Virginia Law

A. Resident license. Applicants for temporary licensure as a resident in marriage and family therapy shall:

1. Apply for licensure on a form provided by the board to include the following: (i) verification of a supervisory contract, (ii) the name and licensure number of the supervisor and location for the supervised practice, and (iii) an attestation that the applicant will be providing marriage and family services.

2. Have submitted an official transcript documenting a graduate degree as that meets the requirements specified in 18VAC115-50-50 to include completion of the coursework and internship requirement specified in 18VAC115-50-55;

3. Pay the registration fee;

4. Submit a current report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB); and

5. Have no unresolved disciplinary action against a mental health or health professional license, certificate, or registration in Virginia or in another jurisdiction. The board will consider the history of disciplinary action on a case-by-case basis.

B. Residency requirements.

1. The applicant for licensure as a marriage and family therapist shall have completed a supervised residency in the role of a marriage and family therapist, to include 200 hours of in-person supervision with the supervisor in the consultation and review of marriage and family services provided by the resident. For the purpose of meeting the 200 hours of supervision required for a residency, in-person may also include the use of technology that maintains client confidentiality and provides real-time, visual contact between the supervisor and the resident. At least 100 of the 200 hours of supervision shall be rendered by a licensed marriage and family therapist.

a. Residents shall receive a minimum of one hour and a maximum of four hours of supervision for every 40 hours of supervised work experience.

b. No more than 100 hours of the supervision may be acquired through group supervision, with the group consisting of no more than six residents. One hour of group supervision will be deemed equivalent to one hour of individual supervision.

2. The residency shall include documentation of at least 2,000 hours of face-to-face client contact in clinical marriage and family services, of which 1,000 hours shall be face-to-face client contact with couples or families or both.

3. The residency shall consist of practice in the core areas set forth in 18VAC115-50-55.

4. The resident will complete a minimum of 1,000 hours of face-to-face client contact, of which 500 hours shall be face-to-face client contact with couples or family or both, and 100 hours of supervision within two years immediately preceding application to the board for licensure as a marriage and family therapist.

5. The residency shall begin after the completion of a master's degree in marriage and family therapy or a related discipline as set forth in 18VAC115-50-50.

6. The board may consider special requests in the event that the regulations create an undue burden in regard to geography or disability that limits the resident's access to qualified supervision.

7. Residents shall not call themselves marriage and family therapists, directly bill for services rendered, or in any way represent themselves as marriage and family therapists. During the residency, residents may use their names, the initials of their degree, and the title "Resident in Marriage and Family Therapy." Clients shall be informed in writing that the resident does not have authority for independent practice and is under supervision, along with the name, address, and telephone number of the resident's supervisor.

8. Residents shall not engage in practice under supervision in any areas for which they do not have appropriate education.

9. The residency shall be completed in not less than 21 months.

10. The board will accept residency hours that are approved by the licensing board in another United States jurisdiction and that meet the requirements of this section.

C. Supervisory qualifications. A person who provides supervision for a resident in marriage and family therapy shall:

1. Hold an active, unrestricted license as a marriage and family therapist or professional counselor in the jurisdiction where the supervision is being provided;

2. Document two years post-licensure marriage and family therapy experience; and

3. Have received professional training in supervision, consisting of three credit hours or 4.0 quarter hours in graduate-level coursework in supervision or at least 20 hours of continuing education in supervision offered by a provider approved under 18VAC115-50-96. At least one-half of the 200 hours of supervision shall be rendered by a licensed marriage and family therapist.

D. Supervisory responsibilities.

1. The supervisor shall complete evaluation forms to be given to the resident at the end of each three-month period. The supervisor shall report the total hours of residency and evaluate the applicant's competency to the board.

2. Supervision by an individual whose relationship to the resident is deemed by the board to compromise the objectivity of the supervisor is prohibited.

3. The supervisor shall provide supervision as defined in 18VAC115-50-10 and shall assume full responsibility for the clinical activities of residents as specified within the supervisory contract for the duration of the residency.