NJ A2880

New Jersey would join the Counseling Compact, an interstate agreement currently enacted by 16 states that allows licensed professional counselors to practice across member states without obtaining multiple licenses

Licensed professional counselors must hold an unencumbered license in their home state, pass a nationally recognized exam, complete a 60 semester-hour master's degree in counseling or equivalent graduate coursework, and meet supervised postgraduate experience requirements

The compact creates the Counseling Compact Commission, a joint public agency with representatives from each member state that has authority to promulgate rules, establish fees, maintain a data system of licensure information, and enforce compliance

Counselors practicing in remote states under the compact must adhere to that state's laws and regulations, and remote states may remove a counselor's privilege to practice, impose fines, or take other actions to protect public health and safety

Member states must participate in a coordinated data system containing licensure, adverse action, and investigative information, and must implement criminal background check requirements including FBI fingerprint-based checks for applicants