Is Michigan in the Counseling compact?

No. As of the latest data, Michigan is not a member of the Counseling Compact. Verify on the official commission site, as states join frequently.

What if Michigan doesn't recognize my license?

VAEIA 2022 / 50 U.S.C. § 4025a (effective Dec 23, 2024) requires Michigan to recognize your valid out-of-state Licensed Professional Counselor license when you relocate due to military orders. If a board pushes back, cite the statute and the DOJ Servicemembers Initiative guidance. The DoD also reimburses up to $1,000 per PCS for relicensing fees.

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Counseling · MI

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

Your counseling licensing board in Michigan

Michigan Board of Counseling (Bureau of Professional Licensing, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs)

www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bpl/health/hp-lic-health-prof/counseling ↗☎ 517-241-0199

Michigan military-spouse provision

Michigan issues a temporary six-month license, renewable once, under the Public Health Code to the spouse of an active duty armed forces member, covering the health professions licensed under that code such as professional 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.

AL AR CO CT DE FL GA ID IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MS MO MT NE NH NJ NC ND OH OK RI SC TN UT VT VA WA WV WY

All compacts for Michigan →Counseling portability — all states →License portability checker →MyCAA: $4,000 for relicensing →