How do you become a licensed mental health professional in Virginia?

To become a licensed mental health professional in Virginia, you must complete a master’s or doctoral degree in a related field, gain supervised clinical experience, and pass the national and state licensure exams administered by the Virginia Board of Counseling.

What is the licensing requirement for most mental health professionals?

Most mental health professionals are required to hold an accredited graduate degree, complete supervised clinical hours, and successfully pass a state-recognized licensure examination before they can practice independently.

What is required to be a school counselor in VA?

To become a school counselor in Virginia, candidates must earn a master's degree in school counseling from an accredited program, complete a counseling internship, and obtain a Virginia Department of Education license with a school counselor endorsement.

How to get CSAC certification in VA?

To earn Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) certification in Virginia, individuals must complete required education in substance abuse counseling, gain supervised experience hours, and pass the certification exam as outlined by the Virginia Board of Counseling.

Virginia Department of Education Licensure Requirements

The Virginia Board of Education outlines the licensing requirements for all school personnel in the Licensure Regulations for School Personnel. School psychologists, school counselors, and school social workers apply for a pupil personnel services license with an endorsement in their specialty area. For detailed information on applying for a Virginia license, please visit the Virginia Department of Education Licensure webpage. If you have questions about licensure requirements or how to obtain a Virginia license, please contact the Office of Licensure at the Virginia Department of Education by email at: licensure@doe.virginia.gov or by phone at: (804) 692-0157.

School Counselor

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School Psychologist

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School Social Worker

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If you have questions around licensure please contact us by email at: licensure@doe.virginia.gov or by phone at: (804) 692-0157.
For more information on Licensure in Virginia visit the Virginia Department of Education Licensure Webpage.

Frequently Asked Questions

While all school personnel are crucial to mental health support in Virginia schools, the school mental health professionals served by the Virginia Career and Learning Center are school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists.

The licensure requirements for school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists vary and are controlled by the Virginia Board of Education’s Licensure Regulations Governing Support Personnel. Here are the requirements for each position:

Virginia Department of Education Licensure Requirements

School Counselor

School Psychologist

School Social Worker

Frequently Asked Questions

What roles are considered to be school mental health professionals in Virginia?

What are the degree and exam/testing requirements for the licensing of school mental health professionals in Virginia?