NC H791

Establishes the Professional Counseling Licensure Compact (Article 24A of G.S. Chapter 90) to allow licensed professional counselors to practice across member states under a "privilege to practice" without obtaining separate licenses in each state.

Creates the Counseling Compact Commission as the national administrative body with power to promulgate binding rules, manage a data system of licensure and adverse action information, and oversee member state compliance with compact requirements.

Sets uniform licensure standards requiring member states to mandate a 60-semester-hour master's degree (or equivalent) in counseling, passage of a nationally recognized exam, supervised postgraduate experience, and background checks including FBI fingerprinting.

Allows counselors with unencumbered licenses in their home state to practice via telehealth and in-person in remote member states, with remote states retaining authority to take adverse actions and enforce their own practice laws.

Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to enter into minimum two-year contracts with nonprofit grantees receiving state/federal funds, with automatic three-month extensions available if certain performance and audit requirements are met (effective July 15, 2022).