The American Counseling Association and licensed professional counselors nationwide are celebrating the signing of West Virginia State Bill 213 in support of the Counseling Compact, which will authorize counselors to practice across state lines once enacted.
West Virginia has become the fifth of 10 states needed to enact the Counseling Compact allowing professional counselors licensed and residing in a compact member state to practice in other compact member states without the need for multiple licenses. Governor Jim Justice just signed West Virginia S.B. 213 into law, reaching another major milestone for the initiative.
Funded and created by the American Counseling Association the Counseling Compact was finalized in December 2020 and has now been passed by the legislatures in Georgia, Maryland, Alabama, Mississippi and West Virginia. Currently, the Counseling Compact has been introduced in 19 states this legislative session. There are two additional states where drafting of the legislation is occurring.
"ACA appreciates the passage of our Counseling Compact bill by the West Virginia Legislature and for Governor Justice’s signing of this important legislation,” said Dr. S. Kent Butler, ACA President, "Providing avenues for more access and equity in both client care and a counselors' practice is a priority for ACA. We are now halfway to the necessary number of states to make the Counseling Compact operational.”
ACA anticipates reaching the ten-state threshold necessary to trigger the establishment of the public commission by the end of the calendar year. Once 10 states have enacted the legislation, the compact will go into effect, enabling professional counselors who meet uniform licensure requirements to quickly obtain a privilege to practice, which is equivalent to a license to practice counseling in another state.
In addition to enactment in Georgia, Maryland, Alabama, Mississippi and West Virginia, Counseling Compact legislation has passed the legislature in Utah and Florida, where they now await the signature of the Governor. For more information visit CounselingCompact.org