H 4456
An Act expanding licensure opportunity for school counselors
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- Passed House
- Passed Senate
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Bill overview
This bill aims to make it easier for school counselors in Massachusetts to become licensed as mental health counselors. It allows school counselors to apply credits earned while working as specialized instructional support personnel towards a master’s degree requirement for mental health counseling licensure. Additionally, it establishes specific requirements for supervised clinical experience and training in suicide prevention, ensuring counselors have the necessary skills and experience.
Key provisions
- Allows school counselors to apply relevant graduate coursework credits towards a master’s degree for mental health counseling licensure.
- Requires two additional years of supervised clinical experience for licensure as a mental health counselor.
- Specifies training requirements in suicide prevention for mental health counselors.
- Defines the requirements for supervision, including the qualifications of the supervisor.
- School counselors may be supervised by individuals with a masters in school counseling and a license as a mental health counselor.
- Qualified specialized instructional support personnel, including school counselors, are eligible to sit for the mental health counselor licensure examination.
Who is affected
- School counselors
- Mental health counselors
- Students in Massachusetts
- School districts in Massachusetts
- Mental health professionals
Notable changes
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
Cosponsors
Andres X. Vargas
Natalie M. Higgins
Ryan M. Hamilton
Samantha Montaño
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Bill H.4456 194th (Current)
An Act expanding licensure opportunity for school counselors
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Bill Information
Bill Information
Sponsor: Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Status: Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means
Tabs
Bill History Cosponsors Committee Summary
Bill History
Displaying 3 actions for Bill H.4456
| Date | Branch | Action |
| 9/8/2025 | House | Reported from the committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure |
| 9/8/2025 | House | New draft of H383 |
| 9/8/2025 | House | Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means |
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