SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2473
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
SENATE, October 19, 2023.
The committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, to whom was
referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 210) of Pavel M. Payano for legislation
to expand licensure opportunity for school counselors; and (accompanied by bill, House, No.
3915) of Andres X. Vargas and Ryan M. Hamilton relative to expanding licensure opportunities
for school counselors, reports the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2473).
For the committee,
John J. Cronin 1 of 2
FILED ON: 10/16/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2473
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
_______________
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:
1 SECTION 1. The first paragraph of section 165 of chapter 112 of the General Laws, as
2appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out clause (3) and inserting
3in place thereof the following clause:-
4 (3) demonstrates to the board, the successful completion of a masters degree in a relevant
5field from an educational institution licensed by the state in which it is located and meets
6national standards for granting of a masters degree with a subspecialization in marriage and
7family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, counseling, or a relevant subspecialization approved by
8the board; provided, however, that all relevant graduate coursework credits, as determined by the
9board, that an individual earns that count towards the credit requirement for professional
10licensure as a school counselor by the department of elementary and secondary education shall
11be applied towards this educational requirement for applicants seeking licensure as a mental
12health counselor, including credits earned in a graduate program that is less than 60 credits. To
13be eligible for licensure, an applicant must have two additional years of supervised clinical
14experience in the relevant field in: either a clinic or hospital licensed by the department of mental 2 of 2
15health or the department of public health or accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation
16of Hospitals or in an equivalent center or institute under the direction of a supervisor approved
17by the board. For purposes of this clause, “Supervision” shall be defined as no less than two
18hundred hours of supervised clinical experience, at least one hundred hours of which shall
19consist of individual supervision with a clinician who has expertise in marriage and family
20therapy, rehabilitation counseling, educational psychology, or counseling and who holds a
21masters degree in social work, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling,
22educational psychology, counseling or an equivalent field or holds a doctorate degree in
23psychology, or a medical degree with a subspecialization in psychiatry. A maximum one
24hundred hours may be completed in a school setting as a school counselor licensed by the
25department of elementary and secondary education; provided, however, that experience as a
26school counselor shall only apply towards the supervised experience requirement for applicants
27who are seeking licensure as a mental health counselor; and provided, however, that experience
28as a school counselor may be supervised by an individual who holds a masters in school
29counseling and is duly licensed as a mental health counselor;
30 SECTION 2. Said section 165 of said chapter 112, as so appearing, is hereby further
31amended by inserting after the word “section”, in line 30, the following words:- provided,
32however, that a school counselor shall be qualified to sit for the written or oral examination for
33licensure as a mental health counselor.