MA H4696

Creates a new 9-member Board of Registration of Licensed Mental Health Counselors within the Department of Public Health's Bureau of Health Care, separating LMHC oversight from the current Board of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions

Requires 7 board members to be licensed, practicing mental health counselors with at least 5 years of active experience, plus 2 public representatives with no affiliation to mental health professions

Establishes a two-tier licensure system: Licensed Supervised Mental Health Counselor (LSMHC) for those who complete educational requirements, and full LMHC licensure after 2 additional years of post-master's supervised clinical experience

Sets continuing education requirements at no more than 30 contact hours per year on average, with the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association designated to set CE specifications

Grants the board authority to deny, revoke, or suspend licenses for criminal convictions, ethical violations under American Mental Health Counselors Association and American Counseling Association standards, fraud, or other conduct rendering a person unfit to practice