Counselors in Delaware are known as Licensed Professional Counselors of Mental Health (LPCMH) or Licensed Associate Counselors of Mental Health (LACMH) during the supervision period of the licensure process. Counselor licensure in Delaware is handled by the state Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals. 

Licensure details, including requirements for education, supervision, examination, and renewal, are examined further below, along with salary information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and scholarships available to aspiring LPCMHs in the state.

To qualify for licensure in the state of Delaware, Counselors must have completed a minimum of 60 graduate credits in clinical mental health counseling or received a graduate degree equivalent to clinical mental health counseling from a recognized institution, as determined by the Board. Applicants whose graduate program is not CACREP-accredited or whose degree is in a discipline other than Clinical Mental Health Counseling must also submit an Evaluation of Coursework form and course descriptions. 

After earning a qualifying master’s degree, Delaware applicants must complete post-master’s supervised clinical experience before qualifying for LPCMH licensure. The Board requires 3,200 hours of mental health counseling services completed over 2 to 4 consecutive years. At least 1,600 of those hours must be supervised clinical experience, including at least 1,500 hours of face-to-face direct counseling services and 100 hours of face-to-face supervision. Applicants typically complete these hours while licensed as an Associate Counselor of Mental Health (LACMH).

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After earning a qualifying master’s degree, Delaware applicants must complete post-master’s supervised clinical experience before qualifying for LPCMH licensure. The Board requires 3,200 hours of mental health counseling services completed over 2 to 4 consecutive years. At least 1,600 of those hours must be supervised clinical experience, including at least 1,500 hours of face-to-face direct counseling services and 100 hours of face-to-face supervision. Applicants typically complete these hours while licensed as an Associate Counselor of Mental Health (LACMH).

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Delaware LPCMH licensure requires submission of National Counselor Examination (NCE) scores, National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) scores, or scores from another examination acceptable to the Board.

National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)

The NCE is a 200-item multiple-choice examination administered by the NBCC. Delaware’s board page states that applicants may submit NCE scores, NCMHCE scores, or scores from another examination acceptable to the Board.

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LPCMH in Delaware can expect to pay the following fees for their application, renewal, examination, and other licensure expenses:

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Delaware LPCMH licenses expire on September 30 every even year. (LACMH licenses expire every two years from the date they were issued.) LPCMH license renewal requires good standing with the NBCC or a similar national board, payment of the appropriate renewal fees, and the completion of continuing education (also required by the NBCC to maintain NCC certification).

LPCMH license renewal in Delaware requires 40 hours of acceptable CE each full licensure period, with first-renewal hours prorated based on issue date. Beginning with the renewal period that started October 1, 2022, at least 3 hours must be in ethics and at least 3 hours in cultural inclusion, equity, and diversity. 

Qualifying CE activities, according to the Board of Professional Counselors of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals in Delaware, include:

CE hours approved by a national mental health organization or substance abuse treatment organization or their local affiliates, such as the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. (NBCC), American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), the International Family Therapy Association (IFTA), NAADAC, The Delaware Certification Board, Inc. or National Association for Social Work (NASW), the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB), or the American Psychological Association (APA) are acceptable, regardless of course content, and do not need to be approved by the Board.

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According to the May 2024 US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): Delaware, the following types of counselors in Delaware can expect to earn the corresponding median annual wage: 

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The following scholarships are available to aspiring LPCMH in Delaware:

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*Licensure information, including requirements, salaries, renewals, scholarships, and fees, was retrieved in March 2026. Information may have changed since then; check with the state’s board of licensing for more details.

Last Updated: March 2026