How to Get Your Counseling License in Delaware (LPCMH)
To become a Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPCMH) in Delaware, you need a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling, 3,200 hours of post-master’s supervised experience completed over two to four years, and a passing score on the NCE or NCMHCE exam. Most candidates complete experience hours while licensed as an Associate Counselor of Mental Health (LACMH).
Delaware takes a different path than most states. Where many states simply issue an “LPC,” Delaware’s counseling board uses its own credential names: Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPCMH) at the full licensure level, and Licensed Associate Counselor of Mental Health (LACMH) for those still completing their supervised experience hours. If you’re planning to practice in Delaware, start by knowing which credential you’re working toward and what each requires.
Counseling licensure in Delaware is overseen by the Delaware Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals, which operates under the Division of Professional Regulation (DPR). All applications are submitted through the state’s online system, DELPROS.
LPCMH vs. LACMH: Understanding the Two License Levels
The two license levels aren’t just different steps in the same process — they represent different scopes of practice. Here’s how they compare:
| License | Full Title | Supervised Hours Required | Scope of Practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| LACMH | Licensed Associate Counselor of Mental Health | 1,600 hours (with 30 post-master’s credits) or 3,200 hours standard | Supervised practice only. Must work under a board-approved LPCMH or behavioral health professional |
| LPCMH | Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health | 3,200 total hours (including 1,600 supervised clinical hours) | Independent practice. Can diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders within the scope of training and state law |
The LACMH is where most candidates begin after earning their master’s degree. It’s a working license. You can see clients and get paid, but only under the supervision of a qualified LPCMH or board-approved behavioral health professional. Once you’ve logged your hours and passed your exam, you upgrade to the LPCMH and can practice independently.
If you’re weighing counseling licensure against other credentials in the state, it’s worth reviewing Delaware social work licensure requirements to understand how the LCSW path compares to the LPCMH route.
Education Requirements
Delaware requires a graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling or an equivalent degree that covers the board’s required coursework areas. The minimum is 60 graduate credit hours. A CACREP-accredited program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is the most straightforward path. If your degree is CACREP-accredited in that specialty, you won’t need to submit additional coursework documentation.
If your program is not CACREP-accredited, or your degree is in a related field rather than Clinical Mental Health Counseling specifically, you’ll need to submit an Evaluation of Coursework form along with course descriptions. The board’s required content areas include:
- Professional counseling orientation and ethical practice
- Social and cultural diversity
- Human growth and development
- Career development
- Counseling and helping relationships
- Group counseling and group work
- Assessment and testing
- Research and program evaluation
These map closely to CACREP’s eight core areas, which is why an accredited program typically satisfies them without extra paperwork. To explore counseling degree programs in Delaware, including CACREP-accredited options, see our Delaware programs guide.
Supervised Experience Requirements
This is where the path gets detailed, so it’s worth walking through carefully. After earning your qualifying master’s degree, you’ll need to complete post-master’s supervised clinical experience before you’re eligible for the LPCMH. The full requirement is 3,200 hours of mental health counseling services, completed over a period of not less than two and not more than four consecutive years.
Of those 3,200 hours, at least 1,600 must be completed under direct clinical supervision. Within that supervised portion, at least 1,500 hours must be face-to-face direct counseling services, and at least 100 hours must be face-to-face supervision with your supervisor. The board breaks the counseling hours down further: 750 must be individual sessions, with the remaining 750 in group, couple, or family counseling.
One option worth knowing: if you complete at least 30 post-master’s credit hours in counseling education beyond your degree, the board may allow substitution of up to 1,600 of the required supervised experience hours, subject to board review and approval. This applies to the LACMH eligibility pathway and is not automatic. The board evaluates these requests individually.
Who Can Supervise You
Your supervisor must be a Delaware-licensed LPCMH or a board-approved behavioral health professional, which includes licensed clinical social workers, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, licensed marriage and family therapists, and advanced practice nurses with an appropriate specialty. If your supervisor is not licensed in Delaware, they need board pre-approval before supervision begins. Supervisors must have at least two years of post-licensure experience, no disciplinary actions, and documented training in clinical supervision. They are typically limited to supervising no more than 10 supervisees at once.
The Exam
Delaware accepts two exams for LPCMH licensure: the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) and the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), both administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). You register through the NBCC, and eligibility is determined based on your education or state application pathway. Once you’ve passed, have your scores sent directly to the board office.
Applying Through DELPROS
All applications in Delaware go through DELPROS, the state’s online licensing system. You’ll create a DELPROS account, submit your application, pay the fee, and track your status through the same portal. The application fee is $171 for both the LACMH and the LPCMH. When you’re ready to upgrade from associate to full licensure, the upgrade fee is $55.
Along with your application, you’ll need official transcripts sent directly from your institution, verification of supervised experience hours on the board’s required forms, your exam scores, and a fingerprint-based criminal background check. The background check is processed through a state-approved vendor such as IdentoGO or another authorized agency. Out-of-state applicants may contact the board to request fingerprint cards if needed.
License Renewal and Continuing Education
Delaware LPCMH licenses expire biennially on September 30 of even-numbered years. To renew, you must complete 40 hours of continuing education in the two-year period. The board accepts CE approved by national mental health and substance abuse organizations, including NBCC, NASW, APA, AAMFT, and NAADAC, among others. Renewal is completed through your DELPROS account.
Reciprocity for Out-of-State Counselors
Delaware doesn’t have formal reciprocity agreements, but the board can grant licensure to counselors licensed in other states if the requirements are substantially similar. If you’ve held an LPCMH-equivalent license in good standing for at least five years, your application generally qualifies for streamlined review, though documentation is still required. If it’s been less than five years, the board will review whether your home state’s requirements were substantially similar to Delaware’s. If they’re not, you may need to apply for the LACMH first and complete the experience requirement before upgrading.
Counselor Salaries in Delaware
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Delaware earn a median annual salary of $49,680, based on May 2024 data. The 25th percentile wage is $41,630, while the 75th percentile is $65,270, a range that reflects differences in specialty, setting, and years of experience. Nationally, the median for this occupation is $59,190.
On job growth, the BLS projects 10.6% growth nationally for mental health and substance abuse social workers between 2022 and 2032, with an average of 9,500 job openings per year. Delaware-specific counselor projections are tracked by the Delaware Department of Labor; conditions in the state reflect consistent demand in underserved communities and behavioral health settings. For those interested in related credentials, see our guide to Delaware substance abuse counseling certification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Delaware use the title “LPC”?
No. Delaware’s full licensure credential is the Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPCMH), not the LPC title used in most other states. If you’ve seen “LPC” referenced in connection with Delaware, it’s usually shorthand for the state’s actual credential name. The associate-level license is the Licensed Associate Counselor of Mental Health (LACMH).
Can I practice independently as an LACMH?
No. The LACMH is a supervised license. You can see clients and earn a salary while holding it, but you must do so under the supervision of a board-approved LPCMH or qualified behavioral health professional. Independent practice requires upgrading to the LPCMH after completing your hours and passing your exam.
Does my master’s degree need to be CACREP-accredited?
A CACREP-accredited degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is the clearest path to licensure, but it’s not the only one. If your program isn’t CACREP-accredited or your degree is in a related field, you can still apply. You’ll need to submit an Evaluation of Coursework form and course descriptions so the board can verify you covered the required content areas.
How long does it take to become an LPCMH in Delaware?
Plan on roughly six to eight years total. Four years for a bachelor’s degree, two years for a master’s, and then two to four years completing your post-master’s supervised experience hours. The experience phase can’t be rushed. The board requires it to span at least two consecutive years, regardless of how quickly you accumulate hours.
What happens if I’m already licensed in another state?
If you hold a counseling license in good standing from another state and have held it for at least five years, your application generally qualifies for streamlined review in Delaware, though documentation is still required. If you’ve been licensed less than five years, the board will review whether your home state’s requirements were substantially similar to its own. These reviews are handled on a case-by-case basis through the DELPROS system.
Key Takeaways
- Delaware uses LPCMH, not LPC. The state’s full counseling credential is the Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health. The associate-level credential is the LACMH.
- Two-phase licensure path. Most candidates practice first as an LACMH while completing supervised hours, then upgrade to LPCMH once they’ve met the full 3,200-hour requirement and passed the exam.
- CACREP accreditation simplifies the process. A CACREP-accredited degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling satisfies the coursework requirements without extra documentation, though non-CACREP graduates can still qualify.
- Delaware median salary is $49,680. BLS May 2024 data shows a range from $41,630 at the 25th percentile to $65,270 at the 75th percentile for this occupation in Delaware.
- All applications go through DELPROS. Delaware’s online licensing system handles applications, upgrades, renewals, and status tracking for both the LACMH and LPCMH.
Ready to explore counseling programs in Delaware? Compare degree options and find CACREP-accredited programs that meet the state’s licensure requirements.
2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Social Workers, Social and Human Services Assistants, Social and Community Service Managers, and Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed April 2026.