18VAC76. Department of Health Professions
VAC AGENCY NO. 76
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS
AGENCY SUMMARY
The Department of Health Professions is an umbrella agency authorized to provide investigative, inspection, and administrative services for and promote policy coordination among Virginia's 13 health profession regulatory boards. These boards regulate over 500,000 health care practitioners across 62 professions and 13 types of facilities (funeral establishments, pharmacy-related businesses, and veterinary facilities). The mission of the Department of Health Professions is to ensure safe and competent patient care by licensing health professionals, enforcing standards of practice, and providing information to health care practitioners and the public.
The director of the department is authorized under Chapters 25 (§ 54.1-2500 et seq.), 25.1 (§ 54.1-2515 et seq.), and 25.2 (§ 54.1-2519 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia to supervise and manage the department; perform or consolidate administrative services for the boards; receive all complaints made against regulated health care professionals; develop administrative policies and procedures governing the receipt and recording of complaints; monitor the status of actions regarding complaints; provide investigative services; collect and account for all fees to be paid into each board; and promulgate and revise regulations necessary for the administration of the department and for the implementation of the Health Practitioners' Monitoring Program (§ 54.1-2515 et seq. of the Code of Virginia). The director also promulgates regulations necessary for the implementation of the Prescription Monitoring Program (§ 54.1-2519 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).
Each health profession regulatory board is authorized by Chapter 24 (§ 54.1-2400 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia to (i) establish the qualifications for registration, certification, or licensure that are necessary to ensure competence and integrity to engage in the regulated profession; (ii) examine or cause to be examined applicants for certification or licensure; (iii) register, certify, or license qualified applicants as practitioners; (iv) establish schedules for renewals; (v) levy and collect fees; (vi) promulgate regulations to effectively administer the regulatory system administered by the board; (vii) revoke, suspend, restrict, or refuse to issue or renew a registration, certificate, or license; (viii) appoint designees from the board's membership or immediate staff to coordinate with the Monitoring Program Committee; (ix) take appropriate disciplinary action for violations of applicable law and regulations; (x) appoint a special conference committee to consider disciplinary action; (xi) convene, at its discretion, a panel to conduct formal proceedings with regard to a practitioner; and (xii) issue inactive licenses or certificates according to regulations the board adopts; (xiii) meet by telephone conference call to consider settlement proposal or modifications to board orders; (xiv) request and accept confidential consent agreements; and (xv) direct a practitioner to submit to a mental or physical examination.
Pursuant to Chapter 24 (§ 54.1-2400 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia, any health regulatory board may suspend the license, certificate, or registration of any person holding a license, certificate, or registration issued by the board without a hearing simultaneously with the institution of proceedings for a hearing if the relevant board finds that there is a substantial danger to the public health or safety that warrants this action.
The department operates under the supervision of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources. More information can be found on the department's website at https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/AboutDHP/.
Rev. 07/2024