TITLE 18. PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING

BOARD OF COUNSELING

Agency Decision

Title of Regulation: 18VAC115-20. Regulations Governing the Practice of Professional Counseling.

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

Name of Petitioner: Ms. Corinne Schuman.

Nature of Petitioner's Request: To amend regulations to separate the application fee and the licensing fee and allow the licensing fee to be refundable if an applicant is unable to complete the licensure process.

Agency Decision: Request denied.

Statement of Reason for Decision: At its meeting on November 5, 2010, the Board of Counseling voted to reject the petition for rulemaking. By having the licensure fee included with the application fee, a person is able to be licensed immediately upon application approval. If the fees were separated, it would be necessary for the board to notify an applicant that his/her application had been approved and that a licensure fee was now due. A two-step process would likely delay licensure and the ability to practice the profession by at least a couple of weeks. The applications that are denied are typically those that are problematic and consume more staff and board resources that are represented by the application processing fee.

Agency Contact: Evelyn B. Brown, Executive Director, Board of Counseling, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4441, FAX (804) 527-4435, or email evelyn.brown@dhp.virginia.gov.

VA.R. Doc. No. R10-74; Filed November 10, 2010, 4:42 p.m.