Interstate Compact for Licensure Portability
Update as of 8/5/20
The Compact process is currently moving into the stakeholder feedback process. CSG/NCIC is targeting state licensing boards (Executive Directors, board attorneys, and board chairs), state legislators, branch presidents, division presidents, and AASCB as the primary stakeholders. States that have already enacted at least 3 occupational compacts are the primary targets. Informational/feedback sessions have been scheduled for 8/6, 8/11, 8/13, 8/18, 8/20, 8/25, and 8/27. Depending on the participation, additional sessions for September will be scheduled as needed. Sessions for branches have been scheduled in conjunction with ACA’s Governmental Affairs and Public Policy staff for 8/19, 8/26, 9/23, and 9/30. Additional sessions can be scheduled upon request by stakeholder groups, and a date(s) will be established for AASCB.
Each Monday CSG will send out an invitation for the calls scheduled for that week to the groups on the stakeholder review list; comments will be submitted to counselingcompact@csg.org. NCIC will collect and categorize the feedback; at the end of the comment period (first week of October) all information will be sent to the Drafting Team for their review. The Drafting Team will review the feedback and make decisions about whether changes are needed to the draft compact. The goal remains having a final draft ready to be introduced to state legislatures for the 2021 legislative session.
ACA is not posting a copy of the draft compact on our website as we do not want to make this appear to be ACA’s document; however, AASCB has agreed to post it on their webpage. ACA and other interested groups may send out the PDF version of the compact and accompanying documents to anyone who wants a copy.
Governing Council members are welcome to participate in the feedback session that works best for their schedule. All general feedback sessions are scheduled for 4-5 pm Eastern Time. NCIC will send out the invitations for the calls that week each Monday; we will post the information on the GC Connect Community. You are required to register; instructions will be found within the invitations.
A copy of the draft compact and the summary of key provisions document are attached for your review. Please be reminded that purpose of the compact is to enable counselors who already hold a valid license to practice at the highest level (independently) from their home state to have a privilege to practice in another state, either physically or via telebehavioral health. Additionally, the ability for counselors holding a valid license from a state to obtain a license from their new state when they move to that state was added. The compact in no way changes or impacts the requirements the state has set forth to grant initial licenses to counselors who wish to practice in their state, either as the home state license or single state license. Practicum and Internship requirements have not been spelled out as the counselors are already licensed and satisfied those requirements in their home state.