The Counseling Compact Commission held its inaugural meeting Oct. 25–26, in Washington, D.C. Goals of this meeting included governance structure training, transition plan discussion, the adoption of initial bylaws to carry out the Compact, and the election of an executive committee.

After instituting bylaws to govern itself, the commission held an election for seven positions on its executive committee. The elected executive committee members are: Chair Jamie S. Doming of Louisiana; Vice Chair Andrea Brooks of Kentucky; Treasurer Kimberly Speakman of Tennessee; Secretary Latofia Parker of Alabama; and members-at-large Brian Carnahan of Ohio, Denauvo Robinson of North Carolina, and Janet Hartman of Florida.

With the executive committee in place, the commission voted to select four ex-officio, or nonvoting, member organizations of the executive committee. NBCC is honored to be one of the organizations chosen and looks forward to participating in the commission in this advisory capacity. The additional ex-officio member organizations are the American Counseling Association (ACA), American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), and the American Association of State Counseling Boards (AASCB).

The executive committee will oversee the standing and special committees and work groups of the commission. Commission members volunteered for roles on two additional committees, rules and finance, during the meeting.

The Counseling Compact is a contract among states that will allow professional counselors who are licensed and residing in a Compact member state the privilege to practice in other Compact member states, whether in person or virtually.

The Counseling Compact Commission is the joint governmental agency created by the Counseling Compact. The Commission is composed of one delegate from each member state’s licensing board or agency. Its task is implementing the Compact’s provisions for the interstate practice of professional counseling. The Commission will issue rules and policies to assist the member states with administration of the responsibilities set by the Compact. Meeting minutes and upcoming commission meetings will be posted on the Counseling Compact website.

Delegates from all 17 participating states attended the meeting either in person or remotely. NBCC staff attended in person. In addition, the meeting was open to the public, and the commission answered questions during the public comment period.

NBCC has supported the Counseling Compact since its inception. The privilege to practice across state lines will expand the reach of counselors and help to address the increasing need for mental health services.

With the governing structure in place, implementation of the compact is expected to take 12–18 months. This includes the creation of an interstate licensure data system allowing for rapid verification of practitioners’ good standing and sharing of disciplinary information among member states. In addition, the commission will finalize and circulate requests for proposals for an executive director and secretariat. Once this implementation work is complete, the Commission will be ready to bestow privileges to practice for counselors licensed in member states.

The 17 current member states of the Counseling Compact are Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia. A number of states have expressed interest, and legislation will be pursued in 2023. The Compact’s goal is to secure at least 10 new states in 2023.

Learn more about the Counseling Compact and keep up with the latest news at our Grassroots Action Center.