Can licensed counselors in Maryland charge for services provided under supervision?

In Maryland, licensed counselors who are practicing under supervision are not permitted to charge clients for their services. This regulation is designed to ensure that the services provided are consistent with the standards of practice and ethical guidelines established for the counseling profession. When counselors are in training or working under supervision, they are typically considered to be gaining experience and practice under the oversight of a licensed professional, which means that they do not have full autonomy to determine fees or charge clients.

Charging for services while in a supervised capacity could lead to a plethora of issues, including concerns about the quality of care provided and the appropriateness of billing clients for services that have not yet reached the level of professional practice expected of independent counselors. As a result, regulations are clear that during the supervisory process, the focus is on learning and development rather than service billing.

In contrast, options that suggest the possibility of charging, either with prior approval or conditional upon being a licensed supervisor, misunderstand the ethical guidelines and legal stipulations that govern the practice in this context. Counselors must adhere strictly to the standards that prohibit charging for services rendered under supervision.