HB 4981 — Health occupations: counselors; reference to limited licensed counselor; modify to limited licensed professional counselor. Amends secs. 16281, 16905, 18101, 18105, 18106, 18111, 18114 & 18117 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.16281 et seq.).

HB-4981, As Passed House, February 18, 2026 HOUSE BILL NO.

EMR H03754'25_HB4981_INTR_1H03754'25_HB4981_APH_1 rn8emwhey3a7 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

EMR H03754'25_HB4981_INTR_1H03754'25_HB4981_APH_1 rn8emwhey3a7 1 (d) The psychologist-patient privilege created in section 18237.

(2) This part does not apply to an ordained cleric or other religious practitioner who is employed by or working under the authority of an organization exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code of 1986, 26 USC 501, if the advice or counsel given by the cleric or other religious practitioner is incidental to his or her the cleric's or other EMR H03754'25_HB4981_INTR_1H03754'25_HB4981_APH_1 rn8emwhey3a7 1 religious practitioner's duties as a cleric or other religious practitioner, and if the cleric or other religious practitioner does not hold himself or herself the cleric or other religious practitioner out to the public as a marriage and family therapist licensed under this article or use 1 or more of the titles listed in section 16903 and if no fee or donation is exacted for the service.

(4) This part does not limit an individual in, or prevent an individual from, the practice of a statutorily regulated profession or occupation if services to families, couples, or subsystems of families are part of the services provided by that profession or occupation, and if the individual does not hold himself or herself EMR H03754'25_HB4981_INTR_1H03754'25_HB4981_APH_1 rn8emwhey3a7 1 the individual out to the public as a marriage and family therapist licensed under this article or use 1 or more of the titles listed in section 16903.

(A) "Counseling techniques" means the application of basic counseling and psychotherapy skills and theories in the counseling EMR H03754'25_HB4981_INTR_1H03754'25_HB4981_APH_1 rn8emwhey3a7 1 process for the purposes of establishing and maintaining the counseling relationship;

EMR H03754'25_HB4981_INTR_1H03754'25_HB4981_APH_1 rn8emwhey3a7 1 (A) An emotional disorder.

(d) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (e), "practice of counseling" or "counseling" means the rendering to individuals, groups, families, organizations, or the general public in accordance with accepted and established ethics a service involving clinical counseling principles, methods, or procedures for the purpose of achieving social, personal, career, and emotional development and with the goal of promoting and enhancing healthy self-actualizing and satisfying lifestyles whether the services are rendered in an educational, business, health, private practice, or EMR H03754'25_HB4981_INTR_1H03754'25_HB4981_APH_1 rn8emwhey3a7 1 human services setting.

(ii) A program that is not accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, includes coursework and training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders and all other coursework requirements of the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, including practicum and internship requirements, and is approved by the department in consultation EMR H03754'25_HB4981_INTR_1H03754'25_HB4981_APH_1 rn8emwhey3a7 1 with the board.

EMR H03754'25_HB4981_INTR_1H03754'25_HB4981_APH_1 rn8emwhey3a7 1 (2) A limited license granted under this section must require that the individual confine his or her the individual's practice to a program of counseling experience under the supervision of a licensed professional counselor.

(i) That disciplinary proceedings are not pending against the individual at the time of his or her the individual's application EMR H03754'25_HB4981_INTR_1H03754'25_HB4981_APH_1 rn8emwhey3a7 1 for relicensure.

(3) The department may grant relicensure as a licensed professional counselor or limited licensed professional counselor to an individual who received a master's or doctoral degree in EMR H03754'25_HB4981_INTR_1H03754'25_HB4981_APH_1 rn8emwhey3a7 1 counseling or student personnel work before October 1, 1991, and completed 2 years of professional experience before October 1, 1993, if the individual submits to the department a completed application on a form provided by the department together with payment of the applicable fees described in section 16201(3) or (4) and he or she the individual complies with 1 of the following:

Confidential information may be disclosed only upon consent of the client, pursuant to section 16222 if the licensee reasonably believes it is necessary to EMR H03754'25_HB4981_INTR_1H03754'25_HB4981_APH_1 rn8emwhey3a7 disclose the information to comply with section 16222, or under section 16281.

Final Page EMR H03754'25_HB4981_INTR_1H03754'25_HB4981_APH_1 rn8emwhey3a7