Pennsylvania Counseling Association
Government Relations
ADVOCACY NEVER STOPS
April is Advocacy Month
This is your invitation to contact your state legislators and make your voice heard on the issues that matter most to our clients and our profession. You don't have to be a policy expert. You just have to show up.
Visit the How to Advocate section below for everything you need to get started, including talking points, a how-to guide, and the Legislator Outreach Recap form.
Submit Your Legislator Outreach Recap
Save the Date: PCA Hill Day is Coming
Monday, June 1, 2026 | Pennsylvania State Capitol, Harrisburg
Take your April advocacy to the next level. Join fellow Pennsylvania counselors in Harrisburg for a day of face-to-face meetings with state legislators and their staff. Mileage reimbursement is available for all attendees.
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WHO WE ARE
One of the Pennsylvania Counseling Association's key objectives is to engage with Pennsylvania state legislators and staff to support or oppose laws that affect professional counselors and the clients we serve. The PCA Government Relations Committee leads this work. We are committed to a strong, unified professional counselor identity in order to enhance the mental and emotional health of our community.
Questions? Contact us at advocacy.pca@gmail.com or complete the PCA GRC Legislative Needs Survey below to share your concerns directly with the committee.
PCA GRC Legislative Needs Survey
2026 Legislative Priorities
We are focused on the following priorities this year (use these as talking points when contacting your legislators):
- The Interstate Counseling Compact (HB668 and SB604)
Pennsylvania has an opportunity to join a growing national compact that allows independently licensed counselors to practice across state lines, via telehealth and in person, without holding multiple licenses. More than 37 states and D.C. have already joined, including all of Pennsylvania's neighboring states except New York. Joining the Compact will expand access in rural and underserved areas, reduce wait times, and support continuity of care for military families, college students, and other mobile populations. Urge your legislators to support HB668 and SB604 by reviewing talking points on this issue.
- Insurance Reimbursement for LAPCs
Licensed Associate Professional Counselors should not be invisible to insurance companies. We are pushing for all private insurers to reimburse for LAPC services and to eliminate the credentialing gap between LAPC and LPC status. We are also calling for legislators’ support in LAPCs being credentialed with federal programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
- Protecting LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians
Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation causes measurable harm to the mental health of our clients and communities. PCA stands firmly in opposition to these efforts and asks all members to make that clear to their representatives. See the SAIGE statement on anti-LGBTQ+ legislation for details on this issue.
- Funding Pathways for Future Counselors
Following the Department of Education’s decision to exclude counseling from professional degree designation, future counselors face serious financial barriers to entering the field. Ask your legislators to champion new and creative funding pathways. See the ACA’s Loan Equity Act resources for talking points.
- Healthcare Subsidy Access
The expiration of enhanced federal ACA subsidies at the end of 2025 has already resulted in higher premiums for many Pennsylvanians. Our clients feel this directly. Ask your legislators where they stand on protecting healthcare access. Learn more via ACA’s resource.
- Community Safety, Immigrant Rights, and Our Clients
Immigration enforcement is creating real fear and trauma in the communities we serve. We are asking legislators to engage with local law enforcement about their policies, ensure schools remain safe spaces, and make certain that community members and rural workers know their rights. As counselors, we have a responsibility to speak up for the people in our care.
How to Advocate
Not sure how to reach your legislators or what to say? We've got you.
Find your PA legislator: Use the PA General Assembly's legislator lookup tool to find the names and contact information for your specific Representatives and Senators using the link below:
Use our advocacy letter template: Download the GRC's advocacy letter template to contact legislators about specific House or Senate Bills.
Track current legislation: The GRC Legislation Tracker contains all current counseling-related legislation moving through the Pennsylvania General Assembly, updated at least three times per month.
Celebrate your wins: After contacting your legislator, tell us about your experience! Complete the Legislator Outreach Recap form to help us track our collective impact across the state.
Submit Your Legislator Outreach Recap
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LEGISLATIVE WINS
February 2025 — Interstate Counseling Compact
PA introduced the required legislation in the General Assembly (House Bill 668) to become one of the more than 37 states to join the Interstate Counseling Compact which would provide a pathway for independently licensed professional counselors (i.e., LPCs) to obtain the privilege to practice counseling in other Compact member states. HB558 has been referred to the Professional Licensure Committee of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
April 2024 — Governor Shapiro Declares April Counseling Awareness Month
In recognition of the vital role professional counselors play in the mental health of Pennsylvania communities, Governor Shapiro proclaimed April as Counseling Awareness Month. Thank you to every PCA member whose advocacy made this possible.
2024 — PA Boards Adopt Policies Opposing Conversion Therapy on Minors
Thanks in part to the advocacy of PCA members, the Shapiro administration announced that five state licensure boards, including the PA Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors, voted to adopt new Statements of Policy opposing the use of conversion therapy with minors. Read the full announcement at PA.gov.
March 2024 — PA Creates the Licensed Associate Professional Counselor (LAPC) License
The Pennsylvania General Assembly signed into law the creation of the LAPC, a first-tier dependent license for pre-licensed professional counselors. The LAPC allows these professionals to hold a state-issued license while working toward their 3,000 supervised hours to obtain the independent LPC license and creates billing opportunities previously unavailable to pre-licensed counselors. This was a major win for Pennsylvania's mental health workforce pipeline.
November 2024 — PA MOMNIBUS Laws Signed to Support Maternal Mental Health
Two MOMNIBUS bills were signed into law by Governor Shapiro, thanks to the work of the PA Black Maternal Mental Health Caucus. Act 102 of 2024 directs the state Department of Health to create a public awareness campaign around perinatal and postpartum depression. Act 115 of 2024 extends Medicaid coverage to doula services and establishes a Doula Advisory Board in Pennsylvania.
September 2024 — White House Announces Mental Health Parity Rule
The White House announced a new rule requiring health insurance plans to provide equal coverage for mental and physical healthcare. PCA and the American Counseling Association continue to advocate for full reimbursement parity for professional counselors. Read the ACA's coverage of the rule.
GRC in the News
Watch: PCA GRC featured in ACA's Spotlight on States
Duquesne University — Authentic Collaboration Leads to Systemic Change in PA Mental Health Care
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GET IN TOUCH
At the state level: To learn how you can support our advocacy efforts in Pennsylvania, contact us at advocacy.pca@gmail.com or complete the PCA GRC Legislative Needs Survey to share your concerns directly with the committee.
At the federal level: To advocate at the federal level, we align our efforts with those of our parent organization, the American Counseling Association. Learn more about ACA's legislative agenda and current federal issues.
