Certified Sex Offender Treatment Provider - Certification Application

First Time Certification - Application for Certification

This application is for individuals who have:

• Completed the Board-approved supervised experience outlined in 18VAC125-30-50, or
• At least five years of documented work experience in sex offender treatment in another jurisdiction, and
• Completed the required 50 clock hours of training in the areas outlined in 18VAC125-30-40(2)

Requirements for Application:

Education 

1. Hold a master’s or doctoral degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or nursing from a regionally accredited university, or hold the degree of Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from an institution that is approved by an accrediting agency recognized by the Virginia Board of Medicine, and
2. Obtain 50 clock hours of sex offender training in each of the following areas:
   1. 15 clock hours: Sex offender assessment,
   2. 15 clock hours: Sex offender treatment interventions,
   3. 10 clock hours:  Etiology/developmental issues of sex offense behavior,
   4. 5 clock hours:  Criminal justice and legal issues related to sexual offending, and
   5. 5 clock hours: Treatment effectiveness and issues related to relapse prevention and recidivism of sex offenders.  

Experience 

1. Have completed 2,000 hours of Board-approved supervised experience in the delivery of clinical assessment/treatment services with sex offender clients, or
2. Have at least five years of documented work experience in sex offender treatment in another jurisdiction.

Follow these steps to apply for Initial Trainee Certification

• Laws regarding the Practice of Psychology in the state of Virginia
• Regulations regarding the Certification of Sex Offender Treatment Providers in the state of Virginia.
• Sex Offender Treatment Provider Certification Process Handbook. This handbook provides detailed information about the required documents and process to obtain a certification.

• Review the Application Instructions for Sex Offender Treatment Provider certification for the documents needed to submit with your online application.
• Gather and request the necessary documents.

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 ‘Psychology’ as the Profession.
• Select ‘Sex Offender Treatment Provider’ as the License Type.
• Select ‘Credentials’ as the Obtained by Method.
• Click ‘Start Application’.

Complete the Required Fields

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 application portal:

• Verification of Training for CSOTP form
• National Practitioners Data Bank (NPDB) Self-Query Report
• Verification of Post-Degree Supervision for CSOTP form
• Verification of Out-of-State Supervisor Licensure
• Proof of Out-of-State License from the issuing jurisdiction
• Proof of Name Change
• Supporting documentation for any criminal convictions, past actions, or possible impairments.

Within the online application portal, pay the application fee. 

• The fee for Certification as a Sex Offender Treatment Provider is $90.00.
• All fees are nonrefundable.

• You will receive automated emails from psy@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 approval of your certification, notify the Board as soon as possible in writing by submitting the Name and Address Change Form.
• Contact the Board with any questions: psy@dhp.virginia.gov or TEL: (804) 367–4697.