Clinical Supervision Requirements in Maryland

Licensing Board Overview

Maryland licenses mental health professionals through two boards under the Department of Health. The Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists (BOPC) handles professional counselors and marriage and family therapists. The Board of Social Work Examiners (BSWE) handles social workers. Each board has its own regulations, forms, and application processes.

Maryland uses slightly different license titles than some states. The independent clinical counseling license is LCPC (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor), not LPC. The clinical social work license is LCSW-C (Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical). Marriage and family therapists use LCMFT (Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist). The supervised tiers are LGPC, LMSW, and LGMFT.

LCPC: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor

Maryland's LCPC is the independent clinical counseling license, governed by COMAR 10.58.12. You start as an LGPC (Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor) and accrue supervised experience.

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Total supervised experience: 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience, including at least 1,500 hours of direct clinical counseling and no more than 1,500 indirect hours. Receiving supervision counts as indirect
• Duration: Minimum 3 years of supervised practice
• Supervision hours: 100 hours of face-to-face supervision, at least 50 individual and no more than 50 group. A clinical supervision hour, like a client contact hour, means at least 45 minutes
• Supervisor mix: At least half of your direct and indirect hours must be completed under an LCPC supervisor
• Pre-degree credit: Maryland allows up to 1,000 hours of pre-degree supervised field experience to count toward the total, which is relatively unusual. At least 2,000 hours must be post-degree as an LGPC
• Exam: NCE (National Counselor Examination), plus the Maryland Law Assessment (MLA)

Supervisor Qualifications

• An LCPC, LCMFT, LCPAT, or LCADC may be approved. So may another licensed provider authorized to diagnose and treat, such as an LCSW-C, psychologist, psychiatrist, or psychiatric nurse practitioner. Supervisors who are not LCPCs may cover at most half of the hours
• Must be a Board-approved supervisor. Maryland requires counselor supervisors to apply for and receive approved supervisor status from BOPC before supervising LGPCs
• Must have 2 years of active clinical practice, plus 3 graduate credits in clinical supervision, 18 CEUs, the NBCC Approved Clinical Supervisor credential, or other approved training

LCSW-C: Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical

Maryland's LCSW-C is the clinical social work license, governed by COMAR 10.42.01 and COMAR 10.42.08. You start as an LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) and work toward clinical certification.

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Total supervised experience: At least 3,000 hours of post-master's supervised clinical social work experience, including 1,500 hours of face-to-face client contact
• Duration: At least 104 weeks, completed in no less than 2 and no more than 6 consecutive years
• Clinical focus: Experience must involve clinical social work activities: assessment, diagnosis or diagnostic impressions, treatment of mental and behavioral health disorders, and psychotherapy
• Supervision: At least 100 hours of face-to-face supervision from a Board-approved LCSW-C supervisor, at least 50 of them individual. Group supervision may cover no more than half and is limited to 6 supervisees at a time
• Frequency: At least 3 hours of face-to-face supervision per month, or 1 hour for every 40 hours worked
• Exam: ASWB Clinical examination required

Supervisor Qualifications

• Must hold an active Maryland LCSW-C license and be a Board-approved supervisor. Supervision by non-social work professionals is not accepted
• Must have at least 18 months of active social work practice after obtaining the LCSW-C, or meet one of the board's alternatives
• Supervision continues until the LCSW-C is issued, even after the hours are complete

LCMFT: Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist

Maryland's LCMFT is the independent MFT license, governed by COMAR 10.58.08. You start as an LGMFT (Licensed Graduate Marriage and Family Therapist) and accrue supervised experience.

Supervised Experience Requirements

• Total supervised experience: 2,000 hours over at least 2 years, all of it post-master's as an LGMFT
• Client contact: At least 1,000 hours of direct clinical therapy services, and no more than 1,000 indirect hours
• Supervision hours: 100 hours of supervision, at least 50 of them individual. A supervision hour means at least 45 minutes
• Group supervision cap: No more than 50 of those hours may be group supervision
• Relational work: There is no post-degree minimum of couples or family hours. The 100 relational hours are part of the pre-degree practicum required for the LGMFT

Supervisor Qualifications

• At least 80% of your hours must be under an LCMFT supervisor. Up to 20% may be under an LCPC, LCADC, LCPAT, or other approved provider with 5 years of MFT experience
• An AAMFT Approved Supervisor, Supervisor in Training, or Candidate may supervise, but must also be Board-approved
• Every supervisor needs 3 years of documented MFT experience, a qualifying supervision training option, and 6 semester credits in couples and family therapy theories

Maryland-Specific Details

Unique License Naming

Maryland's license titles differ from the majority of states. The clinical counseling license is LCPC (not LPC), the clinical social work license is LCSW-C (not just LCSW), and the MFT license is LCMFT. The LGPC, LMSW, and LGMFT serve as the supervised practice licenses. If you're transferring from another state, make sure you're comparing equivalent license levels.

Board-Approved Supervisor Status

Maryland requires counselor supervisors to apply for and receive approved supervisor status from the BOPC before supervising LGPCs. While this is not a separate license, it is a formal board designation that must be obtained before providing supervision. Social work supervisors must also be Board-approved by the BSWE before supervision begins. Supervisees should confirm that their supervisor holds current approved status.

Pre-Degree Hour Credit for LCPC

Maryland allows some pre-degree supervised experience to count toward the 3,000-hour requirement for LCPC. This is relatively unusual and can shorten the post-graduation timeline for people who accrued supervised hours during their degree program. Check with the BOPC for current rules on what qualifies.

Two Separate Boards

Counselors and MFTs fall under the Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists (BOPC). Social workers fall under the Board of Social Work Examiners (BSWE). Each board has different regulations, different forms, and different fee structures. If you supervise across disciplines, you'll need to navigate both boards.

Documentation Requirements

• A written supervision contract signed before supervision begins, on all three tracks. The LCPC contract is on a BOPC form. For social work, the agency administrator must also sign when the supervisor is independent rather than an employee
• Ongoing documentation of each supervision meeting: dates, duration, and focus
• Hour tracking with categories (direct client contact, indirect hours, supervision, total experience)
• A verification from each supervisor at completion. Social work uses one Supervision Verification Form for each job and each supervisor
• Board application requires official supervisor documentation of hours completed
• The BSWE accepts digital signatures on its contract and verification form only when a certificate of authority or timestamp audit is provided
• Supervisor and supervisee both keep supervision records: 5 years for social work and 7 years for counseling and MFT

Virtual Supervision in Maryland

All three rule sets count synchronous video as face-to-face supervision. Telephone supervision does not count. For social work, the rules accept secure video conferencing and exclude telephone, written internet communication, and any technology that is not visual.

Key Maryland Board Contact Information

• Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists (BOPC): health.maryland.gov/bopc (LCPC, LCMFT)
• Board of Social Work Examiners (BSWE): health.maryland.gov/bswe (LCSW-C)

How to Become a Clinical Supervisor in Maryland

Maryland regulates clinical supervision through two boards: the Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists (BOPC) for LCPC and LCMFT, and the Board of Social Work Examiners (BSWE) for LCSW-C. Maryland uses unique license designations (LCPC, LCSW-C, LCMFT) and supervised tiers (LGPC, LMSW, LGMFT). Requirements are defined in COMAR. Always verify current standards with the relevant board.

Becoming an LCPC Supervisor in Maryland

• Licensure: Hold an active Maryland LCPC license in good standing. LCMFTs, LCPATs, LCADCs, and other licensed providers who diagnose and treat may also be approved, for up to half of a supervisee's hours
• Experience and training: 2 years of active clinical practice, plus 3 graduate credits in clinical supervision, 18 CEUs, or the NBCC Approved Clinical Supervisor credential
• Board approval: Must be a Board-approved supervisor. At least half of a supervisee's required clinical experience hours must be completed under an approved LCPC supervisor
• Application: Must apply for and receive approved supervisor status from BOPC before supervising LGPCs

Becoming an LCSW-C Supervisor in Maryland

Social work supervisor requirements are defined in COMAR 10.42.08 and regulated by the BSWE.

• Licensure: Must hold an active Maryland LCSW-C (Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical) license in good standing. An LCSW may not supervise toward the LCSW-C, and LCSW licenses have not been issued since the end of 2023
• Clinical experience: Must have at least 18 months of active social work practice after obtaining the LCSW-C, or meet one of the board's alternatives
• Supervision training: Must complete one of the following: (1) one social work graduate course in supervision from a CSWE-accredited master's program, (2) 12 hours of agency-sponsored supervision training, or (3) 12 credit hours of continuing education in social work supervision from a Board-authorized CE sponsor
• Registration: Must apply for and receive approved supervisor status by submitting a Registration Form to the BSWE before supervising LMSWs

Becoming an LCMFT Supervisor in Maryland

Maryland defines "approved marriage and family therapy supervisor" broadly, but every approved supervisor needs Board approval, 3 years of documented MFT experience, and 6 semester credits in couples and family therapy theories. An approved MFT supervisor may be any of the following:

• AAMFT credential: An AAMFT Approved Supervisor, Supervisor in Training, or Candidate who is also Board-approved
• Maryland LCMFT: A Maryland Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist, who must provide at least 80% of the supervisee's hours
• Other licensed professionals: An LCPC, LCADC, LCPAT, or other licensed mental health care provider approved by the BOPC. Those with 5 years of MFT experience may cover up to 20% of the hours

Training options include 2 years of supervising MFTs systemically, 3 credits in supervision, a graduate MFT supervision course, or AAMFT supervisor status.

Maryland-Specific Considerations

• Supervised-tier system: Maryland uses the LGPC, LMSW, and LGMFT for pre-clinical professionals. Supervisees must hold one of these licenses before accruing supervised hours
• Unique designations: Maryland uses LCPC (not LPC), LCSW-C (not LCSW), and LCMFT (not LMFT). Use the correct designations in all documentation
• Two boards: Social work (BSWE) and counseling/MFT (BOPC) are regulated by separate boards with different supervisor requirements
• Supervision contract: On all three tracks, a written supervision contract must be signed by the supervisor and supervisee before hours begin counting

How Guidara Helps Maryland Supervisors

Maryland's two-board system and unique license naming can make documentation confusing, especially for supervisors working with professionals on different tracks. Guidara keeps hour logs, signed supervision notes, and timesheets for each supervisee, with timestamps and audit trails. Whether you're supervising an LGPC toward LCPC or an LMSW toward LCSW-C, you can export PDF records to use when completing each board's verification forms.