Many state legislatures have convened around the country and have no shortage of items for members to address. From continued state COVID-19 relief measures to budget and spending processes, legislators are preparing for busy sessions. NBCC’s Government & Legislative Affairs team is tracking many trends that could impact the counseling profession at the state level.
Most regulation of the counseling profession is done at the state level, and there are several issues that state legislatures could address in 2021. Portability and universal licensure legislation for mental health counselors and other professions has been gaining traction in several states and will likely continue to do so this year. NBCC is committed to safeguarding these portability measures to make it easier for counselors to move from state to state while also maintaining the high standards to which professional counselors are held.
Thanks to the success of diligent counselors and other mental health experts who expanded their practices, telehealth has also seen renewed interest during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many state legislators have already expressed a desire to make some temporary telehealth provisions permanent. NBCC will be working to ensure that mental health counselors are included in measures that make the provision of telehealth services easier.