Top 4 Things to know About the Counseling Compact

What is the Counseling Compact?
The Counseling Compact is an agreement among states to legislatively recognize other states’ counseling licenses. Counselors may participate in the Compact if they:

• are licensed at the highest level.
• can practice independently.
• can assess, diagnose and treat behavioral health conditions.
• have an unencumbered home license. A home license is defined as a license from the state where the counselor legally resides.

How does the Compact benefit Counselors and Clients?


For Counselors. The Counseling Compact allows counselors to:

• practice across state lines using a privilege to practice model.
• use telehealth in all compact states.
• practice as a military spouse on a home-state license in all compact states for the duration of active or reserve service.
• access an expedited pathway to licensure when the counselor moves to another compact state.

For Clients. The Compact provides clients,  particularly those in underserved areas, with:

• continuity of care from a trusted counselor, no matter where the client or the counselor reside.
• expanded access to counselors and availability of services.
• additional protections for the public by establishing uniform standards and shared discipline data.

What states are part of the Compact?

As of October 2022, 17 states had joined the Compact and are represented on the Commission, which administers and oversees the Compact: Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia. To date, legislation during the 2023 legislative session has passed and been signed into law in Wyoming and is awaiting the governor’s signature in Virginia, Arkansas and North Dakota. Bills have been introduced into one or more chambers in 20 additional states.

When can counselors apply for extended privileges?

The Commission consists of one representative from the licensing board of each Compact state. The Commission is in the process of procuring necessary data and ensuring that the licensure data for all states is uploaded before they can grant privileges, which they hope to do by the end of 2023.