Laminate composite structures are widely used in different sectors of industry due to their remarkable stiffness and damping performance. The present study focuses on the damping identification and prediction for laminated composite plates. The damping model based on the strain energy method was used for damping coefficients identification and for modal loss factor prediction. The study concerns with the damping coefficients identification for a single layer of an unidirectionally laminated plate. The reliability of the proposed identification method is validated by numerical modal loss factor prediction for a plate made of the layers in question but having different geometric characteristics. Further, the predictions of the modal loss factors were also validated by a vibration test. All the vibration tests necessary for the current study were performed in a non contact manner using laser vibrometer. The results delivered from the identification method were proven to be credible for modal loss factor prediction.