Massachusetts counseling license requirements

We've listed some of the most common questions and answers for Massachusetts counseling continuing education.

How many CE Credits does Massachusetts require for counselors?

• Professionals licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions:

  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT): 30 hours every 2 years. Licenses expire on 12/31 of odd-numbered years.

• Professionals licensed by the Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Addiction Services:

  • LADC I, LADC II, LADC Assistant: 40 hours every 2 years.

• Professionals Certified by the Massachusetts Board of Substance Abuse Counselor Certification:

  • CAC, CADC, CADC II: 40 hours every 2 years.
  • CCS: 6 hours every 2 years.

Can I take my continuing education through Continued Counseling?

• Licensed Mental Health Counselors: Yes. The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professionals accepts courses sponsored by an approved provider of professional associations such as the NBCC. Continued has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7484. Find courses offered for NBCC credit.

• Marriage & Family Therapists: No. Continued is not currently approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professionals to offer continuing education courses to licensed marriage and family therapists.

• Addiction Counselors:

  • For addiction professionals licensed by the Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS), the board accepts courses by NAADAC approved providers. Continued is a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, #283836. Find courses approved by NAADAC.
  • For addiction professionals certified by the Massachusetts Board of Substance Abuse Counselor Certification (MBSACC), the board requires individual course approval; however, they do not approve courses held outside of Massachusetts. All of the courses Continued offers are held online and not in the state of MA. You can take courses on Continued; however, per the board rules, be advised that MBSACC is under no obligation to accept training hours approved by other organizations.

Licensees are responsible for completing courses that align with the content requirements for their specific license.

Licensed Professional Counselors:

• There is no limit to the amount of continuing education hours that can be obtained online.

Addiction Counselors:

• For professionals credentialed by the Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS):

  • LADC Assistant, LADC I, LADC II: 

    • There is a limit of 20 hours of continuing education that can be completed online. Please note that this limit is waived currently due to COVID-19.

• For professionals credentialed by the Massachusetts Board of Substance Abuse Counselor Certification (MBSACC) 

  • CAC, CADC, CADC II, CCS:

    • There is a limit of 50% of continuing education hours that can be completed online. Please note that this limit is waived currently due to COVID-19.