The Counseling Compact will officially go live on September 30, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. ET in Arizona and Minnesota, marking a major milestone in improving access to licensed professional counseling services across state lines.
Arizona and Minnesota are the first two states to complete the technical and regulatory steps necessary for implementation, including secure data sharing and system testing.
Across the country, 37 additional states and territories are actively completing the steps needed to begin issuing and receiving privileges under the Counseling Compact. Readiness efforts may include:
- Adopting rules and establishing fees
- Implementing federal criminal background checks with FBI authorization
- Preparing IT systems to provide data in the required format
- Assigning and training staff for system use and customer support
- Conducting full testing of data upload and validation processes
- Creating an application process to convert a privilege to a home state license
The Counseling Compact Commission will add states to the Compact as they meet all requirements. Licensees with questions about participation are encouraged to contact their state licensing board directly.
The Counseling Compact recognizes that the timeline for compliance may vary, and some states may require additional time to complete all steps. Throughout the process, the Compact remains committed to providing guidance, resources, and support to help states successfully prepare for participation.
For more information on the Counseling Compact and its implementation timeline, please visit https://counselingcompact.gov.