{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-3505.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-3505.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-3505.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-3505.html"}],"law_id":55659,"edition_id":1,"section_id":55659,"structure_id":13600,"section_number":"54.1-3505","catch_line":"Specific powers and duties of the Board","history":"1976, c. 608, \u00a7\u00a7 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.","full_text":"In addition to the powers granted in \u00a7 54.1-2400, the Board shall have the following specific powers and duties:\n\n1\n\nTo 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\n\nTo conduct inspections to ensure that licensees conduct their practices in a competent manner and in conformance with the relevant regulations.3\n\nTo designate specialties within the profession.4\n\nTo 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.5\n\n[Expired.]6\n\nTo 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\n\nTo 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\n\nTo 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\n\nTo 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\n\nTo 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\n\nTo 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.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":204008,"text":"In addition to the powers granted in \u00a7 54.1-2400, the Board shall have the following specific powers and duties:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":204009,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":204010,"text":"To conduct inspections to ensure that licensees conduct their practices in a competent manner and in conformance with the relevant regulations.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":204011,"text":"To designate specialties within the profession.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":204012,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":204013,"text":"[Expired.]","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":204014,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"7":{"id":204015,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6","next_prefix":"8"},"8":{"id":204016,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"8","prefix_anchor":"8","level":1,"prior_prefix":"7","next_prefix":"9"},"9":{"id":204017,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"9","prefix_anchor":"9","level":1,"prior_prefix":"8","next_prefix":"10"},"10":{"id":204018,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["10"],"prefix":"10","entire_prefix":"10","prefix_anchor":"10","level":1,"prior_prefix":"9","next_prefix":"11"},"11":{"id":204019,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["11"],"prefix":"11","entire_prefix":"11","prefix_anchor":"11","level":1,"prior_prefix":"10"}},"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 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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}],"previous_section":{"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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-3505\/","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 11 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, 100, and 464; in 1988, chapter 765; in 1994, chapters 558<\/a> and 778<\/a>; in 1995, chapter 820<\/a>; in 1997, chapter 901<\/a>; in 2001, chapter 460<\/a>; in 2013, chapter 264<\/a>; in 2017, chapters 418<\/a> and 426<\/a>; in 2019, chapters 101<\/a>, 217<\/a>, and 428<\/a>; in 2024, chapter 595<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":74249,"section_number":"54.1-3508","catch_line":"Licensure of certain persons possessing substantially equivalent qualifications, education or experience","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3508\/"},{"id":72801,"section_number":"54.1-3515","catch_line":"Certification renewal of individuals who became certified under the provisions of \u00a7 54.1-3514","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3515\/"},{"id":79319,"section_number":"54.1-3600","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3600\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":65440,"section_number":"54.1-2400","catch_line":"General powers and duties of health regulatory boards","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2400\/"},{"id":61913,"section_number":"54.1-3507","catch_line":"Scope of practice of and qualifications for licensed substance abuse treatment practitioners","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3507\/"},{"id":66104,"section_number":"54.1-3510","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3510\/"},{"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\/"}],"permalink":{"id":243891,"object_type":"law","relational_id":55659,"identifier":"54.1-3505","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1\/54.1-3505","url":"\/54.1-3505\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-3505\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1\/54.1-3505","dublin_core":{"Title":"Specific powers and duties of the Board","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-3505","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

In addition to the powers granted in \u00a7 54.1-2400<\/a>, the Board<\/span> shall have the following specific powers and duties:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> To cooperate with and maintain a close liaison with other professional boards<\/span> and the community to ensure that regulatory systems stay<\/span> abreast of community and professional needs. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> To conduct inspections to ensure that licensees conduct their practices in a competent manner and in conformance with the relevant regulations. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> To designate specialties within the profession. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> To administer the certification of rehabilitation providers pursuant to Article 2 (§ 54.1-3510<\/a> et seq.) of this chapter, including prescribing fees for application processing, examinations, certification and certification renewal. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> [Expired.] <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> To promulgate regulations for the qualifications, education, and experience for licensure of marriage and family therapists<\/span>. The requirements for clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy<\/span> (AAMFT), and the professional examination service’s national marriage and family therapy<\/span> examination may be considered by the Board<\/span> in the promulgation of these regulations. The educational credit hour, clinical experience hour, and clinical supervision<\/span> hour requirements for marriage and family therapists<\/span> shall not be less than the educational credit hour, clinical experience hour, and clinical supervision<\/span> hour requirements for professional counselors<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> To promulgate, subject to the requirements of Article 1.1 (§ 54.1-3507<\/a> et seq.) of this chapter, regulations for the qualifications, education, and experience for licensure of licensed substance abuse treatment<\/span> practitioners<\/span> and certification of certified substance abuse counselors<\/span> and certified substance abuse counseling assistants<\/span>. The requirements for membership in NAADAC: the Association for Addiction Professionals and its national examination may be considered by the Board<\/span> in the promulgation of these regulations. The Board<\/span> 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<\/span> hour requirements for licensed substance abuse treatment<\/span> practitioners<\/span> shall not be less than the educational credit hour, clinical experience hour, and clinical supervision<\/span> hour requirements for licensed professional counselors<\/span>. Such regulations also shall establish standards and protocols for the clinical supervision<\/span> of certified substance abuse counselors<\/span> and the supervision<\/span> or direction of certified substance abuse counseling assistants<\/span>, and reasonable access to the persons providing that supervision<\/span> or direction in settings other than a licensed facility. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> To maintain a registry of persons who meet the requirements for supervision<\/span> of residents<\/span>. The Board<\/span> shall make the registry of approved supervisors available to persons seeking residence status. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

9.<\/span> To promulgate, subject to the requirements of Article 4 (§ 54.1-3518<\/a> et seq.), regulations for the qualifications, training, supervision<\/span>, and experience for the registration of behavioral health technicians<\/span>, behavioral health technician<\/span> assistants<\/span>, qualified mental health professionals<\/span>, and qualified mental health professional<\/span>-trainees<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

10.<\/span> To promulgate regulations for the registration of peer recovery specialists who meet the qualifications, education, and experience requirements established by regulations of the Board<\/span> of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services pursuant to § 37.2-203<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

11.<\/span> To promulgate regulations for the issuance of temporary licenses to individuals engaged in a counseling residency<\/span> so that they may acquire the supervised, postgraduate experience required for licensure. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSPECIFIC POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD (\u00a7 54.1-3505)\n\nIn addition to the powers granted in \u00a7 54.1-2400, the Board shall have the\nfollowing specific powers and duties:\n\n1. To cooperate with and maintain a close liaison with other professional boards\nand the community to ensure that regulatory systems stay abreast of community\nand professional needs.\n\n2. To conduct inspections to ensure that licensees conduct their practices in a\ncompetent manner and in conformance with the relevant regulations.\n\n3. To designate specialties within the profession.\n\n4. To administer the certification of rehabilitation providers pursuant to\nArticle 2 (§ 54.1-3510 et seq.) of this chapter, including prescribing fees\nfor application processing, examinations, certification and certification\nrenewal.\n\n5. [Expired.]\n\n6. To promulgate regulations for the qualifications, education, and experience\nfor licensure of marriage and family therapists. The requirements for clinical\nmembership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT),\nand the professional examination service’s national marriage and family\ntherapy examination may be considered by the Board in the promulgation of these\nregulations. The educational credit hour, clinical experience hour, and clinical\nsupervision hour requirements for marriage and family therapists shall not be\nless than the educational credit hour, clinical experience hour, and clinical\nsupervision hour requirements for professional counselors.\n\n7. To promulgate, subject to the requirements of Article 1.1 (§ 54.1-3507\net seq.) of this chapter, regulations for the qualifications, education, and\nexperience for licensure of licensed substance abuse treatment practitioners and\ncertification of certified substance abuse counselors and certified substance\nabuse counseling assistants. The requirements for membership in NAADAC: the\nAssociation for Addiction Professionals and its national examination may be\nconsidered by the Board in the promulgation of these regulations. The Board also\nmay provide for the consideration and use of the accreditation and examination\nservices offered by the Substance Abuse Certification Alliance of Virginia. The\neducational credit hour, clinical experience hour, and clinical supervision hour\nrequirements for licensed substance abuse treatment practitioners shall not be\nless than the educational credit hour, clinical experience hour, and clinical\nsupervision hour requirements for licensed professional counselors. Such\nregulations also shall establish standards and protocols for the clinical\nsupervision of certified substance abuse counselors and the supervision or\ndirection of certified substance abuse counseling assistants, and reasonable\naccess to the persons providing that supervision or direction in settings other\nthan a licensed facility.\n\n8. To maintain a registry of persons who meet the requirements for supervision\nof residents. The Board shall make the registry of approved supervisors\navailable to persons seeking residence status.\n\n9. To promulgate, subject to the requirements of Article 4 (§ 54.1-3518 et\nseq.), regulations for the qualifications, training, supervision, and experience\nfor the registration of behavioral health technicians, behavioral health\ntechnician assistants, qualified mental health professionals, and qualified\nmental health professional-trainees.\n\n10. To promulgate regulations for the registration of peer recovery specialists\nwho meet the qualifications, education, and experience requirements established\nby regulations of the Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services\npursuant to § 37.2-203.\n\n11. To promulgate regulations for the issuance of temporary licenses to\nindividuals engaged in a counseling residency so that they may acquire the\nsupervised, postgraduate experience required for licensure.\n\nHISTORY: 1976, c. 608, \u00a7\u00a7 54-929, 54-931; 1983, c. 115; 1986, cc. 64, 100,\n464; 1988, c. 765; 1994, cc. 558, 778; 1995, c. 820; 1997, c. 901; 2001, c. 460;\n2013, c. 264; 2017, cc. 418, 426; 2019, cc. 101, 217, 428; 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}}