Educational Requirements for LMHC in Massachusetts

How we prepare our students for licensure

Graduates of the Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at William James College meet all the educational and field placement requirements for licensure, which are described below.

Each student in our master's program meets regularly with their academic advisor who will address questions of licensure so that graduates are prepared for the next steps once they earn the degree.

Massachusetts LMHC Pre-Licensure Educational Requirements How addressed in the Counseling Department Curriculum
A) A Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling or a Related Field with a minimum of 60 semester credits or 80 quarter credits from an integrated, planned, and comprehensive program from a Recognized Educational Institution. The MA Curriculum consists of 60 semester credit hours distributed within an organized and sequential program of study. William James College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), a regional accrediting body.

B) A practicum (minimum of 100 hours)

40 contact hours of direct client contact experience

25 supervisory contact hours (10 hours minimum individual; 5 hours minimum group; additional individual or group 10 hours minimum)

The practicum experience should be at a clinical field experience site as defined by the Board and supervised by a Board Approved Supervisor.

Clinical Skills and Practicum I & Practicum II (360+ hours)

90 hours of direct client contact

An average of one hour of individual supervision weekly for 30 weeks

We meet and exceed the group supervision requirement

Our Field Education Office ensures that the practicum experience and supervision meets the Board established criteria.

C) An internship (minimum 600 hours)

240 direct client contact hours

45 supervisory contact hours (15 individual minimum; 15 group minimum; remaining 15 may be either group or individual supervision)

The practicum experience should be at a clinical field experience site as defined by the Board and supervised by a Board Approved Supervisor.

Mental Health Counseling Internship I & II (600+ hours)

240 direct client contact hours

An average of one hour of individual supervision weekly for 30 weeks

An average of two hours of group supervision weekly for 30 weeks

We meet and exceed the group supervision requirement

Our Field Education Office ensures that the internship experience and supervision meets the Board established criteria.
D) One, 3-semester hour or four quarter hour graduate-level course in each of the following ten areas:
1) Counseling Theory, Practice, and Techniques Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
2) Human Growth and Development Lifespan Development
3) Psychopathology Psychopathology
4) Social and Cultural Foundations Diversity, Difference and Inclusion
5) Clinical Skills

Clinical Skills and Practicum I

Practicum II

Mental Health Counseling Internship I

Mental Health Counseling Internship II
6) Group Work Group Counseling and Psychotherapy
7) Special Treatment Issues, e.g., Pharmacology; Substance Abuse; School; Career Issues; Marriage & Family Treatment; Sexuality & Lifestyle Choices; Treating Special Populations

Substance Abuse Evaluation and Treatment

Introduction to Family Therapy

Career Counseling

Elective courses and specialized areas of emphasis courses
8) Appraisal Psychological Assessment for Counselors
9) Research & Evaluation Research and Program Evaluation
10) Professional Orientation Professional Issues and Ethics
E) One or more elective courses in areas relevant to the knowledge and skills relevant to the practice of mental health counseling. Three (3) elective courses, each worth three (3) credits. For specialty programs, directed courses substitute for the elective courses.