HB 791 – Licensed Counselors Interstate Compact

Primary House Sponsors: Rep. Diane Wheatley (R-Cumberland); Rep. John Szoka (R-Cumberland); Rep. Grier Martin (D-Wake); Rep. Gale Adcock (D-Wake)

 

Summary

This bill:

  • Establishes the Professional Counseling Licensure Compact.
  • States that the purpose of the Compact is to facilitate interstate practice of licensed professional counselors with the goal of improving public access to professional counseling services.
  • Specifies the Compact’s key objectives.
  • Specifies the requirements for a state to participate in the Compact.
  • Sets out the requirements for a licensee to exercise the privilege to practice under the terms and provisions of the Compact.
  • Requires licensed professional counselors to hold only one home state license in only one member state at a time and requires licenses to take certain actions when changing his or her primary state of residence.
  • Establishes the Counseling Compact Commission and specifies required details related to the Commission’s membership, duties, Executive Committee, meetings, and financing.
  • Authorizes the Commission to promulgate reasonable rules in order to effectively and efficiently achieve the purposes of the Compact.
  • Requires member states to recognize the right of a licensed professional counselor, licensed by a home state and under the rules promulgated by the Commission, to practice professional counseling in any member state via telehealth under a privilege to practice as provided in the Compact.

 

Movement

Filed – 5/3/2021