Board of Counseling
Laws and Regulations
The below documents are in Microsoft Word format. If you do not have Microsoft Word, you can get the Microsoft® Word Viewer 97/2000 to view and print DHP's documents.
Laws as of July 1, 2008 - Selected sections of the Code of Virginia
Final Regulations - Regulations currently in effect for practitioners under the Board
- Licensed Professional Counselor (9-3-2008)
- Regulations Governing Certified Rehabilitation Providers (4-18-2007)
- Regulations Governing the Certification of Substance Abuse Counselors and Substance Abuse Counseling Assistants (4-16-2008)
- Regulations Governing Marriage and Family Therapists (9-3-2008)
- Regulations Governing Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioners (9-3-2008)
- Public Participation Guidelines - Effective 10-1-2008
- Regulations Governing Delegation to an Agency Subordinate - Effective 8-10-2005
- Click here to obtain a Petition for Rule-making. If you would like the Board to consider amending one of its regulations or rules, you may file a “petition for rule-making”. The Board is required to publish your petition in the Virginia Register to begin a 21-day comment period on the request. At the end of the 21 days, the Board must issue a written decision on whether it will grant or deny the petition. A copy of the petition form is provided. You may email the petition to the address below, fax it to the number on the form or mail it to the Board address.
Proposed Regulations - Amendments to regulations proposed by the Board
Emergency Regulations - Amended regulations in effect for the duration of one year
- There are no emergency regulations in effect at this time.
Duty to Report Adult Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation
By law, the Virginia Department of Social Services Adult Protective Services (APS) Hotline and the local departments of social services have responsibility for receiving and investigating reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of elderly and incapacitated adults. Mandated reporters are required to report immediately to the local department of social services or to the APS Hotline at 1-888-832-3858 any situation in which they suspect such an adult may have been abused, neglected, and/or exploited or is at risk of being abused, neglected, and/or exploited. Mandated reporters include any person licensed, certified, or registered by a health regulatory board listed in Va. Code § 54.1-2503, except persons licensed by the Board of Veterinary Medicine. The below poster(s) illustrates the duty of mandated reporters. More information may be obtained at http://www.dss.state.va.us/family/aps_mandated.html.