I strongly oppose the proposed legislation, which supports CACREP-only licensure due to the false assumption that CACREP graduates are better off or more qualified than their peers who attended non-CACREP programs. These types of legislations perpetuate the national mental health provider shortage, which in turn will lead to an increase in clients in crisis (such as ER visits and psychiatric hospitalizations) and an increase in untreated mental health issues. Instead, I urge legislators to consider the Counseling Compact instead, which is more inclusive and streamlined for providers and offers clients more options.