{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-3507.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-3507.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-3507.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-3507.html"}],"law_id":61913,"edition_id":1,"section_id":61913,"structure_id":15928,"section_number":"54.1-3507","catch_line":"Scope of practice of and qualifications for licensed substance abuse treatment practitioners","history":"1997, c. 901; 2001, c. 460.","full_text":"A\n\nA licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner shall be qualified to (i) perform on an independent basis the substance abuse treatment functions of screening, intake, orientation, assessment, treatment planning, treatment, case management, substance abuse or dependence crisis intervention, client education, referral activities, recordkeeping, and consultation with other professionals; (ii) exercise independent professional judgment, based on observations and objective assessments of a client’s behavior, to evaluate current functioning, to diagnose and select appropriate remedial treatment for identified problems, and to make appropriate referrals; and (iii) supervise, direct and instruct others who provide substance abuse treatment.B\n\nPursuant to regulations adopted by the Board, an applicant for a license as a licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner shall submit evidence satisfactory to the Board that the applicant has (i) completed a specified number of hours of graduate studies, including a specified number of didactic substance abuse education courses at, and has received a master’s degree in substance abuse or a substantially equivalent master’s degree from, an institution of higher education accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Board; and (ii) completed a specified number of hours of experience involving the practice of substance abuse treatment supervised by a licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner, or by any other mental health professional licensed by the Department, such number of hours being greater than the number of hours required of a certified substance abuse counseling assistant. The applicant shall also pass an examination, as required by the Board.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":226054,"text":"A licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner shall be qualified to (i) perform on an independent basis the substance abuse treatment functions of screening, intake, orientation, assessment, treatment planning, treatment, case management, substance abuse or dependence crisis intervention, client education, referral activities, recordkeeping, and consultation with other professionals; (ii) exercise independent professional judgment, based on observations and objective assessments of a client’s behavior, to evaluate current functioning, to diagnose and select appropriate remedial treatment for identified problems, and to make appropriate referrals; and (iii) supervise, direct and instruct others who provide substance abuse treatment.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":226055,"text":"Pursuant to regulations adopted by the Board, an applicant for a license as a licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner shall submit evidence satisfactory to the Board that the applicant has (i) completed a specified number of hours of graduate studies, including a specified number of didactic substance abuse education courses at, and has received a master’s degree in substance abuse or a substantially equivalent master’s degree from, an institution of higher education accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Board; and (ii) completed a specified number of hours of experience involving the practice of substance abuse treatment supervised by a licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner, or by any other mental health professional licensed by the Department, such number of hours being greater than the number of hours required of a certified substance abuse counseling assistant. The applicant shall also pass an examination, as required by the Board.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15928,"edition_id":1,"name":"Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioners","identifier":"1.1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13599,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:02:12","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:02:12","permalink":{"id":243911,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15928,"identifier":"1.1","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1.1","url":"\/54.1\/III\/35\/1.1\/","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":61913,"structure_id":15928,"section_number":"54.1-3507","catch_line":"Scope of practice of and qualifications for licensed substance abuse treatment practitioners","url":"\/54.1-3507\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1.1\/54.1-3507","metadata":false},{"id":70897,"structure_id":15928,"section_number":"54.1-3507.1","catch_line":"Scope of practice, supervision, and qualifications of certified substance abuse counselors","url":"\/54.1-3507.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1.1\/54.1-3507.1","metadata":false},{"id":83400,"structure_id":15928,"section_number":"54.1-3507.2","catch_line":"Scope of practice, supervision, and qualifications of certified substance abuse counseling assistants","url":"\/54.1-3507.2\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1.1\/54.1-3507.2","metadata":false},{"id":74051,"structure_id":15928,"section_number":"54.1-3507.3","catch_line":"Use of titles","url":"\/54.1-3507.3\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1.1\/54.1-3507.3","metadata":false},{"id":74249,"structure_id":15928,"section_number":"54.1-3508","catch_line":"Licensure of certain persons possessing substantially equivalent qualifications, education or experience","url":"\/54.1-3508\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1.1\/54.1-3508","metadata":false},{"id":69776,"structure_id":15928,"section_number":"54.1-3509","catch_line":"Continued certification of certain certified substance abuse counselors","url":"\/54.1-3509\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1.1\/54.1-3509","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":70897,"structure_id":15928,"section_number":"54.1-3507.1","catch_line":"Scope of practice, supervision, and qualifications of certified substance abuse counselors","url":"\/54.1-3507.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1.1\/54.1-3507.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-3507\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1997. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 901<\/a> 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. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 2001, chapter 460<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":55659,"section_number":"54.1-3505","catch_line":"Specific powers and duties of the Board","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3505\/"},{"id":74051,"section_number":"54.1-3507.3","catch_line":"Use of titles","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3507.3\/"},{"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\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":243913,"object_type":"law","relational_id":61913,"identifier":"54.1-3507","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1.1\/54.1-3507","url":"\/54.1-3507\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-3507\/","token":"54.1\/III\/35\/1.1\/54.1-3507","dublin_core":{"Title":"Scope of practice of and qualifications for licensed substance abuse treatment practitioners","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-3507","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> A licensed substance abuse treatment<\/span> practitioner<\/span> shall be qualified to (i) perform on an independent basis the substance abuse treatment<\/span> functions of screening, intake, orientation, assessment, treatment planning, treatment, case management, substance abuse or dependence crisis intervention, client education, referral activities<\/span>, recordkeeping, and consultation with other professionals; (ii) exercise independent professional judgment<\/span>, based on observations and objective assessments of a client’s behavior, to evaluate current functioning, to diagnose and select appropriate remedial treatment for identified problems, and to make appropriate referrals; and (iii) supervise, direct and instruct others who provide substance abuse treatment<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Pursuant to regulations adopted by the Board<\/span>, an applicant for a license as a licensed substance abuse treatment<\/span> practitioner<\/span> shall submit evidence<\/span> satisfactory to the Board<\/span> that the applicant has (i) completed a specified number of hours of graduate studies, including a specified number of didactic substance abuse education courses at, and has received a master’s degree in substance abuse or a substantially equivalent master’s degree from, an institution of higher education accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Board<\/span>; and (ii) completed a specified number of hours of experience involving the practice of substance abuse treatment<\/span><\/span> supervised by a licensed substance abuse treatment<\/span> practitioner<\/span>, or by any other mental health professional licensed by the Department, such number of hours being greater than the number of hours required of a certified substance abuse counseling assistant<\/span>. The applicant shall also pass an examination, as required by the Board<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSCOPE OF PRACTICE OF AND QUALIFICATIONS FOR LICENSED SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT\nPRACTITIONERS (\u00a7 54.1-3507)\n\nA. A licensed substance abuse treatment practitioner shall be qualified to (i)\nperform on an independent basis the substance abuse treatment functions of\nscreening, intake, orientation, assessment, treatment planning, treatment, case\nmanagement, substance abuse or dependence crisis intervention, client education,\nreferral activities, recordkeeping, and consultation with other professionals;\n(ii) exercise independent professional judgment, based on observations and\nobjective assessments of a client’s behavior, to evaluate current\nfunctioning, to diagnose and select appropriate remedial treatment for\nidentified problems, and to make appropriate referrals; and (iii) supervise,\ndirect and instruct others who provide substance abuse treatment.\n\nB. Pursuant to regulations adopted by the Board, an applicant for a license as a\nlicensed substance abuse treatment practitioner shall submit evidence\nsatisfactory to the Board that the applicant has (i) completed a specified\nnumber of hours of graduate studies, including a specified number of didactic\nsubstance abuse education courses at, and has received a master’s degree\nin substance abuse or a substantially equivalent master’s degree from, an\ninstitution of higher education accredited by an accrediting agency recognized\nby the Board; and (ii) completed a specified number of hours of experience\ninvolving the practice of substance abuse treatment supervised by a licensed\nsubstance abuse treatment practitioner, or by any other mental health\nprofessional licensed by the Department, such number of hours being greater than\nthe number of hours required of a certified substance abuse counseling\nassistant. The applicant shall also pass an examination, as required by the\nBoard.\n\nHISTORY: 1997, c. 901; 2001, c. 460.","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}}