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Counseling License from Arkansas to Georgia: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Updated · Data verified · source: Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists (Secretary of State), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) ↗
Generated from a source-cited dataset with AI-assisted research; facts checked against official sources · How these pages are made

Does Georgia accept an Arkansas counseling license?

Yes, for working in Georgia — both Arkansas and Georgia are active members of the Counseling Compact. If Arkansas is your primary state of residence and your Arkansas license is active and unencumbered, you can buy a compact privilege to practice in Georgia without a second license. A privilege is not a license transfer: if you are moving your residence to Georgia, you will need a Georgia license once Georgia becomes your home state.

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Verdict

Compact privilege — work there without a second license

Working in Georgia and moving to Georgia are two different transactions here. Cross-border practice, whether a telehealth caseload or in-person sessions, runs on a Georgia privilege bought through CompactConnect and anchored to your Arkansas license, which must stay active, unencumbered, and at the independent level. A move of residence needs a new home-state license from the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists (Secretary of State), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Both states being compact members shortens that license application, since Georgia verifies you through the compact's data system, but you still complete its background checks and any jurisprudence requirement.

What's different between Arkansas and Georgia

Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Georgia. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.

Route, each way

Arkansas to Georgia (this page): Compact privilege — work there without a second license.

Georgia to Arkansas (the reverse move): Compact privilege — work there without a second license.

The route is the same in both directions.

Does coming from Arkansas matter?

Coming from Arkansas matters here: only 10 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get this result for a move into Georgia.

The others get: licensure by endorsement (40).

Counseling Compact membership

Arkansas and Georgia are both Counseling Compact member states.

A compact privilege lets you practice in Georgia while Arkansas is your home state; it is not a license, and a move to Georgia needs a Georgia license.

Application fee

Georgia lists $100 for an out-of-state applicant and Arkansas lists $100 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.

Processing time

Georgia lists up to 4 weeks; Arkansas has no verified processing-time figure on file, so the two cannot be compared here.

Exam rules on record

Georgia and Arkansas carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.

  • Georgia (this move): National exam is not retaken: the applicant submits an official passing score on the NBCC NCE or NCMHCE. An applicant who has not passed either exam may be required to pass one before endorsement is considered. No Georgia jurisprudence exam is required for endorsement or for a compact privilege.
  • Arkansas (the reverse move): National exam is not retaken: counselor applicants need a passing NCE or NCMHCE, and the Board may waive the NCE/NCMHCE when it finds another exam equivalent or the applicant meets the licensure-by-endorsement rule (17 CAR 75-901(b)(4)). The Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling Jurisprudence Exam, administered through NBCC, IS required of all applicants except uniformed-service applicants under 17 CAR 75-904.

What changes, Arkansas → Georgia

Side-by-side: Arkansas vs Georgia (Counseling (LPC / LMHC)), verified 2026-10-29
Arkansas (current)Georgia (destination)
Counseling Compact statusLicensure by endorsement · Counseling Compact privilege (not a license)Licensure by endorsement · Counseling Compact privilege (not a license)
Application fee$100 (initial LPC application fee per 17 CAR 75-1301(a)(1) (2026 Rule Revision). The Board must waive it (17 CAR 75-1301(b): 'shall waive') for applicants receiving Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, TANF or Lifeline assistance, approved for unemployment within the last 12 months, or with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Separate fees: $250 LPC license fee (75-1302, first fee prorated), jurisprudence exam fee paid to NBCC, and background-check fees. NOT the Counseling Compact privilege fee (Arkansas charges $50 + $30 commission admin fee = $80 for a privilege, and requires the jurisprudence exam).)$100 ($100 non-refundable LPC endorsement application fee per the Board's fee schedule (dated 04/18/2023: '$100 application fee + $10 processing fee = $110'); the $10 is a mail-in application processing fee. Applications are now filed in the GOALS portal, and the online GOALS fee schedule (goals.sos.ga.gov) returned HTTP 403 on 2026-10-29, so the portal amount could not be checked. Fingerprint background check paid separately to the vendor; NBCC score-report fee separate. NOT the Counseling Compact privilege fee (Georgia charges $100 + $30 commission admin fee = $130 for a privilege; no jurisprudence exam).)
Processing timethe Board publishes no end-to-end timeframe. Its Licensed by Endorsement Instructions (10/16/2026) say the first-step Application for Examination by Endorsement 'can take several weeks to be approved', the file then goes on a Board meeting agenda, and after approval license processing 'usually takes about 10 business days, but it can take longer'up to 4 weeks (the Board's How-to Guide says applications are 'generally processed within 20 business days of receipt' (about 4 weeks), and the count restarts after a deficiency letter. Completed applications may also go to a Board meeting and must be complete at least 15 days before it to be placed on the agenda. Incomplete applications may be withdrawn if deficiencies are not fixed within 60 days of notice.)
Licensing authorityArkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling (Arkansas Department of Health), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists (Secretary of State), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Georgia sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

  1. Confirm your home-state license is active and unencumbered and that your home state is your primary state of residence.
  2. To work in Georgia: purchase a Counseling Compact privilege for Georgia through the compact commission and complete any Georgia jurisprudence requirement.
  3. Keep your home-state license active — every privilege lapses with it.
  4. If you are moving your primary residence to Georgia: apply for a Georgia license with the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists (Secretary of State), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC); a privilege does not follow you when your home state changes.

Official links

Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists (Secretary of State), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) ↗Georgia application ↗Counseling Compact ↗

Related guides

Reverse: Georgia → ArkansasCounseling in ArkansasCounseling in GeorgiaAll counseling statesThe Counseling Compact explained

Frequently asked questions

What does the move cost?

To work in Georgia while living in Arkansas: a $30 commission fee plus Georgia's state privilege fee, paid in CompactConnect. To relocate and take a Georgia license: $100 ($100 non-refundable LPC endorsement application fee per the Board's fee schedule (dated 04/18/2023: '$100 application fee + $10 processing fee = $110'); the $10 is a mail-in application processing fee.

How long will it take?

A privilege can issue once CompactConnect confirms your eligibility and any Georgia jurisprudence requirement is done, usually well ahead of a license. A Georgia license for a relocation: up to 4 weeks (the Board's How-to Guide says applications are 'generally processed within 20 business days of receipt' (about 4 weeks), and the count restarts after a deficiency letter.

Can I see Georgia clients by telehealth while living in Arkansas?

Yes, on a Georgia privilege. It covers telehealth and in-person counseling with clients located in Georgia, as long as your Arkansas license stays active and unencumbered and Arkansas remains your primary residence.

If I move from Arkansas to Georgia, does my privilege keep me covered?

No. A privilege is for practice away from your home state, not for moving. Once you relocate, Georgia is your home state and you need a Georgia license. Because both states are compact members, Georgia verifies you through the compact's data system, and you complete its background checks and any jurisprudence requirement.

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.

Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29

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