Counseling Degrees & Licenses in Delaware
Counseling Schools Search
When you click on a sponsoring school or program advertised on our site, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.
In Delaware, counseling degrees and licenses are overseen by the Delaware Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals. This board issues licenses to professional mental health counselors, associate mental health counselors, chemical dependency professionals, marriage and family therapists, and associate marriage and family therapists. They also recognize art therapists and associate art therapists.
Delaware has reciprocity with other states and the District of Columbia. Those who have been licensed at least five years in any jurisdiction (state) may be licensed by reciprocity with no further documentation needed. Those who have been licensed less than five years in a jurisdiction must submit copies of the licensing laws and regulations from each jurisdiction where the license is held. The board will review the licensing standards of the other jurisdictions and determine if they are substantially similar to Delaware’s standards.
Delaware is the second-smallest state in the country. Nonetheless, mental health care is in demand in this state. According to a 2021 report from the United Health Foundation, mental distress increased in Delaware by 62 percent, from 13 to 21.1 percent, in women aged 18 to 44 between the years of 2013-2014 and 2018-2019.
According to Resource to Recover, close to 3.7 percent of adults in Delaware live with serious mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. Only 47.9 percent of those adults with mental illness in Delaware receive any form of treatment. The remaining 52.1 percent receive no mental health treatment. According to Mental Health America, Delaware is ranked eighth out of 50 states and Washington D.C. for providing access to mental health services.
There is an increased demand everywhere for licensed counselors. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021), forecasts that careers in counseling fields will grow 23 percent nationally from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. The need for counselors, in general, will grow as a growing population seeks mental health counseling. Demand for rehabilitation counselors is expected to grow at a rate of 10 percent. On the other hand, the job outlook for marriage and family therapists is expected to grow at a rate of 16 percent.
Overall, students who pursue counseling degrees and licenses in Delaware can find rewarding and stable careers. Read on for accredited schools offering programs for counseling degrees and licenses in Delaware.
Accredited Counseling Degree Programs in Delaware
Wilmington University is a private university founded in 1968. The school, known as WilmU, offers most programs at its main campus but also has six additional campuses in Delaware, several locations in New Jersey, and a location in northeastern Maryland.
The College of Education offers a master of education in elementary and secondary school counseling. WilmU’s school counseling degree program fulfills Delaware State Department of Education requirements. In fact, nine of the last ten Delaware School Counselors of the Year have been WilmU graduates.
Graduates of the certification track are eligible for state licensure as a school counselors in public, private, or charter schools. The program’s non-certification track is designed for those who wish to work with children or youth in non-school settings that do not require state licensure. Students who graduate from the non-certification track can find careers at state or nonprofit agencies, mental health settings, group homes, a.
The school’s master of science in clinical mental health counseling is the only Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs-accredited (CACREP) program of its kind in the region. After completing the program, students will be eligible to take the National Counselor Examination administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors and may then begin to work toward becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPCMH) in Delaware.
- Location: New Castle, Delaware
- Duration: The clinical mental health counseling program is 60 credits; school counseling is 51 credits
- Accreditation: The clinical mental health counseling program is accredited by CACREP
- Tuition: $500 per credit
Goldey–Beacom College is a private college with a 24-acre campus. It was founded in 1886. The school offers a master of arts in counseling psychology, which prepares students to become licensed professional counselors. Additional counseling hours beyond the practicum conducted in the program are also required to earn a license.
- Location: Pike Creek Valley, Delaware
- Duration: 60 credits
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- Tuition: Contact the school for a customized assessment
How Much Do Counselors Make in Delaware?
These numbers represent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from May 2020—the latest data available as of January 2022.
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
| United States | Delaware | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 292,230 | 1,130 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $61,000 | $67,530 |
| 10th percentile | $34,380 | $40,570 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $57,040 | $68,390 |
| 90th percentile | $96,090 | $98,920 |
Rehabilitation Counselors
| United States | Delaware | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 100,260 | 310 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $40,160 | $36,180 |
| 10th percentile | $23,820 | $26,080 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $39,950 | $34,900 |
| 90th percentile | $63,790 | $50,310 |
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
| United States | Delaware | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 293,620 | 590 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $49,950 | $48,560 |
| 10th percentile | $29,520 | $32,020 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $46,240 | $45,990 |
| 90th percentile | $76,080 | $68,930 |
Counseling Professional Associations & Resources in Delaware
- The Delaware School Counselor Association
- The Mental Health Association in Delaware
- Delaware Psychological Association
- American Counseling Association – Delaware Branch
- Delaware CORE (Community Outreach, Referral, and Early Intervention)
- Delaware Occupational Therapy Association
- Art Therapy in Delaware
- Survivors of Abuse in Recovery
- Jewish Family Services of Delaware
- Delaware Psychological Services
- Family Services Association in Delaware
Mental Health Counseling (LMHC) Licenses in Delaware: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals | There are two professional counselor licenses issued in Delaware: a Licensed Associate Counselor of Mental Health (LACMH) and the Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPCMH). Associate counselors are required to submit the following:
To transition from a LACMH to an LPCMH, candidates must meet all of the above requirements, as well as submit:
Also, candidates must complete all hours in more than two years but less than four. |
In Delaware, licenses are renewed biennially in September of even years. To renew applicants must:
|
School Counseling Licenses in Delaware
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware Department of Education |
The Delaware Department of Education requires school counselors to be licensed teachers and earn either the Elementary School Counselor Standard Certificate or the Secondary School Counselor Standard Certificate. The requirements for an initial teaching license with an elementary school counselor endorsement are:
Secondary School Counselors must meet the same requirements, except the work experience must be completed in a secondary school. |
The first renewal in Delaware is required four years after initial licensure and will advance the license from an initial license to a continuing one. For this application, candidates must:
Continuing licenses must be renewed every five years. To renew, candidates must complete 90 hours of continuing education and submit an online application |
Substance Abuse Counseling Licenses in Delaware
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
Division of Professional Regulation National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals |
The Division of Professional Regulation requires applicants to be certified with either the Delaware Certification Board or NAADAC. In addition to providing proof of either certification, candidates must submit an application, proof of education and clinical hours, and pay a $252 licensing fee. To earn an NAADAC certification in either National Certified Addiction Counselor (NCAC) or Master Addiction Counselor (MAC), candidates must submit:
In order to earn the Delaware Certification Board Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor Certification, candidates must:
Candidates for the more advanced Chemical Dependency Professional Licensure must:
|
The Division of Professional Regulation requires applicants to be certified with either the Delaware Certification Board or NAADAC. These agencies have different renewal requirements. Licenses issued by the Division of Professional Regulation expire biennially on September 30th of even-numbered. Renewals cost $235 and must be accompanied by 40 hours of continuing education. Delaware Certification Board certification renewals expire every two years. Renewals cost $150 and must be accompanied by 40 hours of continuing education relevant to substance abuse, including three hours in ethics. NCAC and MAC renewals are due every two years. To renew, candidates must provide evidence of current state credentials, 40 hours of continuing education hours, two years of work history, and a signed statement of having read the code of ethics. It costs $200. |
Rehabilitation Counseling Licenses in Delaware
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals | Rehabilitation counselors in Delaware must earn one of two professional counselor licenses: a Licensed Associate Counselor of Mental Health (LACMH) and the Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPCMH). Associate counselors are required to submit the following:
To transition from a LACMH to an LPCMH, candidates must meet all of the above requirements, as well as submit:
Also, candidates must complete all hours in more than two years but less than four. |
In Delaware, licenses are renewed biennially in September of even years. To renew applicants must:
|
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Licenses in Delaware
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) for national certification | Currently, there are no state certification or licensing requirements for applied behavior analysts in Delaware. However, the 2102 Autism Service Providers’ law stipulates that ABA therapy must be provided by a BCBA-certified provider for insurance to reimburse. | Those providing ABA therapy in Delaware and who want to bill insurance will need to maintain a national BCBA certification and meet those continuing education standards. |
Marriage and Family Therapy Licenses in Delaware
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals |
The Delaware Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals issues Marital and Family Therapist Associate and Marital and Family Therapist licenses. Candidates for a Marital and Family Therapist Associate license must:
Marital and Family Therapist license applicants must meet all the requirements for an associate license, as well as:
|
In Delaware, MFT licenses are renewed biennially in September of even-numbered years. To renew, applicants must:
Associate license holders are not required to complete continuing education hours. |
Child (Pediatric) Behavioral Therapy Licenses in Delaware
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals | Child therapists in Delaware must earn one of two professional counselor licenses: a Licensed Associate Counselor of Mental Health (LACMH) and the Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPCMH). Associate counselors are required to submit the following:
To transition from a LACMH to an LPCMH, candidates must meet all of the above requirements, as well as submit:
Also, candidates must complete all hours in more than two years but less than four. |
In Delaware, licenses are renewed biennially in September of even years. To renew applicants must:
|
Vanessa Salvia
WriterVanessa Salvia is an Oregon-based freelance writer and editor with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. As fun as rigorous studies in math and science were, Vanessa took an independent path and developed a prolific career covering lifestyle and healthcare topics for magazines and newspapers, important industries such as concrete construction and building waterproofing, and even hard science. You can get in touch at Sage Media and Marketing.