Title 54.1. Professions and Occupations
Chapter 35. Professional Counseling
§ 54.1-3507.01. Licensure by endorsement of licensed substance abuse treatment practitioners. (2026 updated section)
A. The Board shall establish a pathway for licensure by endorsement as a licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner for individuals who:
1. Have held certification as a certified substance abuse counselor for at least 10 years prior to the date of application and have actively practiced in the substance abuse treatment field during such period with no history of disciplinary action;
2. Have completed not less than five years of documented supervised experience under a professional counselor or licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner;
3. Hold at least a master's degree from an accredited institution in (i) mental health counseling, (ii) substance abuse counseling, or (iii) another counseling-related field deemed substantially equivalent by the Board; and
4. Hold the Master Addiction Counselor credential issued by NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, either through examination or through an approved grandfathering process.
B. The Board shall grant licensure by endorsement as a licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner to any applicant who satisfies all requirements of subsection A.
2026, c. 766.
