Letter of Opposition to the Petition for Endorsement of the National Licensure Endorsement Process

Read CSJ's official letter of opposition to the petition requesting endorsement of the National Counselor Licensure for Endorsement Process (NCLEP).

October 18, 2018
 
Jaime Hoyle, Executive Director
Virginia Boards of Counseling, Psychology, and Social Work
9360 Maryland Drive
Suite 300
Richmond, VA  23233
 
Subject:    Opposition of the Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ) to the petition for endorsement of the
                 National Counselor Licensure Endorsement Process

Dear Mr. Hoyle:
 
As a division of counselors committed to social justice, we stand in solidarity with the American Counseling Association in opposing the petition to the Virginia Board of Counseling requesting endorsement of the National Counselor Licensure for Endorsement Process (NCLEP).   
 
NCLEP creates unnecessary restrictions on counselors’ ability to relocate and practice in another state.  CSJ upholds the social justice principles of fairness, equity, and inclusion.  NCLEP is exclusionary and will deny the public access to care from thousands of qualified counselors who do meet the NCLEP standards.
 
Therefore, we endorse the more inclusive licensure portability model provided by ACA.  The ACA licensure portability model states:
 
“A counselor who is licensed at the independent practice level in their home state and who has no disciplinary record shall be eligible for licensure at the independent practice level in any state or U.S. jurisdiction in which they are seeking residence. The state to which the licensed counselor is moving may require a jurisprudence examination based on the rules and procedures of that state.”
—Approved by the ACA Governing Council, June 2016
 
We request that you oppose NCLEP in favor of more inclusive licensure portability regulations that ACA’s model affords.
 
Thank you
CSJ Members
6101 Stevenson Ave, Ste 600
Alexandria, VA 22304
800-347-6647