Best Counseling Programs in Maine (2026)
Top CACREP-accredited counseling programs in Maine for 2026, with tuition, LCPC-Conditional and LCPC licensure (Maine uses LCPC for clinical practice, NOT LPC), NCE then NCMHCE exam pathway, 900-hour graduate internship, MaineHealth and Northern Light placement pipelines, and Counseling Compact membership.
Key Takeaways
- Maine has 2 in-state CACREP-accredited CMHC programs: University of Southern Maine (USM) (63 credits, Portland/Gorham, hybrid) and Husson University (Bangor + online, 63 credits, CACREP on-campus since Jan 2015 and online since Jan 2024). UMF runs a 3+2 pipeline that finishes at USM. Note: UMaine Orono and Saint Joseph's College of Maine do NOT offer CACREP-accredited CMHC master's programs.
- Maine uses the LCPC title for independent clinical practice (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor). Critical: "LPC" in Maine is a separate, lower-tier non-clinical credential. The full clinical, independent-practice license is LCPC. Don't confuse the two.
- Maine uses a two-tier license structure. LCPC-C (LCPC-Conditional) is the post-graduation supervised credential (OPOR form code "XL"). LCPC is the independent practice license.
- Becoming an LCPC in Maine requires a 60-credit master's including a 900-hour graduate clinical counseling internship (standard) or 600 hours (extended-supervision pathway), 3,000 supervised hours post-degree (or 4,000 if internship was only 600), 1,500 direct client contact hours, 100 hours of clinical supervision (50 individual), the NCE for LCPC-C, then the NCMHCE for LCPC upgrade.
- Maine enacted the Counseling Compact when Governor Mills signed LD 1920/HP 1427 on March 31, 2022 (7th state to enact). As of May 2026, Maine is a member state on paper but the Compact is not yet operationally issuing privileges. Only Arizona, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Ohio are actively issuing Compact privileges.
- Maine counselor salaries run above the national median. BLS Maine OEWS estimates place the median around $60,970 (25th percentile $48,360; 75th percentile $73,510) versus the national median of $59,190. The Portland-South Portland MSA pays the highest metro at ~$65,000 mean.
- Maine's mental health workforce crisis is severe. ~13,000 Mainers are on waitlists for mental health care averaging 8 months per The Maine Monitor reporting. Psychiatrist counts dropped from ~110 (2019) to ~60 (2022). Aroostook, Piscataquis, Washington, Somerset, and Franklin counties carry the deepest geographic HPSA designations.
Maine is one of the more distinctive LCPC markets in the country because of two factors: the LCPC vs LPC title distinction (Maine reserves LPC for a lower-tier non-clinical credential; LCPC is the independent clinical license) and the unusual 900-hour graduate internship requirement (most states require 600). Combined with severe rural workforce shortages (Aroostook, Piscataquis, Washington counties) and Maine's position adjacent to Boston, the state offers distinctive career trajectory options for LCPCs.
The ME licensing path: complete a 60-credit CACREP-accredited master's including a 900-hour graduate clinical counseling internship (standard pathway), apply for LCPC-C with the Maine Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure under OPOR, pass the NCE, accumulate 3,000 post-degree supervised hours over at least 2 years (or 4,000 hours if the graduate internship was only 600), include at least 1,500 direct client contact hours and 100 hours of clinical supervision (50 individual; up to 25 individual hours may be live audio/video), and pass the NCMHCE for LCPC upgrade. Total time from master's to LCPC: typically 2 to 3 years.
What makes Maine distinct beyond the title and internship: the MaineHealth + Northern Light Health two-system structure. MaineHealth (statewide, Portland-based) and Northern Light Health (Bangor-based, serves central/eastern/northern Maine) are the dominant employers. Combined with Maine's four federally recognized tribes (Penobscot Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe with Indian Township and Pleasant Point/Sipayik communities, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Aroostook Band of Mi'kmaq) and Wabanaki Public Health, ME offers a distinctive tribal behavioral health pathway. Aroostook Mental Health Center (AMHC) operates 27 locations as a CCBHC and is the strongest rural recruitment employer in the state.
CACREP-Accredited Counseling Programs in Maine
All 3 programs ranked in this guide, with tuition, format, and accreditation at a glance.
| # | School | In-State Tuition | Format | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern Maine (USM) | ~$550/credit (~$34,650 total at 63 credits) | Hybrid low-residency | |
| 2 | Husson University | $794/credit (private flat rate, ~$50,022 total at 63 credits) | On-campus | |
| 3 | University of Maine at Farmington (UMF, 3+2 pipeline to USM) | ~$435/credit undergrad + USM grad tuition ($550/credit) | 5-year combined undergrad + grad |
University of Southern Maine (USM)
In-State
~$550/credit (~$34,650 total at 63 credits)
Out-of-State
~$1,300/credit
Length
2 years full-time / up to 6 years part-time (63 credits)
Field Hours
700-1,000 field hours (exceeds CACREP minimum)
Concentrations
- <strong>The only CACREP-accredited counseling program in Maine's public university system</strong>
- CACREP-accredited MS in Counseling with Clinical Mental Health concentration
- Reported 99% licensing exam pass rate; 100% paid placement post-graduation
- Three CACREP concentrations: CMHC, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, School Counseling
- Collaborative 3+2 pipeline with UMaine Farmington's Rehabilitation & Human Services BS
Husson University
In-State
$794/credit (private flat rate, ~$50,022 total at 63 credits)
Out-of-State
$794/credit (private flat rate)
Length
2.5 to 3 years (63 credits minimum)
Field Hours
900-hour graduate clinical counseling internship (meets ME standard pathway)
Concentrations
- CACREP-accredited MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Husson's School of Education
- <strong>The only Maine CACREP program serving the Bangor / eastern Maine pipeline</strong>
- Online track CACREP-accredited since January 2024 (opens rural northern Maine market)
- CCMHC-eligible graduates; explicitly designed around Maine LCPC requirements
- Strong placement access to Northern Light Health and Acadia Hospital (the regional behavioral health anchor)
University of Maine at Farmington (UMF, 3+2 pipeline to USM)
In-State
~$435/credit undergrad + USM grad tuition ($550/credit)
Out-of-State
~$1,015/credit undergrad
Length
5 years total
Field Hours
700-1,000 (via USM CACREP program)
Concentrations
- <strong>5-year fast-track from BS Rehabilitation & Human Services to USM CACREP MS</strong>
- Finishes with the same USM CACREP credential (no quality compromise vs direct USM admission)
- Strong fit for rural western Maine students who want to combine undergrad and grad in Maine
- 3 years at UMF (Farmington) + 2 years at USM (Portland/Gorham)
- Saves time and undergrad tuition for direct-pathway students
LCPC-C and LCPC Licensure Requirements in Maine
The licensing board, exam pathway, and supervised hours you'll need to practice independently.
Licensing Board
Maine Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure (Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation)
(207) 624-8603
Maine regulates LCPCs through the Maine Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure, housed in the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR) within the Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation.
Maine uses the LCPC title for independent clinical practice (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor). Critical to understand: "LPC" in Maine is a separate, lower-tier non-clinical credential. The full clinical, independent-practice license is LCPC. Don't confuse the two. Pre-licensure candidates hold the LCPC-Conditional (LCPC-C, OPOR form code "XL") while accruing supervised hours.
What makes Maine distinct: the 900-hour graduate clinical counseling internship requirement (most states require 600). Maine accepts a 600-hour internship as an "extended-supervision pathway" but the post-graduate supervised experience requirement then increases from 3,000 to 4,000 hours. Continuing education is unusually high at 55 contact hours every 2 years (15 may be peer consultation; all 55 may be distance/online).
LCPC-Conditional (commonly LCPC-C; OPOR form code "XL")
Supervised post-graduation practice while accruing hours toward LCPC
Hours
N/A
Duration
Associate
Exam: NCE required for LCPC-C; NCMHCE required for LCPC upgrade
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (independent practice)
Independent clinical practice, mental health diagnosis and treatment, private practice, third-party billing
Hours
3,000
Duration
2 years minimum (4,000 hours if graduate internship was only 600; 50 individual supervision hours; up to 25 individual hours may be live audio/video)
Exam: NCMHCE
Maine offers endorsement for out-of-state applicants demonstrating substantially equivalent education and supervised experience; verified license from another state required. Maine enacted the Counseling Compact when Governor Mills signed LD 1920/HP 1427 on March 31, 2022 (7th state to enact). As of May 2026, Maine is one of 39+ enacted states but only a small subset (AZ, LA, MN, OH) are actively issuing privileges. Maine counselors should not yet expect to practice across state lines under Compact authority; implementation timing depends on Maine's compliance with Compact Commission rules.
Counselor Salary in Maine
BLS state median wages by counseling specialty, with national comparison and top-paying metros.
Maine counselor salaries run above the national median. The BLS Maine OEWS estimates show median wages around $60,970 (25th percentile $48,360; 75th percentile $73,510) versus the national median of $59,190. The Portland-South Portland MSA dominates employment and pays the highest medians.
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
National median: $59,190
Top metro: $65,420 (Portland-South Portland)
Mental Health Counselors (excluding substance abuse)
National median: $59,610
Top metro: $64,210 (Portland-South Portland)
Marriage and Family Therapists
National median: $63,780
Top metro: $66,920 (Portland-South Portland)
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors (School Counselors)
National median: $64,210
Top metro: $68,940 (Portland-South Portland)
Maine Counseling Job Market and Workforce
Major employers, mental health shortage context, and loan repayment programs that erase debt for service.
Maine has two distinct healthcare system pipelines and severe rural shortages. MaineHealth (statewide, Portland-based) and Northern Light Health (Bangor-based) dominate employment. ~13,000 Mainers are on waitlists for mental health care averaging 8 months. Aroostook, Piscataquis, Washington, Somerset, and Franklin counties carry the deepest geographic HPSA designations.
Major employers include Maine Medical Center (Portland, MaineHealth flagship and largest hospital in northern New England), Spring Harbor Hospital (Westbrook, MaineHealth psychiatric facility), Northern Light Acadia Hospital (Bangor, the regional behavioral health anchor), Aroostook Mental Health Center (AMHC) (a CCBHC operating 27 locations across Aroostook, Hancock, and Washington counties), Community Health and Counseling Services (CHCS) (Penobscot/Piscataquis coverage), Sweetser (statewide community mental health), Riverview Psychiatric Recovery Center (state hospital), the Maine Department of Health and Human Services Office of Behavioral Health, VA Maine Healthcare System (Togus), and Wabanaki Public Health serving the four federally recognized tribes.
Three workforce dynamics shape practice in ME:
Two-system structure: MaineHealth (statewide southern/central anchor) and Northern Light Health (Bangor-based central/eastern/northern anchor) compete for new LCPCs. USM grads typically feed MaineHealth; Husson grads typically feed Northern Light.
Rural northern Maine shortage: Aroostook, Piscataquis, Washington counties carry the most severe HPSAs. Psychiatrist counts dropped from ~110 (2019) to ~60 (2022). Aroostook Mental Health Center (AMHC, CCBHC) is the strongest rural recruitment employer with 27 locations.
Wabanaki tribes: Four federally recognized tribes operate in Maine: Penobscot Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe (Indian Township and Pleasant Point/Sipayik), Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Aroostook Band of Mi'kmaq. Wabanaki Public Health hires culturally competent behavioral health providers; this is a meaningful and rarely-covered employer pipeline.
Loan Repayment & Scholarship Programs
Maine Mental Health Providers Loan Repayment Program: Administered by Finance Authority of Maine (FAME). LCPCs licensed by the Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure qualify, as do LCSWs. Service obligation: 5 years of practice in an underserved Maine practice area. Status note: The related Maine Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Pilot Program application cycle closed March 31, 2025, with no announced 2026 cycle. Check FAME directly for current status.
NHSC Loan Repayment Program: Federal program. LCPCs are an NHSC-eligible behavioral health discipline. Service at an NHSC-approved site in a designated Mental Health HPSA. Up to $50,000 for 2 years full-time service or $25,000 for half-time.
NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce LRP: Up to $75,000 over 3 years for LCPCs at SUD-focused NHSC sites. Strong fit for Maine's SUD response infrastructure.
NHSC Rural Community LRP: Up to $100,000 for 3 years at NHSC-approved rural sites. Aroostook, Piscataquis, Washington county placements are exceptionally strong fits.
Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): LCPCs employed at ME state agencies (DHHS Office of Behavioral Health), VA Togus, MaineHealth nonprofit affiliates, Northern Light Health nonprofit affiliates, AMHC, Sweetser, CHCS, 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 Maine
Decision factors that actually matter, not generic checklist filler.
Choosing a counseling program in Maine is focused: USM and Husson are the only in-state CACREP CMHC options, plus the UMF→USM 3+2 pipeline. The decision mostly comes down to which Maine region you want to serve (MaineHealth Portland-area vs Northern Light Bangor/eastern Maine), on-campus vs online delivery, and budget.
If you want the strongest Portland / MaineHealth pipeline: University of Southern Maine is the dominant feeder into Maine Medical Center, Spring Harbor Hospital, and MaineHealth network behavioral health.
If you want the strongest Bangor / Northern Light pipeline: Husson University is the only Maine CACREP program serving the eastern Maine pipeline, with strong placement at Northern Light Acadia Hospital and the broader Northern Light Health network.
If you want rural northern Maine / Aroostook placement: Husson's online track (CACREP since January 2024) opens the rural northern Maine market. Strong placement at AMHC's 27 CCBHC locations and excellent NHSC + NHSC Rural Community LRP loan repayment leverage.
If you want the most affordable option: University of Southern Maine at ~$550/credit (~$34,650 total at 63 credits) is the most affordable CACREP-accredited counseling program for Maine residents. The UMF→USM 3+2 pipeline (BS at UMF + MS at USM) saves additional undergrad tuition.
If you want fully online delivery: Husson's online track is the only fully online CACREP CMHC option in Maine. USM offers hybrid low-residency but is not fully online.
If you want a 5-year fast-track from BS to MS: University of Maine at Farmington's 3+2 program with USM finishes with the same USM CACREP credential. Strong fit for rural western Maine students.
If you want multiple counseling tracks at one school: USM offers three CACREP concentrations: Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, and School Counseling.
If you want tribal behavioral health placement: Husson (eastern Maine) is geographically positioned near Penobscot Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, Houlton Band of Maliseet, and Aroostook Band of Mi'kmaq territory. Wabanaki Public Health is a meaningful employer pipeline.
If you plan to leverage Counseling Compact portability: Maine is a Compact member (since March 2022) but not yet operationally issuing privileges. Choose CACREP-accredited programs (USM or Husson) 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 LCPCs, LPCs, and LMHCs actually do day-to-day
MSW Programs in Maine
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
- Maine Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure
- Maine OPOR License Verification
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS Maine Estimates
- NBCC, National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)
- FAME Maine Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Pilot Program
- Counseling Compact, Maine Joins