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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>56059</law_id><section_number>54.1-3506</section_number><catch_line>License required</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="54.1">Professions and Occupations</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="35">Professional Counseling</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>In <span class="dictionary">order</span> to engage in the <span class="dictionary">practice of counseling</span> or <span class="dictionary">marriage and family therapy</span> or in the independent <span class="dictionary">practice of <span class="dictionary">substance abuse treatment</span></span>, as defined in this chapter, it shall be necessary to hold a license issued by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>.
		The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> may <span class="dictionary">issue</span> a license, without examination, for the <span class="dictionary">practice of <span class="dictionary">marriage and family therapy</span></span> or the independent <span class="dictionary">practice of <span class="dictionary">substance abuse treatment</span></span> to persons who hold a current and unrestricted license as a <span class="dictionary">professional counselor</span> within the Commonwealth and who meet the clinical and academic requirements for licensure as a <span class="dictionary">marriage and family therapist</span> or <span class="dictionary">licensed <span class="dictionary">substance abuse treatment</span> practitioner</span>, respectively. The applicant for such license shall present satisfactory <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of qualifications equal to those required of applicants for licensure as <span class="dictionary">marriage and family therapists</span> or <span class="dictionary">licensed <span class="dictionary">substance abuse treatment</span> practitioners</span>, respectively, by examination in the Commonwealth.
		Any person who renders <span class="dictionary">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 &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Exemption from requirements of licensure" href="/54.1-3501/">54.1-3501</a>, shall render such services only when he is (i) under the <span class="dictionary">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></text><history>1979, c. 408, &#xA7; 54-935.1; 1988, c. 765; 1995, c. 820; 1997, c. 901; 2009, cc. 813, 840; 2013, c. 264.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
