HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4456

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, September 8, 2025.

The committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 383) of Ryan M. Hamilton and Andres X. Vargas relative to expanding licensure opportunities for school counselors, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 4456) ought to pass.

For the committee,

TACKEY CHAN.

        FILED ON: 8/20/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4456

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act expanding licensure opportunity for school counselors.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. The first paragraph of section 165 of chapter 112 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out clause (3) and inserting in place thereof the following clause:-  (3) demonstrates to the board, the successful completion of a masters degree in a relevant field from an educational institution licensed by the state in which it is located and meets national standards for granting of a masters degree with a subspecialization in marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, counseling, or a relevant subspecialization approved by the board; provided, however, that all relevant graduate coursework credits, as determined by the board, that an individual earns that count towards the credit requirement for professional licensure as specialized instructional support personnel, which is inclusive of school counselors, school social workers, adjustment counselors, and school psychologists, by the department of elementary and secondary education shall be applied towards this educational requirement for applicants seeking licensure as a mental health counselor, including credits earned in a graduate program that is less than 60 credits. To be eligible for licensure, an applicant must have two additional years of supervised clinical experience in the relevant field in either a clinic or hospital licensed by the department of mental health or accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals or in an equivalent center or institute under the direction of a supervisor approved by the board; provided, that any applicant seeking licensure as a mental health counselor who applies graduate coursework or clinical experience as specialized instructional support personnel licensed by the department of elementary and secondary education shall also demonstrate completion of evidence-based training in suicide prevention or intervention. Such training may be completed as part of a graduate program, professional development, or continuing education approved by the board. For purposes of this clause, “Supervision” shall be defined as no less than 200 hours of supervised clinical experience, including experience as a specialized instructional support personnel licensed by the department of elementary and secondary education, at least 100 hours of which shall consist of individual supervision with a clinician who has expertise in marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, educational psychology, social work, or counseling and who holds a masters degree in social work, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, educational psychology, counseling or an equivalent field or holds a doctorate degree in psychology, or a medical degree with a subspecialization in psychiatry; provided, however, that experience as specialized instructional support personnel shall only apply towards the supervised experience requirement for applicants who are seeking licensure as a mental health counselor; and provided further, that experience as a school counselor may be supervised by an individual who holds a masters in school counseling and is duly licensed as a mental health counselor;

SECTION 2. Said section 165 of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “section”, in line 30, the following words:- provided, however, that  specialized instructional support personnel, which includes but is not limited to school counselors, shall be qualified to sit for the written or oral examination for licensure as a mental health counselor.