Reminder to all LPCs, LMFTs and LSATPs: Renewal time is upon us again. Please remember that when renewing your license, you are attesting to your compliance with the continuing competency requirements for your profession. If you have questions on continuing competency requirements or need to change your status to Inactive while you complete the continuing competency requirements, please contact the Board office at 804-367-4610.

Please review your profession’s continuing competency requirement regulations and ensure you are in compliance. Each year, the Board performs a random audit of licensees. Please see Guidance Document 115-1.1 for the possible disciplinary/alternative actions the Board might take for non-compliance with the continuing competency requirements.

Note: Those individuals dually licensed by the Board of Counseling will not be required to obtain continuing competency for each license.

2013 Examination dates can be found here

Important Information from the Board of Counseling

The purpose of the residency period is to train the residents to become fully functioning independent professional counselors. The Board of Counseling depends on the expertise of the licensed supervisors to provide the necessary training and experience to the residents in order to prepare them for the exam and independent practice. The Board places confidence in the supervisors to ensure that these requirements are being met. If they are not, it is the responsibility of the supervisor to contact the Board and/or discontinue their supervision services.

It is very important that the residents receive experience in all aspects of counseling. This should include, but is not limited to, case management, assessments, diagnoses, and treatment. The Board must ensure that all licensed counselors are able to provide professional services to the public without causing harm to current or future clients.

The supervisors are responsible for all aspects of the residents' practices while under their supervision. If a resident becomes licensed without the proper training, the Board may require explanation from the supervisor as to reasons why requirements were not met. It is also the responsibility of the residents to ensure that they are receiving the best experience possible and to stay proactive in their own professional development.

Registration of Supervision. If you plan to register supervision with the Board of Counseling, please submit your registration form together with official transcript, internship verification, coursework outline form, official job description and registration fee. A complete registration request is required to avoid any delay in processing your request. The registration form can be found as part of the LPC application packet under Forms and Applications. Please keep in mind that you may not engage in practice under supervision in any areas for which you have not had appropriate education.

You may not begin to accumulate hours towards the supervised experience until you have received written approval from the Board.

You are encouraged to review the Board’s guidance document 115-6: Coursework Requirements Necessary to Begin Supervision for Licensure as a Professional Counselor and guidance document 115-7: Supervised Experience Requirements for the Delivery of Clinical Services for Professional Counselor Licensure.

Please allow sufficient time for processing your request. Because of the increase in volume and complexity of the registration of supervision requests, the Board office is reviewing the requests in the order of receipt and providing individual feedback to each applicant in writing. Board staff is unable to provide status updates by telephone or email. Feedback from Credentials Reviews will be sent to you in writing.

License Eligible. The term “license eligible” does not apply to the Board of Counseling.

New registration forms and applications are available for Marriage and Family Therapists.  Please be advised that as of 02/01/2013, the Board will no longer accept older versions of these forms. See Forms & Applications for Marriage and Family Therapists.

New registration forms and applications are available for Licensed Professional Counselors.  Please be advised that as of 02/01/2013, the Board will no longer accept older versions of these forms. See Forms & Applications for Licensed Professional Counselors.

On August 24, 2012, the Board adopted new guidance for applicants from programs that do not meet the degree program requirements of 18VAC115-20-49. See Guidance document 115-1.7 for information.

Licensing Exam Test Scores:  Because some insurance panels are now requiring verification of licensees’ examination scores, a copy of your test results can be obtained by either submitting a written request to the Board office for official verification (with accompanying $25 fee) or by contacting the testing vendor (NBCC) directly at 336-547-0607.

Extension of renewal requirements for deployed military and spouses
Virginia law allows active duty service people or their spouses who are deployed outside the U.S. to have an extension of time for any requirement or fee pertaining to renewal until 60 days after the person’s return from deployment.  The extension cannot last beyond 5 years past the expiration date for the license.  For more information, please read attached policy and contact the applicable board for your license.

Address of record
Section 54.1-2400.02.B of the Code of Virginia requires the Department of Health Professions (DHP) to collect an official address of record from each health professional to be used by DHP for agency purposes. The Code also requires DHP to provide an opportunity for a health professional to provide a second address for the purpose of public dissemination. If there is no second (public) address provided, the official address of record will be used as the public address for the purpose of public dissemination. If the health professional would prefer that his/her address of record remain confidential, then an alternative public address must be provided to DHP. (Note: the License Lookup feature on the DHP public website does not contain the full address. However, public addresses are available by contacting Virginia Interactive Premium Service or the Board.) An individual is not required to submit a place of residence for either the official address of record or the public address. A post office box or a practice location is acceptable.

Changes to either address may be made at the time of renewal or at any time by written notification to the Board. Changes to the address of record may also be made at any time by accessing your licensure information through the online system. Any change that is made to one of the addresses does not automatically update the other address. Address information should be kept current for the address of record and the public address (if different from the address of record) at all times.

Please note that Virginia Law on confidentiality of records of licensed mental health providers in custody and visitation cases (Section 20-124.3:1) was repealed by the 2008 General Assembly.

Attention: Amendments effective September 3, 2008 for endorsement, supervision and residency requirements - All residencies, regardless of practice setting, begun after that date must be registered with the Board. Click here to view changes to Counseling regulations. (word .doc)

Questions and Answers for LPC Residency and Supervision (word .doc)

Online Licensing - Licensees can now renew a license, change an address and request a duplicate license online. Rehabilitation Provider license types can now renew online.

Application - You may download forms directly from this website on the forms page or you can contact the Board directly at 804-367-4610.

Continuing Competency requirements apply only to Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists, and Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioners.

Duty to Report Adult Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation -  More information...
The Adult Protective Services Program at the Virginia Department of Social Services is pleased to announce the availability of a new online educational opportunity for mandated reporters of abuse, neglect and exploitation of older or incapacitated individuals. This online training course has been developed for, and with the assistance of, mandated reporters and APS professionals to assist mandated reporters in understanding adult abuse and their responsibilities as mandated reporters. Read More...(word .doc)