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Committee advances counseling licensure bill aligning Tennessee with national compact
Summary
Senate Bill 23‑99, sponsored by Senator Yarbrough, would streamline Tennessee counseling licensure by clarifying limited-practice and licensed professional counselor roles to align with the National Counseling Compact; executive director Robin Lee testified and the committee moved the bill to finance after adopting an amendment.
Senator Yarbrough told the committee SB 23‑99 clarifies the distinction between limited-practice professional counselors and licensed professional counselors and aligns Tennessee terminology with the National Counseling Compact. "This legislation is brought to update Tennessee's counseling licensure statute by clearly distinguishing between limited practice professional counselors and licensed professional counselors," the sponsor said.
Robin Lee, executive director of the Tennessee Licensed Professional Counselors Association, testified the association has sought the change for more than a decade and urged the committee to preserve a clear pathway to licensure. "We have been trying to bring this legislation, I would say, for probably 10 to 12 years," she said. The committee adopted an amendment to clarify roles and moved the bill to finance with a unanimous roll call.
Members asked about educational requirements and whether the Department of Health supported the measure; Robin Lee said the department was not opposing and that the bill included a fiscal note the department could manage. The committee recorded nine ayes and forwarded the bill to the finance committee for further review.
