Alexandria, Va. (Sept. 30, 2025) — The American Counseling Association (ACA) today celebrates the launch of the long-awaited Counseling Compact, which allows licensed professional counselors to practice across state lines. Arizona and Minnesota are now prepared to start granting privileges with several additional states expected to be online in the coming weeks and months.
Working with the National Center for Interstate Compacts and other partners, ACA played a lead role in the creation of the Compact, investing close to $2 million in the initiative. In addition, thousands of individual counselors dedicated energy, passion and countless hours to get compact legislation passed in their local communities. To date, 38 states and the District of Columbia have ratified the interstate agreement.
“The Counseling Compact is truly historic,” said ACA Chief of Professional Practice and project lead Lynn Linde, EdD. “It represents the biggest change in the profession in 20 years, revolutionizing the way counselors can practice across state lines. This effort has been a long time in the making. ACA first began working with the National Center for Interstate Compacts in 2019 to bring this vision to reality, because we saw an urgent need. We are thrilled that our collective hard work has brought us here to this transformative time for professional counselors and their clients.”
The compact is a legislative agreement among participating states that allows professional counselors to practice across state lines either in person or via telehealth. It is a mutual recognition model that functions much like a driver’s license — participating states agree to recognize the license of all eligible counselors from other compact states, allowing them a privilege to practice. Previously, counselors have had difficulty transferring their licenses from one state or jurisdiction to another because of the independent nature of jurisdictional licensing rules and regulations. There was little consistency regarding the requirements for licensure, and these varying requirements make it difficult to transfer one’s license.
“The ability to practice across state lines is essential in meeting the mental health needs of so many Americans, especially those who are located in remote and rural areas where we often see a dearth of professional counselors,” said ACA President Elsa Soto Leggett, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S, CSC. “This compact helps to close that gap, giving more people access to professional counseling services, including the estimated 122 million people in the U.S. who live in areas with mental health provider shortages.”
In addition to allowing professional counselors to practice across state lines, the compact expedites the licensing process for counselors who move to another state. The compact is especially significant for counselors who are military spouses subject to frequent moves. The interstate agreement now gives those counselors the ability to continue working in the profession.
States and jurisdictions that are currently part of the Counseling Compact include: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Washington, D.C.
To learn more, visit the ACA website and watch this video interview with ACA’s Lynn Linde on what counselors can expect going forward.
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About the American Counseling Association
Founded in 1952, the American Counseling Association (ACA) is a not-for-profit, professional and educational organization that is dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the counseling profession. ACA represents more than 60,000 members and is the world’s largest association exclusively representing professional counselors in various practice settings. Driven by the belief that all people can benefit from the power of counseling, ACA’s mission is to promote the professional development of counselors, advocate for counselors, and ensure that ethical, culturally inclusive practices protect our members’ clients and all people who seek counseling services. For more information, visit the ACA website and follow them on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, BlueSky and YouTube.