{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-3506.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-3506.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-3506.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-3506.html"}],"law_id":56059,"edition_id":1,"section_id":56059,"structure_id":13600,"section_number":"54.1-3506","catch_line":"License required","history":"1979, c. 408, \u00a7 54-935.1; 1988, c. 765; 1995, c. 820; 1997, c. 901; 2009, cc. 813, 840; 2013, c. 264.","full_text":"In order to engage in the practice of counseling or marriage and family therapy or in the independent practice of substance abuse treatment, as defined in this chapter, it shall be necessary to hold a license issued by the Board.\n\t\tThe Board may issue a license, without examination, for the practice of marriage and family therapy or the independent practice of substance abuse treatment to persons who hold a current and unrestricted license as a professional counselor within the Commonwealth and who meet the clinical and academic requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist or licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner, respectively. The applicant for such license shall present satisfactory evidence of qualifications equal to those required of applicants for licensure as marriage and family therapists or licensed substance abuse treatment practitioners, respectively, by examination in the Commonwealth.\n\t\tAny person who renders substance abuse treatment services as defined in this chapter and who is not licensed to do so, other than a person who is exempt pursuant to \u00a7 54.1-3501, shall render such services only when he is (i) under the supervision and direction of a person licensed under this chapter who shall be responsible for the services performed by such unlicensed person, or (ii) in compliance with the regulations governing an organization or a facility licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":205479,"text":"In order to engage in the practice of counseling or marriage and family therapy or in the independent practice of substance abuse treatment, as defined in this chapter, it shall be necessary to hold a license issued by the Board.\n\t\tThe Board may issue a license, without examination, for the practice of marriage and family therapy or the independent practice of substance abuse treatment to persons who hold a current and unrestricted license as a professional counselor within the Commonwealth and who meet the clinical and academic requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist or licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner, respectively. The applicant for such license shall present satisfactory evidence of qualifications equal to those required of applicants for licensure as marriage and family therapists or licensed substance abuse treatment practitioners, respectively, by examination in the Commonwealth.\n\t\tAny person who renders substance abuse treatment services as defined in this chapter and who is not licensed to do so, other than a person who is exempt pursuant to \u00a7 54.1-3501, shall render such services only when he is (i) under the supervision and direction of a person licensed under this chapter who shall be responsible for the services performed by such unlicensed person, or (ii) in compliance with the regulations governing an organization or a facility licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental 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}],"previous_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},"next_section":{"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},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-3506\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1979. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 408 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 1979 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 5 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 1988, chapter 765; in 1995, chapter 820<\/a>; in 1997, chapter 901<\/a>; in 2009, chapters 813<\/a> and 840<\/a>; in 2013, chapter 264<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":85227,"section_number":"54.1-3501","catch_line":"Exemption from requirements of licensure","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3501\/"}],"permalink":{"id":243899,"object_type":"law","relational_id":56059,"identifier":"54.1-3506","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1\/54.1-3506","url":"\/54.1-3506\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-3506\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1\/54.1-3506","dublin_core":{"Title":"License required","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-3506","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

In order<\/span> to engage in the practice of counseling<\/span> or marriage and family therapy<\/span> or in the independent practice of substance abuse treatment<\/span><\/span>, as defined in this chapter, it shall be necessary to hold a license issued by the Board<\/span>.\n\t\tThe Board<\/span> may issue<\/span> a license, without examination, for the practice of marriage and family therapy<\/span><\/span> or the independent practice of substance abuse treatment<\/span><\/span> to persons who hold a current and unrestricted license as a professional counselor<\/span> within the Commonwealth and who meet the clinical and academic requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist<\/span> or licensed substance abuse treatment<\/span> practitioner<\/span>, respectively. The applicant for such license shall present satisfactory evidence<\/span> of qualifications equal to those required of applicants for licensure as marriage and family therapists<\/span> or licensed substance abuse treatment<\/span> practitioners<\/span>, respectively, by examination in the Commonwealth.\n\t\tAny person who renders substance abuse treatment<\/span> services as defined in this chapter and who is not licensed to do so, other than a person who is exempt pursuant to \u00a7 54.1-3501<\/a>, shall render such services only when he is (i) under the supervision<\/span> and direction of a person licensed under this chapter who shall be responsible for the services performed by such unlicensed person, or (ii) in compliance with the regulations governing an organization or a facility licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nLICENSE REQUIRED (\u00a7 54.1-3506)\n\nIn order to engage in the practice of counseling or marriage and family therapy\nor in the independent practice of substance abuse treatment, as defined in this\nchapter, it shall be necessary to hold a license issued by the Board.\n\t\tThe Board may issue a license, without examination, for the practice of\nmarriage and family therapy or the independent practice of substance abuse\ntreatment to persons who hold a current and unrestricted license as a\nprofessional counselor within the Commonwealth and who meet the clinical and\nacademic requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist or\nlicensed substance abuse treatment practitioner, respectively. The applicant for\nsuch license shall present satisfactory evidence of qualifications equal to\nthose required of applicants for licensure as marriage and family therapists or\nlicensed substance abuse treatment practitioners, respectively, by examination\nin the Commonwealth.\n\t\tAny person who renders substance abuse treatment services as defined in this\nchapter and who is not licensed to do so, other than a person who is exempt\npursuant to \u00a7 54.1-3501, shall render such services only when he is (i) under\nthe supervision and direction of a person licensed under this chapter who shall\nbe responsible for the services performed by such unlicensed person, or (ii) in\ncompliance with the regulations governing an organization or a facility licensed\nby the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.\n\nHISTORY: 1979, c. 408, \u00a7 54-935.1; 1988, c. 765; 1995, c. 820; 1997, c. 901;\n2009, cc. 813, 840; 2013, c. 264.","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}}