§ 54.1-3505 Specific powers and duties of the Board
In addition to the powers granted in § 54.1-2400, the Board shall have the following specific powers and duties:
1. To cooperate with and maintain a close liaison with other professional boards and the community to ensure that regulatory systems stay abreast of community and professional needs.
2. To conduct inspections to ensure that licensees conduct their practices in a competent manner and in conformance with the relevant regulations.
4. To administer the certification of rehabilitation providers pursuant to Article 2 (§ 54.1-3510 et seq.) of this chapter, including prescribing fees for application processing, examinations, certification and certification renewal.
6. To promulgate regulations for the qualifications, education, and experience for licensure of marriage and family therapists. The requirements for clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), and the professional examination service’s national marriage and family therapy examination may be considered by the Board in the promulgation of these regulations. The educational credit hour, clinical experience hour, and clinical supervision hour requirements for marriage and family therapists shall not be less than the educational credit hour, clinical experience hour, and clinical supervision hour requirements for professional counselors.
7. To promulgate, subject to the requirements of Article 1.1 (§ 54.1-3507 et seq.) of this chapter, regulations for the qualifications, education, and experience for licensure of licensed substance abuse treatment practitioners and certification of certified substance abuse counselors and certified substance abuse counseling assistants. The requirements for membership in NAADAC: the Association for Addiction Professionals and its national examination may be considered by the Board in the promulgation of these regulations. The Board also may provide for the consideration and use of the accreditation and examination services offered by the Substance Abuse Certification Alliance of Virginia. The educational credit hour, clinical experience hour, and clinical supervision hour requirements for licensed substance abuse treatment practitioners shall not be less than the educational credit hour, clinical experience hour, and clinical supervision hour requirements for licensed professional counselors. Such regulations also shall establish standards and protocols for the clinical supervision of certified substance abuse counselors and the supervision or direction of certified substance abuse counseling assistants, and reasonable access to the persons providing that supervision or direction in settings other than a licensed facility.
8. To maintain a registry of persons who meet the requirements for supervision of residents. The Board shall make the registry of approved supervisors available to persons seeking residence status.
9. To promulgate, subject to the requirements of Article 4 (§ 54.1-3518 et seq.), regulations for the qualifications, training, supervision, and experience for the registration of behavioral health technicians, behavioral health technician assistants, qualified mental health professionals, and qualified mental health professional-trainees.
10. To promulgate regulations for the registration of peer recovery specialists who meet the qualifications, education, and experience requirements established by regulations of the Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services pursuant to § 37.2-203.
11. To promulgate regulations for the issuance of temporary licenses to individuals engaged in a counseling residency so that they may acquire the supervised, postgraduate experience required for licensure.
History
This law was first created in 1976. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 608 of that year’s edition of “Acts of Assembly,” the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1976 “Acts” aren’t available online. It has been modified 11 times. Those modifications are cataloged by “The Acts of Assembly,” a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly’s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1983, chapter 115; in 1986, chapters 64, 100, and 464; in 1988, chapter 765; in 1994, chapters 558 and 778; in 1995, chapter 820; in 1997, chapter 901; in 2001, chapter 460; in 2013, chapter 264; in 2017, chapters 418 and 426; in 2019, chapters 101, 217, and 428; in 2024, chapter 595.
1976, c. 608, §§ 54-929, 54-931; 1983, c. 115; 1986, cc. 64, 100, 464; 1988, c. 765; 1994, cc. 558, 778; 1995, c. 820; 1997, c. 901; 2001, c. 460; 2013, c. 264; 2017, cc. 418, 426; 2019, cc. 101, 217, 428; 2024, c. 595.