An Act to Reduce the Counselor and Social Worker Shortage by
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1590
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
Sponsors: CRAFTS
Amends: 10 MRSA §8003-H, 32 MRSA §7054-A, 32 MRSA §7054-C, 32 MRSA §13857, 32 MRSA §13858

Legislative Document
No. 1590
H.P. 1048
House of Representatives, April 10, 2025
An Act to Reduce the Counselor and Social Worker Shortage by 
Amending Reciprocity Requirements for Those Professionals from 
Other Jurisdictions
Reference to the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services 
suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative CRAFTS of Newcastle.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  10 MRSA §8003-H, first ¶, as amended by PL 2021, c. 642, §3, is further 
amended to read:
Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 951 or Title 32 to the contrary, except as 
otherwise provided in section 7054-A and section 13857, subsection 2, paragraph C, that 
pertains to the regulatory functions of the Office of Professional and Occupational 
Regulation, referred to in this section as "the office," or that governs the licensing boards 
and commissions within the office, the office, including the licensing boards and 
commissions within the office, shall establish a process to issue a license by endorsement 
to an applicant who presents proof of licensure by another jurisdiction of the United States 
as long as the other jurisdiction maintains substantially equivalent license requirements for 
the licensed profession or occupation and as long as:
Sec. 2.  10 MRSA §8003-H, 2nd ¶, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 167, §10 and c. 289, 
§1, is amended to read:
The Except as otherwise provided in section 7054-A and section 13857, subsection 2, 
paragraph C, the office, or a licensing board or commission within the office, may require 
an applicant to pass a jurisprudence examination if such an examination is required to be 
passed for licensure pursuant to law or rule of the office, licensing board or commission.
Sec. 3.  32 MRSA §7054-A, first ¶, as amended by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. V, §9, is 
further amended to read:
A person holding a certificate of registration or license under the laws of another 
jurisdiction, including another state, territory or possession of the United States, the District 
of Columbia or of any foreign country that is the equivalent of a license as a licensed 
clinical, licensed master or licensed social worker under this chapter who meets the 
requirements of this chapter, based upon verified evidence may, who has held for at least 
years a license issued by a board in another jurisdiction for an occupation with a similar 
scope of practice to the practice governed by this chapter and who does not have a 
complaint, allegation or investigation pending before a board in another jurisdiction that 
relates to unprofessional conduct or a crime or a violation of an applicable ethics code or 
standard of practice must, upon application, be licensed without further examination. The 
Department of Professional and Financial Regulation shall post the information in this 
paragraph on its publicly accessible website.  The words or similar words: "If you are 
licensed in another state or country" must be included in the post.
Sec. 4.  32 MRSA §7054-C, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 642, §29, is amended to read:
§7054-C.  Licensure by endorsement
Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, except as otherwise 
provided in section 7054-A, the board, in accordance with Title 10, section 8003‑H and 
any applicable rules adopted pursuant to that section, shall establish a process to issue a 
license by endorsement for each license authorized under this chapter that the board 
determines is appropriate for licensure by endorsement. An applicant may submit an 
application under the process established under this section or any other licensure process 
authorized in this chapter.
Sec. 5.  32 MRSA §13857, sub-§2, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 542, §1, is 
amended to read:
C.  An Notwithstanding Title 10, section 8003-H, an applicant who is licensed in good 
standing at the time of application to the board under the laws of a jurisdiction that has 
not entered into a reciprocal agreement and who does not meet the requirements of 
paragraph B may qualify for licensure by submitting evidence satisfactory to the board 
that the applicant's qualifications for licensure are substantially similar to those 
requirements in this chapter. applicant:
(1)  Has held for at least 2 years a license issued by a board in another jurisdiction 
for an occupation with a similar scope of practice to the practice governed by this 
chapter; and
(2)  Does not have a complaint, allegation or investigation pending before a board 
in another jurisdiction that relates to unprofessional conduct or a crime or a 
violation of an applicable ethics code or standard of practice.
The department shall post the information in this paragraph on its publicly accessible 
website.  The words or similar words: "If you are licensed in another state or country" 
must be included in the post.
Sec. 6.  32 MRSA §13858, first ¶, as amended by PL 2007, c. 402, Pt. EE, §5, is 
further amended to read:
To Except as otherwise provided in section 13857, subsection 2, paragraph C, to be 
eligible for a license to practice counseling at any level, an applicant must be at least 18 
years of age and satisfactorily pass any examination as the board may prescribe by its rules.  
Each applicant must demonstrate trustworthiness and competence to engage in the practice 
of counseling in such a manner as to safeguard the interests of the public.  Each applicant 
must submit an application and pay the fee as set under section 13859.  The license 
categories "licensed clinical professional counselor," "licensed pastoral counselor" and 
"licensed marriage and family therapist" are of equivalent clinical status.  Clinical status 
grants the ability to diagnose and treat mental health disorders.
Sec. 7.  32 MRSA §13858, 2nd ¶, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 465, §3, is amended 
to read:
The Except as otherwise provided in section 13857, subsection 2, paragraph C, the 
following shall must be considered as minimum evidence satisfactory to the board that an 
applicant is qualified for licensure under this chapter.
SUMMARY
This bill amends the laws governing the licensure of professional counselors, clinical 
professional counselors, marriage and family therapists and pastoral counselors to 
authorize licensure in this State for an applicant who has held for at least 2 years a license 
issued by another jurisdiction for an occupation with a similar scope of practice and who 
does not have a complaint, allegation or investigation pending before a board in another 
jurisdiction or a violation of an applicable ethics code or standard of practice.
The bill also makes the same changes to the law governing the licensure of social 
workers.