✯Counseling Compact and SURVEY✯

Dear Michigan Counselors,

A bill to adopt the Counseling Compact has been introduced into the legislature and there is a committee hearing on it this Wednesday. 

Please consider the following information and then take our short survey of all Michigan counselors. Our past surveys of MI Counselors showed that only about ⅓ of Counselors are for the compact. Please help us understand where MI Counselors stand on this issue.

Counseling Compact pros and cons

To begin, the Counseling Compact would establish a system that allows fully licensed counselors with no disciplinary complaints (“encumbrances”) on their license to apply for a “privilege to practice” in Compact States. This is different from having a license to practice in the other states. Here is a list of some of the differences between the privilege to practice and having a license to practice in the other states.  

1. Obtaining privileges to practice will be easier than getting licensed in another state, though it will require a fee to be paid to each state in which you seek a privilege to practice. 
2. An “encumbrance” on a person’s license would likely mean all privileges to practice in other states would be immediately revoked.
3. Complaints or other disciplinary actions would be handled by your Home State (Michigan) rather than other states where you practice. Other states will report any infractions to the Counseling Compact and to your Home State.
4. Both a license or the privilege to practice in any other state require the licensee to know and abide by the laws of all states in which they are practicing.
5. A privilege to practice is only available to counselors who have completed a 60-credit-hour Master’s program and who have completed at least one national exam (e.g., NCE or NCMHCE). (Counselors with fewer than a 60-hour Master’s program will be grandfathered in if/when the Compact is adopted.)

We wanted to discuss some of the major benefits as well as potential pitfalls of the Counseling Compact, so that members of the profession can have an informed view of the Compact. First of all, the potential benefits of passing the Compact. 

1. The ability to continue working with clients no matter their physical location if they are in a state in which you have a privilege to practice (such as when they go on vacation or move to another state). 
2. Streamlined requirements for practicing in member states. For instance, you do not need to meet specific exam requirements if you have not taken the national exam the member state uses. However, jurisprudence exams on the laws of the member state may be required (~17 states currently require a jurisprudence exam.)
3. Increased access to LPCs for people in remote or rural areas who may not have access to providers or the ability to provide services to people in response to emergencies or disasters.
4. Ease in applying for positions which require multi-state licensure.
5. With a Privilege to Practice in a “remote state” (any participating state that is not your Home State) - the LPC only needs to follow the CEU requirements of their Home State.

Following are some of the potential negatives of the Counseling Compact.

1. Having to follow the laws in each state you have a privilege to practice in may be time-consuming, confusing or difficult. For instance, knowing differences in scopes of practice, situations that allow for a breach of confidentiality, or laws around the treatment of certain populations (e.g. LGBTQ+ clients or those with reproductive rights issues, etc.). This may also lead to confusion or problems when different states’ laws contradict each other. 
2. There are currently no guarantees that insurance companies will reimburse or consider counselors in-network unless they go through traditional credentialing for each state in which they practice.
3. It could greatly enhance the reach and ability for large multi-state providers (e.g. Betterhelp, Headway, etc.) to mass market counseling and flood markets with counselors. This could make it more difficult for private practices to compete or even to establish exclusive contracts with payers.
4. If there is a flood of counselors who can serve Michigan clients, insurance companies would likely lower their reimbursement rates due to increased supply. 
5. Disciplinary action in any state will likely result in an immediate loss of privilege to practice in all states.
6. Counselors from other states are required to be aware of local situations or resources which are vital in emergency situations - this could be difficult information to acquire.
7. Data privacy standards may vary from state to state, which could be a risk to client or counselor information.
8. The Counseling Compact Law must be adopted as is. New Rules will be implemented by the Compact Commissioners which have not been established. The law is not completely written yet, but if we adopt it we are agreeing to Rules/law that have not yet been created.  Meaning, it’s concerning to agree to rules we don’t yet know.

For more information please see counselingcompact.org

The Counseling Compact has the potential to offer benefits to professional counselors and clients, but the lack of specifics about how it will work and what will be required of Michigan counselors is a significant concern. In addition, several of the larger states have not passed it. MMHCA’s Board would greatly appreciate your input on the survey to determine if Michigan Counselors are for or against the Counseling Compact.

Take the survey here. If possible, please return your survey by 6:00pm Tuesday, 6/24/2025.

If you have questions please email us at MMHCABOARD@MMHCANOW.ORG.

Thank you very much!!

In Service,

MMHCA’s Board of Directors

Christopher DeBoer, President

Krystin Sankey, Treasurer

Carol Berger, Secretary

Dr. Joy Creel, Member at Large

Dr. Larry Pfaff, Member at Large

Lauri Rowe, Member at Large

Dr. Elizabeth Teklinski, Chair of Education & Outreach

Links you may find useful:

Our website MMHCANOW.org

LINK to the Counseling Compact website

"Answers to Michigan Counselors’ Questions about the Counseling Compact."

📌 Listen to the Audio Version: [Click here]

📌 Download the Written Report: [Click here]

LINK to our 1/30/25 Compact report

LINK to a 17 minute overview of the Compact by Chris DeBoer

LINK to 58 min video about vertical integration in Mental Health by Chris DeBoer

LINK to MMHCA's 2024 accomplishments

LINK to MMHCA’s 2025 accomplishments so far

LINK to MMHCA’s LinkedIn group.

LINK to MMHCA's YouTube channel

LINK to MMHCA's FaceBook page. Please follow us!