Qualified Mental Health Professional – Adult (QMHP-A)
Registration - Application
This application is for individuals who have completed the education or professional licensure requirements of 18VAC115-80-40(B), have completed the supervised experience requirements of 18VAC-115-80-40(C) , and would like to be registered as a Qualified Mental Health Professional – Adult (QMHP-A).
Requirements for Application:
- Education or Professional Licensure and Experience: Applications for QMHP-A must meet ONE of the following:
- Completed a master’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling, substance abuse, or marriage and family therapy from an accredited college or university and an internship or practicum that includes at least 500 hours of experience with persons who have mental illness; or
- Completed a master’s or bachelor’s degree in human services or in special education from an accredited college or university and completed at least 1,500 hours of supervised experience within the last 5 years providing direct services to individuals as part of a population of adults with mental illness in a setting where mental health treatment, practice, observation, or diagnosis occurs under supervision; or
- Completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in an unrelated field that includes at least 15 semester or 22 quarter hours of coursework in a human services field and completed at least 3,000 hours of supervised experience within the last 5 years providing direct services to individuals as part of a population of adults with mental illness in a setting where mental health treatment, practice, observation, or diagnosis occurs under supervision; or
- Hold a registered nurse license in Virginia and completed at least 1,500 hours of supervised experience within the last 5 years providing direct services to individuals as part of a population of adults with mental illness in a setting where mental health treatment, practice, observation, or diagnosis occurs under supervision; or
- Hold an occupational therapist license and completed at least 1,500 hours of supervised experience within the last 5 years providing direct services to individuals as part of a population of adults with mental illness in a setting where mental health treatment, practice, observation, or diagnosis occurs under supervision.
Follow these steps to apply for Registration
Step 1. Read:
Step 2. Gather & Request Supporting Documentation:
- Review the Application Instructions for Registration as a Qualified Mental Health Professional-Adult (QMHP-A) for the documents needed to submit with your online application.
- Gather and request the necessary documents.
Step 3. Apply:
Do not start the online application until you have requested or obtained the applicable documents from Step 2. Submitting incomplete applications will delay the review and approval process.
Begin the Online Application:
- Register for an Account or Login if you have an existing account.
- Select Initial Application from the menu.
- Select ‘Counseling’ as the Profession.
- Select 'Qualified Mental Health Professional-Adult' as the License Type.
- Select ‘Application’ as the Obtained by Method.
- Click ‘Start Application’.
Complete the Required Fields.
Step 4. Upload Documentation:
Within the online application portal, upload the applicable documentation. PDF file format is preferred.
The following are possible documents you may be required to upload within the online application portal:
Step 5. Pay the Fee Online:
Within the online application portal, pay the application fee.
- The fee for Qualified Mental Health Professional - Adult (QMHP-A) is $50.00
- All fees are nonrefundable.
Step 6. Wait for Board Approval: (up to 30 days from complete application)
- You will receive automated emails from qmhp@dhp.virginia.gov with your application status.
- You can also visit the Online Checklist to view the status of your application.
- If your name or address changes prior to receiving your registration, notify the Board as soon as possible in writing by submitting the Name/Address Change Form.
- Contact the Board with any questions: qmhp@dhp.virginia.gov or TEL: (804) 367-3053.