Indiana is the latest state to begin granting privileges to licensed professional counselors to practice across state lines through the Counseling Compact.
Under the compact, participating states recognize eligible counselors’ home-state licenses, much like states recognize driver’s licenses issued elsewhere, according to a June 8 news release. The arrangement allows counselors to obtain privileges to practice in other compact states in person or via telehealth.
Here are four things to know:
- Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia have joined the compact. In addition to the district, the states are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
- Joining the compact is different from granting privileges. Passing Counseling Compact legislation authorizes a state to participate in the agreement. States must then complete additional implementation requirements before they can begin granting practice privileges to counselors from other compact states.
- Six states are currently granting practice privileges. Indiana joined Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota and Ohio in allowing eligible counselors from other compact states to practice across state lines.
- Supporters say the compact could expand access to care. The American Counseling Association said the agreement could increase access to care for an estimated 122 million people in the U.S. who live in areas with mental health provider shortages. It also invested close to $2 million in creating the compact.
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