The mission of the Department of Health Professions is to ensure safe and competent patient care by licensing health professionals, enforcing standards of practice, and providing information to health care practitioners and the public.
An Executive Branch agency in the Health and Human Resources Secretariat, DHP is composed of Virginia's 13 health regulatory boards, the Prescription Monitoring Program and the Health Practitioners' Monitoring Program. DHP licenses and regulates over 500,000 healthcare practitioners across 62 professions.
Recent graduates, professionals licensed outside of Virginia, and those wanting to reinstate licenses.
The Department of Health Professions receives complaints about Virginia healthcare practitioners who may have violated a regulation or law.
Prescription Monitoring Program, the Health Practitioners' Monitoring Program and the Healthcare Workforce Data Center
New Legislation Impacts DHP Stakeholders
The Virginia Department of Health Professions (DHP) staff tracked more than 80 legislative developments during the 2026 General Assembly Session that would potentially affect stakeholders, ranging from health professional studies and workgroups to updated regulatory requirements. More than 30 bills were approved that impact licensed Virginia health practitioners, the public, and the 13 health regulatory boards. Most become effective July 1, 2026
Virginia Launches Occupational Therapy Compact, Expanding Care and Opportunity
RICHMOND, VA — April is National Occupational Therapy Month, and Virginia is celebrating with a major milestone: the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact is now fully operational at the Virginia Board of Medicine. This means occupational therapists from other Compact states can practice in Virginia—either in person or via telehealth—through a streamlined “compact privilege.” Virginia therapists can also use the Compact to work in other member states with ease.
Scam Alert
The Virginia Department of Health Professions (DHP) has issued a reminder regarding scams targeting health care professionals.
