Licensed Professional Counselor / Delaware
2026 data Delaware board official source

Delaware Licensed Professional Counselor License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

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Provides mental health counseling and therapy services.

What the Delaware data shows for Licensed Professional Counselors

To practice as a licensed professional counselor in Delaware, the state licensing board requires 3,054 documented education or training hours, a passing score on NCE (National Counselor Exam) or NCMHCE, and 2 years of supervised work experience. A criminal history background check is also part of the application. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. The regulation sits under Delaware's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Masters Degree in Counseling".

Upfront cost is $165, with renewal running $138 on a 2-year cycle. Maintaining the license requires 30 hours of continuing education per 2-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.

Reciprocity for this profession works like this: Counseling Compact: 40+ states.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
27/100
Licensed Professional Counselor · Delaware

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
3,054 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$165
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden D
$69/yr
$138 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
15.0 hrs/yr
30 hours every 2 years
Experience Required F
2 years
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Delaware

Education / Training Hours
Masters Degree in Counseling
3,054 hours
Exam Requirement
NCE (National Counselor Exam) or NCMHCE
Required
Initial License Fee
$165
Renewal Fee
$138
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
30 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years
Work Experience Required
2 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Licensed Professional Counselor All Delaware licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Delaware licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Licensed Professional Counselor in Delaware? ▼
Delaware's requirements cover 3054 hours of education or training, the NCE (National Counselor Exam) or NCMHCE exam, and an initial fee of $165. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Delaware? ▼
Delaware licenses licensed professional counselors who complete its requirements (3054 education hours, 2 years of experience) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Delaware licensing board.
Can I transfer my Licensed Professional Counselor license to Delaware from another state? ▼
Licensed Professional Counselor licenses generally reciprocate as follows: Counseling Compact: 40+ states. Interstate licensing compacts cover many professions and can further ease a move between states. The Delaware licensing board can confirm the current rules for your credential.
Does Delaware require a background check for Licensed Professional Counselor licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the licensed professional counselor licensing process in Delaware. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.
What are the continuing education requirements for Licensed Professional Counselor in Delaware? ▼
Licensed licensed professional counselors in Delaware must complete 30 hours of continuing education every 2 years. The renewal fee is $138.

Related Guides

What to do with this licensed professional counselor license

Licensed Professional Counselor in Delaware, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a licensed professional counselor-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Delaware licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.