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Bill

S 1382

An Act establishing a board of registration of licensed mental health counselors

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mike Brady and 1 co-sponsor

Massachusetts establishes a state board to license and regulate mental health counselors, creating professional standards and consumer protections for a previously unregulated counseling workforce.

Accompanied a study order, see S2972
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Bill Summary · S 1382

Legislative bill overview

S 1382 creates a new regulatory board to oversee the licensure and registration of mental health counselors in Massachusetts. This establishes formal credentialing standards, professional oversight, and disciplinary mechanisms for counselors who currently operate without state-level board regulation in most cases.

Why is this important

Professionalizing mental health counseling through state registration protects consumers by ensuring practitioners meet educational and ethical standards, addressing gaps in public accountability. This aligns Massachusetts with many other states that already license mental health counselors, potentially improving access to regulated care and insurance coverage options.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of practice boundaries: Defining which counselor activities overlap with psychologists, social workers, and psychiatrists could create professional turf conflicts and licensing disputes
  • Licensing cost and barriers: New registration requirements may increase overhead for small practitioners and counselors in underserved areas, potentially reducing access to affordable mental health services
  • Grandfather clause questions: Whether existing unlicensed counselors can practice while the board is established, and what transition period applies, remains unclear from the bill summary

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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