Counseling Degrees & Licenses in Massachusetts

“By preparing early and staying informed about licensing requirements, you’ll be well-positioned to succeed in your counseling career.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​”

Maria Rheba Estante, MA

According to Resources To Recover, Massachusetts is the third most densely populated state in the nation, with a population of nearly seven million people. They say that close to 4 percent of the adults in Massachusetts live with serious mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression.

Just over half of the adults with mental illness in Massachusetts receive any form of treatment, even though, according to Mental Health America, Massachusetts is ranked second out of the 50 states and Washington, DC for providing access to mental health services.

Massachusetts closely regulates the people who receive counseling degrees and licenses. The Department of Mental Health administers and provides public mental health services in Massachusetts. A separate agency, the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, oversees substance use and addiction treatment services in Massachusetts.

In Massachusetts, marriage therapists and mental health counselors must have master’s degrees to practice in the state. For those who have decided that a career in the mental health field is their calling, the first step is to achieve a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college. Massachusetts requires a 60-credit master’s degree from a regionally accredited graduate program in mental health counseling or a related field.

The state also requires that licensees accrue 3,360 hours of supervised post-master’s work in the mental health counseling field and a passing score on the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination, followed by applying for the LMHC License through the state of Massachusetts. Note that the Massachusetts requirements on counseling degrees and licenses do not accept more than 35 hours per week for 48 weeks a year. Thus, licensees cannot count more than 35 hours per week even if they worked more than one job simultaneously.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides data for long-term career outlooks, and counseling careers are growing faster than most. The base employment for marriage and family therapists was 63,340 in May 2023. Those openings are expected to grow by 12,300 nationally between 2023 and 2033. The BLS also predicts that job openings for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors will grow 19 percent nationally from 2023 to 2033. This growth rate is considered to be much faster than the average projected growth for all occupations during the same period (4 percent). And within that growth rate is also higher-than-average growth for specialized mental health careers.

For example, the BLS career outlook for rehabilitation counselors, who help people with physical, mental, developmental, or emotional disabilities, is a 2 percent growth rate (2023-2033). School and career counselor jobs are expected to increase by 4 percent.

Read on to discover the many schools offering programs for accredited counseling degrees and licensure in Massachusetts.

New York University
Northwestern University
Grand Canyon University

Meet the Expert: Maria Rheba Estante, MA

Maria Rheba Estante is a highly experienced licensed marriage and family therapist at Open Mind Health, practicing in California, Hawaii, Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Virginia. She is also a registered out-of-state telehealth provider for residents of Hawaii and other states. With a comprehensive background in community mental health, mobile crisis intervention, and substance abuse counseling, Estante has extensive experience working in various clinical settings, including county outpatient clinics, veterans service organizations, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs at methadone clinics.

Estante holds a master’s degree in psychology from Golden Gate University and is certified in multiple therapeutic disciplines. She is a certified level one solutions-focused therapist, a certified level 2 clinical trauma professional (CCTP), a certified grief informed professional (CGP), a certified clinical anxiety treatment professional (CCATP), and a certified CBT clinician (CBT-C). 

Additionally, she has specialized training in exposure and response prevention (ERP) for OCD and habit reversal training for repetitive body-focused behaviors, such as trichotillomania and excoriation. She offers telehealth services to residents across the states she is licensed and registered in, providing accessible mental health care to many clients.

CounselingSchools.com: How has graduating from a counseling program enhanced your career?

Estante: Graduating from a counseling program enhanced my career—it completely changed the trajectory of my professional life. Becoming a licensed therapist is my second career. Before attending graduate school at Golden Gate University in San Francisco, I spent a decade working in public relations and conference production. It was a great experience, but I felt called to do something more personally fulfilling. 

CounselingSchools.com: What is one piece of advice you would give to a prospective counseling student?

Estante: Becoming a licensed professional requires dedication and hard work. It involves completing specific education and training requirements, as well as passing a licensing exam to practice independently. 

The one piece of advice I would give a prospective counseling student is to start studying for the licensing exam before you graduate. Look at copies of old tests and stay on top of changes to licensing requirements that impact the content on the test. 

Also, keep in mind that California is the only state that has its own LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) exam. If you plan to practice elsewhere in the US, you may need to be prepared to take the National MFT exam. When I applied for a Massachusetts LMFT license by reciprocity, the state board required me to pass the National Exam, even after being licensed in California for almost two years. It’s important to research the specific requirements for the state where you intend to practice, as they can vary significantly. By preparing early and staying informed about licensing requirements, you’ll be well-positioned to succeed in your counseling career.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Accredited Counseling Degree Programs in Massachusetts

Assumption University

Assumption University is a small private Roman Catholic university with about 2,000 students. It offers online and in-person classes for some of its programs.

Their rehabilitation program is both in-person and online, conferring either a master of arts or a certificate of advanced graduate study (CAGS). The school counseling program is also available online, conferring the same degree options. The master of arts in clinical counseling psychology is a 60-credit, in-person program.

Notably, Assumption’s clinical counseling psychology program has the only master of arts (MA) offering a fully integrated curriculum based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in the United States. This on-campus program includes courses such as abnormal psychology; developmental psychology; ethical principles for counselors; cultural competencies in counseling; group approaches to counseling and psychotherapy; and cognitive assessment and psychotherapy.

The 60-credit rehabilitation counseling program includes courses such as an introduction to developmental disabilities, substance abuse and addictive disorders in rehabilitation, rehabilitation research and program evaluation, foundations of the rehabilitation counseling profession, introduction to medical rehabilitation, vocational evaluation and career planning, and principles of psychiatric rehabilitation.

The 60-credit school counseling program offers courses in fundamentals of school counseling, cultural responsiveness in counseling, family counseling, collaboration and engagement, vocational, career, and college counseling, developmental psychopathology, and behavioral assessment and intervention.

  • Location: Worcester, Massachusetts
  • Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); rehabilitation counseling program (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)); clinical counseling psychology program (Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC))
  • Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, full- or part-time, two or three years

Boston University – School of Medicine

Graduate Medical Sciences (GMS) is the center of graduate education in biomedical sciences at Boston University School of Medicine. Students benefit from the school’s collaboration with the Boston Medical Center.

The master of arts in mental health counseling and behavioral medicine is a two-year, full-time, in-person program and is the only accredited program housed in a medical school. The program requires a semester-long clinical practicum and a year-long internship that culminates in the graduate being eligible for mental health counseling licensure in Massachusetts and in some other states.

This 60-credit program includes counseling techniques, psychopathology, the theory and practice of child and adolescent counseling, neuroscience for mental health professionals, psychopharmacology, psychological trauma across the lifespan, behavioral medicine and applied health psychology, marriage and family counseling, and career and vocational counseling.

  • Location: Boston, Massachusetts
  • Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
  • Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, two years

Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater State University is a public university and is the largest of nine state universities in Massachusetts. The school offers several counseling degree program options. Students can choose from the following:

  • A master of education in counseling with a concentration in mental health counseling
  • A master of education, dual license concentration in counseling and mental health counseling 
  • A master of education in counseling with a concentration in school counseling 
  • A master of education in counseling with a concentration in student affairs counseling 
  • A counseling and school counseling post-master’s option

Bridgewater’s graduate programs are designed for working students, with classes and faculty office hours held at night. Students can take up to two classes at Bridgewater before formally applying to the graduate programs.

The CACREp-accredited mental health counseling concentration comprises 60 credits and can be completed in just two years. Courses include counseling theories and techniques; multicultural counseling; introduction to career counseling; marital and family therapy; crisis and trauma counseling; applied counseling: adolescent-adult; substance use and addiction disorders; theories of psychological development; and psychopathology. Students will also be able to pursue elective coursework, fieldwork, and internship experiences at clinical sites throughout southeastern Massachusetts.

  • Location: Bridgewater, Massachusetts
  • Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
  • Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits or 66 credits for the dual licensure, two years

Springfield College

Springfield College is a private college in Springfield, Massachusetts. The college calls itself the birthplace of basketball, stating that the sport was invented there in 1891 by a student. Springfield’s Department of Counseling offers master’s degree concentrations in clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, and rehabilitation counseling. Springfield’s rehabilitation counseling program is the only concentration that is CACREP-accredited.

Ranked at #19 among the best rehabilitation counseling programs in the nation by the U.S. News & World Report, the rehabilitation counseling concentration comprises 60 credits. It includes a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship. Courses include foundations of rehabilitation counseling; theories of counseling; medical & psychosocial aspects; case management & rehab planning; psychopathology; vocational rehab & job placement; trauma & crisis; and counseling skill development.

  • Location: Springfield, Massachusetts; Boston, Massachusetts
  • Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); rehabilitation counseling (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP))
  • Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, two to three years

University of Massachusetts Boston

The University of Massachusetts Boston is a public research university in Boston, Massachusetts, and they pride themselves on being the third most diverse university in the United States. Undergraduate students studying human services, psychology, social psychology, sociology, or criminal justice can save time and money by starting work toward a master of science in rehabilitation counseling while still an undergraduate.

The rehabilitation counseling program allows students to choose either the clinical rehabilitation counseling track (prepares graduates to work with people with mental health disabilities, as well as other disabilities) or the vocational rehabilitation counseling track (prepares graduates to work in the federal or state vocational rehabilitation system and in community rehabilitation programs). Courses in this program are primarily online, except for the one-week intensive program on the UMass Boston campus.

The curriculum of the rehabilitation counseling program includes courses such as foundations of rehabilitation; medical, psychological, & educational aspects of disabilities; case management and planning in rehabilitation; vocational rehabilitation and placement; psychiatric rehabilitation; and motivational interviewing.

The on-campus master of education in mental health counseling program meets the educational requirements for licensure as Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The online mental health counseling program requires the completion of two in-person two-week intensive residency courses completed during the first summer semester.

  • Location: Boston, Massachusetts
  • Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); mental health counseling (Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC); rehabilitation counseling (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP))
  • Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, two to three years

Lesley University

Lesley University is a private university with programs focusing on education, counseling, and the visual arts. Lesley’s counseling program includes clinical mental health counseling; a holistic clinical mental health counseling program that incorporates spiritual interconnectedness; a clinical mental health counseling program with a concentration in school and community counseling; and a clinical mental health counseling program with a concentration in trauma studies. In addition, the school also has a counseling psychology program with a school counseling specialization.

The master of arts program in clinical mental health counseling comprises 60 credits and is offered in Cambridge and off-campus sites in Massachusetts. Students in this program can choose either the one-internship option, where they will engage in 700 hours of supervised internship/field experience in a clinical setting over two semesters or the two-internship option, where they will engage in 1,300 hours of supervised internships/field experiences in clinical or school settings over four semesters.

The curriculum includes courses such as psychopathology; group dynamics for counselors and consultants; developmental psychology across the lifespan; clinical skills and the counseling process; vocational development and career counseling; orientation to professional counseling and psychology; theories of counseling and psychotherapy; and theories of holistic counseling and psychotherapy.

  • Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
  • Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
  • Expected Time to Completion: clinical mental health counseling program (60 credits); counseling psychology program (48 credits); two to three years

William James College

William James College, formerly known as Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, is a private college of psychology. The school offers an on-campus and an online master of arts in clinical mental health counseling. They offer an area of emphasis in couples and family therapy for students interested in pursuing licensure as a marriage and family therapist. Other concentration options include forensic and correctional counseling; health and behavioral medicine; and substance use and addictions. The program can be completed full-time in five semesters (two years, including the summer session) or part-time in three years.

Online students attend asynchronous courses lasting seven weeks each. There are two required residencies for the online program. This 60-credit program combines synchronous and asynchronous courses with on-campus residencies and in-person field education over the summer to provide students the flexibility of an online program and the benefits of in-person experiences.

The curriculum includes courses such as theories of counseling and psychotherapy; psychological assessment for counselors; psychopathology; substance use and addiction evaluation and treatment; introduction to family therapy; group counseling and psychotherapy; and career counseling.

  • Location: Newton, Massachusetts
  • Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
  • Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, two or three years, full-time or part-time

Westfield State University

Westfield State University is a public university founded in 1838 as the first public co-educational college in America to admit any students without barriers to race, gender, or economic class. Among the graduate degrees that Westfield offers are a master of arts in forensic mental health counseling; a master of arts in mental health counseling; a master of arts in school counseling, initial; and a master of arts in school adjustment counseling. Courses are offered during the evenings and/or late afternoon to accommodate working students.

The forensic mental health counseling program is designed to prepare graduates to work with the offender population. The school counseling, initial degree program is formerly known as school guidance counseling. While that program is a more traditional overall school counseling program, the school adjustment counseling prepares students to work more specifically within the fields of individual and small group counseling such as lunch groups or social skills groups; mediation and conflict resolution for students, parents, and school staff; bullying prevention, crisis intervention, and transitional services.

Completing the master of arts degree in mental health counseling is the starting step toward fulfillment of a mental health counselor license (LMHC) in Massachusetts. This program consists of 36 credits of core courses, 12 elective credits related to mental health counseling, and 12 internship credits (600 hours).

Classes include theories of counseling; ethics and standards in the mental health profession; evidence-based therapies in mental health counseling; counseling diverse populations; advanced counseling with supervision; principles of family counseling; and crisis intervention in schools and communities.

  • Location: Westfield, Massachusetts
  • Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
  • Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, three years

Regis College

Regis is a coed, Catholic university in Weston, Massachusetts, 12 miles west of Boston. Its master of arts degree in counseling has concentration options in clinical mental health counseling and addictions counseling. Once students complete Regis’s counseling program, pass the national exam, and complete the required supervised training hours, students are eligible for independent licensure designations of Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

Further, the addictions counseling degree option includes the recommended coursework to apply for the Licensed Addiction and Drug Counselor (LADC-I) exam for mental health addiction professionals, once fieldwork requirements are met. Regis College has applied for designation as an Addictions Education Program with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Regis’s master of arts in counseling degree meets the educational requirements to qualify students to sit for the Allied Mental Health Professional licensure exam in Massachusetts and most U.S. states. The programs are offered in flexible hybrid learning formats, as well as hands-on field experiences, for meeting the needs of working professionals and those engaging in graduate education full-time.

The program’s 60-credit curriculum includes courses such as mental health across the lifespan development; psychopathology and diagnostic assessment; treating addictions; expressive therapies and complementary treatments; gender and mental health disparities; forensic counseling; behavioral and process addictions; addictions, advocacy, and social justice; and biology, psychopharmacology, and health care collaboration.

  • Location: Weston, Massachusetts
  • Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
  • Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, two years

University of Massachusetts Online

UMassOnline is the University of Massachusetts’s online education consortium featuring certificates and degree programs from UMass Amherst, UMass Boston, UMass Dartmouth, UMass Lowell, and UMass Medical School. The school’s master of education in counseling meets the academic requirements for certification in the state of Massachusetts as a School Counselor. The University of Massachusetts Global offers an online master of arts program in marriage and family therapy. 

Although the programs are online, two weeks of on-campus study are required to complete two clinical courses taught the first summer of the program, generally during the middle of July. The master of science in mental health program meets the academic requirements for mental health counseling licensure. Students can obtain additional licensure as a school adjustment counselor with an additional three credits.

UMass Boston’s Rehabilitation Counseling MA consists of two tracks: clinical rehabilitation counseling and vocational rehabilitation counseling. Both tracks in rehabilitation counseling are fully accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The program is designed for people interested in pursuing an advanced degree, national certification as a rehabilitation counselor, and partial requirements for state licensure as a rehabilitation counselor and/or mental health counselor. Rehabilitation counselors support people with disabilities to lead productive and fulfilling lives, including working at integrated and competitive jobs in their communities.

  • Location: Online, with in-person campuses in Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, and Lowell, Massachusetts
  • Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); rehabilitation counseling program (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP))
  • Expected Time to Completion: 60 credits, two to three years

How Much Do Counselors Make in Massachusetts?

These numbers represent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from May 2023—the latest figures available as of September 2024.

Marriage and Family Therapist Salaries

United StatesMassachusetts
Number employed63,340490
Average annual salary (mean)$68,730$55,460
10th percentile$39,090$38,680
25th percentile$45,250$44,740
50th percentile (median)$58,510$48,000
75th percentile$78,440$64,840
90th percentile$104,710$82,470

Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor Salaries

United StatesMassachusetts
Number employed397,88017,030
Average annual salary (mean)$60,080$59,780
10th percentile$36,700$37,490
25th percentile$44,600$45,870
50th percentile (median)$53,710$52,410
75th percentile$70,130$69,580
90th percentile$89,920$84,870

Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor Salaries

United StatesMassachusetts
Number employed327,6608,790
Average annual salary (mean)$66,990$76,860
10th percentile$40,140$46,450
25th percentile$45,250$59,430
50th percentile (median)$61,710$76,500
75th percentile$78,440$93,570
90th percentile$100,050$104,400

Rehabilitation Counselor Salaries

United StatesMassachusetts
Number employed84,750Estimate not released
Average annual salary (mean)$48,430$54,020
10th percentile$31,390$34,120
25th percentile$36,440$35,730
50th percentile (median)$44,040$47,840
75th percentile$56,610$65,690
90th percentile$73,710$84,290

All Other Counselors

United StatesMassachusetts
Number employed35,580100
Average annual salary (mean)$52,360$60,600
10th percentile$33,300$43,430
25th percentile$38,890$46,050
50th percentile (median)$46,130$59,890
75th percentile$59,340$65,250
90th percentile$79,880$85,200

Counseling Professional Associations & Resources in Massachusetts

  • Massachusetts Association for Mental Health
  • Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association
  • Massachusetts Psychological Association
  • Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership
  • Massachusetts Affiliate of the National Association for Addiction Professionals
  • Counseling Associates of Massachusetts & New Hampshire
  • Massachusetts Psychological Association
  • New England Association for College Admission Counseling

Mental Health Counseling (LMHC) Licenses in Massachusetts: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
Massachusetts Board of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) is the primary license issued to counselors in Massachusetts. The requirements are:

  • A master’s degree in counseling of at least 60 semester-hours including a seven-week and 100-hour practicum, consisting of 40 hours of client contact and 25 hours of direct supervision, and a 600-hour internship, consisting of 240 hours of client contact and 45 hours of direct supervision. A Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) certificate can be substituted for education
  • 3,360 total hours of post-graduate supervised work experience, with a minimum of 960 hours of direct client contact and 130 hours of supervision.
  • A background check
  • A passing NCMHCE score
  • A photo of the applicant
  • A $117 application fee
  • Two professional references

Counseling licenses must be renewed biennially on December 31st of odd-numbered years. Renewals cost $155. Counselors must complete 30 hours of continuing education each renewal cycle.

School Counseling Licenses in Massachusetts

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education issues professional support personnel licenses to school counselors.

The requirements for an initial license are:

  • Complete a master’s degree in counseling
  • Meet the Subject Matter Knowledge Guidelines
  • Complete a 450-hour practicum in an educational setting
  • Have a passing score on the Communication and Literacy Skills test

The requirements for the professional license are:

  • Hold an initial license
  • Complete three years of work experience as a school counselor
  • Complete either 60 semester credits of graduate coursework in school counseling, mental health or psychology or earn a National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) National Board for School Counseling certificate

Professional school counselor licenses issued in Massachusetts are valid for five years. The cost to renew is $25. School counselors must complete 150 professional development points (with a minimum of 15 in ESL, sheltered English Immersion or bilingual education) and another 15 in special education or diverse learning styles.

Initial licenses are also valid for five years but may only be renewed at the discretion of the board.

Substance Abuse Counseling Licenses in Massachusetts

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
Massachusetts Board of Substance Abuse Counselor Certification (MBSACC)

Certified Alcoholism Counselor (CAC), Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor, (CADC), and Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor – Advanced (CADC – II) are the three levels of substance abuse counselor certificates issued by the Massachusetts Board of Substance Abuse Counselor Certification (MBSACC).

CAC certification candidates must:

  • Pass the ADC exam from IC&RC
  • Submit a completed application
  • Pay the $300 exam fee, $125 application fee, and $60 certificate issuance fee
  • Sign the professional code of conduct and ethics form
  • Complete 180 hours of continuing education training related to the substance abuse field (70 hours must be in counseling techniques and training, another 70 hours in alcohol and drug specific studies, and six hours must be in ethics)
  • Complete two years (4,000 hours) of work experience in alcohol and drug abuse treatment; a minimum of six months must be completed in one facility under one supervisor
  • Have 220 hours of documented supervision with a minimum of ten hours in four specific domains

CADC certification candidates must:

  • Pass the ADC exam from IC&RC
  • Submit a completed application
  • Pay the $300 exam fee, $125 application fee, and $60 certificate issuance fee
  • Sign the professional code of conduct and ethics form
  • Complete 300 hours of continuing education training related to the substance abuse field (120 hours must be in counseling techniques and training, another 120 hours in alcohol and drug specific studies, and 10 hours must be in ethics)
  • Complete one year (2,000 hours) of work experience in alcohol and drug abuse treatment; a minimum of six months must be completed in one facility under one supervisor (applicants with an associate degree in behavioral sciences may waive 1,000 hours; those with a bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences may waive 2,000 hours; and those with a master’s degree or higher may waive 4,000 hours)
  • Have documented supervision hours with a minimum of ten hours in four specific domains (300 hours of supervision are required for candidates with a high school diploma or GED; 250 hours for those with associate’s degree in the behavioral sciences field; 200 hours of supervision for those with a bachelor’s degree in the behavioral sciences field; and 100 hours of supervision for those with a master’s or higher degree in counseling or a closely related field)

CADC- II certification candidates must:

  • Pass the AADC exam from IC&RC
  • Submit a completed application
  • Pay the $300 exam fee, $125 application fee, and $60 certificate issuance fee
  • Sign the professional code of conduct and ethics form
  • Earn a master’s in behavioral health with a clinical application from an accredited institution
  • Complete 180 hours of alcohol and drug counselor specific continuing education; six hours must be specific to counselor ethics
  • Complete one year (2,000 hours) of work experience in alcohol and drug abuse treatment; a minimum of six months must be completed in one facility under one supervisor
  • Have 300 hours of documented supervision with a minimum of ten hours in four specific domains

All substance abuse certificates issued by the MBSACC expire after two years.

Renewals cost $100 and counselors must complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years. A minimum of 20 hours must be completed in formal courses, workshops, or classes.

Rehabilitation Counseling Licenses in Massachusetts

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements

Massachusetts Board of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) is the primary license issued to rehabilitation counselors in Massachusetts.

The requirements are:

  • A master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling (or a related field) of at least 60 semester hours, including a seven-week and 100-hour practicum, consisting of 40 hours of client contact and 25 hours of direct supervision, and a 600-hour internship, consisting of 240 hours of client contact and 45 hours of direct supervision. A Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) certificate can be substituted for education.
  • 3,360 total hours of post-graduate supervised work experience, with a minimum of 960 hours of direct client contact and 130 hours of supervision.
  • A background check
  • A passing NCMHCE score
  • A photo of the applicant
  • A $117 application fee
  • Two professional references

Counseling licenses must be renewed biennially on December 31st of odd-numbered years. Renewals cost $155. Counselors must complete 30 hours of continuing education each renewal cycle.

Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Licenses in Massachusetts

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professionals

The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professionals licenses Assistant Applied Behavior Analysts and Applied Behavior Analysts.

To qualify, Assistant Applied Behavior Analyst license applicants must:

  • Have a BCaBA certification
  • Submit a completed application
  • Pay $117 application fee and $155 initial licensure fee
  • Send a recent 2×2 color photograph
  • Meet coursework requirements
  • Complete 1,000 hours of fieldwork, 670 hours of a university-supervised practicum, or 500 hours of a university-supervised intensive practicum
  • Submit completed and notarized Criminal Offender Record Information Request form

The requirements for an Applied Behavior Analyst are:

  • Have a BCBA certification
  • Submit an online application
  • Provide official transcripts of all graduate education
  • Pay $117 application fee and $155 initial licensure fee
  • Send recent 2×2 color photograph
  • Submit a completed and notarized Criminal Offender Record Information Request form

Both Assistant Applied Behavior Analyst and Applied Behavior Analyst licenses issued in Massachusetts expire on December 31st of odd-numbered years. The cost to renew is $155.

All behavior analysts are required to complete 30 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle.

Marriage and Family Therapy Licenses in Massachusetts

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
Massachusetts Board of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions

The Massachusetts Board of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions credentials Marriage and Family Therapists.

Candidates must:

  • Hold a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy of at least 60 semester-hours, including a practicum of 300 hours of client contact and 100 hours of direct supervision (clinical membership with the AAMFT can be substituted for education)
  • Have two years and 3,360 total hours of post-graduate supervised work experience with a minimum of 200 hours of supervision
  • Pass a background check
  • Pass the AMFTRB exam
  • Send a photo
  • Pay a $155 application fee
  • Provide two professional references

Marriage and family therapy licenses issued in Massachusetts must be renewed by December 31st of odd-numbered years. Renewals cost $155.

Counselors must complete 30 hours of continuing education each renewal cycle.

Child (Pediatric) Behavioral Therapy Licenses in Massachusetts

Licensing AuthorityEligibility & DetailsRenewal Requirements
Massachusetts Board of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) is the primary license issued to child therapists in Massachusetts.

The requirements are:

  • A master’s degree in counseling of at least 60 semester-hours including a seven-week and 100-hour practicum, consisting of 40 hours of client contact and 25 hours of direct supervision, and a 600-hour internship, consisting of 240 hours of client contact and 45 hours of direct supervision. A Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) certificate can be substituted for education
  • 3,360 total hours of post-graduate supervised work experience, with a minimum of 960 hours of direct client contact and 130 hours of supervision.
  • A background check
  • A passing NCMHCE score
  • A photo of the applicant
  • A $117 application fee and $155 license fee
  • Two professional references

Counseling licenses must be renewed biennially on December 31st of odd-numbered years. Renewals cost $155. Counselors must complete 30 hours of continuing education each renewal cycle.

Rachel Drummond, MEd

Rachel Drummond, MEd

Writer

Rachel Drummond has used her expertise in education and mindfulness to guide aspiring counselors since 2020. Her work emphasizes the importance of integrating reflective mindfulness into counseling techniques, helping readers understand how mental and physical well-being can enhance their professional practice and personal development in counseling.

Rachel is a writer, educator, and coach from Oregon. She has a master’s degree in education (MEd) and has over 15 years of experience teaching English, public speaking, and mindfulness to international audiences in the United States, Japan, and Spain. She writes about the mind-body benefits of contemplative movement practices like yoga on her blog, inviting people to prioritize their unique version of well-being and empowering everyone to live healthier and more balanced lives.

Vanessa Salvia

Vanessa Salvia

Writer

Vanessa Salvia is an Oregon-based freelance writer and editor with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. As fun as rigorous studies in math and science were, Vanessa took an independent path and developed a prolific career covering lifestyle and healthcare topics for magazines and newspapers, important industries such as concrete construction and building waterproofing, and even hard science. You can get in touch at Sage Media and Marketing.