Title of Regulation: 18VAC125-30. Regulations Governing the Certification of Sex Offender Treatment Providers (amending 18VAC125-30-50, 18VAC125-30-80).

Statutory Authority: §§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3605 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: July 8, 2009.

Agency Contact: Evelyn B. Brown, Executive Director, Board of Psychology, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4697, FAX (804) 327-4435, or email evelyn.brown@dhp.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments (i) allow credit for supervised hours for licensed persons who are able to document that those hours were working with the sex offender population within the past 10 years and (ii) require that certified sex offender treatment providers have at least six hours of continuing education focused on the treatment of that population for annual renewal.

Summary of Public Comments and Agency's Response: No public comments were received by the promulgating agency.

18VAC125-30-50. Experience requirements; supervision.

A. An applicant for certification as a sex offender treatment provider shall provide documentation of having 2,000 hours of post-degree postdegree clinical experience in the delivery of clinical assessment/treatment services. At least 200 hours of this experience must be face-to-face treatment and assessment with sex offender clients.

1. The experience shall include a minimum of 100 hours of face-to-face supervision within the 2,000 hours experience with a minimum of six hours per month. A minimum of 50 hours shall be in individual face-to-face supervision. Face-to-face supervision obtained in a group setting shall include no more than six trainees in a group.

2. If the applicant has obtained the required postdegree clinical experience for a mental health license within the past 10 years, he can receive credit for those hours that were in the delivery of clinical assessment/treatment services with sex offender clients provided:

a. The applicant can document that the hours were in the treatment and assessment with sex offender clients; and

b. The supervisor for those hours can attest that he is licensed and qualified to render services to sex offender clients.

B. Supervised experience obtained in Virginia without prior written board approval shall not be accepted toward certification. Candidates shall not begin the experience until after completion of the required degree as set forth in 18VAC125-30-40. An individual who proposes to obtain supervised post-degree postdegree experience in Virginia shall, prior to the onset of such supervision, submit a supervisory contract along with the application package and pay the registration of supervision fee set forth in 18VAC125-30-20.

C. The supervisor.

1. The supervisor shall assume responsibility for the professional activities of the applicant.

2. The supervisor shall not provide supervision for activities for which the prospective applicant has not had appropriate education.

3. The supervisor shall provide supervision only for those sex offender treatment services which he is qualified to render.

4. At the time of formal application for certification, the board approved supervisor shall document for the board the applicant's total hours of supervision, length of work experience, competence in sex offender treatment and any needs for additional supervision or training.

D. Registration of supervision.

1. In order to register supervision with the board, individuals shall submit in one package:

a. A completed supervisory contract;

b. The registration fee prescribed in 18VAC125-30-20; and

c. Official graduate transcript.

2. The board may waive the registration requirement for individuals who have obtained at least five years documented work experience in sex offender treatment in another jurisdiction.

E. Supervised experience obtained prior to April 10, 2002, may be acceptable if they met the board's requirements that were in effect at the time the supervision was rendered.

Part III
Renewal and Reinstatement

18VAC125-30-80. Annual renewal of certificate.

A. Every certificate issued by the board shall expire on June 30 of each year.

B. Along with the renewal application, the certified sex offender treatment provider shall submit:

1. Submit the renewal fee prescribed in 18VAC125-30-20; and

2. Attest to having obtained six hours of continuing education in topics related to the provision of sex offender treatment within the renewal period. Continuing education shall be offered by a sponsor or provider approved by the Virginia Board of Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Nursing or Medicine or by the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers. Hours of continuing education used to satisfy the renewal requirements for another license may be used to satisfy the six-hour requirement for sex offender treatment provider certification, provided it was related to the provision of sex offender treatment.

C. Certificate holders shall notify the board in writing of a change of address within 60 days. Failure to receive a renewal notice and application form(s) shall not excuse the certified sex offender treatment provider from the renewal requirement.

FORMS (18VAC125-30)

[ General Information for Certification as a Sex Offender Treatment Provider (rev. 8/07) 4/09).

Application for Certification as a Sex Offender Treatment Provider, Form 1 (rev. 8/07).

Licensure or Certification Verification of Applicant, SOTP Form 2 (rev. 8/07).

Sex Offender Treatment Provider, Verification of Supervision, SOTP Form 3 (rev. 8/07) 4/09).

Licensure Verification of Out-of-State Supervisor, SOTP Form 4 (rev. 8/07).

Registration of Supervision Instructions (rev. 8/07) 4/09).

Registration of Supervision, Post-Graduate Degree Supervised Experience, Form 5 (rev. 8/07).

Application for Reinstatement of Certification as a Sex Offender Treatment Provider (rev. 8/07). ]