“I have been granted the privilege to practice under the Counseling Compact. The Compact requires that I have met the standards accepted by all member states to be given the privilege to practice in the state without needing to apply for the state license.  The privilege allows me to practice under the same scope of practice as if I were licensed in the state.”

I am a resident of and licensed in a state that is not participating in the Compact. I am also licensed in a state that is participating. Am I able to be a participating therapist in the Compact via the state that IS a participant in the Compact, even though I am not a resident there?

Counselors are not eligible to participate in the Compact if they do not live in a Compact state. They must live in a Compact state and be licensed in the same state to apply for Compact privileges.

Will this Compact result in different credentials so that we know who has Compact privileges?

There will not be a credential for Counseling Compact privileges. There will be specific nomenclature to distinguish between a license and a privilege in a state.  

Once we receive a privilege, will we appear on that state’s licensee/provider search? How can our privilege be confirmed or checked?

The Compact will have a verification site through CompactConnect.  

Once privileges are granted, would it be correct to advertise as "licensed to practice in the following states..."?    

Advertising should differentiate between having a license and having the Compact privilege to practice.  

Will the Compact fees be annual?   

Fees will be collected based on the expiration date of a counselor’s home state license. Depending on the state, it could be every 1 or 2 years.  

Could one disciplinary act put your licensing in all Compact locations at risk? 

Yes. Ethical violations will impact the right to practice in all states where counselors have privileges. 

Are supervisor designators honored as well?   

Each state has the ability to determine if a privilege to practice will allow for supervision under their laws.  

Do I need the Board Certified-TeleMental Health Provider (BC-TMH) certification to practice?   

This certification is not required; however, it prepares counselors and other mental health providers to practice telehealth ethically and stay up to date on best practices.  

Can I proactively obtain a background check, and will this be a part of the record for CompactConnect or is this done for each state specifically?    

The Criminal Background Check (CBC) must be completed in a counselor’s home state. The state will maintain the record of all counselors who have completed the check. No information from a counselor’s CBC is shared to the Compact.  

Will degrees and licenses acquired under a 48-hour counseling program be grandfathered into the Compact?   

If a counselor was licensed at the highest independent level in their state when the Compact was enacted, the counselor should not need anything additional under the Legacy Licensure Rule.  

Will most insurance carriers allow providers to bill clients in Compact states?  

The Compact has no jurisdiction over insurance companies. They will set their own billing procedures and requirements.  

Do you need to register your business in the state where you have Compact privileges?    

Counselors must contact the Secretary of State to find out about registering their business. A CPA or tax lawyer can answer any tax questions. Counselors may contact their liability carriers to see what their policy covers.  

I understand that the counselor needs to reside in a Compact state. However, if a counselor is traveling, would they still be able to practice? What if the counselor is temporarily out of the country?   

If a counselor’s primary residence is outside of the United States, they are not able to participate in the Compact. If they are on vacation, they would be able to provide services where they have the privilege to practice.  

Will jurisprudence examinations be available on the Compact website to take?  

The Compact website will provide a link to each state’s information regarding the jurisprudence examination. The list of states that require the jurisprudence examination can be found at https://counselingcompact.gov/map/jurisprudence-requirements/.  

Are there any technicalities for state residence status? I’m an active-duty spouse, so there are a lot of moving parts for me.   

Counselors who are active military or spouses are able to set any state where they have a license as their home state for the length of the active duty. Counselors do not have to change the home state when they move. Counselors will be required to upload documentation to prove the active-duty status.  

Are you able to request privileges at any time? For example, a college student moves from a home state to another state. Can a counselor add another state as needed?   

Privileges can be obtained at any time once a counselor’s information is uploaded to the database by their home state.  

What if the client resides in one state but is vacationing or visiting in a different state. Which state law do you follow?   

Under the Compact, counselors are responsible for following the laws of where the client physically is at the time of services.  

Are there continuing education requirements for privileges like there are for individual licensure in each state?   

Counselors do not need to complete state-specific continuing education to maintain a privilege. Counselors only need to complete their home state license requirements.  

Will there be a summarized list of the specific requirements, mandatory reporting requirements, scope of practice allowed, etc., or will we have to look for those independently?   

The Compact does not have the staff capacity to compile this information. Links to basic information will be provided from the Compact website. The counselor is still responsible for any information that may not be linked from the website.  

Is there a limit on how many privileges one can have?   

Counselors can have up to 38 privileges if they are willing to complete all of the jurisprudence exams and pay the corresponding fees.  

Concerning renewal, if my state renews yearly in June, does that mean the renewal of a privileged state also renews in June, regardless of the month that the privilege was gained?    

A counselor’s privileges will all need renewal at the same time of the counselor’s primary counseling license. The application process will show the expiration date of a privilege for this specific purpose.  

Will there be an ability to verify privileges?   

Many states have the ability to search and file complaints against licensees. CompactConnect has a public verification page that anyone can refer to in order to verify a counselor’s privilege to practice. Complaints against a privilege will be filed in the state where the client was at the time of services.