The Counseling Compact will allow counselors to apply for a privilege to practice in participating compact states. The Counseling Compact is defined as “an interstate compact, or a contract among states, allowing professional counselors licensed and residing in a compact member state to practice in other compact member states without need for multiple licenses.”
New Jersey is a part of the Counseling Compact. Via this compact, individuals who reside in and attain their LPC in NJ can qualify for a permit to practice in states that are a part of this compact. The Counseling Compact Commission has indicated that a privilege to practice is “equivalent to a license to practice counseling in another state.” Individuals must be a resident of NJ and attain independent LPC licensure in NJ, which usually takes about 3 years post-graduation from Rider’s MA CMHC program, as NJ requires 4500 hours of supervised clinical practice for the LPC. After attaining the LPC in NJ, individuals can apply for a permit to practice in another compact state. Some states may have other requirements, such as requiring that an individual pass a state jurisprudence exam to attain a permit to practice in their state. The American Counseling Association has indicated that the Counseling Compact will also allow counselors who reside in a compact state to “access an expedited pathway to licensure when the counselor moves to another compact state.”
It is estimated that applications for a permit to practice via the compact will open in 2025, but this projected date may change, so refer to the Counseling Compact website for updates on the estimated timeline. Please visit the Counseling Compact website for the most updated and accurate information on the Counseling Compact, including when individuals are expected to be able to start applying and states that are part of the compact. More information on the compact is also available from the American Counseling Association.