                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

SCOPE OF PRACTICE, SUPERVISION, AND QUALIFICATIONS OF REGISTERED BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH TECHNICIANS (§ 54.1-3518)

A. A registered behavioral health technician shall be (i) qualified to perform,
under Board-approved supervision, collaborative behavioral health services,
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 behavioral health technician in good standing and
completion of the required behavioral health technician supervisor training set
forth by the Board, qualified to supervise, as part of a collaborative team,
behavioral health technicians and behavioral health technician assistants. A
registered behavioral health technician shall not engage in independent or
autonomous practice and shall only perform collaborative behavioral health
services.

B. Such registered behavioral health technician shall be supervised by a mental
health professional licensed by the Department of Health Professions, a person
under supervision that has been approved by the Board of Counseling, Board of
Psychology, or Board of Social Work as a prerequisite for licensure who has
completed the required supervisor training, or a registered qualified mental
health professional who has practiced for three years and completed the required
supervisor training.

C. Pursuant to regulations adopted by the Board, an applicant for registration
as a behavioral health technician shall submit evidence satisfactory to the
Board that the applicant has (i) completed a specified number of hours of
didactic education in a program or programs recognized or approved by the Board
and (ii) received, at a minimum, an associate degree from an institution of
higher education accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Board. A
bachelor&#8217;s degree shall not be a requirement for registration as a
behavioral health technician.

HISTORY: 2024, c. 595.