TITLE 18. PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING
BOARD OF COUNSELING
Report of Findings
Pursuant to §§ 2.2-4007.1 and 2.2-4017 of the Code of Virginia, the Board of Counseling conducted a periodic review and a small business impact review of 18VAC115-20, Regulations Governing the Practice of Professional Counseling, and determined that this regulation should be amended. The board is publishing its report of findings dated January 22, 2026, to support this decision.
This regulation is necessary for the protection of public health, safety, and welfare because it sets forth the requirements for licensure and standards of practice for counseling. This regulation is necessary to continue to renew licenses for counseling and to issue new licenses for counseling, which the General Assembly determined is a necessary component of the provision of health care in the Commonwealth. This regulation is additionally necessary to protect public health, safety, and welfare by providing a basis for disciplinary actions against practitioners. The board has reviewed this regulation and determined that it is clearly written and understandable.
The board has decided to amend the regulation because it has not undertaken a holistic review of the regulation in many years and staff believe this is an opportunity to ensure that the regulation is well written and meets the needs of the profession. This regulation does not impact small businesses.
Contact Information: Jaime Hoyle, Executive Director, Board of Counseling, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4406, fax (804) 527-4435, or email jaime.hoyle@dhp.virginia.gov.
Report of Findings
Pursuant to §§ 2.2-4007.1 and 2.2-4017 of the Code of Virginia, the Board of Counseling conducted a periodic review and a small business impact review of 18VAC115-30, Regulations Governing the Certification of Substance Abuse Counselors and Substance Abuse Counseling Assistants, and determined that this regulation should be amended. The board is publishing its report of findings dated January 22, 2026, to support this decision.
This regulation is necessary for the protection of public health, safety, and welfare because it sets forth the requirements for licensure and standards of practice for certified substance abuse counselors (CSACs) and substance abuse counseling assistants (SACAs). This regulation is necessary to continue to renew licenses for CSACs and SACAs and to issue new licenses for CSACs and SACAs, which the General Assembly determined is a necessary component of the provision of health care in the Commonwealth. This regulation is additionally necessary to protect public health, safety, and welfare by providing a basis for disciplinary actions against practitioners. The board has reviewed this regulation and determined that it is clearly written and understandable.
The board has decided to amend the regulation because it has not undertaken a holistic review of regulation in many years and staff believe this is an opportunity to ensure that the regulation is well written and meets the needs of the profession. This regulation does not impact small businesses.
Contact Information: Jaime Hoyle, Executive Director, Board of Counseling, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4406, fax (804) 527-4435, or email jaime.hoyle@dhp.virginia.gov.
Report of Findings
Pursuant to §§ 2.2-4007.1 and 2.2-4017 of the Code of Virginia, the Board of Counseling conducted a periodic review and a small business impact review of 18VAC115-40, Regulations Governing the Certification of Rehabilitation Providers, and determined that this regulation should be amended. The board is publishing its report of findings dated January 22, 2026, to support this decision.
This regulation is necessary for the protection of public health, safety, and welfare because it sets forth the requirements for licensure and standards of practice for rehabilitation providers. This regulation is necessary to continue to renew licenses rehabilitation providers and to issue new licenses for rehabilitation providers, which the General Assembly determined is a necessary component of the provision of health care in the Commonwealth. This regulation is additionally necessary to protect public health, safety, and welfare by providing a basis for disciplinary actions against practitioners. The board has reviewed this regulation and determined that it is clearly written and understandable.
The board has decided to amend the regulation because it has not undertaken a holistic review of regulation in many years and staff believe this is an opportunity to ensure that the regulation is well written and meets the needs of the profession. This regulation does not impact small businesses.
Contact Information: Jaime Hoyle, Executive Director, Board of Counseling, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4406, fax (804) 527-4435, or email jaime.hoyle@dhp.virginia.gov.
Report of Findings
Pursuant to §§ 2.2-4007.1 and 2.2-4017 of the Code of Virginia, the Board of Counseling conducted a periodic review and a small business impact review of 18VAC115-50, Regulations Governing the Practice of Marriage and Family Therapy, and determined that this regulation should be amended. The board is publishing its report of findings dated January 22, 2026, to support this decision.
This regulation is necessary for the protection of public health, safety, and welfare because it sets forth the requirements for licensure and standards of practice for licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs). This regulation is necessary to continue to renew licenses for LMFTs and to issue new licenses for LMFTs, which the General Assembly determined is a necessary component of the provision of health care in the Commonwealth. This regulation is additionally necessary to protect public health, safety, and welfare by providing a basis for disciplinary actions against practitioners. The board has reviewed this chapter and determined that it is clearly written and understandable.
The board has decided to amend the regulation because it has not undertaken a holistic review of regulation in many years and staff believe this is an opportunity to ensure that the regulation is well written and meets the needs of the profession. This regulation does not impact small businesses.
Contact Information: Jaime Hoyle, Executive Director, Board of Counseling, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4406, fax (804) 527-4435, or email jaime.hoyle@dhp.virginia.gov.
Report of Findings
Pursuant to §§ 2.2-4007.1 and 2.2-4017 of the Code of Virginia, the Board of Counseling conducted a periodic review and a small business impact review of 18VAC115-60, Regulations Governing the Practice of Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioners, and determined that this regulation should be amended. The board is publishing its report of findings dated January 22, 2026, to support this decision.
This regulation is necessary for the protection of public health, safety, and welfare because it sets forth the requirements for licensure and standards of practice for licensed substance abuse treatment practitioners (LSATPs). This regulation is necessary to continue to renew licenses for LSATPs and to issue new licenses for LSATPs, which the General Assembly determined is a necessary component of the provision of health care in the Commonwealth. This regulation is additionally necessary to protect public health, safety, and welfare by providing a basis for disciplinary actions against practitioners. The board has reviewed this regulation and determined that it is clearly written and understandable.
The board has decided to amend the regulation because it has not undertaken a holistic review of regulation in many years and staff believe this is an opportunity to ensure that the regulation is well written and meets the needs of the profession. This regulation does not impact small businesses.
Contact Information: Jaime Hoyle, Executive Director, Board of Counseling, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4406, fax (804) 527-4435, or email jaime.hoyle@dhp.virginia.gov.
Report of Findings
Pursuant to §§ 2.2-4007.1 and 2.2-4017 of the Code of Virginia, the Board of Counseling conducted a periodic review and a small business impact review of 18VAC115-70, Regulations Governing the Registration of Peer Recovery Specialists, and determined that this regulation should be amended. The board is publishing its report of findings dated January 22, 2026, to support this decision.
This regulation is necessary for the protection of public health, safety, and welfare because it sets forth the requirements for licensure and standards of practice for peer recovery specialists. This regulation is necessary to continue to renew licenses for peer recovery specialists and to issue new licenses for peer recovery specialists, which the General Assembly determined is a necessary component of the provision of health care in the Commonwealth. This regulation is additionally necessary to protect public health, safety, and welfare by providing a basis for disciplinary actions against practitioners. The board has reviewed this regulation and determined that it is clearly written and understandable.
The board has decided to amend the regulation because it has not undertaken a holistic review of regulation in many years and staff believe this is an opportunity to ensure that the regulation is well written and meets the needs of the profession. This regulation does not impact small businesses.
Contact Information: Jaime Hoyle, Executive Director, Board of Counseling, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4406, fax (804) 527-4435, or email jaime.hoyle@dhp.virginia.gov.