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What Is the Counseling Compact?

The Counseling Compact is an agreement among states to legislatively recognize other states’ counseling licenses.

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Latest Update:

History Is Made: Indiana Allows Counselors to Practice Across State Lines

Jun 8, 2026

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Latest News

American Counseling Association Elects FY2027 Board of Directors

Jun 30, 2026|3 min read

Alexandria, Va. (June 30, 2026) — The American Counseling Association (ACA) announced its new board of directors for fiscal year 2027. Terms for the new officers and directors-at-large begin on July 1, 2026 and end on June 30, 2027.

HHS Announces More Than $700 Million in Behavioral Health Funding

Jun 22, 2026|1 min read

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced more than $700 million in behavioral health funding opportunities to address mental illness, substance use disorders and homelessness.

529 Plan Changes: How These Accounts Can Be More Beneficial for Counselors

Jun 22, 2026|2 min read

H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, was signed into law in July 2025. Among many other provisions, the changes to 529 plans could positively affect counselors and their financial situation.

History Is Made: Indiana Allows Counselors to Practice Across State Lines

Jun 8, 2026|3 min read

Alexandria, Va. (June 8, 2026) — As part of the historic interstate Counseling Compact agreement, Indiana is the latest state that can now start granting privileges to licensed professional counselors to practice across state lines.

History Is Made: Georgia Allows Counselors to Practice Across State Lines

Jun 2, 2026|4 min read

Alexandria, Va. (June 2, 2026) — As part of the historic interstate Counseling Compact agreement, Georgia is the latest state that can now start granting privileges to licensed professional counselors to practice across state lines.

Share Your Story: How Insurance Practices Affect Counselors and Clients

Jun 1, 2026|1 min read

Insurers (including Medicaid managed care organizations) have been aggressively pursuing clawbacks, reimbursement reductions, downcoding, and other “cost-saving” approaches. This is enormously disruptive and harmful for the counseling community.

Legal Protections for Conversion Therapy Survivors in Colorado

May 20, 2026|2 min read

Colorado HB26-1322, “Legal Protections for Conversion Therapy Survivors,” has passed the Colorado General Assembly and is currently awaiting action by Governor Jared Polis. Because the legislature adjourned May 13, 2026, the Governor...

John C. Nance to Serve as ACA’s 2026-2027 President-Elect

May 19, 2026|2 min read

We are pleased to announce that John C. Nance, PhD, LCMHC-S, NCC, has been elected the 2026 – 2027 American Counseling Association (ACA) president-elect. He will begin his term on July 1.

Rule Finalized Reducing Access to Federal Student Loans

May 4, 2026|2 min read

The Trump Administration has finalized its rule reducing counseling students’ access to federal student loans. Starting July 1, 2026, as part of provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), the U.S. Department of Education (ED)...

Advocacy Win- CareSource of Ohio Suspends Planned Clawbacks

May 4, 2026|2 min read

Counselors in Ohio reported that CareSource, a nonprofit Medicaid managed care organization (MCO), was planning on taking back payments for behavioral health services after reviewing past claims.

History Is Made: Louisiana Allows Counselors to Practice Across State Lines

Apr 20, 2026|3 min read

As part of the historic interstate Counseling Compact agreement, Louisiana is the latest state that can now start granting privileges to licensed professional counselors to practice across state lines.

Announcing the Winners of the ACA Awards for Achievement and Excellence in Professional Counseling

Apr 6, 2026|4 min read

Every year the American Counseling Association (ACA) recognizes excellence in research, career and humanitarian achievement among counseling professionals and students with its awards and honors program.

Supreme Court Ruling in Chiles v. Salazar Poses Serious Threat to LGBTQ+ Rights and to Professional Counselors Nationwide

Apr 2, 2026|4 min read

Alexandria, Va. — In Chiles v. Salazar, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy, the practice of trying to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The March 31 ruling compromises the ethical standards...

Counseling Awareness Month Celebrates the Pivotal Work of Counselors in Strengthening Mental Health

Apr 1, 2026|3 min read

Alexandria, Va. (April 1, 2026) — To honor and recognize the counseling profession and to increase public awareness about when and how to engage with a counselor, the American Counseling Association (ACA) celebrates Counseling Awareness Month each April.

Tennessee LPC/MFT Licensure Board Update

Apr 1, 2026|1 min read

The Tennessee General Assembly advanced a bill (SB 2227/ HB 2539) that would eliminate the Licensed Professional Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy Board and house the administrative functions of the board under a Department of Health commission.

TIPSHEET: Counseling Experts Present Latest Research at the 2026 ACA Conference & Expo, April 9–11 in Columbus, Ohio

Mar 30, 2026|4 min read

SELECT RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Broaching Current Events with Clients, April 10, 9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. ET Current events can profoundly affect mental health, yet many counselors struggle with when and how to address sociopolitical realities in session.

Research Highlights at 2026 ACA Conference & Expo: Disaster’s Effect on Children, Mental Health Misinformation, How Body Acceptance Can Lead to Flourishing in Middle Age + More

Mar 26, 2026|5 min read

The 2026 ACA Conference & Expo, the premier professional development and networking event for professional counselors, will feature 200+ education sessions, organized across 24 mental health and counseling topic areas.

New Survey Reveals Professional Counselors Concerns About Consumers Use of AI for Mental Health Therapy

Mar 18, 2026|3 min read

With the rising popularity of artificial intelligence, consumers today are increasingly turning to AI for assistance in a variety of ways, including for mental health support.

Student Loan Borrowers Sue the Department of Education

Mar 11, 2026|1 min read

Student loan borrowers have filed a lawsuit against the Department of Education, asserting that the Trump Administration must restart the SAVE plan. The SAVE plan, created under the Biden Administration, is an income-driven repayment program designed...

American Counseling Association to Hold 2026 ACA Conference & Expo

Mar 10, 2026|1 min read

The 2026 ACA Conference & Expo is the premier professional development and networking event for professional counselors.

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