Maryland Department of Health Graduate Professional Counselor

Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC)

To Qualify for LGPC

1.	Education Requirements Applicants must have a master's degree from an accredited college approved by the Board with a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours or 90 graduate quarter credit hours and a minimum of 3 graduate credit hours or graduate quarter hours in each of the following areas:
(1)	One of the following in a professional counseling or related field from an accredited educational institution approved by the Board:
	(a)	A master’s degree with a minimum of 60 graduate semester credit hours or 90 graduate quarter credit hours or
	(b)	A doctoral degree with a minimum of 90 graduate semester credit hours or 135 graduate quarter credit hours.
(2)	A minimum of 3 graduate semester credit hours or 5 graduate quarter hours of instruction in each of the following areas:
	A.	HUMAN GROWTH AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
	Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:
		1.	The various stages of human development over the life span.
		2.	Theories of personality and human development.
		3.	The influence of human development and experiences on the development of Psychopathology.
	Examples of courses in this area:
		1.	Human Growth and Development
		2.	Personality Development
	B.	SOCIAL AND CULTURAL FOUNDATIONS OF COUNSELING
	Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:
		1.	Aging, ethnicity, gender, psycho-sexual orientation.
		2.	Impact of social and cultural norms on human development.
		3.	Culture, subculture and socioeconomic influences on the counseling relationship.
	Examples of courses in this area:
		1.	Multicultural Counseling.
		2.	Social and Cultural Foundations of Counseling.
	C.	COUNSELING THEORY
	Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:
		1.	Overview of major counseling/psychology theories.
		2.	The techniques and practices associated with the above theories.
	Examples of courses in this area:
		1.	Counseling Theory and Techniques.
		2.	Theories of Counseling and/or Psychotherapy.
		3.	Introduction to Psychotherapy Theories.
	D.	COUNSELING TECHNIQUES
	Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:
		1.	The parameters and limitations of the treatment relationship.
		2.	The establishment of the client-counselor treatment contract.
		3.	Listening and interviewing skills.
		4.	The stages of clinical treatment.
		5.	Referral and termination.
	Examples of courses in this area:
		1.	Helping Relationship.
		2.	Introduction to Counseling.
		3.	Counseling Methods.
		4.	Techniques of Interviewing.
	E.	GROUP DYNAMICS, PROCESSING, AND COUNSELING
	Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:
		1.	Theories, practices, and treatment in group counseling.
		2.	Principles of leading groups.
		3.	Experience in leading groups.
	Examples of courses in this area:
		1.	Group Counseling (or Therapy).
		2.	Group Therapy and Practice.
	F.	LIFESTYLE AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT
	Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:
		1.	Life-Long processes that influence work values.
		2.	Occupational choice.
		3.	Creation of career patterns.
		4.	Career decision-making style.
		5.	Integration of occupational roles.
		6.	Career identity.
		7.	Patterns of work adjustment.
	Examples of courses in this area:
		1.	Career Guidance and Counseling
		2.	Career Development
		3.	Occupational Information
	G.	APPRAISAL
	Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:
		1.	Formalized testing and measurements.
		2.	Informal assessment such as observations, interviews, and rating scales.
		3.	Mental status examination.
		4.	Theory of test construction, validity, and reliability.
		5.	Testing procedures and interpretation.
	Examples of courses in this area:
		1.	Individual Appraisal
		2.	Psychological Testing
		3.	Personality Testing
		4.	Psychological Measurement
		5.	Tests and Measurements
	H.	RESEARCH AND EVALUATION
	Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:
		1.	Principles of performing quantitative and qualitative research.
		2.	Research design and methods.
		3.	Statistical tools and methods.
		4.	Reading and interpreting research.
	Examples of courses in this area:
		1.	Methods of Research
		2.	Statistics and Data Analysis
		3.	Research designs
		4.	Research in counseling
	I.	PROFESSIONAL, LEGAL, AND ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES
	Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:
		1.	Professional orientation and responsibility.
		2.	Legal Issues.
		3.	Ethics of Practice.
		4.	Practice Specialization.
		5.	Codes of Ethics of National, Professional, Counseling Organizations.
	Examples of courses in this area:
		1.	Professional and Ethical Issues
		2.	Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling
	J.	MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY
	Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:
		1.	Overview of system theories.
		2.	Principles of working with couples and families.
		3.	Stages of family life cycle development.
		4.	Intervention strategies.
	Examples of courses in this area:
		1.	Marriage and Family Counseling (or Therapy)
		2.	Family Systems and Intervention
	K.	ALCOHOL AND DRUG COUNSELING
	Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:
		1.	Assessment of addictive disorders.
		2.	Pharmacology of psychoactive drugs.
		3.	Overview of theories of addictive disorders.
		4.	Overview of basic models of treatment.
	Examples of courses in this area:
		1.	Foundations of Chemical Dependency Counseling
		2.	Overview of Alcohol and Drug Counseling
	L.	SUPERVISED FIELD EXPERIENCED*
	Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:
		1.	A supervised clinical internship, externship, field experience, or practicum placement.
		2.	Direct client contact in counseling experience with a minimum of 125 hours of face-to-face client counseling.
	Examples of courses in this area:
		1.	Supervised Field Experience
		2.	Practicum
		2.	Internship/Externship
		4.	Clinical Field Experience
		5.	Clinical Case Conference or Supervision
	M.	DIAGNOSIS AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
	Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:
		1.	Diagnosis based on current DSM AND ICD criteria.
		2.	Major categories of mental disorders.
		3.	An understanding of the impact of abnormal behavior not only to individuals, but to society as a whole.
		4.	An examination of various theories relative to the etiology of abnormal behavior.
	Examples of courses in this area:
		1.	Psychology and Diagnosis
		2.	Psychopathology
		3.	Abnormal Psychology
		4.	Diagnosis
	N.	PSYCHOTHERAPY AND TREATMENT OF MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL DISORDERS
	Instruction in this area shall include all of the following content:
		1.	An Overview and application of one or more treatment models to various disorders.
	Examples of courses in this area:
		1.	Treatment Techniques
		2.	Behavior Therapy
		3.	Cognitive Therapy
		4.	Psycho-dynamic Therapy
		5.	Advanced Techniques of Counseling
2.	EXAMINATION REQUIREMENT Applicants must pass the following: The National Counselors Exam (NCE); and Maryland Law Assessment.
3.	GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR A licensed graduate professional counselor may practice graduate professional counseling for 2 years under the supervision of an approved supervisor while fulfilling the 2 years post graduate supervised clinical experience. The following persons are approved by the Board to supervise a LGPC. License Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Licensed Clinical Social Work (LCSW), Licensed Psych Nurse, Licensed Clinical marriage Family Therapists (LCM), a Licensed Psychiatrist or a licensed Psychologist.
4.	EXTENSION FOR LGPC Three months before the expiration date of your graduate license download the LGPC Extension application from our website, www.health.maryland.gov/bopc/ located under the Professional Counselors tab.
	Submit a completed extension application.
	Include a check or money order in the amount of $301.00 ($275 renewal fee, plus $26 Maryland Health Care Commission fee) payable to: Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists. Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

	Applications may not be submitted via fax or email. Please mail to: Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists Attn: LGPC Licensing Coordinator 4201 Patterson Avenue, Suite 316 Baltimore, MD 21215