{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-3600.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-3600.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-3600.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-3600.html"}],"law_id":79319,"edition_id":1,"section_id":79319,"structure_id":14480,"section_number":"54.1-3600","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"1976, c. 608, \u00a7 54-936; 1987, cc. 522, 543; 1988, c. 765; 1994, c. 778; 1996, cc. 937, 980; 2004, c. 11; 2024, cc. 754, 761.","full_text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Applied psychologist” means an individual licensed to practice applied psychology.\n\t\t“Board” means the Board of Psychology.\n\t\t“Certified sex offender treatment provider” means a person who is certified to provide treatment to sex offenders and who provides such services in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 54.1-3005, 54.1-3505, 54.1-3611, and 54.1-3705 and the regulations promulgated pursuant to these provisions.\n\t\t“Clinical psychologist” means an individual licensed to practice clinical psychology.\n\t\t“Practice of applied psychology” means application of the principles and methods of psychology to improvement of organizational function, personnel selection and evaluation, program planning and implementation, individual motivation, development and behavioral adjustment, as well as consultation on teaching and research.\n\t\t“Practice of clinical psychology” includes, but is not limited to:\n\n1\n\n“Testing and measuring” that consists of the psychological evaluation or assessment of personal characteristics such as intelligence, abilities, interests, aptitudes, achievements, motives, personality dynamics, psychoeducational processes, neuropsychological functioning, or other psychological attributes of individuals or groups.2\n\n“Diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders” that consists of the appropriate diagnosis of mental disorders according to standards of the profession and the ordering or providing of treatments according to need. Treatment includes providing counseling, psychotherapy, marital\/family therapy, group therapy, behavior therapy, psychoanalysis, hypnosis, biofeedback, and other psychological interventions with the objective of modification of perception, adjustment, attitudes, feelings, values, self-concept, personality, or personal goals, the treatment of alcoholism and substance abuse, the treatment of disorders of habit or conduct, as well as of the psychological aspects of physical illness, pain, injury, or disability.3\n\n“Psychological consulting” that consists of interpreting or reporting on scientific theory or research in psychology, rendering expert psychological or clinical psychological opinion or evaluation, or engaging in applied psychological research, program or organizational development, or administration, supervision, or evaluation of psychological services.\n\t\t\t“Practice of psychology” means the practice of applied psychology, clinical psychology, or school psychology.\n\t\t\tThe “practice of school psychology” means:1\n\n“Testing and measuring” that consists of psychological assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis relative to the assessment of intellectual ability, aptitudes, achievement, adjustment, motivation, personality, or any other psychological attribute of persons as individuals or in groups that directly relates to learning or behavioral problems that impact education.2\n\n“Counseling” that consists of professional advisement and interpretive services with children or adults for amelioration or prevention of problems that impact education. Counseling services relative to the practice of school psychology include but are not limited to the procedures of verbal interaction, interviewing, behavior modification, environmental manipulation, and group processes.3\n\n“Consultation” that consists of educational or vocational consultation or direct educational services to schools, agencies, organizations, or individuals. Psychological consulting relative to the practice of school psychology is directly related to learning problems and related adjustments.4\n\nDevelopment of programs such as designing more efficient and psychologically sound classroom situations and acting as a catalyst for teacher involvement in adaptations and innovations.\n\t\t\t“Psychological practitioner” means a person licensed pursuant to § 54.1-3606.3 to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders by providing counseling, psychotherapy, marital therapy, family therapy, group therapy, or behavioral therapy and to provide an assessment and evaluation of an individual’s intellectual or cognitive ability, emotional adjustment, or personality, as related to the treatment of mental or emotional disorders.\n\t\t\t“Psychologist” means a person licensed to practice school, applied, or clinical psychology.\n\t\t\t“School psychologist” means a person licensed by the Board of Psychology to practice school psychology.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":283973,"text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Applied psychologist” means an individual licensed to practice applied psychology.\n\t\t“Board” means the Board of Psychology.\n\t\t“Certified sex offender treatment provider” means a person who is certified to provide treatment to sex offenders and who provides such services in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 54.1-3005, 54.1-3505, 54.1-3611, and 54.1-3705 and the regulations promulgated pursuant to these provisions.\n\t\t“Clinical psychologist” means an individual licensed to practice clinical psychology.\n\t\t“Practice of applied psychology” means application of the principles and methods of psychology to improvement of organizational function, personnel selection and evaluation, program planning and implementation, individual motivation, development and behavioral adjustment, as well as consultation on teaching and research.\n\t\t“Practice of clinical psychology” includes, but is not limited to:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":283974,"text":"“Testing and measuring” that consists of the psychological evaluation or assessment of personal characteristics such as intelligence, abilities, interests, aptitudes, achievements, motives, personality dynamics, psychoeducational processes, neuropsychological functioning, or other psychological attributes of individuals or groups.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":283975,"text":"“Diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders” that consists of the appropriate diagnosis of mental disorders according to standards of the profession and the ordering or providing of treatments according to need. Treatment includes providing counseling, psychotherapy, marital\/family therapy, group therapy, behavior therapy, psychoanalysis, hypnosis, biofeedback, and other psychological interventions with the objective of modification of perception, adjustment, attitudes, feelings, values, self-concept, personality, or personal goals, the treatment of alcoholism and substance abuse, the treatment of disorders of habit or conduct, as well as of the psychological aspects of physical illness, pain, injury, or disability.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":283976,"text":"“Psychological consulting” that consists of interpreting or reporting on scientific theory or research in psychology, rendering expert psychological or clinical psychological opinion or evaluation, or engaging in applied psychological research, program or organizational development, or administration, supervision, or evaluation of psychological services.\n\t\t\t“Practice of psychology” means the practice of applied psychology, clinical psychology, or school psychology.\n\t\t\tThe “practice of school psychology” means:","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"1"},"4":{"id":283977,"text":"“Testing and measuring” that consists of psychological assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis relative to the assessment of intellectual ability, aptitudes, achievement, adjustment, motivation, personality, or any other psychological attribute of persons as individuals or in groups that directly relates to learning or behavioral problems that impact education.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"2"},"5":{"id":283978,"text":"“Counseling” that consists of professional advisement and interpretive services with children or adults for amelioration or prevention of problems that impact education. Counseling services relative to the practice of school psychology include but are not limited to the procedures of verbal interaction, interviewing, behavior modification, environmental manipulation, and group processes.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"6":{"id":283979,"text":"“Consultation” that consists of educational or vocational consultation or direct educational services to schools, agencies, organizations, or individuals. Psychological consulting relative to the practice of school psychology is directly related to learning problems and related adjustments.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"7":{"id":283980,"text":"Development of programs such as designing more efficient and psychologically sound classroom situations and acting as a catalyst for teacher involvement in adaptations and innovations.\n\t\t\t“Psychological practitioner” means a person licensed pursuant to § 54.1-3606.3 to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders by providing counseling, psychotherapy, marital therapy, family therapy, group therapy, or behavioral therapy and to provide an assessment and evaluation of an individual’s intellectual or cognitive ability, emotional adjustment, or personality, as related to the treatment of mental or emotional disorders.\n\t\t\t“Psychologist” means a person licensed to practice school, applied, or clinical psychology.\n\t\t\t“School psychologist” means a person licensed by the Board of Psychology to practice school psychology.","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14480,"edition_id":1,"name":"Psychology","identifier":"36","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12758,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:17","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:17","permalink":{"id":243987,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14480,"identifier":"36","token":"54.1\/III\/36","url":"\/54.1\/III\/36\/","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":79319,"structure_id":14480,"section_number":"54.1-3600","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/54.1-3600\/","token":"54.1\/III\/36\/54.1-3600","metadata":false},{"id":86296,"structure_id":14480,"section_number":"54.1-3601","catch_line":"Exemption from requirements of licensure","url":"\/54.1-3601\/","token":"54.1\/III\/36\/54.1-3601","metadata":false},{"id":58795,"structure_id":14480,"section_number":"54.1-3602","catch_line":"Administration or prescription of drugs not permitted","url":"\/54.1-3602\/","token":"54.1\/III\/36\/54.1-3602","metadata":false},{"id":87336,"structure_id":14480,"section_number":"54.1-3603","catch_line":"Board of Psychology; membership","url":"\/54.1-3603\/","token":"54.1\/III\/36\/54.1-3603","metadata":false},{"id":62089,"structure_id":14480,"section_number":"54.1-3604","catch_line":"Nominations","url":"\/54.1-3604\/","token":"54.1\/III\/36\/54.1-3604","metadata":false},{"id":64160,"structure_id":14480,"section_number":"54.1-3605","catch_line":"Powers and duties of the Board","url":"\/54.1-3605\/","token":"54.1\/III\/36\/54.1-3605","metadata":false},{"id":70574,"structure_id":14480,"section_number":"54.1-3606","catch_line":"License required","url":"\/54.1-3606\/","token":"54.1\/III\/36\/54.1-3606","metadata":false},{"id":58347,"structure_id":14480,"section_number":"54.1-3606.1","catch_line":"Continuing education","url":"\/54.1-3606.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/36\/54.1-3606.1","metadata":false},{"id":82747,"structure_id":14480,"section_number":"54.1-3606.2","catch_line":"Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact","url":"\/54.1-3606.2\/","token":"54.1\/III\/36\/54.1-3606.2","metadata":false},{"id":63539,"structure_id":14480,"section_number":"54.1-3606.3","catch_line":"Licensure of psychological practitioners; independent practice","url":"\/54.1-3606.3\/","token":"54.1\/III\/36\/54.1-3606.3","metadata":false},{"id":82965,"structure_id":14480,"section_number":"54.1-3607","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-3607\/","token":"54.1\/III\/36\/54.1-3607","metadata":false},{"id":84335,"structure_id":14480,"section_number":"54.1-3608","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-3608\/","token":"54.1\/III\/36\/54.1-3608","metadata":false},{"id":74713,"structure_id":14480,"section_number":"54.1-3609","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-3609\/","token":"54.1\/III\/36\/54.1-3609","metadata":false},{"id":59959,"structure_id":14480,"section_number":"54.1-3611","catch_line":"Restriction of practice; use of titles","url":"\/54.1-3611\/","token":"54.1\/III\/36\/54.1-3611","metadata":false},{"id":55873,"structure_id":14480,"section_number":"54.1-3612","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-3612\/","token":"54.1\/III\/36\/54.1-3612","metadata":false},{"id":64191,"structure_id":14480,"section_number":"54.1-3613","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-3613\/","token":"54.1\/III\/36\/54.1-3613","metadata":false},{"id":62093,"structure_id":14480,"section_number":"54.1-3614","catch_line":"Delegation to unlicensed persons","url":"\/54.1-3614\/","token":"54.1\/III\/36\/54.1-3614","metadata":false},{"id":70572,"structure_id":14480,"section_number":"54.1-3615","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-3615\/","token":"54.1\/III\/36\/54.1-3615","metadata":false},{"id":83390,"structure_id":14480,"section_number":"54.1-3616","catch_line":"Use of title \"Doctor.\"","url":"\/54.1-3616\/","token":"54.1\/III\/36\/54.1-3616","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":86296,"structure_id":14480,"section_number":"54.1-3601","catch_line":"Exemption from requirements of licensure","url":"\/54.1-3601\/","token":"54.1\/III\/36\/54.1-3601","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-3600\/","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 6 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 1987, chapters 522 and 543; in 1988, chapter 765; in 1994, chapter 778<\/a>; in 1996, chapters 937<\/a> and 980<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 11<\/a>; in 2024, chapters 754<\/a> and 761<\/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":65087,"section_number":"19.2-301","catch_line":"Judge shall require examination under \u00a7 19.2-300; by whom made; report; expenses of psychiatrist","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-301\/"},{"id":74139,"section_number":"37.2-420","catch_line":"Offer or payment of remuneration in exchange for referral prohibited","order_by":null,"url":"\/37.2-420\/"},{"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":85227,"section_number":"54.1-3501","catch_line":"Exemption from requirements of licensure","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3501\/"},{"id":70574,"section_number":"54.1-3606","catch_line":"License required","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3606\/"},{"id":78374,"section_number":"54.1-3701","catch_line":"Exemption from requirements of licensure","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3701\/"},{"id":58178,"section_number":"60.2-219","catch_line":"Services not included in term \"employment.\"","order_by":null,"url":"\/60.2-219\/"},{"id":82405,"section_number":"8.01-399","catch_line":"Communications between physicians and patients (Supreme Court Rule 2:505 derived from this section)","order_by":null,"url":"\/8.01-399\/"},{"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":66804,"section_number":"9.1-404","catch_line":"Order of the Virginia Retirement System","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-404\/"},{"id":82464,"section_number":"9.1-909","catch_line":"Relief from registration, reregistration, or verification","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-909\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":85523,"section_number":"54.1-3005","catch_line":"Specific powers and duties of Board","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3005\/"},{"id":55659,"section_number":"54.1-3505","catch_line":"Specific powers and duties of the Board","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3505\/"},{"id":63539,"section_number":"54.1-3606.3","catch_line":"Licensure of psychological practitioners; independent practice","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3606.3\/"},{"id":59959,"section_number":"54.1-3611","catch_line":"Restriction of practice; use of titles","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3611\/"},{"id":57107,"section_number":"54.1-3705","catch_line":"Specific powers and duties of the Board","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3705\/"}],"permalink":{"id":243989,"object_type":"law","relational_id":79319,"identifier":"54.1-3600","token":"54.1\/III\/36\/54.1-3600","url":"\/54.1-3600\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-3600\/","token":"54.1\/III\/36\/54.1-3600","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-3600","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“Applied psychologist<\/span>” means an individual licensed to practice applied psychology.\n\t\t“Board<\/span>” means the Board<\/span> of Psychology.\n\t\t“Certified sex offender treatment provider<\/span>” means a person who is certified to provide treatment to sex offenders and who provides such services in accordance with the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 54.1-3005<\/a>, 54.1-3505<\/a>, 54.1-3611<\/a>, and 54.1-3705<\/a> and the regulations promulgated pursuant to these provisions.\n\t\t“Clinical psychologist<\/span>” means an individual licensed to practice clinical psychology.\n\t\t“Practice of applied psychology<\/span>” means application of the principles and methods of psychology to improvement of organizational function, personnel selection and evaluation, program planning and implementation, individual motivation, development and behavioral adjustment, as well as consultation on teaching and research.\n\t\t“Practice of clinical psychology” includes, but is not limited to:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> “Testing and measuring” that consists of the psychological evaluation or assessment of personal characteristics such as intelligence, abilities, interests, aptitudes, achievements, motives, personality dynamics, psychoeducational processes, neuropsychological functioning, or other psychological attributes of individuals or groups. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> “Diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders<\/span>” that consists of the appropriate diagnosis of mental disorders according to standards of the profession and the ordering or providing of treatments according to need. Treatment includes providing counseling, psychotherapy, marital\/family therapy, group therapy, behavior therapy, psychoanalysis, hypnosis, biofeedback, and other psychological interventions with the objective of modification of perception, adjustment, attitudes, feelings, values, self-concept, personality, or personal goals, the treatment of alcoholism and substance abuse, the treatment of disorders of habit or conduct, as well as of the psychological aspects of physical illness, pain, injury, or disability. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> “Psychological consulting” that consists of interpreting or reporting on scientific theory or research in psychology, rendering expert psychological or clinical psychological opinion<\/span> or evaluation, or engaging in applied psychological research, program or organizational development, or administration, supervision, or evaluation of psychological services.\n\t\t\t“Practice of psychology<\/span>” means the practice of applied psychology<\/span>, clinical psychology, or school psychology.\n\t\t\tThe “practice of school psychology” means: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> “Testing and measuring” that consists of psychological assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis relative to the assessment of intellectual ability, aptitudes, achievement, adjustment, motivation, personality, or any other psychological attribute of persons as individuals or in groups that directly relates to learning or behavioral problems that impact education. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> “Counseling” that consists of professional advisement and interpretive services with children or adults for amelioration or prevention of problems that impact education. Counseling services relative to the practice of school psychology include but are not limited to the procedures of verbal interaction, interviewing, behavior modification, environmental manipulation, and group processes. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> “Consultation” that consists of educational or vocational consultation or direct educational services to schools, agencies, organizations, or individuals. Psychological consulting relative to the practice of school psychology is directly related to learning problems and related adjustments. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Development of programs such as designing more efficient and psychologically sound classroom situations and acting as a catalyst for teacher involvement in adaptations and innovations.\n\t\t\t“Psychological practitioner<\/span>” means a person licensed pursuant to § 54.1-3606.3<\/a> to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders by providing counseling, psychotherapy, marital therapy, family therapy, group therapy, or behavioral therapy and to provide an assessment and evaluation of an individual’s intellectual or cognitive ability, emotional adjustment, or personality, as related to the treatment of mental or emotional disorders.\n\t\t\t“Psychologist” means a person licensed to practice school, applied, or clinical psychology.\n\t\t\t“School psychologist<\/span>” means a person licensed by the Board<\/span> of Psychology to practice school psychology. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 54.1-3600)\n\nAs used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Applied psychologist” means an individual licensed to practice\napplied psychology.\n\t\t“Board” means the Board of Psychology.\n\t\t“Certified sex offender treatment provider” means a person who is\ncertified to provide treatment to sex offenders and who provides such services\nin accordance with the provisions of \u00a7\u00a7 54.1-3005, 54.1-3505, 54.1-3611, and\n54.1-3705 and the regulations promulgated pursuant to these provisions.\n\t\t“Clinical psychologist” means an individual licensed to practice\nclinical psychology.\n\t\t“Practice of applied psychology” means application of the\nprinciples and methods of psychology to improvement of organizational function,\npersonnel selection and evaluation, program planning and implementation,\nindividual motivation, development and behavioral adjustment, as well as\nconsultation on teaching and research.\n\t\t“Practice of clinical psychology” includes, but is not limited to:\n\n1. “Testing and measuring” that consists of the psychological\nevaluation or assessment of personal characteristics such as intelligence,\nabilities, interests, aptitudes, achievements, motives, personality dynamics,\npsychoeducational processes, neuropsychological functioning, or other\npsychological attributes of individuals or groups.\n\n2. “Diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders” that\nconsists of the appropriate diagnosis of mental disorders according to standards\nof the profession and the ordering or providing of treatments according to need.\nTreatment includes providing counseling, psychotherapy, marital\/family therapy,\ngroup therapy, behavior therapy, psychoanalysis, hypnosis, biofeedback, and\nother psychological interventions with the objective of modification of\nperception, adjustment, attitudes, feelings, values, self-concept, personality,\nor personal goals, the treatment of alcoholism and substance abuse, the\ntreatment of disorders of habit or conduct, as well as of the psychological\naspects of physical illness, pain, injury, or disability.\n\n3. “Psychological consulting” that consists of interpreting or\nreporting on scientific theory or research in psychology, rendering expert\npsychological or clinical psychological opinion or evaluation, or engaging in\napplied psychological research, program or organizational development, or\nadministration, supervision, or evaluation of psychological services.\n\t\t\t“Practice of psychology” means the practice of applied\npsychology, clinical psychology, or school psychology.\n\t\t\tThe “practice of school psychology” means:\n\n1. “Testing and measuring” that consists of psychological\nassessment, evaluation, and diagnosis relative to the assessment of intellectual\nability, aptitudes, achievement, adjustment, motivation, personality, or any\nother psychological attribute of persons as individuals or in groups that\ndirectly relates to learning or behavioral problems that impact education.\n\n2. “Counseling” that consists of professional advisement and\ninterpretive services with children or adults for amelioration or prevention of\nproblems that impact education. Counseling services relative to the practice of\nschool psychology include but are not limited to the procedures of verbal\ninteraction, interviewing, behavior modification, environmental manipulation,\nand group processes.\n\n3. “Consultation” that consists of educational or vocational\nconsultation or direct educational services to schools, agencies, organizations,\nor individuals. Psychological consulting relative to the practice of school\npsychology is directly related to learning problems and related adjustments.\n\n4. Development of programs such as designing more efficient and psychologically\nsound classroom situations and acting as a catalyst for teacher involvement in\nadaptations and innovations.\n\t\t\t“Psychological practitioner” means a person licensed pursuant to\n§ 54.1-3606.3 to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders by\nproviding counseling, psychotherapy, marital therapy, family therapy, group\ntherapy, or behavioral therapy and to provide an assessment and evaluation of an\nindividual’s intellectual or cognitive ability, emotional adjustment, or\npersonality, as related to the treatment of mental or emotional disorders.\n\t\t\t“Psychologist” means a person licensed to practice school,\napplied, or clinical psychology.\n\t\t\t“School psychologist” means a person licensed by the Board of\nPsychology to practice school psychology.\n\nHISTORY: 1976, c. 608, \u00a7 54-936; 1987, cc. 522, 543; 1988, c. 765; 1994, c.\n778; 1996, cc. 937, 980; 2004, c. 11; 2024, cc. 754, 761.","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}}