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Committee advances bill to let counselors practice across state lines via National Counseling Compact
Summary
House Bill 668 was reported as amended by the House Professional Licensure Committee; the bill would authorize Pennsylvania to join the National Counseling Compact, allowing counselors licensed in member states to practice across borders without additional certification.
The House Professional Licensure Committee voted to report House Bill 668 as amended, a measure that would allow Pennsylvania to join the National Counseling Compact and expand licensure portability for counselors in member states.
Representative O’Meara, sponsor of the bill, described learning about the compact during her own therapy and said the measure would help address access issues such as long wait lists and disruptions in care when students or clients move out of state. “Right now, if you are a counselor, you have to practice within the state that you're certified unless your state is a part of the National Counseling Compact,” she said, noting 37 states have joined the compact.
Committee staff explained the amendment offered during the meeting extends the bill’s effective date to 18 months. After no discussion or negative votes on the amendment, the committee agreed to adopt it and then reported House Bill 668 as amended to the full House.
O’Meara told the committee the compact could allow counselors licensed in other member states to continue serving Pennsylvanians who relocate, and could increase the pool of available practitioners during periods of high demand. The committee took no additional policy directions beyond reporting the bill with the effective-date amendment.
