{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-3500.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-3500.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-3500.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-3500.html"}],"law_id":54880,"edition_id":1,"section_id":54880,"structure_id":13600,"section_number":"54.1-3500","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"1976, c. 608, \u00a7\u00a7 54-924, 54-932; 1983, c. 115; 1986, cc. 64, 464; 1988, c. 765; 1993, c. 342; 1995, c. 820; 1997, c. 901; 2000, c. 473; 2001, c. 460; 2013, c. 264; 2017, cc. 418, 426; 2018, cc. 171, 375, 803; 2019, cc. 101, 217; 2020, c. 301; 2024, c. 595.","full_text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Appraisal activities” means the exercise of professional judgment based on observations and objective assessments of a client’s behavior to evaluate current functioning, diagnose, and select appropriate treatment required to remediate identified problems or to make appropriate referrals.\n\t\t“Art therapist” means a person who has (i) completed a master’s or doctoral degree program in art therapy, or an equivalent course of study, from an accredited educational institution; (ii) satisfied the requirements for licensure set forth in regulations adopted by the Board; and (iii) been issued a license for the independent practice of art therapy by the Board.\n\t\t“Art therapy” means the integrated use of psychotherapeutic principles, visual art media, and the creative process in the assessment, treatment, and remediation of psychosocial, emotional, cognitive, physical, and developmental disorders in children, adolescents, adults, families, or groups.\n\t\t“Art therapy associate” means a person who has (i) completed a master’s or doctoral degree program in art therapy, or an equivalent course of study from an accredited educational institution; (ii) satisfied the requirements for licensure set forth in regulations adopted by the Board; and (iii) been issued a license to practice art therapy under an approved clinical supervisor in accordance with regulations of the Board.\n\t\t“Behavioral health technician” means a person who has completed, at a minimum, an associate degree and registered with the Board to practice in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3518 and regulations of the Board and provides collaborative behavioral health services. A “behavioral health technician” shall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Corrections, or the Department of Education or a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.\n\t\t“Behavioral health technician assistant” means a person who has completed a high school diploma or equivalent, at a minimum, and registered with the Board to practice in accordance with the regulations of the Board and the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3519 to provide collaborative behavioral health services. A “behavioral health technician assistant” shall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Corrections, or the Department of Education or a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.\n\t\t“Board” means the Board of Counseling.\n\t\t“Certified substance abuse counseling assistant” means a person certified by the Board to practice in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3507.2.\n\t\t“Certified substance abuse counselor” means a person certified by the Board to practice in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3507.1.\n\t\t“Collaborative behavioral health services” means those supportive services that are provided by a registered behavioral health technician, registered behavioral health technician assistant, registered qualified mental health professional, or registered qualified mental health professional-trainee under the direction of and in collaboration with either a mental health professional licensed in the Commonwealth or a person under supervision as a prerequisite for licensure who has been approved by the Board of Counseling, Board of Psychology, or Board of Social Work.\n\t\t“Counseling” means the application of principles, standards, and methods of the counseling profession in (i) conducting assessments and diagnoses for the purpose of establishing treatment goals and objectives and (ii) planning, implementing, and evaluating treatment plans using treatment interventions to facilitate human development and to identify and remediate mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders and associated distresses that interfere with mental health.\n\t\t“Licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner” means a person who: (i) is trained in and engages in the practice of substance abuse treatment with individuals or groups of individuals suffering from the effects of substance abuse or dependence, and in the prevention of substance abuse or dependence; and (ii) is licensed to provide advanced substance abuse treatment and independent, direct, and unsupervised treatment to such individuals or groups of individuals, and to plan, evaluate, supervise, and direct substance abuse treatment provided by others.\n\t\t“Marriage and family therapist” means a person trained in the appraisal and treatment of cognitive, affective, or behavioral mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage and family systems through the application of therapeutic and family systems theories and techniques.\n\t\t“Marriage and family therapy” means the appraisal and treatment of cognitive, affective, or behavioral mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage and family systems through the application of therapeutic and family systems theories and techniques and delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families, singularly or in groups, for the purpose of treating such disorders.\n\t\t“Practice of counseling” means rendering or offering to render to individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public any service involving the application of principles, standards, and methods of the counseling profession, which shall include appraisal, counseling, and referral activities.\n\t\t“Practice of marriage and family therapy” means the appraisal and treatment of cognitive, affective, or behavioral mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage and family systems through the application of therapeutic and family systems theories and techniques, which shall include assessment, treatment, and referral activities.\n\t\t“Practice of substance abuse treatment” means rendering or offering to render substance abuse treatment to individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public.\n\t\t“Professional counselor” means a person trained in the application of principles, standards, and methods of the counseling profession, including counseling interventions designed to facilitate an individual’s achievement of human development goals and remediating mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders and associated distresses that interfere with mental health and development.\n\t\t“Qualified mental health professional” means a person who has (i) completed, at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree; (ii) registered with the Board to practice in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3520 and the regulations of the Board; and (iii) a combination of work, training, or experience in providing collaborative behavioral health services for youth or adults. A “qualified mental health professional” includes a qualified mental health professional-adult and qualified mental health professional-child. A “qualified mental health professional” shall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Corrections, or the Department of Education or a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.\n\t\t“Qualified mental health professional-trainee” means a person who is receiving supervised training to qualify as a qualified mental health professional in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3521 and is registered with the Board. A “qualified mental health professional-trainee” shall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Corrections, or the Department of Education or a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.\n\t\t“Referral activities” means the evaluation of data to identify problems and to determine advisability of referral to other specialists.\n\t\t“Registered peer recovery specialist” means a person who by education and experience is professionally qualified and registered by the Board to provide collaborative services to assist individuals in achieving sustained recovery from the effects of addiction or mental illness, or both. A registered peer recovery specialist shall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, a practitioner licensed by or holding a permit issued from the Department of Health Professions, or a facility licensed by the Department of Health.\n\t\t“Residency” means a post-internship supervised clinical experience registered with the Board.\n\t\t“Resident” means an individual who has submitted a supervisory contract to the Board and has received Board approval to provide clinical services in professional counseling under supervision.\n\t\t“Substance abuse” and “substance dependence” mean a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress.\n\t\t“Substance abuse treatment” means (i) the application of specific knowledge, skills, substance abuse treatment theory, and substance abuse treatment techniques to define goals and develop a treatment plan of action regarding substance abuse or dependence prevention, education, or treatment in the substance abuse or dependence recovery process and (ii) referrals to medical, social services, psychological, psychiatric, or legal resources when such referrals are indicated.\n\t\t“Supervision” means the ongoing process, performed by a supervisor, of monitoring the performance of the person supervised and providing regular, documented individual or group consultation, guidance, and instruction with respect to the clinical skills and competencies of the person supervised. Supervisors may only supervise activities within their scope and area of Board-defined competency. Supervision provided by nonlicensed supervisors shall not be a replacement for the direction of services and collaboration with the licensed mental health professional or licensed eligible mental health professional required to perform collaborative behavioral health services.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":201338,"text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Appraisal activities” means the exercise of professional judgment based on observations and objective assessments of a client’s behavior to evaluate current functioning, diagnose, and select appropriate treatment required to remediate identified problems or to make appropriate referrals.\n\t\t“Art therapist” means a person who has (i) completed a master’s or doctoral degree program in art therapy, or an equivalent course of study, from an accredited educational institution; (ii) satisfied the requirements for licensure set forth in regulations adopted by the Board; and (iii) been issued a license for the independent practice of art therapy by the Board.\n\t\t“Art therapy” means the integrated use of psychotherapeutic principles, visual art media, and the creative process in the assessment, treatment, and remediation of psychosocial, emotional, cognitive, physical, and developmental disorders in children, adolescents, adults, families, or groups.\n\t\t“Art therapy associate” means a person who has (i) completed a master’s or doctoral degree program in art therapy, or an equivalent course of study from an accredited educational institution; (ii) satisfied the requirements for licensure set forth in regulations adopted by the Board; and (iii) been issued a license to practice art therapy under an approved clinical supervisor in accordance with regulations of the Board.\n\t\t“Behavioral health technician” means a person who has completed, at a minimum, an associate degree and registered with the Board to practice in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3518 and regulations of the Board and provides collaborative behavioral health services. A “behavioral health technician” shall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Corrections, or the Department of Education or a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.\n\t\t“Behavioral health technician assistant” means a person who has completed a high school diploma or equivalent, at a minimum, and registered with the Board to practice in accordance with the regulations of the Board and the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3519 to provide collaborative behavioral health services. A “behavioral health technician assistant” shall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Corrections, or the Department of Education or a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.\n\t\t“Board” means the Board of Counseling.\n\t\t“Certified substance abuse counseling assistant” means a person certified by the Board to practice in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3507.2.\n\t\t“Certified substance abuse counselor” means a person certified by the Board to practice in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3507.1.\n\t\t“Collaborative behavioral health services” means those supportive services that are provided by a registered behavioral health technician, registered behavioral health technician assistant, registered qualified mental health professional, or registered qualified mental health professional-trainee under the direction of and in collaboration with either a mental health professional licensed in the Commonwealth or a person under supervision as a prerequisite for licensure who has been approved by the Board of Counseling, Board of Psychology, or Board of Social Work.\n\t\t“Counseling” means the application of principles, standards, and methods of the counseling profession in (i) conducting assessments and diagnoses for the purpose of establishing treatment goals and objectives and (ii) planning, implementing, and evaluating treatment plans using treatment interventions to facilitate human development and to identify and remediate mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders and associated distresses that interfere with mental health.\n\t\t“Licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner” means a person who: (i) is trained in and engages in the practice of substance abuse treatment with individuals or groups of individuals suffering from the effects of substance abuse or dependence, and in the prevention of substance abuse or dependence; and (ii) is licensed to provide advanced substance abuse treatment and independent, direct, and unsupervised treatment to such individuals or groups of individuals, and to plan, evaluate, supervise, and direct substance abuse treatment provided by others.\n\t\t“Marriage and family therapist” means a person trained in the appraisal and treatment of cognitive, affective, or behavioral mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage and family systems through the application of therapeutic and family systems theories and techniques.\n\t\t“Marriage and family therapy” means the appraisal and treatment of cognitive, affective, or behavioral mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage and family systems through the application of therapeutic and family systems theories and techniques and delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families, singularly or in groups, for the purpose of treating such disorders.\n\t\t“Practice of counseling” means rendering or offering to render to individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public any service involving the application of principles, standards, and methods of the counseling profession, which shall include appraisal, counseling, and referral activities.\n\t\t“Practice of marriage and family therapy” means the appraisal and treatment of cognitive, affective, or behavioral mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage and family systems through the application of therapeutic and family systems theories and techniques, which shall include assessment, treatment, and referral activities.\n\t\t“Practice of substance abuse treatment” means rendering or offering to render substance abuse treatment to individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public.\n\t\t“Professional counselor” means a person trained in the application of principles, standards, and methods of the counseling profession, including counseling interventions designed to facilitate an individual’s achievement of human development goals and remediating mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders and associated distresses that interfere with mental health and development.\n\t\t“Qualified mental health professional” means a person who has (i) completed, at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree; (ii) registered with the Board to practice in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3520 and the regulations of the Board; and (iii) a combination of work, training, or experience in providing collaborative behavioral health services for youth or adults. A “qualified mental health professional” includes a qualified mental health professional-adult and qualified mental health professional-child. A “qualified mental health professional” shall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Corrections, or the Department of Education or a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.\n\t\t“Qualified mental health professional-trainee” means a person who is receiving supervised training to qualify as a qualified mental health professional in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3521 and is registered with the Board. A “qualified mental health professional-trainee” shall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Corrections, or the Department of Education or a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.\n\t\t“Referral activities” means the evaluation of data to identify problems and to determine advisability of referral to other specialists.\n\t\t“Registered peer recovery specialist” means a person who by education and experience is professionally qualified and registered by the Board to provide collaborative services to assist individuals in achieving sustained recovery from the effects of addiction or mental illness, or both. A registered peer recovery specialist shall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, a practitioner licensed by or holding a permit issued from the Department of Health Professions, or a facility licensed by the Department of Health.\n\t\t“Residency” means a post-internship supervised clinical experience registered with the Board.\n\t\t“Resident” means an individual who has submitted a supervisory contract to the Board and has received Board approval to provide clinical services in professional counseling under supervision.\n\t\t“Substance abuse” and “substance dependence” mean a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress.\n\t\t“Substance abuse treatment” means (i) the application of specific knowledge, skills, substance abuse treatment theory, and substance abuse treatment techniques to define goals and develop a treatment plan of action regarding substance abuse or dependence prevention, education, or treatment in the substance abuse or dependence recovery process and (ii) referrals to medical, social services, psychological, psychiatric, or legal resources when such referrals are indicated.\n\t\t“Supervision” means the ongoing process, performed by a supervisor, of monitoring the performance of the person supervised and providing regular, documented individual or group consultation, guidance, and instruction with respect to the clinical skills and competencies of the person supervised. Supervisors may only supervise activities within their scope and area of Board-defined competency. Supervision provided by nonlicensed supervisors shall not be a replacement for the direction of services and collaboration with the licensed mental health professional or licensed eligible mental health professional required to perform collaborative behavioral health services.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13600,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13599,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:21","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:21","permalink":{"id":243865,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13600,"identifier":"1","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1","url":"\/54.1\/III\/35\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13599,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professional Counseling","identifier":"35","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12758,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:21","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:21","permalink":{"id":243863,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13599,"identifier":"35","token":"54.1\/III\/35","url":"\/54.1\/III\/35\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12758,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12754,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":241105,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12758,"identifier":"III","token":"54.1\/III","url":"\/54.1\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12754,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12754,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":54880,"structure_id":13600,"section_number":"54.1-3500","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/54.1-3500\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1\/54.1-3500","metadata":false},{"id":68349,"structure_id":13600,"section_number":"54.1-3500.1","catch_line":"Counseling Compact","url":"\/54.1-3500.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1\/54.1-3500.1","metadata":false},{"id":85227,"structure_id":13600,"section_number":"54.1-3501","catch_line":"Exemption from requirements of licensure","url":"\/54.1-3501\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1\/54.1-3501","metadata":false},{"id":86081,"structure_id":13600,"section_number":"54.1-3502","catch_line":"Administration or prescription of drugs not permitted","url":"\/54.1-3502\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1\/54.1-3502","metadata":false},{"id":61613,"structure_id":13600,"section_number":"54.1-3503","catch_line":"Board of Counseling","url":"\/54.1-3503\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1\/54.1-3503","metadata":false},{"id":54950,"structure_id":13600,"section_number":"54.1-3504","catch_line":"Nominations","url":"\/54.1-3504\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1\/54.1-3504","metadata":false},{"id":55659,"structure_id":13600,"section_number":"54.1-3505","catch_line":"Specific powers and duties of the Board","url":"\/54.1-3505\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1\/54.1-3505","metadata":false},{"id":54568,"structure_id":13600,"section_number":"54.1-3505.1","catch_line":"Continued competency requirements","url":"\/54.1-3505.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1\/54.1-3505.1","metadata":false},{"id":56059,"structure_id":13600,"section_number":"54.1-3506","catch_line":"License required","url":"\/54.1-3506\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1\/54.1-3506","metadata":false},{"id":69581,"structure_id":13600,"section_number":"54.1-3506.1","catch_line":"Client notification","url":"\/54.1-3506.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1\/54.1-3506.1","metadata":false},{"id":80021,"structure_id":13600,"section_number":"54.1-3506.2","catch_line":"Licensure exemption","url":"\/54.1-3506.2\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1\/54.1-3506.2","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":68349,"structure_id":13600,"section_number":"54.1-3500.1","catch_line":"Counseling Compact","url":"\/54.1-3500.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1\/54.1-3500.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-3500\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1976. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 608 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1976 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 14 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1983, chapter 115; in 1986, chapters 64 and 464; in 1988, chapter 765; in 1993, chapter 342; in 1995, chapter 820<\/a>; in 1997, chapter 901<\/a>; in 2000, chapter 473<\/a>; in 2001, chapter 460<\/a>; in 2013, chapter 264<\/a>; in 2017, chapters 418<\/a> and 426<\/a>; in 2018, chapters 171<\/a>, 375<\/a>, and 803<\/a>; in 2019, chapters 101<\/a> and 217<\/a>; in 2020, chapter 301<\/a>; in 2024, chapter 595<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":57431,"section_number":"13.1-1102","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/13.1-1102\/"},{"id":66461,"section_number":"13.1-543","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/13.1-543\/"},{"id":84576,"section_number":"16.1-273","catch_line":"Court may require investigation of social history and preparation of victim impact statement","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-273\/"},{"id":82839,"section_number":"18.2-251.01","catch_line":"Substance abuse screening and assessment for felony convictions","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-251.01\/"},{"id":70901,"section_number":"37.2-311.1","catch_line":"Comprehensive crisis system; Marcus alert system; powers and duties of the Department related to comprehensive mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disability crisis services","order_by":null,"url":"\/37.2-311.1\/"},{"id":69157,"section_number":"54.1-2400.1","catch_line":"Mental health service providers; duty to protect third parties; immunity","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2400.1\/"},{"id":58178,"section_number":"60.2-219","catch_line":"Services not included in term \"employment.\"","order_by":null,"url":"\/60.2-219\/"},{"id":74220,"section_number":"8.01-400.2","catch_line":"Communications between certain mental health professionals and clients (Supreme Court Rule 2:506 derived from this section)","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-400.2\/"},{"id":61210,"section_number":"9.1-193","catch_line":"Mental health awareness response and community understanding services (Marcus) alert system; law-enforcement protocols","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-193\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":70897,"section_number":"54.1-3507.1","catch_line":"Scope of practice, supervision, and qualifications of certified substance abuse counselors","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3507.1\/"},{"id":83400,"section_number":"54.1-3507.2","catch_line":"Scope of practice, supervision, and qualifications of certified substance abuse counseling assistants","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3507.2\/"},{"id":69407,"section_number":"54.1-3518","catch_line":"Scope of practice, supervision, and qualifications of registered behavioral health technicians","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3518\/"},{"id":69128,"section_number":"54.1-3519","catch_line":"Scope of practice, supervision, and qualifications of registered behavioral health technician assistants","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3519\/"},{"id":59267,"section_number":"54.1-3520","catch_line":"Scope of practice, supervision, and qualifications of qualified mental health professionals","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3520\/"},{"id":73615,"section_number":"54.1-3521","catch_line":"Scope of practice, supervision, and qualifications of qualified mental health professional-trainees","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3521\/"}],"permalink":{"id":243867,"object_type":"law","relational_id":54880,"identifier":"54.1-3500","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1\/54.1-3500","url":"\/54.1-3500\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-3500\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1\/54.1-3500","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-3500","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Appraisal activities<\/span>” means the exercise of professional judgment<\/span> based on observations and objective assessments of a client’s behavior to evaluate current functioning, diagnose, and select appropriate treatment required to remediate identified problems or to make appropriate referrals.\n\t\t“Art therapist<\/span>” means a person who has (i) completed a master’s or doctoral degree program in art therapy, or an equivalent course of study, from an accredited educational institution; (ii) satisfied the requirements for licensure set forth in regulations adopted by the Board<\/span>; and (iii) been issued a license for the independent practice of art therapy by the Board<\/span>.\n\t\t“Art therapy” means the integrated use of psychotherapeutic principles, visual art media, and the creative process in the assessment, treatment, and remediation of psychosocial, emotional, cognitive, physical, and developmental disorders in children, adolescents, adults, families, or groups.\n\t\t“Art therapy associate<\/span>” means a person who has (i) completed a master’s or doctoral degree program in art therapy, or an equivalent course of study from an accredited educational institution; (ii) satisfied the requirements for licensure set forth in regulations adopted by the Board<\/span>; and (iii) been issued a license to practice art therapy under an approved clinical supervisor in accordance with regulations of the Board<\/span>.\n\t\t“Behavioral health technician<\/span>” means a person who has completed, at a minimum, an associate degree and registered with the Board<\/span> to practice in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3518<\/a> and regulations of the Board<\/span> and provides collaborative behavioral health services<\/span>. A “behavioral health technician<\/span>” shall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Corrections, or the Department of Education or a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.\n\t\t“Behavioral health technician<\/span> assistant<\/span>” means a person who has completed a high school diploma or equivalent, at a minimum, and registered with the Board<\/span> to practice in accordance with the regulations of the Board<\/span> and the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3519<\/a> to provide collaborative behavioral health services<\/span>. A “behavioral health technician<\/span> assistant<\/span>” shall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Corrections, or the Department of Education or a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.\n\t\t“Board<\/span>” means the Board<\/span> of Counseling.\n\t\t“Certified substance abuse counseling assistant<\/span>” means a person certified by the Board<\/span> to practice in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3507.2<\/a>.\n\t\t“Certified substance abuse counselor<\/span>” means a person certified by the Board<\/span> to practice in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3507.1<\/a>.\n\t\t“Collaborative behavioral health services<\/span>” means those supportive services that are provided by a registered behavioral health technician<\/span>, registered behavioral health technician<\/span> assistant<\/span>, registered qualified mental health professional<\/span>, or registered qualified mental health professional<\/span>-trainee<\/span> under the direction of and in collaboration with either a mental health professional licensed in the Commonwealth or a person under supervision<\/span> as a prerequisite for licensure who has been approved by the Board<\/span> of Counseling, Board<\/span> of Psychology, or Board<\/span> of Social Work.\n\t\t“Counseling” means the application of principles, standards, and methods of the counseling profession in (i) conducting assessments and diagnoses for the purpose of establishing treatment goals and objectives and (ii) planning, implementing, and evaluating treatment plans using treatment interventions to facilitate human development and to identify and remediate mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders and associated distresses that interfere with mental health.\n\t\t“Licensed substance abuse treatment<\/span> practitioner<\/span>” means a person who: (i) is trained in and engages in the practice of substance abuse treatment<\/span><\/span> with individuals or groups of individuals suffering from the effects of substance abuse or dependence, and in the prevention of substance abuse or dependence; and (ii) is licensed to provide advanced substance abuse treatment<\/span> and independent, direct, and unsupervised treatment to such individuals or groups of individuals, and to plan, evaluate, supervise, and direct substance abuse treatment<\/span> provided by others.\n\t\t“Marriage and family therapist<\/span>” means a person trained in the appraisal and treatment of cognitive, affective, or behavioral mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage and family systems through the application of therapeutic and family systems theories and techniques.\n\t\t“Marriage and family therapy<\/span>” means the appraisal and treatment of cognitive, affective, or behavioral mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage and family systems through the application of therapeutic and family systems theories and techniques and delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families, singularly or in groups, for the purpose of treating such disorders.\n\t\t“Practice of counseling<\/span>” means rendering or offering to render to individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public any service involving the application of principles, standards, and methods of the counseling profession, which shall include appraisal, counseling, and referral activities<\/span>.\n\t\t“Practice of marriage and family therapy<\/span><\/span>” means the appraisal and treatment of cognitive, affective, or behavioral mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage and family systems through the application of therapeutic and family systems theories and techniques, which shall include assessment, treatment, and referral activities<\/span>.\n\t\t“Practice of substance abuse treatment<\/span><\/span>” means rendering or offering to render substance abuse treatment<\/span> to individuals, groups, organizations, or the general public.\n\t\t“Professional counselor<\/span>” means a person trained in the application of principles, standards, and methods of the counseling profession, including counseling interventions designed to facilitate an individual’s achievement of human development goals and remediating mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders and associated distresses that interfere with mental health and development.\n\t\t“Qualified mental health professional<\/span>” means a person who has (i) completed, at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree; (ii) registered with the Board<\/span> to practice in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3520<\/a> and the regulations of the Board<\/span>; and (iii) a combination of work, training, or experience in providing collaborative behavioral health services<\/span> for youth or adults. A “qualified mental health professional<\/span>” includes a qualified mental health professional<\/span>-adult and qualified mental health professional<\/span>-child. A “qualified mental health professional<\/span>” shall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Corrections, or the Department of Education or a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.\n\t\t“Qualified mental health professional<\/span>-trainee<\/span>” means a person who is receiving supervised training to qualify as a qualified mental health professional<\/span> in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3521<\/a> and is registered with the Board<\/span>. A “qualified mental health professional<\/span>-trainee<\/span>” shall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Corrections, or the Department of Education or a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.\n\t\t“Referral activities<\/span>” means the evaluation of data to identify problems and to determine advisability of referral to other specialists.\n\t\t“Registered peer recovery specialist<\/span>” means a person who by education and experience is professionally qualified and registered by the Board<\/span> to provide collaborative services to assist individuals in achieving sustained recovery from the effects of addiction or mental illness, or both. A registered peer recovery specialist<\/span> shall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, a practitioner licensed by or holding a permit issued from the Department of Health Professions, or a facility licensed by the Department of Health.\n\t\t“Residency<\/span>” means a post-internship supervised clinical experience registered with the Board<\/span>.\n\t\t“Resident<\/span>” means an individual who has submitted a supervisory contract<\/span> to the Board<\/span> and has received Board<\/span> approval to provide clinical services in professional counseling under supervision<\/span>.\n\t\t“Substance abuse” and “substance dependence<\/span>” mean a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress.\n\t\t“Substance abuse treatment<\/span>” means (i) the application of specific knowledge, skills, substance abuse treatment<\/span> theory, and substance abuse treatment<\/span> techniques to define goals and develop a treatment plan of action regarding substance abuse or dependence prevention, education, or treatment in the substance abuse or dependence recovery process and (ii) referrals to medical, social services, psychological, psychiatric, or legal resources when such referrals are indicated.\n\t\t“Supervision<\/span>” means the ongoing process, performed by a supervisor, of monitoring the performance of the person supervised and providing regular, documented individual or group consultation, guidance, and instruction with respect to the clinical skills and competencies of the person supervised. Supervisors may only supervise activities within their scope and area of Board<\/span>-defined competency. Supervision<\/span> provided by nonlicensed supervisors shall not be a replacement for the direction of services and collaboration with the licensed mental health professional or licensed eligible mental health professional required to perform collaborative behavioral health services<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 54.1-3500)\n\nAs used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Appraisal activities” means the exercise of professional judgment\nbased on observations and objective assessments of a client’s behavior to\nevaluate current functioning, diagnose, and select appropriate treatment\nrequired to remediate identified problems or to make appropriate referrals.\n\t\t“Art therapist” means a person who has (i) completed a\nmaster’s or doctoral degree program in art therapy, or an equivalent\ncourse of study, from an accredited educational institution; (ii) satisfied the\nrequirements for licensure set forth in regulations adopted by the Board; and\n(iii) been issued a license for the independent practice of art therapy by the\nBoard.\n\t\t“Art therapy” means the integrated use of psychotherapeutic\nprinciples, visual art media, and the creative process in the assessment,\ntreatment, and remediation of psychosocial, emotional, cognitive, physical, and\ndevelopmental disorders in children, adolescents, adults, families, or groups.\n\t\t“Art therapy associate” means a person who has (i) completed a\nmaster’s or doctoral degree program in art therapy, or an equivalent\ncourse of study from an accredited educational institution; (ii) satisfied the\nrequirements for licensure set forth in regulations adopted by the Board; and\n(iii) been issued a license to practice art therapy under an approved clinical\nsupervisor in accordance with regulations of the Board.\n\t\t“Behavioral health technician” means a person who has completed,\nat a minimum, an associate degree and registered with the Board to practice in\naccordance with the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3518 and regulations of the Board and\nprovides collaborative behavioral health services. A “behavioral health\ntechnician” shall provide such services as an employee or independent\ncontractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services,\nthe Department of Corrections, or the Department of Education or a provider\nlicensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.\n\t\t“Behavioral health technician assistant” means a person who has\ncompleted a high school diploma or equivalent, at a minimum, and registered with\nthe Board to practice in accordance with the regulations of the Board and the\nprovisions of \u00a7 54.1-3519 to provide collaborative behavioral health services.\nA “behavioral health technician assistant” shall provide such\nservices as an employee or independent contractor of the Department of\nBehavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Corrections, or\nthe Department of Education or a provider licensed by the Department of\nBehavioral Health and Developmental Services.\n\t\t“Board” means the Board of Counseling.\n\t\t“Certified substance abuse counseling assistant” means a person\ncertified by the Board to practice in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7\n54.1-3507.2.\n\t\t“Certified substance abuse counselor” means a person certified by\nthe Board to practice in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3507.1.\n\t\t“Collaborative behavioral health services” means those supportive\nservices that are provided by a registered behavioral health technician,\nregistered behavioral health technician assistant, registered qualified mental\nhealth professional, or registered qualified mental health professional-trainee\nunder the direction of and in collaboration with either a mental health\nprofessional licensed in the Commonwealth or a person under supervision as a\nprerequisite for licensure who has been approved by the Board of Counseling,\nBoard of Psychology, or Board of Social Work.\n\t\t“Counseling” means the application of principles, standards, and\nmethods of the counseling profession in (i) conducting assessments and diagnoses\nfor the purpose of establishing treatment goals and objectives and (ii)\nplanning, implementing, and evaluating treatment plans using treatment\ninterventions to facilitate human development and to identify and remediate\nmental, emotional, or behavioral disorders and associated distresses that\ninterfere with mental health.\n\t\t“Licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner” means a person\nwho: (i) is trained in and engages in the practice of substance abuse treatment\nwith individuals or groups of individuals suffering from the effects of\nsubstance abuse or dependence, and in the prevention of substance abuse or\ndependence; and (ii) is licensed to provide advanced substance abuse treatment\nand independent, direct, and unsupervised treatment to such individuals or\ngroups of individuals, and to plan, evaluate, supervise, and direct substance\nabuse treatment provided by others.\n\t\t“Marriage and family therapist” means a person trained in the\nappraisal and treatment of cognitive, affective, or behavioral mental and\nemotional disorders within the context of marriage and family systems through\nthe application of therapeutic and family systems theories and techniques.\n\t\t“Marriage and family therapy” means the appraisal and treatment of\ncognitive, affective, or behavioral mental and emotional disorders within the\ncontext of marriage and family systems through the application of therapeutic\nand family systems theories and techniques and delivery of services to\nindividuals, couples, and families, singularly or in groups, for the purpose of\ntreating such disorders.\n\t\t“Practice of counseling” means rendering or offering to render to\nindividuals, groups, organizations, or the general public any service involving\nthe application of principles, standards, and methods of the counseling\nprofession, which shall include appraisal, counseling, and referral activities.\n\t\t“Practice of marriage and family therapy” means the appraisal and\ntreatment of cognitive, affective, or behavioral mental and emotional disorders\nwithin the context of marriage and family systems through the application of\ntherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques, which shall include\nassessment, treatment, and referral activities.\n\t\t“Practice of substance abuse treatment” means rendering or\noffering to render substance abuse treatment to individuals, groups,\norganizations, or the general public.\n\t\t“Professional counselor” means a person trained in the application\nof principles, standards, and methods of the counseling profession, including\ncounseling interventions designed to facilitate an individual’s\nachievement of human development goals and remediating mental, emotional, or\nbehavioral disorders and associated distresses that interfere with mental health\nand development.\n\t\t“Qualified mental health professional” means a person who has (i)\ncompleted, at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree; (ii) registered with the\nBoard to practice in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3520 and the\nregulations of the Board; and (iii) a combination of work, training, or\nexperience in providing collaborative behavioral health services for youth or\nadults. A “qualified mental health professional” includes a\nqualified mental health professional-adult and qualified mental health\nprofessional-child. A “qualified mental health professional” shall\nprovide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the Department\nof Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of Corrections,\nor the Department of Education or a provider licensed by the Department of\nBehavioral Health and Developmental Services.\n\t\t“Qualified mental health professional-trainee” means a person who\nis receiving supervised training to qualify as a qualified mental health\nprofessional in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3521 and is registered\nwith the Board. A “qualified mental health professional-trainee”\nshall provide such services as an employee or independent contractor of the\nDepartment of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the Department of\nCorrections, or the Department of Education or a provider licensed by the\nDepartment of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.\n\t\t“Referral activities” means the evaluation of data to identify\nproblems and to determine advisability of referral to other specialists.\n\t\t“Registered peer recovery specialist” means a person who by\neducation and experience is professionally qualified and registered by the Board\nto provide collaborative services to assist individuals in achieving sustained\nrecovery from the effects of addiction or mental illness, or both. A registered\npeer recovery specialist shall provide such services as an employee or\nindependent contractor of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental\nServices, a provider licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and\nDevelopmental Services, a practitioner licensed by or holding a permit issued\nfrom the Department of Health Professions, or a facility licensed by the\nDepartment of Health.\n\t\t“Residency” means a post-internship supervised clinical experience\nregistered with the Board.\n\t\t“Resident” means an individual who has submitted a supervisory\ncontract to the Board and has received Board approval to provide clinical\nservices in professional counseling under supervision.\n\t\t“Substance abuse” and “substance dependence” mean a\nmaladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant\nimpairment or distress.\n\t\t“Substance abuse treatment” means (i) the application of specific\nknowledge, skills, substance abuse treatment theory, and substance abuse\ntreatment techniques to define goals and develop a treatment plan of action\nregarding substance abuse or dependence prevention, education, or treatment in\nthe substance abuse or dependence recovery process and (ii) referrals to\nmedical, social services, psychological, psychiatric, or legal resources when\nsuch referrals are indicated.\n\t\t“Supervision” means the ongoing process, performed by a\nsupervisor, of monitoring the performance of the person supervised and providing\nregular, documented individual or group consultation, guidance, and instruction\nwith respect to the clinical skills and competencies of the person supervised.\nSupervisors may only supervise activities within their scope and area of\nBoard-defined competency. Supervision provided by nonlicensed supervisors shall\nnot be a replacement for the direction of services and collaboration with the\nlicensed mental health professional or licensed eligible mental health\nprofessional required to perform collaborative behavioral health services.\n\nHISTORY: 1976, c. 608, \u00a7\u00a7 54-924, 54-932; 1983, c. 115; 1986, cc. 64, 464;\n1988, c. 765; 1993, c. 342; 1995, c. 820; 1997, c. 901; 2000, c. 473; 2001, c.\n460; 2013, c. 264; 2017, cc. 418, 426; 2018, cc. 171, 375, 803; 2019, cc. 101,\n217; 2020, c. 301; 2024, c. 595.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}