Resources · Path to Licensure

Step-by-step licensure pathways in U.S. Virgin Islands.

The U.S. Virgin Islands splits behavioral-health regulation across two agencies: counseling, substance abuse counseling, marriage & family therapy, and social work are regulated by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs (DLCA), while psychology is regulated by the V.I. Board of Psychology Examiners under the Department of Health. The counseling statute (Title 27, Ch. 4a) folds professional counseling, MFT, and substance abuse counseling under one board, and those applications are routed through a third-party reviewer (CCE Global) before reaching the Board. Behavior analysis is omitted because the USVI has no behavior-analyst license (national BACB certification only).

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Jump to a profession

Professional CounselingAddiction & Substance Use CounselingSocial WorkMarriage & Family TherapyPsychology

Professional Counseling

Prep for the NCMHCE / NCE →
LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

Required exam: National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), NBCC.

Scope: Professional mental health counseling — assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders for individuals, groups, and families within the counselor’s area of competence.
  1. EducationAt least 60 graduate semester hours in counseling, including a master’s or doctoral degree with a practicum or internship in a counseling setting.
  2. Supervision / experienceAt least 3 years of post-degree experience including at least 2,500 hours of professional counseling (at least 1,000 hours of direct client contact) plus at least 300 hours of supervised experience under an approved supervisor.
  3. ExamPass the NCMHCE.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the application and fees to CCE Global for education/application review; CCE forwards to the Board for approval, with background check.

Official Professional Counseling resources

Addiction & Substance Use Counseling

Prep for the MAC / NCAC exam →
LSAC

Licensed Substance Abuse Counselor (state license)

Required exam: Board-administered written examination, timed to coincide with the relevant national certifying board’s exam.

Scope: Counseling and treatment for substance use and addictive disorders, including assessment and behavioral-health intervention. Issued as a license under the USVI counseling statute (not a voluntary certification).
  1. EducationMaster’s or doctoral degree in addictions counseling, professional counseling, counseling psychology, community behavioral health, or a comparable field with a behavioral-health / substance-abuse concentration.
  2. Supervision / experienceAt least 3 years of post-degree experience including at least 2,500 hours of professional counseling (at least 1,000 hours of direct client contact) plus at least 300 hours of supervised experience under an approved supervisor.
  3. ExamPass the Board’s written examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the application and fees to CCE Global for review, then Board approval, with background check.

Official Addiction & Substance Use Counseling resources

Social Work

Prep for the ASWB exam →
SWA

Social Worker Associate

Required exam: Board-approved ASWB Associate-level examination (a temporary license is available before the exam).

Scope: Entry-level social/human-services practice below the bachelor’s-in-social-work level — supportive case and human-services work.
  1. EducationA baccalaureate degree in a non-social-work field, or an associate of arts in human services from a board-approved program.
  2. Supervision / experienceNot specified for this tier (a temporary-license route allows working before the exam).
  3. ExamPass the board-approved ASWB examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit a notarized application, official transcript, references, photos, and fees; biennial renewal.
SW

Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Bachelors examination.

Scope: General professional social work practice at the bachelor’s level.
  1. EducationA baccalaureate in social work / social welfare from a board-approved program, or a baccalaureate in another field plus two years of social-work experience.
  2. Supervision / experienceTwo years of social-work experience required if the bachelor’s is in another field.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Bachelors examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the application, transcript, references, and fees; biennial renewal with continuing education.
CSW

Certified Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Masters (or Clinical) examination, available only to master’s-or-higher holders.

Scope: Master’s / doctoral-level social work practice.
  1. EducationDoctorate or master’s from a CSWE-accredited, board-approved school of social work.
  2. Supervision / experienceNot separately specified at this tier.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB examination at the declared level.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the application, transcript, references, and fees.
CISW

Certified Independent Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Clinical examination.

Scope: Independent clinical social work practice — the USVI’s highest, autonomous social-work credential.
  1. EducationDoctorate or master’s from a CSWE-accredited, board-approved school of social work.
  2. Supervision / experienceTwo years of practice under appropriate supervision in the field of specialization.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Clinical examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the application, transcript, references, and fees; biennial renewal with continuing education.

Official Social Work resources

Marriage & Family Therapy

Prep for the National MFT Exam →
LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Required exam: AMFTRB National Marriage and Family Therapy Examination.

Scope: Diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders within the context of marriage and family systems; relationship, couples, and family therapy.
  1. EducationAt least 60 graduate semester hours including a master’s or doctoral degree with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy, plus a year of supervised practicum/internship.
  2. Supervision / experienceAt least 3 years of post-degree experience including at least 2,500 hours of professional counseling (at least 1,000 hours of direct MFT client contact) plus at least 300 hours of supervised experience under an approved supervisor.
  3. ExamPass the AMFTRB examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the application and fees to CCE Global for review, then Board approval.

Official Marriage & Family Therapy resources

Psychology

Prep for the EPPP →
Psychological Associate

Psychological Associate (Master’s level)

Required exam: Per Board requirement (the EPPP applies to the doctoral psychologist tier; confirm the associate-tier exam with the Board).

Scope: Renders psychological services — interviewing, administering and interpreting tests of ability, aptitude, and personality, psychological evaluation, and counseling — only under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.
  1. EducationMaster’s degree in psychology from a regionally accredited institution, including coursework in general psychology, theories/methods, and statistics/research design.
  2. Supervision / experienceAt least one practicum/internship equal to one semester full-time (or one year half-time) supervised by a licensed psychologist; practices only under supervision after licensure.
  3. ExamPer Board requirement.
  4. ApplicationFile the application packet (affidavit, transcripts, background checks, fee) with the Board of Psychology Examiners.
Psychologist

Licensed Psychologist (Doctoral)

Required exam: EPPP (Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology), ASPPB.

Scope: Independent practice of psychology — assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral conditions; psychological testing and evaluation.
  1. EducationDoctoral degree based on a planned, directed program of study in psychology from a regionally accredited institution.
  2. Supervision / experienceVerification of a completed internship plus attestation of supervised experience by the supervisor(s) to meet the required hours beyond the internship.
  3. ExamPass the EPPP; ASPPB sends the score directly to the Board.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the online application with affidavit, verification of licensure, final transcript, EPPP score, internship/experience verification, and national + local background checks.

Official Psychology resources

All licenses

U.S. Virgin Islands licensing portals & background checks.

How to use this page. Each card shows the education, supervised experience, exam, and application steps for one U.S. Virgin Islands license, plus its scope of practice. Licensing rules change — always confirm current requirements with the official board before you apply. Verified against the official state boards in June 2026.

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