Virginia Law

A. Licensure. Applicants for a temporary resident license in substance abuse treatment 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 substance abuse treatment services;

2. Have submitted an official transcript documenting a graduate degree that meets the requirements specified in 18VAC115-60-60 to include completion of the coursework and internship requirement specified in 18VAC115-60-70;

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. Applicants who are beginning residencies in exempt settings shall register supervision with the board to ensure acceptability at the time of application.

C. Residency requirements.

1. The applicant for licensure as a substance abuse treatment practitioner shall have completed a supervised residency in substance abuse treatment with various populations, clinical problems, and theoretical approaches.

2. The residency shall include at least 2,000 hours of face-to-face client contact in providing clinical substance abuse treatment services with individuals, families, or groups of individuals suffering from the effects of substance abuse or dependence.

3. The residency shall include a minimum of 200 hours of in-person supervision between supervisor and resident occurring at a minimum of one hour and a maximum of four hours per 40 hours of work experience during the period of the residency.

a. No more than half of these hours may be satisfied with group supervision.

b. One hour of group supervision will be deemed equivalent to one hour of individual supervision.

c. Supervision that is not concurrent with a residency will not be accepted, nor will residency hours be accrued in the absence of approved supervision.

d. For the purpose of meeting the 200-hour supervision requirement, in-person supervision may include the use of technology that maintains client confidentiality and provides real-time, visual contact between the supervisor and the resident.

4. The resident will complete a minimum of 1,000 hours of face-to-face client contact and 100 hours of supervision within two years immediately preceding application to the board for licensure as a substance abuse treatment practitioner.

5. The residency shall be completed in not less than 21 months. A resident shall meet the renewal requirements of 18VAC115-60-110 in order to maintain a license in current, active status.

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 may not call themselves substance abuse treatment practitioners, directly bill for services rendered, or in any way represent themselves as independent, autonomous practitioners or substance abuse treatment practitioners. During the residency, residents shall use their names and the initials of their degree, and the title "Resident in Substance Abuse Treatment" in all written communications. Clients shall be informed in writing that the resident does not have authority for independent practice and is under supervision and shall provide the supervisor's name, professional address, and telephone number.

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

9. 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.

D. Supervisory qualifications.

1. A person who provides supervision for a resident in substance abuse treatment shall hold an active, unrestricted license as a professional counselor or substance abuse treatment practitioner in the jurisdiction where the supervision is being provided.

2. All supervisors shall document two years post-licensure substance abuse treatment experience and at least 100 hours of didactic instruction in substance abuse treatment. Supervisors must document a three-credit-hour course in supervision, a 4.0-quarter-hour course in supervision, or at least 20 hours of continuing education in supervision offered by a provider approved under 18VAC115-60-116.

E. Supervisory responsibilities.

1. Supervision by any individual whose relationship to the resident compromises the objectivity of the supervisor is prohibited.

2. The supervisor of a resident shall assume full responsibility for the clinical activities of that resident specified within the supervisory contract for the duration of the residency.

3. The supervisor shall complete evaluation forms to be given to the resident at the end of each three-month period.

4. The supervisor shall report the total hours of residency and shall evaluate the applicant's competency.

F. Documentation of supervision. Applicants shall document successful completion of residency on the Verification of Supervision form at the time of application. Applicants must receive a satisfactory competency evaluation on each item on the evaluation sheet.