Pennsylvania recently launched new licensure categories that allow individuals to practice as Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapists (LAMFTs) and Licensed Associate Professional Counselors (LAPCs) under newly signed Act 4 by Governor Josh Shapiro. I did. This initiative aims to expand access to mental health services. Addresses the need for more practitioners.
Under the new law, individuals who have the required educational qualifications but have not completed the required supervised clinical experience can now obtain an associate license. This allows you to provide mental health support and be eligible for insurance reimbursement under the guidance of a qualified supervisor. The required experience is 3,000 hours for those with a master’s degree and 2,400 hours for those with a Ph.D.
The bill was supported by a bipartisan effort, with state Rep. Melissa Cerrato and state Sen. Pat Stefano sponsoring the bill. This development followed swift implementation by the Pennsylvania Department of State, which began accepting applications for these licenses soon after the law was enacted.
This associate license is intended to alleviate the shortage of mental health care providers and ensure that Pennsylvanians have access to the services they need. The introduction of these licenses is part of broader measures to increase the number of licensed mental health professionals in the state, which has seen a significant increase since 2019.
Applications for associate licenses can be made through the Pennsylvania Licensing System (pals.pa.gov).
