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Maryland State Licensing Requirements

It is the site of the first federally funded highway, the ratification of the Treaty of Paris and the epic Battle of Antietam during the Civil War. For such a small state, Maryland has had an enormous impact on our nation.

Maryland also offers plenty of opportunities for those desiring to go to school in the state.

If you decide to earn your psychology degree in Maryland, this state can also have a big impact on your new career.

Psychology Majors: Where to Attend School in Maryland

If you are unsure about where you can earn a psychology degree in Maryland, look no further than the University System of Maryland. One of the largest public university systems in the country, it is comprised of 11 different universities, two research institutions and two education centers with course offerings from multiple institutions.

With five locations, University of Maryland is the largest school in the system. As the flagship campus, the College Park location offers the widest range of programs in psychology-related fields. It also has two clinics where students can get experience. The University of Maryland clinic provides psychology services for children and adults in the community, while the Maryland Psychotherapy Clinic and Research Lab offers low-fee counseling and psychotherapy services to adults.

Maryland Job Market

A sampling of psychology-related association websites shows a high concentration of job openings in Maryland hospitals and medical centers, including Clifton T. Perkins Hospital, Springfield Hospital Center and Johns Hopkins. If you have obtained a psychology degree in Maryland, you are likely to find good opportunities in large cities, such as Annapolis and Baltimore. Here are the average annual salaries of clinical psychology professionals in the state:

Maryland Licensure Requirements

All of the licenses regulated by the state of Maryland require passing scores on the appropriate national examination, as well as the state’s law exam. Before you start working towards a psychology degree, make sure you understand these licensure requirements:

Psychologist

• A doctoral degree in psychology
• Two years of supervised field experience

Professional Counselor

• At least a master’s degree in professional counseling or related field
• Three years of clinical experience under supervision, of which two years should be post-graduate clinical supervision (for applicants with a master’s degree)
• Two years of clinical experience in a professional setting, of which one year should be post-graduate experience (for applicants with a doctoral degree)

Marriage and Family Therapist

• At least a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy
• Completion of 2,000 hours of supervised experience under supervision, of which 1,000 hours should be direct client contact and 100 hours should be face-to-face clinical supervision

Social Worker

The Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners regulates four classifications of social work professions: Social Worker Associate (LSWA), Graduate Social Worker (LGSW), Certified Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified Social Worker – Clinical (LCSW-C).

• A bachelor’s degree (LSWA) or master’s degree (LGSW, LCSW or LCSW-C) in social work
• Completion of 3,000 hours of social work experience under supervision, of which 144 hours must include face-to-face supervision (LCSW or LCSW-C)
• Supervision in the assessment and treatment of mental health disorders (LCSW-C)

Exploring Maryland

If you decide to pursue a psychology degree in Maryland, you’ll be studying, living and working in a state full of historic sites, charming towns and gorgeous scenery. Probably the best thing about the state is its size: everything you might want to do or see in Maryland is only a short road trip away.

For rest and relaxation, spend a day or a weekend at Deep Creek Lake, which has 65 miles of shoreline. If shopping is what helps you relax, Baltimore has an abundance of clothing boutiques and antique shops. History buff? Stop by Hagerstown or Sharpsburg, which were both settings of crucial battles during the Civil War, or visit Baltimore Harbor, where Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the national anthem.

Did You Know?

• In 1895, baseball legend Babe Ruth was born near the current site of Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
• Baltimore was the setting for the popular 1988 musical film Hairspray. It is also the hometown of the movie’s writer and director, John Waters.
• Michael Phelps, winner of 18 Olympic gold medals, is from Towson, Maryland.

_{Sources: www.bls.gov/oes, www.cbsalary.com, www.dhmh.state.md.us, www.dsd.state.md.us/, www.marylandpsychology.org}