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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 18. Professional And Occupational Licensing
Agency 115. Board of Counseling
Chapter 40. Regulations Governing the Certification of Rehabilitation Providers
12/31/2024

18VAC115-40-40. Standards of practice.

A. The protection of the public health, safety and welfare, and the best interest of the public shall be the primary guide in determining the appropriate professional conduct of all persons whose activities are regulated by the board.

B. Each person certified by the board shall:

1. Provide services in a manner that is in the best interest of the public and does not endanger the public health, safety, or welfare.

2. Provide services only within the competency areas for which one is qualified by training or experience.

3. Not provide services under a false or assumed name, or impersonate another practitioner of a like, similar or different name.

4. Be aware of the areas of competence of related professions and make full use of professional, technical and administrative resources to secure for rehabilitation clients the most appropriate services.

5. Not commit any act which is a felony under the laws of this Commonwealth, other states, the District of Columbia or the United States, or any act which is a misdemeanor under such laws and involves moral turpitude.

6. Stay abreast of new developments, concepts and practices which are important to providing appropriate services.

7. State a rationale in the form of an identified objective or purpose for the provision of services to be rendered to the rehabilitation client.

8. Not engage in offering services to a rehabilitation client who is receiving services from another rehabilitation provider without attempting to inform such other providers in order to avoid confusion and conflict for the rehabilitation client.

9. Represent accurately one's competence, education, training and experience.

10. Refrain from undertaking any activity in which one's personal problems are likely to lead to inadequate or harmful services.

11. Not engage in improper direct solicitation of rehabilitation clients and shall announce services fairly and accurately in a manner which will aid the public in forming their own informed judgments, opinions and choices and which avoids fraud and misrepresentation through sensationalism, exaggeration or superficiality.

12. Recognize conflicts of interest and inform all parties of the nature and directions of loyalties and responsibilities involved.

13. Report to the board known or suspected violations of the laws and regulations governing the practice of rehabilitation providers.

14. Report to the board any unethical or incompetent practices by other rehabilitation providers that jeopardize public safety or cause a risk of harm to rehabilitation clients.

15. Provide rehabilitation clients with accurate information of what to expect in the way of tests, evaluations, billing, rehabilitation plans and schedules before rendering services.

16. Provide services and submission of reports in a timely fashion and ensure that services and reports respond to the purpose of the referral and include recommendations, if appropriate. All reports shall reflect an objective, independent opinion based on factual determinations within the provider's area of expertise and discipline. The reports of services and findings shall be distributed to appropriate parties and shall comply with all applicable legal regulations.

17. Specify, for the referral source and the rehabilitation client, at the time of initial referral, what services are to be provided and what practices are to be conducted. This shall include the identification, as well as the clarification, of services that are available by that member.

18. Assure that the rehabilitation client is aware, from the outset, if the delivery of service is being observed by a third party. Professional files, reports and records shall be maintained for three years beyond the termination of services.

19. Never engage in nonprofessional relationships with rehabilitation clients that compromise the rehabilitation client's well-being, impair the rehabilitation provider's objectivity and judgment or increase the risk of rehabilitation client exploitation.

20. Never engage in sexual intimacy with rehabilitation clients or former rehabilitation clients, as such intimacy is unethical and prohibited.

Statutory Authority

§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3515 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR560-01-04 § 3.1, eff. November 1, 1995; amended, Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 25, eff. September 30, 1998.

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