Massachusetts Counselor and Therapist Licensure Renewal Dates and CE Requirements

Navigating the licensure renewal process for counselors and therapists in Massachusetts can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to understanding the specific renewal dates and continuing education (CE) requirements. Whether you are a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), marriage and family therapist (LMFT), or rehabilitation counselor in the state, keeping track of these regulations is crucial for maintaining your practice and ensuring compliance with state laws. Missing a deadline or failing to meet the CE requirements can have serious consequences, including penalties or the loss of your license.

Massachusetts requires that counselors and therapists renew their licenses on a regular basis, typically every two years, depending on the specific license type. Along with the renewal process comes the need to complete a set number of continuing education hours. These CE hours ensure that professionals remain up-to-date with the latest developments, techniques, and ethical standards in the field of counseling and therapy.

Each license type has its own CE criteria, and it’s important for professionals to stay informed on these requirements to avoid any disruptions in their ability to practice.

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1) Key Massachusetts Counselor and Therapist Licensure Renewal Dates

In Massachusetts, the credentialing and licensure requirements for counselors and therapists are governed by the Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions. The board issues licenses for Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), Licensed Rehabilitation Counselors (LRC), and Licensed Educational Psychologists (LEP).

Below is an overview of the key credentialing requirements for these professions, as well as licensure renewal details, costs, and fees for each type of license.

Credentials and Licensure Requirements

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
- Education Requirements: Master’s or doctoral degree in counseling or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.
- Supervised Experience: 3,360 hours of post-master’s supervised clinical work over a minimum of two years.
- Examination: National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).
- Licensing Board: Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
- Education Requirements: Master’s or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.
- Supervised Experience: 3,360 hours of post-master’s supervised clinical work over a minimum of two years, with at least 1,000 hours in direct clinical services with individuals, couples, or families.
- Examination: The Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB) Examination.
- Licensing Board: Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions.
Licensed Rehabilitation Counselor (LRC)
- Education Requirements: Master’s or doctoral degree in rehabilitation counseling from an accredited institution.
- Supervised Experience: 3,360 hours of post-master’s supervised work experience in rehabilitation counseling.
- Examination: Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Examination (CRC) administered by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC).
- Licensing Board: Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions.
Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP)
- Education Requirements: Master’s or higher degree in school psychology or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.
- Supervised Experience: 2 years of full-time supervised experience (one year may be completed in an internship) in an educational setting.
- Examination: Pass the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL).
- Licensing Board: Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions.

Licensure Renewal Details and Fees

All licenses for LMHCs, LMFTs, LRCs, and LEPs must be renewed every two years. The following are the key requirements and associated fees:

License Renewal Period: Biennial (every two years).
Continuing Education (CE) Requirements:
- LMHC: 30 hours of continuing education (CE) credits.
- LMFT: 30 hours of CE credits.
- LRC: 30 hours of CE credits.
- LEP: 30 hours of CE credits.
A minimum of 6 hours must be focused on ethics, laws, and regulations pertinent to the profession. CE programs must be approved by a recognized provider, such as the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) or other professional associations.

License Renewal Fees and Application Costs

LMHC:
- Initial Application Fee: $117.
- Renewal Fee: $155.
LMFT:
- Initial Application Fee: $117.
- Renewal Fee: $155.
LRC:
- Initial Application Fee: $117.
- Renewal Fee: $155.
LEP:
- Initial Application Fee: $117.
- Renewal Fee: $155.

Additional Fees

Reinstatement Fee (if the license expires): $57.
Duplicate License Fee: $27.

Sources:

Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure – Board of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions:
https://www.mass.gov/orgs/board-of-registration-of-allied-mental-health-and-human-services-professions
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) CE Information:
https://www.nbcc.org/
Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB):
https://www.amftrb.org/
Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC):
https://www.crccertification.com/

Agents of Change Continuing Education offers Unlimited Access to 150+ NBCC-approved CE courses for one low annual fee to meet Massachusetts’ requirements for Counselor and Therapist Continuing Education credits.

2) Massachusetts Counselor and Therapist Continuing Education Requirements

In Massachusetts, continuing education (CE) is a critical requirement for the renewal of licenses for counselors and therapists. These CE requirements are in place to ensure that licensed professionals maintain and enhance their knowledge, skills, and competencies, staying up-to-date with developments in the mental health field.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the continuing education requirements for Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), Licensed Rehabilitation Counselors (LRC), and Licensed Educational Psychologists (LEP) in Massachusetts.

Continuing Education Requirements Overview

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
- Hours Required: 30 CE hours every two years.
- Content Areas: These hours must include education on ethics, law, and professional practice. Specifically, at least 6 of the 30 hours must focus on ethics and legal issues relevant to mental health counseling.
- Approved Providers: CE credits must come from programs approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) or other relevant accrediting bodies recognized by the Massachusetts licensing board.
- CE Format: Credits may be earned through in-person seminars, online courses, workshops, or other formats, as long as they meet the approval of the board or a recognized CE provider. Up to 25% of CE hours can be obtained via home study or online courses.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
- Hours Required: 30 CE hours every two years.
- Content Areas: Like LMHCs, LMFTs must include at least 6 hours of ethics training within their total CE requirements. Additionally, these hours should cover clinical developments in marriage and family therapy, assessment and treatment techniques, and other relevant areas.
- Approved Providers: The Massachusetts Board of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions accepts courses offered by recognized providers, such as the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) or other board-approved organizations.
- CE Format: LMFTs may complete a portion of their hours via distance learning or home study, but the majority should be from interactive or live programs. The board allows 25% of CE hours to be completed via online or home study formats.
Licensed Rehabilitation Counselor (LRC)
- Hours Required: 30 CE hours every two years.
- Content Areas: The CE requirements for LRCs include mandatory education on ethical and legal issues in rehabilitation counseling, with at least 6 hours specifically focusing on these topics. Additional hours should cover topics relevant to disability issues, vocational rehabilitation, and counseling techniques.
- Approved Providers: CE credits must be from programs approved by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) or other board-approved organizations. The Massachusetts board recognizes various national accrediting bodies.
- CE Format: A portion of the CE requirements may be fulfilled through home study or online courses, but, like other licenses, at least 75% must be interactive or in-person.
Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP)
- Hours Required: 30 CE hours every two years.
- Content Areas: Continuing education for LEPs must include a minimum of 6 hours on ethics and law. The remaining hours should focus on child and adolescent psychology, educational assessments, intervention techniques, and other relevant areas in educational psychology.
- Approved Providers: LEPs must obtain CE hours from approved providers, such as the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) or other board-recognized organizations.
- CE Format: LEPs may use a combination of in-person seminars, workshops, and online courses to meet their CE requirements. Up to 25% of the total CE hours can be completed via home study or online courses.

Additional Considerations for All Licensed Professionals

Documentation: All licensed professionals are required to retain documentation of their CE activities, including certificates of completion and proof of attendance. These records should be kept for at least four years and may be audited by the licensing board.
Ethics and Legal Training: Ethics and legal issues training is a mandatory component across all licenses, ensuring that professionals remain aware of the evolving ethical and legal landscape in mental health and therapeutic practice.
Renewal Deadline: CE hours must be completed before submitting a license renewal application, and failure to meet the CE requirements could result in a delay in the license renewal process or even suspension.

Approved CE Providers

Massachusetts recognizes CE credits from a range of accredited providers, including but not limited to:

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC)
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

These organizations offer various approved CE programs through in-person workshops, online platforms, conferences, and seminars.

Agents of Change Continuing Education is a great way to meet Massachusetts’ Counselor and Therapist CE requirements and track your completed CEs, with over 150 NBCC-approved courses that meet these requirements!

Agents of Change has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7620. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Agents of Change is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

3) FAQs – Massachusetts Counselor and Therapist Licensure Renewal and CEs

Q: What happens if I don’t complete my continuing education (CE) requirements before my license renewal date?

A: Failure to complete the required continuing education (CE) hours before your license renewal date can result in penalties, including the potential suspension of your license. In Massachusetts, licensed professionals such as LMHCs, LMFTs, LRCs, and LEPs are expected to complete 30 hours of CE every two years, including a mandatory 6 hours focused on ethics and legal issues.

If you do not meet this requirement, you may not be able to renew your license until you fulfill the CE hours. In some cases, the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions may impose a reinstatement fee and require additional documentation. It is advisable to track your CE progress regularly and complete your credits well before the renewal deadline.

Q: How do I know if a continuing education (CE) course is approved for my license renewal?

A: To ensure that your continuing education (CE) course is approved, it must be offered by a provider recognized by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions.

For counselors and therapists, organizations such as the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC), and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) are commonly accepted CE providers. Always verify that the course aligns with the specific requirements of your profession, including the mandatory ethics and legal components.

Many online platforms and organizations clearly state whether their courses are board-approved, but you can also contact the licensing board for confirmation. Agents of Change Continuing Education is approved for CE credit in Massachusetts through its NBCC approval.

Q: Can I carry over excess continuing education (CE) credits from one renewal period to the next?

A: No, Massachusetts does not allow the carryover of excess continuing education (CE) credits from one renewal cycle to the next. Each two-year renewal period requires the completion of 30 CE hours, regardless of how many additional hours you may have earned in the previous cycle.

This rule ensures that licensed counselors and therapists remain current with the latest developments in their field during each renewal period. Therefore, it’s essential to monitor your CE progress and plan accordingly to meet your 30-hour requirement within the designated timeframe.

Resources for CE: Agents of Change Continuing Education offers over 150 NBCC-approved courses that meet Massachusetts’ Counselor and Therapist CE requirements.

4) Conclusion

Maintaining licensure as a counselor or therapist in Massachusetts involves understanding and meeting specific renewal deadlines and continuing education (CE) requirements. Licensed professionals, including LMHCs, LMFTs, LRCs, and LEPs, must complete 30 hours of CE every two years, with at least 6 hours focused on ethics and legal issues. Keeping up with these educational standards ensures that you remain well-equipped to handle the evolving challenges in mental health and therapy while staying compliant with state regulations.

Timely completion of your CE credits is crucial for avoiding any interruptions in your ability to practice. By staying organized and proactive in tracking your CE hours, you can avoid the risks associated with late renewals or license suspension. Additionally, seeking out approved CE courses from recognized organizations such as the NBCC, AAMFT, and CRCC will help ensure that the credits you earn contribute toward your professional growth and licensure renewal.

Resources like Agents of Change Continuing Education provide accessible and varied learning opportunities for Counselors and Therapists to meet Continuing Education requirements. Learn more about Agents of Change Continuing Education.

We’ve helped thousands of Counselors and Therapists with their Continuing Education and want you to be next!

► Learn more about the Agents of Change Continuing Education here: Agents of Change Continuing Education

About the Instructor, Meagan Mitchell: Meagan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been providing Continuing Education for Counselors, Therapists, and Social Workersfor more than 10 years. From all of this experience helping others pass their exams, she created Agents of Change Continuing Education to help Counselors, Therapists, and Social Workers stay up-to-date on the latest trends, research, and techniques.

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Disclaimer: This content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment