Is New Mexico in the Counseling compact?

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

What if New Mexico doesn't recognize my license?

VAEIA 2022 / 50 U.S.C. § 4025a (effective Dec 23, 2024) requires New Mexico 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 · NM

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

Your counseling licensing board in New Mexico

New Mexico Counseling and Therapy Practice Board (Regulation and Licensing Department, RLD)

www.rld.nm.gov/boards-and-commissions/individual-boards-and-commissions/counseling-and-therapy-practice/licensing-registration-and-renewal ↗☎ 505-476-4622

New Mexico military-spouse provision

New Mexico RLD provides expedited licensure for military spouses across all occupations it licenses, including the Counseling and Therapy Practice Board, issuing the license within 30 days of a completed application and waiving licensing fees for three years.

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 New Mexico →Counseling portability — all states →License portability checker →MyCAA: $4,000 for relicensing →