Senate Bill 2187 Summary

• Creates and enacts the Counseling Compact (Chapter 43-47.1 of the North Dakota Century Code), establishing an interstate agreement allowing licensed professional counselors to practice across member states under a "privilege to practice."

• Amends counselor licensure requirements to specify that supervised experience can include work under licensed psychologists or other qualified professionals, with allowances for geographic or disability-related hardships.

• Establishes the Counseling Compact Commission as a joint public agency composed of one delegate per member state to administer the compact, promulgate rules, and maintain a data system for licensure and disciplinary information.

• Requires member states to have uniform licensure standards including a 60-semester-hour master's degree in counseling, nationally recognized exam, supervised postgraduate experience, and criminal background checks.

• Effective upon enactment in the tenth member state; allows states to withdraw with six months' notice and provides mechanisms for dispute resolution and enforcement of compact obligations.