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Counseling · IA

Can a Licensed Professional Counselor transfer a license to Iowa 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
✓ Yes — compact transfer

Yes. Iowa is a member of the Counseling Compact, so a Licensed Professional Counselor holding a multistate/compact license can practice in IA without re-applying. Explicit military-spouse provision: practice on home-state license in any Compact state, plus expedited home-license process when moving.

Your counseling licensing board in Iowa

Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professionals
dial.iowa.gov/licenses/medical/mental-health/mental-behavioral-health515-281-0254
Iowa military-spouse provision

Iowa law requires every licensing board to expedite a license application from a person married to an active-duty member of the military who is licensed in another state in a profession with a similar scope of practice, which reaches the Iowa board that licenses mental health counselors.

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 IowaCounseling 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