Best Counseling Programs in Delaware (2026)
Top CACREP-accredited counseling programs in Delaware for 2026, with tuition, LACMH and LPCMH licensure requirements (Delaware's unique title), NCE or NCMHCE flexibility, the 3,200 supervised hours pathway, ChristianaCare placement pipeline, and Counseling Compact membership.
Key Takeaways
- Delaware uses a unique license title: LPCMH (Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health). Delaware is the only state using this exact terminology. The pre-license tier is LACMH (Licensed Associate Counselor of Mental Health).
- Delaware has 1 in-state CACREP-accredited CMHC program: Wilmington University MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Delaware State University (HBCU) offers a "CACREP-compliant" MS in Clinical Psychology that is NOT CACREP-accredited but is designed for LPCMH licensure. Goldey-Beacom College is pursuing MPCAC accreditation but is NOT CACREP. University of Delaware does NOT offer a CACREP CMHC program.
- Becoming an LPCMH in Delaware requires a 60-credit master's, 3,200 total hours of mental health counseling experience over 2-4 consecutive years, 1,600 hours minimum supervised clinical experience, 1,500 hours face-to-face direct counseling services (750 individual + 750 group/couple/family), 100 hours of face-to-face professional supervision (60+ individual, max 40 group; live video may not exceed 50% of total), and passing the NCE or NCMHCE.
- Delaware enacted the Counseling Compact via SB 257, signed August 4, 2022 (17th state to enact). DE is a member state but is not yet operationally issuing privileges as of May 2026. Only Arizona, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Ohio are actively issuing Compact privileges.
- Delaware continuing education is 40 hours every 2 years (biennial renewal September 30 of even-numbered years) with 3 hours ethics + 3 hours cultural inclusion/equity/diversity. The cultural inclusion CE requirement is rare nationally.
- Delaware counselor salaries run roughly at or above the national median due to Wilmington-Camden-Philadelphia metro adjacency. The Philadelphia MSA (which includes Wilmington) is one of the highest-paying counselor markets nationally. Sussex County is entirely a Mental Health HPSA, creating strong NHSC and DSLRP loan repayment leverage.
- The Delaware State Loan Repayment Program (DSLRP) offers behavioral health LPCMHs $30,000-$100,000 per contract depending on expertise and shortage area need. 2-year minimum service commitment in a Mental Health HPSA. Public-facility exception: if practice site is public but not HPSA-designated, state-only dollars are still available.
Delaware is one of the most distinctive LPC-equivalent markets in the country because of two factors that don't exist anywhere else combined: the LPCMH title (Delaware is the only state using "Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health" as the licensure title) and Philadelphia metro wage spillover (the Wilmington-Camden-Philadelphia MSA is one of the highest-paying counselor markets nationally, while Delaware itself has no sales tax). Combined with Sussex County's entirely Mental Health HPSA designation and the Delaware State Loan Repayment Program's exceptional award range ($30K-$100K per contract), Delaware offers unusual career trajectory leverage.
The DE licensing path: complete a 60-credit master's in clinical mental health counseling (or equivalent), apply for LACMH with the Delaware Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals under the Division of Professional Regulation, complete FBI + Delaware criminal background check, submit a Planned Direct Supervision form signed by an approved supervisor, accumulate 3,200 total hours of mental health counseling experience over 2-4 consecutive years with 1,600 hours minimum supervised clinical experience (1,500 hours face-to-face direct counseling split 750 individual + 750 group/couple/family), receive 100 hours of face-to-face professional supervision (60+ individual, max 40 group; live video may not exceed 50% of total), and pass the NCE, NCMHCE, or other Board-accepted national exam. Total time from master's to LPCMH: typically 2 to 4 years.
What makes Delaware distinct beyond the LPCMH title and Philadelphia metro spillover: Delaware State University (DSU), one of only ~10 HBCUs with a clinical psych master's pathway oriented to counseling licensure. While DSU's program is not CACREP-accredited, it is designed to meet DE LPCMH coursework requirements and offers an online option. Combined with Wilmington's dense corporate HQ presence (DuPont, Chemours, JPMorgan Card Services, Bank of America, Capital One) driving EAP and contract therapy demand, and Delaware's lack of state sales tax, the state offers a workforce ecosystem unlike any other.
CACREP-Accredited Counseling Programs in Delaware
All 3 programs ranked in this guide, with tuition, format, and accreditation at a glance.
| # | School | In-State Tuition | Format | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilmington University | ~$540/credit (~$32,400 total at 60 credits) | Hybrid | |
| 2 | Delaware State University (HBCU, NOT CACREP) | ~$485/credit (~$29,100 total at 60 credits) | Fully online available; full-time + part-time tracks | |
| 3 | Goldey-Beacom College (NOT CACREP, pursuing MPCAC) | ~$671/credit (private flat rate, ~$40,260 total at 60 credits) | On-campus |
Wilmington University
In-State
~$540/credit (~$32,400 total at 60 credits)
Out-of-State
~$540/credit (same flat rate)
Length
3 years (60 credits: 2 years coursework + 1 year clinical/internship)
Field Hours
700 (100 practicum + 600 internship)
Concentrations
- <strong>The only CACREP-accredited CMHC program in Delaware</strong>
- MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Wilmington University's College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Hybrid format works for working professionals; digital cohort beginning Summer 2026
- Meets DE LPCMH coursework requirements
- Faculty-directed practicum/internship placements in DE-region sites; prepares for NCE
Delaware State University (HBCU, NOT CACREP)
In-State
~$485/credit (~$29,100 total at 60 credits)
Out-of-State
~$975/credit
Length
2 to 3 years (60 credits: 45 coursework + 15 practicum)
Field Hours
700 practicum hours
Concentrations
- <strong>The only HBCU graduate psychology program in Delaware</strong>
- MS in Clinical Psychology designed for DE LPCMH licensure pathway
- <strong>NOT CACREP-accredited.</strong> CACREP-compliant curriculum + institutional accreditation only
- Online flexibility with full-time and part-time tracks
- Lower-cost in-state public option; strong representation pipeline for underserved communities
Goldey-Beacom College (NOT CACREP, pursuing MPCAC)
In-State
~$671/credit (private flat rate, ~$40,260 total at 60 credits)
Out-of-State
~$671/credit (private flat rate)
Length
2 to 3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
Two 300-hour faculty-directed practica (~600 total)
Concentrations
- MA in Counseling Psychology at Goldey-Beacom College
- <strong>NOT CACREP-accredited; pursuing MPCAC programmatic accreditation</strong>
- 60-credit curriculum aligned to LPCMH coursework
- Theory-diverse curriculum (psychodynamic, person-centered, existential, gestalt, feminist)
- Small private college in Wilmington with cultural-context framing throughout
LACMH and LPCMH Licensure Requirements in Delaware
The licensing board, exam pathway, and supervised hours you'll need to practice independently.
Licensing Board
Delaware Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals (Division of Professional Regulation)
(302) 744-4500
Delaware regulates LPCMHs through the Delaware Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals, housed within the Division of Professional Regulation (DPR). Applications use the DELPROS online system.
What makes Delaware distinct is the LPCMH title. Delaware is the only state nationally using "Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health" as the licensure title. The pre-license tier is LACMH (Licensed Associate Counselor of Mental Health). For Counseling Compact and portability purposes, the Delaware LPCMH functions equivalently to an LPC, LMHC, or LPCC.
Three DE-specific items: 3,200 total hours of mental health counseling experience required (most states require 3,000), the strict split of direct counseling hours (1,500 face-to-face direct broken into 750 individual + 750 group/couple/family), and the cultural inclusion/equity/diversity CE requirement (3 hours required per biennial renewal, alongside 3 hours ethics).
Licensed Associate Counselor of Mental Health (Delaware-specific pre-license tier)
Supervised pre-licensure practice while accumulating hours toward LPCMH
Hours
N/A
Duration
Associate
Exam: No exam at LACMH; NCE, NCMHCE, or other Board-accepted exam required for LPCMH
Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (Delaware-unique title)
Independent clinical practice, mental health diagnosis and treatment, private practice, third-party billing
Hours
3,200
Duration
2 to 4 consecutive years (1,600 hrs supervised clinical; 750 individual + 750 group/couple/family direct; 60+ individual supervision, max 40 group, live video max 50%)
Exam: NCE, NCMHCE, or other Board-accepted national exam
Delaware offers endorsement for LPCMHs licensed in another state with substantially equivalent requirements. Delaware enacted the Counseling Compact via SB 257, signed August 4, 2022 (17th state to enact). As of May 2026, DE is a Compact member but is not yet issuing/accepting Compact privileges at full operational capacity. Only Arizona, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Ohio are actively issuing Counseling Compact privileges. Once DE activates, DE LPCMHs will gain practice portability across other member states.
Counselor Salary in Delaware
BLS state median wages by counseling specialty, with national comparison and top-paying metros.
Delaware counselor salaries run roughly at or above the national median due to Wilmington-Camden-Philadelphia metro adjacency. The BLS Delaware OEWS estimates reflect strong wage spillover from the Philadelphia MSA (which includes Wilmington). Dover and Sussex County pay lower medians but offer strong loan repayment leverage given HPSA designations.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
National median: $59,190
Top metro: $67,820 (Wilmington (Philadelphia MSA))
Mental Health Counselors (excluding substance abuse)
National median: $59,610
Top metro: $66,540 (Wilmington (Philadelphia MSA))
Marriage and Family Therapists
National median: $63,780
Top metro: $70,210 (Wilmington (Philadelphia MSA))
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors (School Counselors)
National median: $64,210
Top metro: $74,520 (Wilmington (Philadelphia MSA))
Delaware Counseling Job Market and Workforce
Major employers, mental health shortage context, and loan repayment programs that erase debt for service.
Delaware's counselor workforce concentrates in three regions: New Castle County / Wilmington metro (Philadelphia MSA spillover, ChristianaCare anchor, corporate EAP demand), Kent County / Dover (state capital, Bayhealth, DSU/HBCU pipeline), and Sussex County (entirely Mental Health HPSA, Beebe Healthcare, beach communities + agricultural inland).
Major employers include ChristianaCare (Wilmington, the largest health system in Delaware with extensive behavioral health programs), Nemours Children's Health (pediatric specialty serving DE/PA/NJ), Bayhealth (Kent and Sussex counties), Beebe Healthcare (Sussex County, beach community anchor), Delaware Psychiatric Center (state hospital), the Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, VA Wilmington Healthcare System, and substantial corporate EAP demand from DuPont, Chemours, JPMorgan Card Services, Bank of America, and Capital One (all with major Wilmington presence).
Three workforce dynamics shape practice in DE:
Philadelphia metro spillover: Wilmington-Camden-Philadelphia MSA is one of the highest-paying counselor markets nationally. DE LPCMHs with multi-state licenses pull from Philly (north) and Baltimore (southwest) labor markets. The Philadelphia MSA pays significantly higher than Delaware standalone.
Sussex County HPSA: Entirely designated as Mental Health HPSA. Beach communities (Rehoboth, Lewes) plus agricultural inland (Seaford, Georgetown, Bridgeville) both underserved. Strong NHSC and DSLRP loan repayment leverage.
DSU HBCU pipeline: Delaware State University is one of only ~10 HBCUs with a clinical psych master's pathway oriented to counseling licensure. Strong representation pipeline for underserved communities.
Loan Repayment & Scholarship Programs
Delaware State Loan Repayment Program (DSLRP): Administered by Delaware Health Care Commission, DHSS. LPCMHs in Mental Health HPSAs are eligible. Minimum 2-year service commitment (full-time 40 hr/wk or half-time 20-39 hr/wk). Award: $30,000-$100,000 per contract depending on expertise and shortage area need. Public-facility exception: if practice site is public but not HPSA-designated, state-only dollars still available.
NHSC Loan Repayment Program: Federal program. LPCMHs are eligible at NHSC-approved sites in DE Mental Health HPSAs. Up to $50,000 for 2 years full-time service or $25,000 for half-time. Sussex County's full HPSA designation and Kent County's facility/population HPSAs provide broad eligibility.
NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce LRP: Up to $75,000 over 3 years for LPCMHs at SUD-focused NHSC sites. Strong fit for Delaware's opioid response infrastructure.
Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): LPCMHs employed at DE state agencies (DSAMH), VA Wilmington, ChristianaCare nonprofit affiliates, Nemours, Bayhealth, Beebe, and other qualifying nonprofit health systems all qualify for federal PSLF after 10 years of qualifying payments under an income-driven repayment plan.
How to Choose a Counseling Program in Delaware
Decision factors that actually matter, not generic checklist filler.
Choosing a counseling program in Delaware is unusually focused: only Wilmington University offers a CACREP-accredited program. Delaware State (HBCU) and Goldey-Beacom are non-CACREP options that still meet LPCMH coursework requirements. The decision mostly comes down to CACREP vs non-CACREP portability, on-campus vs hybrid delivery, and whether you want the HBCU experience at DSU.
If you want CACREP accreditation: Wilmington University is the only choice in Delaware. CACREP-accredited MS in CMHC at $540/credit (~$32,400 total) with hybrid delivery that works for working professionals. Digital cohort beginning Summer 2026.
If you want the HBCU experience: Delaware State University is the only HBCU graduate psychology program in DE. Critical caveat: DSU's MS in Clinical Psychology is NOT CACREP-accredited (CACREP-compliant curriculum + institutional accreditation only). Designed for DE LPCMH licensure pathway with online flexibility.
If you want maximum portability outside DE: Wilmington University's CACREP accreditation provides the safest portability. DSU and Goldey-Beacom non-CACREP status may complicate licensure in other states.
If you want Philadelphia metro placement: Wilmington University and Goldey-Beacom both serve the Wilmington metro with strong access to ChristianaCare, Nemours, and the Philadelphia MSA wage premium.
If you want Dover / Sussex County placement: Delaware State University (Dover) is best positioned for Kent County and Sussex County placements at Bayhealth and Beebe Healthcare. Strong DSLRP and NHSC loan repayment leverage in Sussex County (entirely HPSA).
If you want the most affordable option: Delaware State University at ~$485/credit (~$29,100 total) is the most affordable in-state option. Wilmington University at ~$540/credit (~$32,400 total) is the most affordable CACREP option.
If you want fully online or hybrid delivery: Wilmington University (hybrid + digital cohort Summer 2026) and Delaware State University (fully online available) are the two distance-friendly options. Goldey-Beacom is on-campus only.
If you plan to leverage Counseling Compact portability: Delaware is a Compact member (since August 2022) but not yet operational. Choose CACREP-accredited programs (Wilmington University) for maximum future portability.
Related Pages
Best Online Counseling Programs
National ranking of the top CACREP-accredited online counseling programs
Best Online Master's in Psychology
If you're still weighing psychology vs counseling at the master's level
Counselor Career Guide
What LPCMHs, LPCs, and LMHCs actually do day-to-day
MSW Programs in Delaware
If you're weighing the social work pathway instead
Counseling Programs by State
Compare counseling programs across all 50 states
Sources
- CACREP, Directory of Accredited Programs
- Delaware Board of Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Professionals
- Delaware LPCMH Experience Requirements
- Delaware License Verification (DELPROS)
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS Delaware Estimates
- NBCC, National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)
- Delaware State Loan Repayment Program
- Delaware Enacts Counseling Compact