Licensed professional
Individual licensed in Maine to practice psychotherapy or behavioral health therapy.
How the laws define this
Both An Act to Regulate the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Providing Certain Mental Health Services and the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act agree that a licensed professional must hold a valid license or certificate to provide therapy, psychotherapy, or behavioral health services, ensuring accountability rests with qualified human practitioners. However, the two instruments diverge on the inclusion of medical doctors. An Act to Regulate the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Providing Certain Mental Health Services explicitly includes physicians specializing in mental disorders among its qualified practitioners in Maine. Conversely, the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act explicitly excludes physicians from its Illinois scope, which instead covers specific licensed individuals such as clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, certified alcohol and other drug counselors, professional music therapists, and advanced practice psychiatric nurses.
Synthesised from the 2 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.
How jurisdictions differ
What is distinctive in each definition, binding law in force first.
| Jurisdiction | Instrument | Status | What is distinctive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine, United States | An Act to Regulate the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Providing Certain Mental Health Services | In Force | Includes physicians specializing in mental disorders and emphasizes accountability with qualified human practitioners, while allowing AI as supplementary support under licensed supervision. |
| Illinois, United States | Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act | In Force | Explicitly lists multiple specific licensed professions like psychologists, social workers, counselors, and nurses, while excluding physicians. |
What it triggers
- In Maine, under An Act to Regulate the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Providing Certain Mental Health Services, licensed professionals must ensure accountability as qualified human practitioners, prohibiting AI for independent clinical therapeutic decisions or unreviewed client interactions.source
- In Illinois, under the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act, licensed professionals must provide direct therapeutic care with human oversight, as the law bars unlicensed entities and AI from doing so.source
Definitions (2)
A licensed professional refers to an individual holding a valid license or certificate in Maine to practice psychotherapy or behavioral health therapy, including various licensed practitioners and physicians specializing in mental disorders. This ensures accountability rests with qualified human practitioners.
Comprehensively defined to include a range of individuals holding valid Illinois licenses to provide therapy or psychotherapy services, such as licensed clinical psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, certified alcohol and other drug counselors, licensed professional music therapists, and licensed advanced practice psychiatric nurses, explicitly excluding physicians.
Questions and answers
What professions count as licensed professionals in Maine's AI mental health law?
It includes individuals holding a valid license or certificate in Maine to practice psychotherapy or behavioral health therapy, such as various licensed practitioners and physicians specializing in mental disorders.
Does Illinois' WOR Act include physicians as licensed professionals?
No, it explicitly excludes physicians while covering licensed clinical psychologists, social workers, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, certified alcohol and other drug counselors, professional music therapists, and advanced practice psychiatric nurses.
Can AI be used in mental health services under these laws?
In Maine, AI is allowed for supplementary support under licensed supervision but prohibited for independent clinical decisions or unreviewed interactions. In Illinois, AI is barred from providing direct therapeutic care, requiring human oversight.