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Counseling · HI

Can a Licensed Professional Counselor transfer a license to Hawaii as a military spouse?

Data as of May 2026|Source: Counseling Compact commission + DOJ Servicemembers Initiative
Published by the Honest MOS Editorial DeskVerified against DoD/.gov sourcesUpdated May 2026Editorial standards
⚠ VAEIA federal backstop

Not through the compact — Hawaii is not currently a Counseling compact member. A military-spouse Licensed Professional Counselor relies on VAEIA 2022 / 50 U.S.C. § 4025a, which requires Hawaii to recognize a valid out-of-state license upon relocation for military orders.

Your counseling licensing board in Hawaii

Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division (Mental Health Counselor Program)
cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/programs/mental
Hawaii military-spouse provision

Under HRS section 436B-14.7, which governs the professional and vocational licensing programs administered by the DCCA director including the mental health counselor program, the licensing authority must expedite endorsement or reciprocity licensure for a qualifying nonresident military spouse and shall issue a temporary license while remaining requirements are completed.

Official source ↗

About the Counseling Compact

For licensed professional counselors (LPC, LMHC, LCMHC). Member-state license is recognized in all other member states; military spouses can use home-state license in any compact state.

Official compact site ↗

All Counseling member states

34 jurisdictions. Tap any to check that destination for this profession.

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All compacts for HawaiiCounseling portability — all states →License portability checker →MyCAA: $4,000 for relicensing →
Published by the Honest MOS Editorial DeskVerified against DoD/.gov sourcesUpdated May 2026Editorial standards