Major Changes to Massachusetts LMHC Licensing
New regulations create the Licensed Supervised Mental Health Counselor (LSMHC) license, permanently allow teletherapy for licensing experience hours, and make important changes to the LMHC licensing pathway.
New LSMHC License
Massachusetts now has a Licensed Supervised Mental Health Counselor license category.
Teletherapy
Teletherapy is now permanently permitted for qualifying licensing experience hours.
LMHC Pathway
The LMHC application pathway has been clarified and broadened.
Education Changes
Additional educational pathways are now recognized under the revised regulations.
Massachusetts Has Revised 262 CMR
On July 31, 2026, the Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions issued revised licensing regulations affecting mental health counselors.
The changes are significant for counseling students, post-master's counselors, supervisors, LMHC applicants and currently licensed LMHCs. The revisions establish the new LSMHC license, clarify and broaden LMHC eligibility, permanently authorize teletherapy for qualifying licensing experience hours, and streamline the transition from LSMHC to LMHC licensure.
What LMHCs and Future LMHCs Need to Know
Here are the most important changes in plain language.
A New LSMHC License
Massachusetts has created the Licensed Supervised Mental Health Counselor (LSMHC) license. This provides a formal license category for counselors who are completing the supervised post-master's experience required toward LMHC licensure.
LSMHC Can Lead to LMHC
The revised regulations streamline the LMHC application process for applicants who have been licensed as LSMHCs. The LSMHC therefore becomes an important part of the post-master's licensing pathway.
Teletherapy Is Permanent
Teletherapy may now be used permanently for qualifying licensing experience hours. This removes the temporary nature of previous teletherapy provisions.
Education Requirements Clarified
The revised regulations clarify the education pathways that can qualify an applicant for LMHC licensure, including several different graduate education configurations.
Supervision Still Matters
The creation of the LSMHC does not eliminate the need for appropriate supervised clinical experience. Applicants should carefully document their education, supervision, clinical experience and other licensing requirements.
Ethics Rules Also Updated
The Board also revised 262 CMR 8.00 to apply relevant standards of conduct to Licensed Supervised Mental Health Counselors.
Understanding the New LSMHC → LMHC Pathway
The easiest way to understand the change is to think about the LSMHC as a formal license within the supervised post-master's portion of the journey toward LMHC licensure.
Graduate Education
Complete the qualifying graduate education and required coursework under the revised 262 CMR requirements.
LSMHC
Apply for and obtain the Licensed Supervised Mental Health Counselor license while completing qualifying supervised clinical experience.
LMHC
Complete the applicable requirements and apply for full Licensed Mental Health Counselor licensure.
What Changed About Educational Eligibility?
The revised 262 CMR 2.05 provides several qualifying graduate education pathways.
Graduate Degree Options
- A master's degree in Mental Health Counseling or a Relevant Field with at least 60 semester credits.
- A master's degree with at least 48 semester credits plus qualifying additional coursework.
- A master's degree accompanied by a CAGS.
- Two master's degrees in Mental Health Counseling or a Relevant Field.
- A doctoral degree in Mental Health Counseling or a Relevant Field.
Important Coursework Reminder
The revised regulations identify ten required graduate course areas, including:
- Counseling Theory
- Human Growth and Development
- Psychopathology
- Social and Cultural Foundations
- Clinical Skills
- Group Work
- Special Treatment Issues
- Appraisal
- Research and Evaluation
- Professional Orientation
Teletherapy Is Now a Permanent Part of the Licensing Picture
One of the most important changes for current supervisees and supervisors is that teletherapy for qualifying licensing experience hours is no longer simply a temporary provision. The revised regulations permanently allow teletherapy for licensing experience, subject to the applicable regulatory requirements.
These Changes May Affect You
Students
Especially students planning their education and eventual LMHC pathway.
Pre-Licensed Counselors
Individuals completing post-master's supervised clinical experience.
Supervisors
LMHCs providing supervision to post-master's counselors and LSMHCs.
Current LMHCs
Especially LMHCs involved in supervision, hiring, training or professional development.
What Should You Do Now?
If these changes affect your professional path, consider taking the following steps.
Review your current licensing status. Determine whether you are a student, pre-licensed counselor, LSMHC applicant, LSMHC or LMHC.
Review your graduate transcript. Compare your education and coursework against the revised 262 CMR 2.05 requirements.
Talk with your supervisor. If you are completing supervised experience, discuss how the revised requirements affect your supervision and documentation.
Review teletherapy arrangements. If you are accruing licensing experience through teletherapy, review the current requirements.
Use the current application materials. The Board has released a new LSMHC application and a revised LMHC application through the Massachusetts health professions licensing system.
Don't rely on outdated checklists. Previous LMHC requirements and application guidance may not accurately reflect the revised regulations.
Go Directly to the Source
MaMHCA encourages members to review the official regulations and application materials when making licensing decisions.
Revised 262 CMR 2.00
Official Massachusetts regulation governing requirements for licensure as a mental health counselor.
View RegulationLSMHC Application Guide
Official application guide for the new Licensed Supervised Mental Health Counselor license.
View Application GuideBoard Regulations
Access the Massachusetts Board's statutes, regulations, policies and licensing information.
View Board ResourcesDon't Navigate the New Rules Alone
Regulatory changes can create questions about education, supervision, licensure applications and professional practice. MaMHCA will continue to provide members with information, education and advocacy as implementation of the revised regulations moves forward.