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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 18. Professional And Occupational Licensing
12/22/2024

Agency 115. Board of Counseling

Preface

VAC AGENCY NO. 115

BOARD OF COUNSELING

AGENCY SUMMARY

The Board of Counseling is a licensing and regulatory board housed within the Department of Health Professions. For the statutory authority of the boards within the department, see Subtitle III (§ 54.1-2400 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia.

The board is authorized by Chapter 35 (§ 54.1-3500 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia to license and regulate the practice of counseling, marriage and family therapy, and substance abuse treatment practitioners; and to administer the certification of rehabilitation providers, substance abuse counselors, and substance abuse counseling assistants. The board is also authorized to register qualified mental health professionals, peer recovery specialists, behavioral health technicians, and behavioral health technician assistants. The board is also authorized to promulgate regulations to facilitate participation in the Counseling Compact. 

Board regulations and guidance as well as contact information for the board are available through the board's website at https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Counseling/.

Rev. 07/2024

Chapter 10
Public Participation Guidelines [Repealed]Read all
Section 10
[Repealed]
Section 20
[Repealed]
Section 30
[Repealed]
Section 40
[Repealed]
Section 50
[Repealed]
Section 60
[Repealed]
Section 70
[Repealed]
Section 80
[Repealed]
Section 90
[Repealed]
Section 100
[Repealed]
Section 110
[Repealed]
Section 120
[Repealed]
Chapter 11
Public Participation GuidelinesRead all
Part I
Purpose and Definitions
Section 10
Purpose
Section 20
Definitions
Part II
Notification of Interested Persons
Section 30
Notification List
Section 40
Information to Be Sent to Persons on the Notification List
Part III
Public Participation Procedures
Section 50
Public Comment
Section 60
Petition for Rulemaking
Section 70
Appointment of Regulatory Advisory Panel
Section 80
Appointment of Negotiated Rulemaking Panel
Section 90
Meetings
Section 100
Public Hearings on Regulations
Section 110
Periodic Review of Regulations
Chapter 15
Delegation of Informal Fact-Finding to an Agency SubordinateRead all
Section 10
Decision to Delegate
Section 20
Criteria for Delegation
Section 30
Criteria for an Agency Subordinate
Chapter 20
Regulations Governing the Practice of Professional CounselingRead all
Part I
General Provisions
Section 10
Definitions
Section 20
Fees Required by the Board
Section 30
[Repealed]
Section 35
Sex Offender Treatment Provider Certification
Part II
Requirements for Licensure as a Professional Counselor
Section 40
Prerequisites for Licensure by Examination
Section 45
Prerequisites for Licensure by Endorsement
Section 49
Degree Program Requirements
Section 50
[Expired]
Section 51
Coursework Requirements
Section 52
Resident License and Requirements for a Residency
Section 60
[Repealed]
Part III
Examinations
Section 70
General Examination Requirements; Schedules; Time Limits
Section 80
[Repealed]
Section 90
[Repealed]
Part IV
Licensure Renewal; Reinstatement
Section 100
Annual Renewal of Licensure
Section 105
Continued Competency Requirements for Renewal of a License
Section 106
Continuing Competency Activity Criteria
Section 107
Documenting Compliance with Continuing Competency Requirements
Section 110
Late Renewal; Reinstatement
Section 120
[Repealed]
Part V
Standards of Practice; Unprofessional Conduct; Disciplinary Actions; Reinstatement
Section 130
Standards of Practice
Section 140
Grounds for Revocation, Suspension, Probation, Reprimand, Censure, or Denial of Renewal of License
Section 150
Reinstatement Following Disciplinary Action
FORMS
Forms (18VAC115-20)
Chapter 30
Regulations Governing the Certification of Substance Abuse Counselors and Substance Abuse Counseling AssistantsRead all
Part I
General Provisions
Section 10
Definitions
Section 15
Maintenance of Current Name and Address
Section 20
[Repealed]
Section 30
Fees Required by the Board
Part II
Requirements for Certification
Section 40
Prerequisites for Certification by Examination for Substance Abuse Counselors
Section 45
Prerequisites for Certification by Endorsement for Substance Abuse Counselors
Section 50
Educational Requirements for Substance Abuse Counselors
Section 60
Experience Requirements for Substance Abuse Counselors
Section 61
Prerequisites for Certification by Examination for Substance Abuse Counseling Assistants
Section 62
Educational Requirements for Substance Abuse Counseling Assistants
Section 63
Experience Requirements for Substance Abuse Counseling Assistants
Section 70
[Repealed]
Section 80
[Repealed]
Section 90
[Repealed]
Section 100
[Repealed]
Part III
Renewal and Reinstatement
Section 110
Annual Renewal of Certificate
Section 111
Continuing Education Requirements
Section 120
Reinstatement
Section 130
[Repealed]
Part V
Standards of Practice; Disciplinary Actions; Reinstatement
Section 140
Standards of Practice
Section 150
Grounds for Disciplinary Action, Denial of Initial Certification, or Denial of Renewal of Certification
Section 160
Reinstatement Following Disciplinary Action
FORMS
Forms (18VAC115-30)
Chapter 40
Regulations Governing the Certification of Rehabilitation ProvidersRead all
Part I
General Provisions
Section 10
Definitions
Section 20
Fees Required by the Board
Part II
Requirements for Certification
Section 22
Criteria for Eligibility
Section 23
[Reserved]
Section 25
Application Process
Section 26
Supervised Experience Requirement
Section 27
Supervisor Requirements
Part III
Examinations
Section 28
General Examination Requirements
Section 29
[Reserved]
Part IV
Renewal and Reinstatement
Section 30
Annual Renewal of Certificate
Section 35
Reinstatement
Section 36
[Reserved]
Section 38
Change of Name or Address
Section 39
[Reserved]
Part V
Standards of Practice; Disciplinary Actions; Reinstatement
Section 40
Standards of Practice
Section 50
Grounds for Revocation, Suspension, Probation, Reprimand, Censure, Denial of Renewal of Certificate; Petition for Rehearing
Section 60
[Repealed]
Section 61
Reinstatement Following Disciplinary Action
FORMS
Forms (18VAC115-40)
Chapter 50
Regulations Governing the Practice of Marriage and Family TherapyRead all
Section 10
Definitions
Section 20
Fees
Section 25
Sex Offender Treatment Provider Certification
Section 30
Application for Licensure As a Marriage and Family Therapist by Examination
Section 40
Application for Licensure by Endorsement
Section 50
Degree Program Requirements
Section 55
Coursework Requirements
Section 60
Resident License and RequirementsFor a Residency
Section 70
General Examination Requirements
Section 80
[Repealed]
Section 90
Annual Renewal of License
Section 95
Continued Competency Requirements for Renewal of a License
Section 96
Continuing Competency Activity Criteria
Section 97
Documenting Compliance with Continuing Competency Requirements
Section 100
Late Renewal, Reinstatement
Section 110
Standards of Practice
Section 120
Disciplinary Action
Section 130
Reinstatement Following Disciplinary Action
FORMS
Forms (18VAC115-50)
Chapter 60
Regulations Governing the Practice of Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment PractitionersRead all
Part I
General Provisions
Section 10
Definitions
Section 20
Fees Required by the Board
Section 30
Sex Offender Treatment Provider Certification
Part II
Requirements for Licensure as a Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner
Section 40
Application for Licensure by Examination
Section 50
Prerequisites for Licensure by Endorsement
Section 55
[Repealed]
Section 60
Degree Program Requirements
Section 70
Coursework Requirements
Section 80
Resident License and Requirements for a Residency
Part III
Examinations
Section 90
General Examination Requirements; Time Limits
Section 100
[Repealed]
Part IV
Licensure Renewal; Reinstatement
Section 110
Renewal of Licensure
Section 115
Continued Competency Requirements for Renewal of a License
Section 116
Continuing Competency Activity Criteria
Section 117
Documenting Compliance with Continuing Competency Requirements
Section 120
Late Renewal; Reinstatement
Part V
Standards of Practice; Unprofessional Conduct; Disciplinary Actions; Reinstatement
Section 130
Standards of Practice
Section 140
Grounds for Revocation, Suspension, Probation, Reprimand, Censure, or Denial of Renewal of License
Section 150
Reinstatement Following Disciplinary Action
FORMS
Forms (18VAC115-60)
Chapter 70
Regulations Governing the Registration of Peer Recovery SpecialistsRead all
Part I
General Provisions
Section 10
Definitions
Section 20
Fees Required by the Board
Section 30
Current Name and Address
Part II
Requirements for Registration and Renewal
Section 40
Requirements for Registration As a Peer Recovery Specialist
Section 50
Annual Renewal of Registration
Section 60
Continued Competency Requirements for Renewal of Peer Recovery Specialist Registration
Part III
Standards of Practice; Disciplinary Actions; Reinstatement
Section 70
Standards of Practice
Section 80
Grounds for Revocation, Suspension, Restriction, or Denial of Registration
Section 90
Late Renewal and Reinstatement
FORMS
Forms (18VAC115-70)
Chapter 80
Regulations Governing the Registration of Qualified Mental Health ProfessionalsRead all
Part I
General Provisions
Section 10
Definitions
Section 20
Fees Required by the Board
Section 30
Current Name and Address
Section 35
Requirements for Registration As a Qualified Mental Health Professional-Trainee
Part II
Requirements for Registration
Section 40
Requirements for Registration As a Qualified Mental Health Professional-Adult
Section 50
Requirements for Registration As a Qualified Mental Health Professional-Child
Section 60
[Reserved]
Part III
Renewal of Registration
Section 70
Annual Renewal of Registration
Section 80
Continued Competency Requirements for Renewal of Registration
Part IV
Standards of Practice, Disciplinary Action, and Reinstatement
Section 90
Standards of Practice
Section 100
Grounds for Revocation, Suspension, Restriction, or Denial of Registration
Section 110
Late Renewal and Reinstatement
FORMS
Forms (18VAC115-80)

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