American Counseling Association
The American Counseling Association is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit founded in 1952 and the world's largest association exclusively representing professional counselors, with 62,000+ members. It generates revenue through membership dues, journals and publications, conferences, continuing education, advertising, and a career job board.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1952
- HeadquartersAlexandria, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What American Counseling Association does
The American Counseling Association (ACA), founded in 1952 and headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit professional and educational organization that is the world's largest association exclusively representing professional counselors, with more than 62,000 members. The organization operates as a horizontal professional membership association rather than a technology company, with no disclosed proprietary software platform or API. Its core products and services span seven peer-reviewed journals (including the flagship Journal of Counseling & Development), Counseling Today magazine, ACA Books, the Career Central digital job board, the annual ACA Conference & Expo featuring 200+ education sessions across 24 topic areas, continuing education programs, the ACA Code of Ethics, practice briefs, and grants through the affiliated ACA Foundation. A new strategic partnership with TheraNest by Ensora Health (February 2026) integrates practice management software into the member benefits stack.
ACA's business model is a diversified subscription-and-event association model. The primary revenue stream is tiered annual membership dues from 62,000+ individual professional counselors (with discounted student tiers and automatic monthly/quarterly/annual renewal options), supplemented by publication subscriptions and e-commerce sales, conference registration fees, continuing education products, advertising, and Career Central job board transactions. Go-to-market combines direct membership sales, event-driven engagement through the Conference & Expo and Hill Day advocacy event, and community-led retention through ACA Connect, 20 divisions, 4 regions, awards programs, and career resources. The organization has no parent company, no external controlling investor, and no disclosed institutional shareholders, with governance provided by an elected Board of Directors and an inaugural Advisory Council seated for FY2027.
Strategic positioning is anchored on regulatory advocacy as a core member value driver: ACA led the Counseling Compact initiative ($600,000+ authorized in 2018, now enacted in 38+ states and operational since September 2025) and was instrumental in securing Medicare reimbursement for professional counselors via the Mental Health Access Improvement Act in FY2023. Senior leadership was refreshed in 2023-2026, including a new CFO, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, COO, and CEO Brian D. Banks (appointed February 2026), positioning the association for its next phase of regulatory and ecosystem expansion.
American Counseling Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- American Counseling Association
- Legal name
- American Counseling Association
- Website
- https://counseling.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1952
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The American Counseling Association is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit founded in 1952 and the world's largest association exclusively representing professional counselors, with 62,000+ members. It generates revenue through membership dues, journals and publications, conferences, continuing education, advertising, and a career job board.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
American Counseling Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Association Services
- NAICS
- Professional Organizations (813920), Professional Organizations (81392), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- School Counseling Services (Individual & Group) (EDAKAMAB)
Keywords
Where American Counseling Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Alexandria
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
American Counseling Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: ACA generates primary revenue through membership dues from its 62,000+ members. The organization offers tiered membership with automatic renewal options.
- Career Central Job Board: ACA Career Central provides a digital job board for employers and job seekers in the counseling field, with employers able to purchase advertisement packages and access resume database.
- Publications and Store: ACA generates revenue through sale of books, publications, and Counseling Today magazine subscriptions.
- Events and Conferences: ACA hosts annual Conference & Expo and other events including the 2026 Hill Day advocacy event, generating revenue through registration fees.
- Continuing Education: ACA provides continuing education credits and online products for professional development.
- Advertising: ACA generates revenue through advertising opportunities across its platforms and publications.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard membership with access to member resources, publications, and benefits |
| Subscription | Annual | Student membership tier available for counseling students |
| Subscription | Monthly | Automatic renewal enrollment with flexible payment options |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels10 records
American Counseling Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
American Counseling Association is a not-for-profit professional association that delivers membership programs, continuing education, peer-reviewed publications, an annual conference, career resources, ethics guidance, and legislative advocacy to professional counselors. It also funds counseling-related projects through the ACA Foundation and operates the Career Central job board for the counseling profession.
Product overview
The American Counseling Association offers a comprehensive portfolio of professional resources centered around its publications, career services, and continuing education. The organization publishes seven peer-reviewed journals (including the flagship Journal of Counseling & Development), Counseling Today magazine, books, and digital content. Career Central provides a job board and career resources for counseling professionals. ACA also hosts the annual Conference & Expo with over 200 education sessions, offers continuing education programs, and provides ethics resources, practice briefs, and grants through the ACA Foundation. The organization serves as the world's largest association exclusively representing professional counselors with over 62,000 members.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ACA Foundation: Nonprofit foundation providing grants to members for counseling-related projects
- Career Central
- Counseling Today
Quantifiable outcome
- Nevada became 38th state to sign Counseling Compact legislation, enabling counselors to practice across state lines
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use American Counseling Association
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
American Counseling Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
American Counseling Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- NBC News New YorkminorACA collaborated with NBC News New York to survey professional counselors about their perspectives on AI in mental health therapy.
- TheraNest by Ensora HealthcoreTheraNest by Ensora Health was selected as the newest addition to ACA's Strategic Partner Network, providing practice management software solutions to ACA members.
- HBCU C.A.R.E.S.minorHBCU C.A.R.E.S. (Counselors Advancing Racial Equity and Social Justice) mission is to raise awareness about the counseling profession at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. ACA welcomed the inaugural cohort of HBCU C.A.R.E.S. Ambassadors.
- Counseling Compact CommissioncoreACA was voted in as an ex-officio member of the Counseling Compact Commission, allowing ACA to have a voice in the governance of the interstate compact for counselor licensure portability.
- National Center for Interstate CompactscoreThe National Center for Interstate Compacts leads the Counseling Compact project. ACA funded the initiative with over $600,000 authorized by its Governing Council in Fall 2018.
- American Red CrossminorACA partners with the American Red Cross for disaster mental health volunteer deployment. ACA members who are Red Cross-certified DMH responders can be deployed for disaster response.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of AmericaminorACA brought training sessions on trauma and disaster mental health to Boys & Girls Clubs staff as part of ongoing partnership.
- United Nations (NGO Status)minorACA holds official United Nations Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status and participates in annual UN DPI/NGO conferences.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
American Counseling Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA): AMHCA is the other major US association exclusively representing clinical mental health counselors. It competes directly with ACA for the same licensed professional counselor membership base and offers overlapping CE, advocacy, and publications.
- National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): NBCC administers the National Certified Counselor credential and serves the same professional counselor population as ACA. It competes on certification, advocacy, and continuing education, and is one of ACA's closest direct comparables.
- American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT): AAMFT represents marriage and family therapists, a profession whose members were added to Medicare in the same legislative vehicle as counselors. It competes for mental-health membership, CE, and advocacy resources with overlapping professional adjacency.
- NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals: NAADAC represents addiction counselors, many of whom are also ACA members via the Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling division. It competes directly for addiction-counselor dues, CE, and certification.
Emerging players
- American School Counselor Association (ASCA): ASCA represents school counselors, a key sub-segment of ACA's membership. While more narrowly focused on K-12, it competes for the same school-counselor dues dollars and delivers comparable CE, publications, and advocacy.
Broad incumbents
- National Association of Social Workers (NASW): NASW is the largest US association for social workers and overlaps with ACA on mental-health advocacy, CE, and licensure portability. It is a much broader incumbent serving a different but adjacent profession with similar service mix.
- American Psychological Association (APA): APA is the dominant US association for psychologists. It is much larger and broader than ACA but competes for the same mental-health practitioner mindshare, publications market, and federal advocacy agenda.
Others
- American Counseling Association Foundation (ACA Foundation): Wholly-owned nonprofit foundation that issues small grants (up to $500) to members. It is not a peer in the competitive sense but is the grantmaking arm closely tied to ACA's mission and member value proposition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
American Counseling Association social profiles
Digital presenceAmerican Counseling Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
American Counseling Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
American Counseling Association subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
American Counseling Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
American Counseling Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about American Counseling Association
What does American Counseling Association do?
American Counseling Association is a not-for-profit professional association that delivers membership programs, continuing education, peer-reviewed publications, an annual conference, career resources, ethics guidance, and legislative advocacy to professional counselors. It also funds counseling-related projects through the ACA Foundation and operates the Career Central job board for the counseling profession.
Is American Counseling Association a public or private company?
American Counseling Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was American Counseling Association founded?
American Counseling Association was founded in 1952. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is American Counseling Association based?
American Counseling Association is headquartered in Alexandria, United States, in the North America region.
How does American Counseling Association make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are career Central Job Board, publications and Store, events and Conferences, continuing Education and advertising.
Who are American Counseling Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals. American School Counselor Association (ASCA) is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and American Psychological Association (APA). American Counseling Association Foundation (ACA Foundation) is listed as an others.
Does American Counseling Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for American Counseling Association.
What industry is American Counseling Association in?
American Counseling Association's product category is Professional Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAKAMAB, School Counseling Services (Individual & Group). Its NAICS code is 813920 and its SIC code is 8600.