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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 18. Professional And Occupational Licensing
Agency 125. Board of Psychology
Chapter 20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Psychology
11/8/2025

18VAC125-20-58. Supervision and autonomous practice of psychological practitioners.

A. Unless an autonomous practice designation has been granted by the board, every psychological practitioner shall practice under the supervision of a clinical psychologist with at least two years of clinical experience post-licensure as a doctoral level clinical psychologist. No psychological practitioner shall represent that the practitioner can practice autonomously unless an autonomous practice designation has been granted by the board.

B. Unless an autonomous practice designation has been granted by the board, each psychological practitioner shall communicate to patients and the public in writing that the psychological practitioner cannot practice autonomously and provide the name and contact information of the supervising clinical psychologist.

C. A psychological practitioner with a current, unrestricted license may qualify for an autonomous designation upon:

1. Achievement of a passing score as determined by the board of the clinical portion of the Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology; and

2. Completion of one year of full-time, post-licensure practice under the supervision of a clinical psychologist. One year of full-time, post-licensure practice, for purposes of this section, is at least 2,000 hours. Such hours must be completed within three years immediately preceding application to the board for autonomous practice authorization.

D. Qualification for authorization for autonomous practice shall be determined upon:

1. Submission of a fee as specified in 18VAC125-20-30;

2. Evidence of a passing score for master's degree level psychological practice on the clinical portion of the Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology; and

3. Evidence of one year of full-time, post-licensure supervised practice. The evidence of supervised practice shall consist of an attestation that meets the following criteria:

a. The attestation shall be signed by the licensed clinical psychologist that served as a supervisor for the required supervised practice in subsection A of this section;

b. The attestation shall specify that the psychological practitioner is competent to practice in all areas of practice contained on a form provided by the board; and

c. The attestation shall state that, in the opinion of the licensed clinical psychologist, the psychological practitioner demonstrated sufficient competency to practice autonomously.

Statutory Authority

§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3606.3 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 3, eff. November 1, 2025.

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