Resources · Path to Licensure

Step-by-step licensure pathways in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts splits behavioral-health licensure across several boards inside the Department of Public Health's Bureau of Health Professions Licensure. The Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions (262 CMR) licenses mental health counselors, marriage & family therapists, and — unlike many states — applied behavior analysts at the state level. The Board of Registration of Social Workers (258 CMR) runs an unusually deep four-tier ladder (LSWA, LSW, LCSW, LICSW). The Board of Registration of Psychologists (251 CMR) licenses doctoral psychologists and is the only Massachusetts behavioral-health board that administers a state jurisprudence exam. Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors (LADC I, LADC II, and LADC Assistant) are licensed separately by the DPH Bureau of Substance Addiction Services under 105 CMR 168.00.

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Professional CounselingAddiction & Substance Use CounselingSocial WorkMarriage & Family TherapyPsychologyBehavior Analysis

Professional Counseling

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LMHC

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Required exam: National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), administered by the NBCC. No Massachusetts state jurisprudence exam.

Scope: Massachusetts' single mental health counseling license, authorizing independent practice of clinical mental health counseling. The Commonwealth does NOT issue a separate pre-license 'associate' counseling credential — candidates accrue supervised experience as unlicensed 'applicants' before becoming an LMHC.
  1. EducationEarn a master's (or higher) degree in mental health counseling or a related field with at least 60 graduate semester credits including a supervised practicum/internship, from a recognized educational institution (262 CMR 2.00; M.G.L. c. 112, §§ 163–172).
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete 3,360 total hours of supervised mental health counseling experience over no fewer than 2 years (and no more than 8), including at least 960 hours of direct face-to-face clinical contact and 200 total supervisory contact hours; for supervision on/after July 1, 2017, at least 75 of those 200 hours must be provided by an LMHC.
  3. ExamPass the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) through the NBCC. Massachusetts does not administer a separate state jurisprudence exam for counselors.
  4. ApplicationApply online to the Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions with fee, official transcripts, supervised-experience documentation, and exam score verification.

Official Professional Counseling resources

Addiction & Substance Use Counseling

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LADC Assistant

Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor Assistant

Required exam: IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) examination required at all LADC levels. No Massachusetts state jurisprudence exam.

Scope: Entry-level state LADC license authorizing the provision of recovery-based services under direct clinical and administrative supervision.
  1. EducationShow proof of a high school diploma or equivalent and complete a minimum of 50 hours of training across the full range of substance addiction counseling education (105 CMR 168.00).
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete 2,000 hours of work experience in the alcohol or drug addiction field under direct clinical and administrative supervision.
  3. ExamSubmit a passing score on the required IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) examination.
  4. ApplicationApply through BSAS eLicensing with three letters of recommendation and the required fee (currently subject to a Department fee waiver); access is granted only after all requirements, including the exam, are complete.
LADC II

Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor II

Required exam: IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) examination. No Massachusetts state jurisprudence exam.

Scope: Mid-level state LADC license authorizing the practice of alcohol and drug counseling under clinical supervision.
  1. EducationShow proof of a high school diploma or equivalent and complete a minimum of 270 hours of substance addiction counseling education plus 300 hours of supervised practical training (105 CMR 168.00).
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete 6,000 hours of supervised alcohol and drug counseling work experience — reduced to 4,000 hours if the applicant holds a bachelor's degree.
  3. ExamSubmit a passing score on the required IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) examination.
  4. ApplicationApply through BSAS eLicensing with three letters of recommendation and the required fee (subject to the current Department fee waiver).
LADC I

Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor I

Required exam: IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) examination. No Massachusetts state jurisprudence exam.

Scope: Highest state LADC license, authorizing independent practice of alcohol and drug counseling and the supervision of other alcohol and drug counselors.
  1. EducationHold a master's or doctoral degree in the behavioral sciences and complete a minimum of 270 hours of substance addiction counseling education plus 300 hours of supervised practical training (105 CMR 168.00).
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete 6,000 hours of supervised alcohol and drug counseling work experience.
  3. ExamSubmit a passing score on the required IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) examination.
  4. ApplicationApply through BSAS eLicensing with three letters of recommendation and the required fee (subject to the current Department fee waiver); LADC II holders may upgrade to LADC I by submitting proof of the master's degree and additional hours.

Official Addiction & Substance Use Counseling resources

Social Work

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LSWA

Licensed Social Work Associate

Required exam: ASWB Associate examination. No Massachusetts state jurisprudence exam.

Scope: Entry-level social work license for those building toward a social work career who do not yet hold a bachelor's degree in social work; practices under the supervision of an LSW, LCSW, or LICSW.
  1. EducationHold a high school diploma plus a qualifying pathway — an associate degree in a relevant field, a bachelor's degree in any field, or at least four years of supervised social work experience attested by a supervisor (258 CMR; M.G.L. c. 112, §§ 130–137).
  2. Supervision / experiencePractice under the supervision of an LSW, LCSW, or LICSW, including at least one hour of face-to-face supervision per 35 work hours; no fixed pre-licensure practice-hour total is required for the LSWA itself.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Associate examination (score dated within 2 years of application).
  4. ApplicationApply to the Board of Registration of Social Workers with fee, education documentation, and three professional references (at least one from an LICSW or LCSW).
LSW

Licensed Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Bachelors examination. No Massachusetts state jurisprudence exam.

Scope: Bachelor's-level social work license for generalist (non-clinical) social work practice.
  1. EducationEarn a bachelor's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program (or qualify via an alternate experience pathway recognized by the Board).
  2. Supervision / experienceMassachusetts does not require a set number of post-degree supervised hours to obtain the LSW; supervision applies to ongoing practice rather than as a fixed pre-license total.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Bachelors examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to the Board of Registration of Social Workers with fee, official CSWE transcript, exam verification, and required professional references.
LCSW

Licensed Certified Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Masters (Intermediate) examination, or a Board-approved equivalent. No Massachusetts state jurisprudence exam.

Scope: Master's-level social work license authorizing clinical services including assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning; the prerequisite credential for upgrading to LICSW.
  1. EducationEarn a master's (MSW) degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experienceMassachusetts does not publish a separate stand-alone post-degree supervised-hour total for the LCSW application; ongoing supervision requirements apply during practice.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Masters (Intermediate) examination (or a Board-approved equivalent).
  4. ApplicationApply to the Board of Registration of Social Workers with fee, official MSW transcript, exam verification, and required professional references.
LICSW

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Clinical examination (or Board-approved equivalent), dated no more than 2 years before application. No Massachusetts state jurisprudence exam.

Scope: Highest social work license, authorizing fully independent clinical and non-clinical social work practice in any setting and the supervision of social workers at every lower license level.
  1. EducationHold a CSWE-accredited master's (MSW) or doctoral degree in social work and the LCSW credential as the foundation for clinical licensure.
  2. Supervision / experienceProvide at least 3,500 hours of clinical social work services over a period of not less than two years, measured from the date of LCSW licensure, including at least 100 hours of individual face-to-face clinical supervision from an acceptable supervisor.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Clinical examination (or a Board-approved equivalent) dated within 2 years of the LICSW application.
  4. ApplicationApply to the Board of Registration of Social Workers to upgrade from LCSW, with supervised-experience documentation, exam verification, and required professional references.

Official Social Work resources

Marriage & Family Therapy

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LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Required exam: Examination in Marital and Family Therapy, developed by the AMFTRB. No Massachusetts state jurisprudence exam.

Scope: Massachusetts' single marriage and family therapy license, authorizing independent practice of marriage and family therapy. The Commonwealth does not issue a separate pre-license 'associate' MFT credential.
  1. EducationHold a master's or doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy or a related field from a recognized educational institution; degrees completed after July 1, 1999 must be at least 60 graduate semester hours, with a practicum/internship of at least 300 direct client-contact hours and 100 hours of supervision (262 CMR 3.00; M.G.L. c. 112, § 165).
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete a minimum of 2 years full-time, or equivalent part-time (3,360 hours), of post-master's supervised clinical experience in marriage and family therapy, including at least 10 hours per week of clinical work.
  3. ExamPass the Examination in Marital and Family Therapy developed by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB). Massachusetts does not administer a separate state jurisprudence exam for MFTs.
  4. ApplicationApply online to the Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions with fee, official transcripts, supervised-experience documentation, and exam score verification.

Official Marriage & Family Therapy resources

Psychology

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LP

Licensed Psychologist

Required exam: Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP, Part 1; passing scaled score 500) PLUS the Massachusetts Psychology Jurisprudence Examination on state laws and ethics.

Scope: Full, independent doctoral-level license to practice psychology autonomously in Massachusetts.
  1. EducationEarn a doctoral degree in psychology from a program meeting the Board's requirements (251 CMR; M.G.L. c. 112, §§ 118–129).
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete a total of 3,200 hours of supervised experience, typically two one-year (1,600-hour) placements including a predoctoral internship and supervised postdoctoral experience.
  3. ExamPass the EPPP (Part 1; Massachusetts requires a scaled score of at least 500) and pass the Massachusetts Psychology Jurisprudence Examination, which covers state regulations and statutes governing psychological practice (the Board provides a Psychology Jurisprudence study book to approved candidates).
  4. ApplicationApply online to the Board of Registration of Psychologists with fee, official transcripts, supervised-experience verification, and exam score documentation.

Official Psychology resources

Behavior Analysis

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Licensed Assistant ABA

Licensed Assistant Applied Behavior Analyst

Required exam: BACB Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) examination. No Massachusetts state jurisprudence exam.

Scope: Assistant-level state license to practice applied behavior analysis in Massachusetts under the supervision of a licensed applied behavior analyst.
  1. EducationMeet the BACB's BCaBA educational requirements (qualifying coursework via a verified pathway) (262 CMR 10.00; M.G.L. c. 112, § 165).
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete the supervised fieldwork required for the BCaBA credential; once licensed, a practicing assistant ABA must receive at least one hour per month of individual, face-to-face supervision in the treatment setting from a Massachusetts-licensed applied behavior analyst (or Board-approved physician/psychologist).
  3. ExamPass the BACB Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) examination. Massachusetts does not administer a separate state or jurisprudence exam.
  4. ApplicationApply to the Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions with the $117 fee, proof of certification/education, and required documentation.
LABA

Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst

Required exam: BACB Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) examination. No Massachusetts state jurisprudence exam.

Scope: Full state license to independently practice applied behavior analysis in Massachusetts and to supervise licensed assistant applied behavior analysts.
  1. EducationEarn a qualifying graduate degree and meet the BACB's BCBA educational requirements (as of January 2026, coursework is verified via course-by-course faculty attestation following the sunset of the Verified Course Sequence) (262 CMR 10.00).
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete the BACB-required supervised fieldwork (generally 1,500–2,000 hours depending on the supervision pathway) to earn and maintain the BCBA credential.
  3. ExamPass the BACB Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) examination. Massachusetts does not administer a separate state or jurisprudence exam.
  4. ApplicationApply to the Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions with the $117 fee, proof of certification/education, and required documentation.

Official Behavior Analysis resources

All licenses

Massachusetts licensing portals & background checks.

How to use this page. Each card shows the education, supervised experience, exam, and application steps for one Massachusetts license, plus its scope of practice. Licensing rules change — always confirm current requirements with the official board before you apply. Verified against the official state boards in June 2026.

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