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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>69407</law_id><section_number>54.1-3518</section_number><catch_line>Scope of practice, supervision, and qualifications of registered behavioral health technicians</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>54.1-3500</reference><reference>54.1-3505</reference></referred_to_by><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="4">Behavioral Health Technicians and Qualified Mental Health Professionals</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A registered <span class="dictionary">behavioral health technician</span> shall be (i) qualified to perform, under <span class="dictionary">Board</span>-approved <span class="dictionary">supervision</span>, <span class="dictionary">collaborative behavioral health services</span>, training on prevention of mental health and substance use disorders, and mental health literacy and the supportive functions of screening, intake, orientation, care coordination, client education, and recordkeeping and (ii) after three years of practicing as a <span class="dictionary">behavioral health technician</span> in good standing and completion of the required <span class="dictionary">behavioral health technician</span> supervisor training set forth by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>, qualified to supervise, as part of a collaborative team, <span class="dictionary">behavioral health technicians</span> and <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">behavioral health technician</span> assistants</span>. A registered <span class="dictionary">behavioral health technician</span> shall not engage in independent or autonomous practice and shall only perform <span class="dictionary">collaborative behavioral health services</span>. <a id="paragraph-251022" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3518/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Such registered <span class="dictionary">behavioral health technician</span> shall be supervised by a mental health professional licensed by the Department of Health Professions, a person under <span class="dictionary">supervision</span> that has been approved by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of <span class="dictionary">Counseling</span>, <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of Psychology, or <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of Social Work as a prerequisite for licensure who has completed the required supervisor training, or a registered <span class="dictionary">qualified mental health professional</span> who has practiced for three years and completed the required supervisor training. <a id="paragraph-251023" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3518/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Pursuant to regulations adopted by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>, an applicant for registration as a <span class="dictionary">behavioral health technician</span> shall submit <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> satisfactory to the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> that the applicant has (i) completed a specified number of hours of didactic education in a program or programs recognized or approved by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> and (ii) received, at a minimum, an associate degree from an institution of higher education accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>. A bachelor&#x2019;s degree shall not be a requirement for registration as a <span class="dictionary">behavioral health technician</span>. <a id="paragraph-251024" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3518/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2024, c. 595.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
