The Counseling Compact: What Oregon Therapists Need to Know

Interstate Practice Is Coming — But Not Yet

The Counseling Compact is an interstate agreement that allows licensed professional counselors to practice across state lines without obtaining a separate license in each state. As of early 2026, 42 states have joined. Oregon is not yet among them — but legislation is moving.

Where Oregon Stands

House Bill 3351, introduced in the 2025 legislative session, would enact the Counseling Compact in Oregon. If passed, the bill would become operative on January 1, 2028. However, HB 3351 was not approved to move forward during the 2025 session — meaning Oregon providers cannot yet use the Compact for interstate practice.

This matters because Oregon shares borders with Washington (a Compact member), Idaho, Nevada, and California — states whose residents frequently seek care from Oregon providers, and vice versa. Without the Compact, a Portland therapist seeing a client who moves to Vancouver, WA must either terminate the relationship or obtain a Washington license.

What the Compact Would Mean for Oregon

If Oregon joins, licensed professional counselors could:

• Practice telehealth across all Compact member states without additional licenses
• Continue treating clients who relocate to other Compact states
• Accept clients from other Compact states who want Oregon-based providers
• Reduce the administrative burden and cost of multi-state licensure

Who Qualifies

The Compact applies to fully licensed professional counselors — not associates or students completing supervised hours. To use the Compact, a provider must:

• Hold an active, unencumbered LPC license in their home state
• Have a master's degree with at least 60 semester hours from an accredited program
• Have passed an approved national exam (NCE or NCMHCE)
• Have completed required supervised experience in their home state

Oregon's Current Licensure Requirements

For context, Oregon's LPC requirements through the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists (OBLPCT) include:

• Education: Accredited master's degree in counseling (60+ semester hours)
• Supervised experience: Minimum 1,900 hours of supervised direct client contact (reduced from 2,400 hours effective July 1, 2023). Up to 400 hours may come from graduate practicum
• Examinations: NCE, NCMHCE, or CRC exam plus Oregon law and rules exam
• Continuing education: 40 hours every two years, including 6 hours in ethics

The 2023 reduction from 2,400 to 1,900 supervised hours was a significant change that shortened the path to licensure by roughly six months for many associates.

What You Can Do Now

If you support interstate practice and want Oregon to join the Compact:

• Contact your state legislators about HB 3351
• Engage with the Oregon Counseling Association for advocacy updates
• Stay current on Compact developments at counselingcompact.gov

Sources

• Counseling Compact — Official Site
• Oregon Legislature — HB 3351
• OBLPCT — Licensure Requirements