The prevalence of privileged communication statutes for counseling and the extent of knowledge concerning them are examined in this study. Information supplied by each of the 50 state attorneys general indicates that only four states--Indiana, Michigan, North Dakota, and Wisconsin--have laws specifically and directly authorizing privileged communication for counseling relationships or records in the educational field. A survey of both the Virginia community-junior college counselors and the membership of the Virginia Personnel and Guidance Association indicates no knowledge of such a law in their state. However, 96 per cent of the 55 counselors and 68 per cent of the 322 responding Association members support the passage of such laws. These two groups suggest that increased counselee confidence and greater counselor protection would result. The authors conclude with a statement of the minimum legal foundation they feel the counseling field in each state needs, a copy of the four statutes currently in existence, and an extensive bibliography on the subject. (JO)