Welcome
Welcome to the website of the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR), an agency within the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation (DPFR). We appreciate your visit to the Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure’s homepage and we look forward to assisting you.
DPFR is currently experiencing technical issues with its phone system resulting in long wait times and challenges accessing voicemail. We apologize for the inconvenience. For best results, please email us at counsel.board@maine.gov. Thank you for your patience.
For the fastest service please utilize our online services, review our updated Licensing & Forms and Contact Us webpages or email us. OPOR’s Gardiner office is open to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If visiting our office we recommend that you schedule an appointment in advance by contacting us via email or phone. Directions to our office can be found here.
Purpose
The sole purpose of an occupational and professional regulatory board is to protect the public health and welfare. A board carries out this purpose by ensuring that the public is served by competent and honest practitioners and by establishing minimum standards of proficiency in the regulated professions by examining, licensing, regulating and disciplining practitioners of those regulated professions. Other goals or objectives may not supersede this purpose.
The primary responsibilities of a board are to make rules defining the required qualifications and professional standards of licensees, evaluate applicant qualifications, verify applicant credentials, examine applicants, grant new and renewed licenses to those who meet board requirements, investigate complaints, take appropriate disciplinary action against licensees, conduct hearings, and revoke or refuse to renew any licenses after proper notice and hearing.
A list of current board members can be found on the Secretary of State Office's website. Members of the public should not contact board members with questions or comments. All questions, comments or any other board-related matters must be directed to the board via email at: counsel.board@maine.gov.
Verify a License
License verifications are available at no charge by visiting the Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure's online licensing portal. OPOR does not issue paper license verifications.
What's New
- Interstate Counseling Compact
The Counseling Compact offers eligible licensed professional counselors a new method for providing services in other member states. If you are interested in learning more about the Counseling Compact please visit: https://counselingcompact.org/compact-commission/.
Important Information for Licensees
- Maintain a Valid Email Address on File
All correspondence from the Board of Counseling Professionals Licensure is sent via email. This includes electronic copies of licenses sent from “noreply@maine.gov”. Because of this, please ensure you always have a valid email address on file with the board. You can update your contact information here.
- 10 Day Notification Requirement
All licensees and applicants must notify the board via email no later than 10 days after any of the following changes or events occur: change of name or address; criminal conviction; revocation, suspension or disciplinary action against any professional license; and/or change in the conditions or qualifications submitted in the original application for licensure. More information can be found here.
- Continuing Education Requirements
The continuing education requirements for licensure can be found on our Licensing & Forms page and in board laws and rules.
- Family or Intimate Partner Violence Continuing Education Requirement
The one-time family or intimate partner violence continuing education requirement can be found on our Licensing & Forms page and in board laws.
- Maine Mandated Reporting
Maine law requires that medical, mental health and social services personnel immediately report or cause a report to be made to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) when the provider knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child or an incapacitated or dependent adult has been or is likely to be abused or neglected or that a suspicious death (child or incapacitated adult) has occurred. More mandated reporter information can be found here.