Part II. Requirements for Certification
18VAC115-40-22. Criteria for eligibility.
A. Education and experience requirements for certification are as follows:
1. Any baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university or a current registered nurse license in good standing in Virginia; and
2. Documentation of 2,000 hours of supervised experience in performing those services that will be offered to a workers' compensation claimant under § 65.2-603 of the Code of Virginia. Experience may be acquired through supervised training or experience or both. A supervised internship in rehabilitation services may count toward part of the required 2,000 hours. Any individual who does not meet the experience requirement for certification must practice under the supervision of an individual who meets the requirements of 18VAC115-40-27. Individuals shall not practice in an internship or supervisee capacity for more than five years.
B. A passing score on a board-approved examination shall be required.
C. The board may grant certification without examination to applicants certified as rehabilitation providers in other states or by nationally recognized certifying agencies, boards, associations and commissions by standards substantially equivalent to those set forth in the board's current regulation.
D. The applicant shall have no unresolved disciplinary action against a health, mental health, or rehabilitation-related license, certificate, or registration in Virginia or in another jurisdiction. The board will consider history of disciplinary action on a case-by-case basis.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 13, Issue 13, eff. April 16, 1997; amended, Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 25, eff. September 30, 1998; Volume 38, Issue 1, eff. September 29, 2021.
18VAC115-40-23. [Reserved]. (Reserved)
18VAC115-40-25. Application process.
The applicant shall submit to the board:
1. A completed application form;
2. The official transcript or transcripts submitted from the appropriate institutions of higher education;
3. Documentation, on the appropriate forms, of the successful completion of the supervised experience requirement of 18VAC115-40-26. Documentation of supervision obtained outside of Virginia must include verification of the supervisor's out-of-state license or certificate;
4. Documentation of passage of the examination required by 18VAC115-40-28;
5. A current report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB); and
6. Verification that the applicant's national or out-of-state license or certificate is in good standing where applicable.
Statutory Authority
§54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 13, Issue 13, eff. April 16, 1997; amended, Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 25, eff. September 30, 1998; Volume 26, Issue 1, eff. October 14, 2009; Volume 32, Issue 7, eff. January 15, 2016; Volume 38, Issue 1, eff. September 29, 2021.
18VAC115-40-26. Supervised experience requirement.
The following shall apply to the supervised experience requirement for certification:
1. On average, the supervisor and the supervisee shall consult for two hours per week in group or personal instruction. The total hours of personal instruction shall not be less than 100 hours within the 2,000 hours of experience. Group instruction shall not exceed six persons in a group.
2. Half of the personal instruction contained in the total supervised experience shall be face-to-face between the supervisor and supervisee. A portion of the face-to-face instruction shall include direct observation of the supervisee-rehabilitation client interaction.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 25, eff. September 30, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 38, Issue 1, eff. September 29, 2021.
18VAC115-40-27. Supervisor requirements.
A. A supervisor shall:
1. Be a licensed professional counselor, licensed psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner, licensed physician or licensed registered nurse with a minimum of one year of experience in rehabilitation service provision;
2. Be a rehabilitation provider certified by the board who has national certification in rehabilitation service provision as outlined in subsection C of 18VAC115-40-22; or
3. Have two years experience as a board certified rehabilitation provider.
B. The supervisor shall assume responsibility for the professional activities of the supervisee.
C. At the time of application for certification by examination, the supervisor shall document for the board: (i) credentials to provide supervision in accordance with this section, (ii) the applicant's total hours of supervision, (iii) length of work experience, (iv) competence in rehabilitation service provision, and (v) any needs for additional supervision or training.
D. Supervision by any individual whose relationship to the supervisee compromises the objectivity of the supervisor is prohibited. This includes but is not limited to immediate family members (spouses, parents, siblings, children and in-laws).
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3515 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 25, eff. September 30, 1998.