Public Act 421 of 1988, amended the Public Health Code, Public Act 368 of 1978, as amended, creating the Michigan Board of Counseling.

The Public Health Code defines the practice of counseling to mean the rendering to individuals, groups, families, organizations, or the general public a service involving the application of 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 human services setting.

The Public Health Code mandates certain responsibilities and duties for a health professional licensing board. Underlying all duties is the responsibility of the Board to promote and protect the public's health, safety, and welfare. This responsibility is implemented by ascertaining minimal entry level competency of health practitioners. The Board also has the obligation to take disciplinary action against licensees who have adversely affected the public's health, safety and welfare.

The Michigan Board of Counseling consists of 11 voting members: 6 counselors, 1 mental health professional and 4 public members.

The Board currently oversees the practice of approximately 7,791 Counselors.