HB 2280 Summary

• Enacts the Counseling Compact into Arizona law, allowing licensed professional counselors from member states to practice in other member states under a "privilege to practice" without obtaining separate licenses in each state.

• Requires member states to license and regulate professional counselors, mandate passing a nationally recognized exam, require a master's degree with 60 semester hours in counseling including specific topic areas, and complete supervised postgraduate professional experience.

• Establishes the Counseling Compact Commission as a national administrative body composed of one delegate from each member state's licensing board to promulgate rules, maintain a data system of licensure and adverse action information, and oversee compact operations.

• Grants remote states authority to take adverse action against a licensee's privilege to practice for violations of state law, while only the home state can take adverse action against the home state license itself.

• Allows active duty military personnel and spouses to designate a home state and retain that designation during active duty service, and permits professional counseling services via telehealth under the privilege to practice in member states.