full copy of your packet, since the Board never returns documents. – Do mail with tracking, so you have proof of filing. – Do answer every background question honestly, because the CHRC will surface the truth anyway.

Don’t:Don’t open any sealed reference or transcript envelope, or it may be rejected. – Don’t sign the affidavit until you are in front of a notary. – Don’t take the MLA more than a year before you file, or it expires. – Don’t count more than 1,000 internship hours toward your total. – Don’t send the Live Scan form to the Board; bring it to the fingerprint site. – Don’t assume the online and paper fees or steps are identical; read the current instructions.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help

Many counselors file the LCPC themselves, while others lean on a supervisor, mentor, or attorney. Here is how the two compare.

Pros of filing on your own:Saves money, since you pay no one for help. – Builds your own knowledge of the rules you will live under as an LCPC. – Keeps you in control of timing and follow-up. – Works well for clean cases, where your hours and record are straightforward. – Faster start, because you do not wait on a third party to act.

Cons of filing on your own:Higher error risk, since one missed box can delay you months. – Harder with a criminal or disciplinary history, where wording matters a lot. – No second set of eyes to catch a missing transcript or reference. – Time-consuming, as you chase supervisors and schools yourself. – Stressful, because the stakes are your career and the rules are dense.

FAQs

Do I use the transfer form or the standard LCPC form if I already have an LGPC?

Yes. If you hold an active Maryland LGPC in good standing, use the Transfer from LGPC to LCPC application, not the standard LCPC form, which is for applicants without a Maryland LGPC.

Do I have to get a new background check even though I did one for my LGPC?

Yes. Maryland law requires a fresh criminal history records check for the LCPC, even if you completed one when you applied for your LGPC license.

Do I write my maiden name in the name box if my transcript shows it?

Yes. Enter your maiden name in the maiden field and your current legal name in the main fields, so the Board can match your degree to your transcript.

Do internship hours count toward my 3,000 supervised hours?

Yes. Up to 1,000 internship or practicum hours may apply, but at least 2,000 hours must come after your master’s degree under a Board-approved supervisor.

Do I check “Yes” for a DUI in the background section?

Yes. Any conviction beyond a minor traffic violation must be disclosed, with a written explanation and certified court documents attached.

Do I report phone supervision as face-to-face hours in Section VIII?

No. Face-to-face means in-person or live video only, so phone, text, and messaging supervision do not count toward your supervision hours.

Do I sign the affidavit before going to the notary?

No. You must sign the affidavit in front of a notary public, who witnesses your signature and completes the notary block.

Do I send the Live Scan fingerprint form to the Board?

No. You present the Live Scan Pre-Registration form at the fingerprinting site, then send only the receipt to the Board with your application.

Do I need to pass the Maryland Law Assessment with a certain score?

No. The MLA is a no-fail assessment with no score; you answer items until all are correct and receive a Certificate of Completion.

Do I have to mail the application, or can I email it?

No. The current transfer application cannot be emailed or faxed; mail it, or file through the online system once the Board’s portal opens June 20, 2026.

Do all three of my references need to be supervisors?

No. You need three professional references, but only one must be a supervisor who can verify your clinical work; the others can be colleagues or educators.

Do I have to register for the NCE myself before I apply?

No. The Board reviews your application first, then sends written authorization and instructions to register for the NCE once it finds you eligible.

Do I list my unrelated bachelor’s degree in the education section?

No. List only counseling-related degrees that satisfy the licensure coursework, since unrelated degrees do not belong in that section.

Do I pay the same fee for the transfer as for a standard LCPC application?

No. The LGPC-to-LCPC transfer fee is $350, while the standard and out-of-state LCPC application fee is $200, paid by check or money order.