Important Information from the Board of Counseling

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.

Letter from the Health Commissioner

In conjunction with the Department of Health Professions, the Virginia Department of Health has developed and is offering resources and information on death certification to Virginia’s clinical communities. Click on the following link to find out more about this opportunity.
Urgent Message from the Health Commissioner: Death Certification (pdf)

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)