MARYLAND STATE LAW TEST FOR COUNSELORS STUDY
GUIDE COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026 FULL
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
● Dual Relationship. Answer: means a relationship in which a counselor is simultaneously
involved in more than one type of relationship with a client
● Impaired Counselor. Answer: a counselor who cannot perform the counselor's job due to
substance abuse, or psychological or physical illness
● Sexual exploitation. Answer: means a counselor taking advantage of an unequal
relationship between a counselor and a client, student, or supervisee, and not permitting the
autonomy of a client, student or supervisee
● Sexual Harassment. Answer: a deliberate or repeated comment, advance, gesture,
solicitation, request, or physical contact of a sexual nature
● Therapeutic Deception. Answer: means a representation by a counselor that sexual
contact or sexual activity by or with a client is consistent with or part of a client's treatment
● Professional Competence <br>A. A counselor shall:<br>(3 things). Answer: (1)
Practice only within the boundaries of a counselor's competence, based on education,
training, supervised experience, and professional credentials;<br><br>(2) When developing
competence in a new service or technique, or both, engage in ongoing consultation with other
counselors or relevant professionals and acquire appropriate additional education or training,
or both, in the new area; and<br><br>(3) Maintain qualifications to practice counseling,
including meeting the continuing education requirements established by the Board.
● .03 Professional Competence.<br>An impaired counselor shall:<br>(2 things).
Answer: (1) Suspend, terminate, or limit professional activities if the counselor determines that
he or she is unable to continue professional activities; or<br><br>(2) Seek competent
professional assistance to determine whether to suspend, terminate, or limit the scope of
professional or scientific activities if a counselor becomes or is made aware that personal
problems interfere with providing or conducting counseling or therapy services.
● .04 Ethical Responsibility.<br><br>A. A counselor shall:<br>(14 Things). Answer: (1)
Consult with other counselors or other relevant professionals regarding questions related to
ethical obligations or professional practice;<br><br>(2) Take credit only for professional work
, actually performed;<br><br>(3) Notify the Board if the counselor's license, or certificate, or
both, has been limited, restricted, suspended, revoked, or subject to disciplinary action by any
other state, federal agency, or the District of Columbia;<br><br>(4) Disclose, to all involved,
conflicts of interest regarding confidentiality requirements;<br><br>(5) Receive appropriate
written authorization to provide counseling services for minors or other clients unable to give
informed consent;<br><br>(6) Protect the interests of minors or other clients unable to give
informed consent;<br><br>(7) Maintain accurate records;<br><br>(8) Provide supervision to
supervisees as required under COMAR 10.58.01, 10.58.07, and 10.58.08;<br><br>(9) Make
arrangements for another appropriate professional to act in the event of an absence of the
counselor;<br><br>(10) Provide lawfully requested treatment reports or evaluations, or both,
to a client, insurance carriers, courts systems, institutions, or other authorized
persons;<br><br>(11) Be familiar with and adhere to this chapter;<br><br>(12) Report
suspected violations of Health Occupations Article, Title 17, Annotated Code of Maryland, to
the Board;<br><br>(13) Cooperate with investigations, proceedings, and other requirements
of the Board; and<br><br>(14) Take reasonable precautions to protect clients from physical
or psychological trauma.
● .04 Ethical Responsibility.<br>A counselor may not:<br>(3 things). Answer: (1)
Knowingly associate with, or permit the use of the professional counselor's name or firm name
in a business venture by any person or firm which the professional counselor knows, or has
reason to believe, is engaging in business or professional practices of a fraudulent or
dishonest nature;<br><br>(2) Participate in dishonest, fraudulent, or deceitful activity in the
capacity of a counselor; or<br><br>(3) Enter into relationships that could compromise a
counselor's objectivity or create a conflict of interest.
● .04 Ethical Responsibility.<br>C. A counselor involved in research shall:<br>(4
things). Answer: (1) Respect and protect the dignity, privacy, and welfare of research
subjects;<br><br>(2) Comply with existing federal and State laws and regulations concerning
treatment of research subjects;<br><br>(3) Take responsibility for the ethical treatment of
research participants by others directly and reasonably related to the research;
and<br><br>(4) Clearly indicate to prospective recipients treatment given as part of a
research study and obtain written permission in advance of treatment.
● .05 The Counseling Relationship.<br><br>A. Client Welfare and Rights.<br><br>(1) A
counselor shall:<br>(5 things). Answer: (a) Inform clients of the purposes, goals,
techniques, procedures, limitations, potential risks, and benefits of services to be
performed;<br><br>(b) Explain to clients the implications of diagnosis, the intended use of
tests and reports, fees, and billing arrangements;<br><br>(c) Document attempts to inform
other professional persons concurrently providing mental health services to a
client;<br><br>(d) Assist clients in making appropriate arrangements for the continuation of
GUIDE COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026 FULL
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
● Dual Relationship. Answer: means a relationship in which a counselor is simultaneously
involved in more than one type of relationship with a client
● Impaired Counselor. Answer: a counselor who cannot perform the counselor's job due to
substance abuse, or psychological or physical illness
● Sexual exploitation. Answer: means a counselor taking advantage of an unequal
relationship between a counselor and a client, student, or supervisee, and not permitting the
autonomy of a client, student or supervisee
● Sexual Harassment. Answer: a deliberate or repeated comment, advance, gesture,
solicitation, request, or physical contact of a sexual nature
● Therapeutic Deception. Answer: means a representation by a counselor that sexual
contact or sexual activity by or with a client is consistent with or part of a client's treatment
● Professional Competence <br>A. A counselor shall:<br>(3 things). Answer: (1)
Practice only within the boundaries of a counselor's competence, based on education,
training, supervised experience, and professional credentials;<br><br>(2) When developing
competence in a new service or technique, or both, engage in ongoing consultation with other
counselors or relevant professionals and acquire appropriate additional education or training,
or both, in the new area; and<br><br>(3) Maintain qualifications to practice counseling,
including meeting the continuing education requirements established by the Board.
● .03 Professional Competence.<br>An impaired counselor shall:<br>(2 things).
Answer: (1) Suspend, terminate, or limit professional activities if the counselor determines that
he or she is unable to continue professional activities; or<br><br>(2) Seek competent
professional assistance to determine whether to suspend, terminate, or limit the scope of
professional or scientific activities if a counselor becomes or is made aware that personal
problems interfere with providing or conducting counseling or therapy services.
● .04 Ethical Responsibility.<br><br>A. A counselor shall:<br>(14 Things). Answer: (1)
Consult with other counselors or other relevant professionals regarding questions related to
ethical obligations or professional practice;<br><br>(2) Take credit only for professional work
, actually performed;<br><br>(3) Notify the Board if the counselor's license, or certificate, or
both, has been limited, restricted, suspended, revoked, or subject to disciplinary action by any
other state, federal agency, or the District of Columbia;<br><br>(4) Disclose, to all involved,
conflicts of interest regarding confidentiality requirements;<br><br>(5) Receive appropriate
written authorization to provide counseling services for minors or other clients unable to give
informed consent;<br><br>(6) Protect the interests of minors or other clients unable to give
informed consent;<br><br>(7) Maintain accurate records;<br><br>(8) Provide supervision to
supervisees as required under COMAR 10.58.01, 10.58.07, and 10.58.08;<br><br>(9) Make
arrangements for another appropriate professional to act in the event of an absence of the
counselor;<br><br>(10) Provide lawfully requested treatment reports or evaluations, or both,
to a client, insurance carriers, courts systems, institutions, or other authorized
persons;<br><br>(11) Be familiar with and adhere to this chapter;<br><br>(12) Report
suspected violations of Health Occupations Article, Title 17, Annotated Code of Maryland, to
the Board;<br><br>(13) Cooperate with investigations, proceedings, and other requirements
of the Board; and<br><br>(14) Take reasonable precautions to protect clients from physical
or psychological trauma.
● .04 Ethical Responsibility.<br>A counselor may not:<br>(3 things). Answer: (1)
Knowingly associate with, or permit the use of the professional counselor's name or firm name
in a business venture by any person or firm which the professional counselor knows, or has
reason to believe, is engaging in business or professional practices of a fraudulent or
dishonest nature;<br><br>(2) Participate in dishonest, fraudulent, or deceitful activity in the
capacity of a counselor; or<br><br>(3) Enter into relationships that could compromise a
counselor's objectivity or create a conflict of interest.
● .04 Ethical Responsibility.<br>C. A counselor involved in research shall:<br>(4
things). Answer: (1) Respect and protect the dignity, privacy, and welfare of research
subjects;<br><br>(2) Comply with existing federal and State laws and regulations concerning
treatment of research subjects;<br><br>(3) Take responsibility for the ethical treatment of
research participants by others directly and reasonably related to the research;
and<br><br>(4) Clearly indicate to prospective recipients treatment given as part of a
research study and obtain written permission in advance of treatment.
● .05 The Counseling Relationship.<br><br>A. Client Welfare and Rights.<br><br>(1) A
counselor shall:<br>(5 things). Answer: (a) Inform clients of the purposes, goals,
techniques, procedures, limitations, potential risks, and benefits of services to be
performed;<br><br>(b) Explain to clients the implications of diagnosis, the intended use of
tests and reports, fees, and billing arrangements;<br><br>(c) Document attempts to inform
other professional persons concurrently providing mental health services to a
client;<br><br>(d) Assist clients in making appropriate arrangements for the continuation of
