How to Become a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Delaware

A career as a clinical mental health counselor in Delaware comes with excellent growth prospects. The counseling field is set to grow by 18% between 2022 and 2032. This growth rate surpasses most other occupations, making it a perfect time to join this meaningful profession.

Delaware’s mental health counselors make an average of $47,950 per year. Licensed professional counselors with experience can earn up to $127,000. The state’s educational counselors earn around $67,910 yearly. These figures show why getting your clinical counselor license in Delaware is worthwhile. You’ll need to meet specific education requirements and complete 1,600 to 3,200 hours of supervised experience. The exact hours depend on whether you want to become a Licensed Associate Counselor of Mental Health (LACMH) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

This page will guide you through each step to become a licensed mental health counselor in Delaware. You’ll learn about education requirements, license maintenance through continuing education, and biannual renewals. The information here helps both newcomers to the field and licensed counselors who want to transfer their credentials to Delaware.

Types of Licensure in Delaware

Delaware has two different levels of counseling licenses available to mental health professionals who want to practice in the state. You need to understand these license types to plan your career path as a clinical mental health counselor in Delaware.

The Delaware Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals offers two license types:

1. Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPCMH): This license lets you practice on your own and provide professional mental health counseling services to individuals, groups, organizations, and the public.
2. Licensed Associate Counselor of Mental Health (LACMH): This is a limited license level created for counselors who need to complete their supervised experience hours to get full licensure.

The main difference between these licenses comes down to what you can do and how much supervised work experience you need. As an LACMH, you’ll work under direct supervision from a licensed professional counselor of mental health or another board-approved health professional. This setup helps you get the experience you need to become a fully licensed LPCMH.

To get your LPCMH credential, you must complete 3,200 supervised hours between 2 to 4 years. At least 1,600 of these hours must be supervised clinical experience that meets board approval. Your direct clinical experience as an LACMH requires 1,500 hours of face-to-face mental health counseling. This breaks down to 750 hours of individual face-to-face client contact with direct mental health services, plus 750 hours of group, couple, or family counseling.

Both licenses require a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. You’ll need 60 graduate semester hours in clinical mental health counseling or an equivalent degree that the Board approves. You must also pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or another board-approved exam.

You can apply for either license through Delaware’s online system DELPROS. The system lets you save and come back to finish incomplete applications. Remember that you have six months to complete your application once you start it.

LPCMH licenses need renewal every two years on September 30 of even-numbered years. LACMH licenses expire every two years from when they were first issued. License renewal requires completing continuing education and paying renewal fees.

Delaware law says you can’t present yourself as an LPCMH or LACMH without proper state licensing. This rule makes sure Delaware residents receive mental health counseling only from qualified professionals.

If you have an out-of-state license, you might qualify for reciprocity, especially when your state has similar standards. Licensed counselors from states with different standards might need five years of good standing or start as an LACMH to get the required experience.

Earn Your Degree

A master’s degree serves as the educational foundation for licensed clinical mental health counselors in Delaware. You’ll need to complete this advanced degree in counseling from a regionally accredited institution. The program must have minimum of 60 semester hours of graduate-level academic credit in counseling or related fields.

The best programs come with accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC). Wilmington University stands out as the only institution offering a CACREP-accredited clinical mental health counseling program in the Delaware region. This program prepares you to take the National Counselor Examination administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors.

Your master’s program must cover these nine content areas to meet Delaware’s requirements:

• Human Growth & Development Theories
• Social & Cultural Foundations
• Helping Relationships in Counseling
• Group Counseling
• Career Counseling & Lifestyle Development
• Assessment
• Research and Program Evaluation
• Professional Orientation
• Field Experience

Field experience plays a vital role in your professional development. The program requires an internship that gives you hands-on clinical experience under supervision. This practical training helps you face the real-life challenges of mental health counseling.

Delaware universities offer several suitable programs. Delaware State University provides a Master’s program with two tracks. One track leads to LPCMH licensure while another focuses on research and Neuropsychology. DSU’s counseling track has 45 credits of coursework and 15 credits for practicum and internship experiences, adding up to 700 hours of supervised field experience.

Most programs take about three years to finish. Wilmington University structures its program over three years – two years of mental health counseling coursework and one year of clinical training. Each 3-credit graduate course at Wilmington University costs $1,611, and you’ll need 20 courses to complete the 60-credit program.

Note that Delaware requires certification from the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) or another national certifying mental health organization before professional counselor licensure. Make sure your educational path meets NBCC requirements to smooth your path to licensure.

Get Licensed

The licensing process starts right after you complete your graduate education. You’ll need to create an account in Delaware’s online licensing system, DELPROS, and submit your application within six months.

Most people start with the Licensed Associate Counselor of Mental Health (LACMH) credential before moving to full licensure. Your educational institution must send official transcripts directly to the Delaware Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals.

The supervised professional experience requirements depend on your education level:

• A 60-credit master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling requires 3,200 total hours of supervised experience over 2-4 years
• The requirement drops to 1,600 hours of supervised clinical experience if you complete an additional 30 post-master’s semester credits

Your supervised hours must include 1,600 hours under direct professional supervision from a qualified supervisor. The clinical experience should have at least 1,500 hours of face-to-face direct mental health counseling services. You need 750 hours of individual face-to-face client sessions, while the other 750 hours can combine individual, group, couple, or family counseling.

The supervision requirements include 100 hours of face-to-face professional supervision. At least 60 hours must be individual supervision, with no more than 40 hours in group settings.

Licensed Professional Counselors of Mental Health from any state can serve as supervisors. The Board might approve other licensed behavioral health professionals such as licensed marriage and family therapists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, physicians, or advanced practice registered nurses.

While you work on your supervised experience, you must pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors. Delaware’s Division of Professional Regulation allows you to register for this exam without prior authorization.

Meeting these requirements allows you to upgrade your LACMH license to a Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPCMH). The upgrade application costs $55 through your DELPROS account.

Delaware welcomes counselors licensed in other states through a reciprocity pathway. You automatically qualify with five years of equivalent licensure. Otherwise, the Board will check if your original licensing requirements match Delaware’s standards.

You can track your application status using the “View Application Status” feature in DELPROS.

Find Employment

The job market for licensed mental health counselors in Delaware provides excellent opportunities with competitive pay. Licensed clinical counselors can find positions in healthcare facilities, government agencies, educational institutions, and private practices throughout the state.

Salary Expectations

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024), mental health counselors in Delaware earn different salaries based on their specialty:

• Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors: $28.46 hourly/$59,190 annually
• Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors: $31.32 hourly/$65,140 annually
• Rehabilitation Counselors: $22.17 hourly/$46,110 annually

Financial Assistance Options

Beyond competitive salaries, several programs help support your career growth:

• Loan Repayment Assistance: Licensed Professional Counselors of Mental Health can receive $35,000 to $100,000 in loan repayment by committing to work in health professional shortage areas for two years
• Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students: Schools offer funding to full-time students from disadvantaged backgrounds who need financial support while pursuing professional counseling degrees

Major Employers in Delaware

Several organizations actively hire licensed mental health counselors across the state:

• Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health: This vital part of the state’s Department of Health and Social Services provides resources for crisis intervention, substance abuse treatment, and psychiatric services
• ChristianaCare: A non-profit healthcare system that runs hospitals, clinics, and Behavioral Health Services
• Brandywine Counseling and Community Services: Multiple offices statewide offer treatment centers, adolescent outpatient programs, and family counseling services
• Family Counseling Center of St. Paul’s: This Wilmington-based nonprofit serves clients from various backgrounds, including Spanish speakers
• Dover Behavioral Health System: Specialized services for veterans, active military, children, and adults through locations in Sussex and Dover
• LifeStance Health: They welcome clinicians with Delaware licenses or those able to transfer their licenses, and offer both telehealth and in-person options

Training Programs

Delaware Guidance Services (DGS) runs an Advanced Clinical Training Program (ACTP) that helps new graduates prepare for outpatient and community settings. This two-year program started in 2014 and provides clinical supervision that meets licensing requirements while supporting professional development. DGS also welcomes master’s level students from Social Work and Clinical Counseling programs, which are a great way to get hands-on experience.

With proper licensure and training, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to build a rewarding career in Delaware’s expanding mental health sector.

Remain Compliant

Delaware clinical counselors must meet strict renewal schedules and continuing education requirements to keep their licenses active. Professional counselor licenses expire biennially on September 30 of even-numbered years. You need to plan ahead to practice without interruption.

Licensed Professional Counselors of Mental Health (LPCMH) must complete 40 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years. The requirements include at least 3 hours focused on ethics and 3 hours on cultural inclusion, equity, and diversity. New licensees have prorated requirements that depend on their license issue date.

Associate license holders don’t need CE hours to renew their credentials. You can only renew an Associate license twice, which means you’ll have this preliminary license for up to six years.

Your CE activities can cover these options:

• Courses approved by national organizations such as NBCC, AAMFT, NAADAC, or their local affiliates
• Interactive workshops, seminars, and webinars that maintain professional competence
• Teaching academic courses, presenting original papers, or writing peer-reviewed articles (limited to 20 hours)

The Board randomly audits renewals to verify compliance. Selected licensees must provide attendance certificates for each CE course. Don’t upload documentation into DELPROS unless you receive an audit notification.

Missing the renewal deadline isn’t the end. You can submit a late renewal application up to one year after expiration by paying both the renewal and late fees. However, you can’t practice until your license becomes active again.

Your license will terminate after the one-year grace period, requiring a new application. The same applies to inactive licenses – you’ll need to submit a reactivation request through DELPROS before practicing.

Track your renewal dates and meet educational requirements carefully to maintain your Delaware clinical counselor license without gaps.

Next Steps

Getting your clinical counselor license in Delaware is just the beginning. Your career growth depends on continuous professional development. The Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) provides great training opportunities through their Workforce Development and Education Unit.

You’ll need to register through the Delaware Learning Center (DLC) to access these resources. State employees can visit the Department of Human Resources website. Contractors and external partners should create an account through the DSAMH Self-Registration Page. After registration, you can explore several specialized training programs:

• Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (CADC) series – 16 two-hour workshops designed for substance use professionals preparing for certification exams
• Mental Health First Aid certification – introduces risk factors and warning signs of mental health concerns
• Trauma-informed care training – supports Delaware’s initiative to become a trauma-informed state under Governor Carney’s Executive Order 24

You should schedule a consultation with your malpractice insurance carrier before expanding your practice to other states through compact privileges. During this process, note that you should:

1. Verify coverage in all intended privilege states
2. Review whether current coverage limits remain adequate
3. Maintain documentation of all carrier communications

Starting good self-care habits early in your career makes a difference. Mental health counseling can be emotionally challenging yet fulfilling. You can maintain your passion for helping others by setting professional boundaries and spotting signs of burnout early.

Building cultural awareness and competence is a vital part of working with Delaware’s diverse communities. Your steadfast dedication to professional growth and self-improvement will help you become more effective as a clinical mental health counselor.