Part I. General Provisions
18VAC115-80-10. Definitions.
"Accredited" means a school that is listed as accredited on the U.S. Department of Education College Accreditation database found on the U.S. Department of Education website. If education was obtained outside the United States, the board may accept a report from a credentialing service that deems the degree and coursework is equivalent to a course of study at an accredited school.
"Applicant" means a person applying for registration as a qualified mental health professional.
"Board" means the Virginia Board of Counseling.
"Collaborative mental health services" means those rehabilitative supportive services that are provided by a qualified mental health professional, as set forth in a service plan under the direction of and in collaboration with either a mental health professional licensed in Virginia or a person under supervision that has been approved by the Board of Counseling, Board of Psychology, or Board of Social Work as a prerequisite for licensure.
"DBHDS" means the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
"Face-to-face" means the physical presence of the individuals involved in the supervisory relationship or the use of technology that provides real-time, visual, and audio contact among the individuals involved.
"Mental health professional" means a person who by education and experience is professionally qualified and licensed in Virginia to provide counseling interventions designed to facilitate an individual's achievement of human development goals and remediate mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders and associated distresses that interfere with mental health and development.
"Qualified mental health professional" or "QMHP" includes qualified mental health professionals-adult and qualified mental health professionals-child.
"Qualified mental health professional-adult" or "QMHP-A" means a qualified mental health professional who provides collaborative mental health services for adults. A qualified mental health professional-adult shall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services or the Department of Corrections, or as a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
"Qualified mental health professional-child" or "QMHP-C" means a person who by education and experience is professionally qualified and registered by the board to provide collaborative mental health services for children and adolescents up to 22 years of age. A qualified mental health professional-child shall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services or the Department of Corrections, or as a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
"Qualified mental health professional-trainee" means a person who is receiving supervised training to qualify as a qualified mental health professional and is registered with the board.
"Registrant" means a QMHP registered with the board.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400, 54.1-3500, and 54.1-3505 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 36, Issue 4, eff. November 13, 2019; amended, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 2, eff. October 29, 2020.
18VAC115-80-20. Fees required by the board.
A. The board has established the following fees applicable to the registration of qualified mental health professionals:
| Registration as a QMHP-A | $50 |
| Registration as a QMHP-C | $50 |
| Registration as a QMHP-trainee | $25 |
| Renewal of registration | $30 |
| Late renewal | $20 |
| Reinstatement of a lapsed registration | $75 |
| Duplicate certificate of registration | $10 |
| Returned check or dishonored credit card or debit card | $50 |
| Reinstatement following revocation or suspension | $500 |
B. Unless otherwise provided, fees established by the board shall not be refundable.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 36, Issue 4, eff. November 13, 2019; amended, Virginia Register Volume 36, Issue 11, eff. February 19, 2020; Volume 37, Issue 1, eff. October 15, 2020.
18VAC115-80-30. Current name and address.
Each registrant shall furnish the board his current name and address of record. Any change of name or address of record or public address if different from the address of record shall be furnished to the board within 60 days of such change. It shall be the duty and responsibility of each registrant to inform the board of his current address.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3505 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 36, Issue 4, eff. November 13, 2019.
18VAC115-80-35. Requirements for registration as a qualified mental health professional-trainee.
A. Prior to receiving supervised experience toward registration as a QMHP-A, an applicant for registration as a QMHP-trainee shall provide a completed application, the fee prescribed in 18VAC115-80-20, and verification of one of the following:
1. A master's degree in psychology, social work, counseling, substance abuse, or marriage and family therapy verified by an official transcript from an accredited college or university;
2. A master's or bachelor's degree in human services or a related field verified by an official transcript from an accredited college;
3. Current enrollment in a master's program in psychology, social work, counseling, substance abuse, marriage and family therapy, or human services with at least 30 semester or 45 quarter hours as verified by an official transcript;
4. A bachelor's degree verified by an official transcript from an accredited college in an unrelated field that includes at least 15 semester credits or 22 quarter hours in a human services field;
5. Licensure as a registered nurse in Virginia; or
6. Licensure as an occupational therapist.
B. Prior to receiving supervised experience toward registration as a QMHP-C, an applicant for registration as a QMHP-trainee shall provide a completed application, the fee prescribed in 18VAC115-80-20, and verification of one of the following:
1. A master's degree in psychology, social work, counseling, substance abuse, or marriage and family therapy verified by an official transcript from an accredited college or university;
2. A master's or bachelor's degree in a human services field or in special education verified by an official transcript from an accredited college;
3. Current enrollment in a master's program in psychology, social work, counseling, substance abuse, marriage and family therapy, human services, or special education with at least 30 semester or 45 quarter hours as verified by an official transcript;
4. Licensure as a registered nurse in Virginia; or
5. Licensure as an occupational therapist.
C. An applicant for registration as a QMHP-trainee shall have no unresolved disciplinary action against a mental health or health professional license, certification, or registration held in any jurisdiction. The board will consider a history of disciplinary action on a case-by-case basis as grounds for denial under 18VAC115-80-100.
D. Registration as a QMHP-trainee shall expire five years from date of issuance.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400, 54.1-3500, and 54.1-3505 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 2, eff. October 29, 2020.