Resources · Path to Licensure

Step-by-step licensure pathways in Virginia.

Virginia's behavioral-health licenses run through the Department of Health Professions — the Boards of Counseling, Social Work, and Psychology, plus the Board of Medicine for behavior analysts. Counseling and MFT begin with a registered residency before the full license. Virginia does not require a separate jurisprudence exam for counseling, social work, or psychology.

Want the one-line summary instead? See the Virginia licensure overview →
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Professional CounselingAddiction & Substance Use CounselingSocial WorkMarriage & Family TherapyPsychologyBehavior Analysis

Professional Counseling

Prep for the NCMHCE / NCE →
Resident in Counseling

Resident in Counseling

Required exam: None to register (pre-exam status)

Scope: Provides clinical counseling under supervision; cannot practice independently or bill directly.
  1. EducationGraduate degree from a CACREP-accredited (or equivalent) counseling program meeting the required coursework and internship.
  2. Supervision / experienceThis is the residency tier. Obtain a signed, board-registered supervisory contract identifying your worksite before you begin, then accrue hours toward the LPC.
  3. ExamNo exam is required for the temporary license.
  4. ApplicationRegister supervision with the supervisor's name and license number, official transcript, NPDB self-query report, and the registration fee.
LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

Required exam: NCMHCE or NCE (NBCC)

Scope: Independent practice of professional counseling and mental-health diagnosis & treatment.
  1. EducationGraduate degree from a CACREP-accredited (or equivalent) program with coursework in the required core areas.
  2. Supervision / experienceBoard-approved residency: 2,000 hours of face-to-face client contact plus 200 hours of in-person supervision (at least 100 by an LPC; up to half may be group), at one to four supervision hours per 40 hours worked, completed in no fewer than 21 months. Supervisors submit verification and quarterly evaluation forms.
  3. ExamPass the NCMHCE or NCE (NBCC). Virginia does not require a counseling jurisprudence exam.
  4. ApplicationRegister supervision before starting; submit verification of supervision, transcript, NPDB self-query, and fee.

Official Professional Counseling resources

Addiction & Substance Use Counseling

Prep for the MAC / NCAC exam →
LSATP

Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner

Required exam: Master Addiction Counselor (MAC), NAADAC

Scope: Independent clinical substance-abuse and addiction treatment.
  1. EducationGraduate degree from a CACREP-accredited program (or a program preparing for substance-abuse treatment) with graduate coursework in 15 core content areas.
  2. Supervision / experienceBoard-approved post-degree residency: 2,000 hours of clinical substance-abuse treatment plus 200 hours of individual face-to-face supervision, at one to four supervision hours per 40 hours worked, completed in no fewer than 21 months.
  3. ExamPass the Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) exam administered by NAADAC.
  4. ApplicationSubmit notarized verification of supervision, quarterly evaluation forms, coursework and degree/internship verification, and NPDB self-query.
CSAC

Certified Substance Abuse Counselor

Required exam: CSAC exam (board-approved vendor)

Scope: Substance-abuse counseling within the CSAC scope (not autonomous mental-health diagnosis).
  1. EducationBachelor's or post-baccalaureate degree plus 240 clock hours of didactic substance-abuse education from approved programs.
  2. Supervision / experience2,000 hours of supervised substance-abuse counseling experience plus 160 hours performing the specific client tasks listed in the regulations.
  3. ExamPass the board-approved CSAC examination (confirm the current vendor on the CSAC exam page).
  4. ApplicationRegister supervision, then submit didactic-training and supervised-experience verification.
CSAC-A

Certified Substance Abuse Counselor — Assistant

Required exam: CSAC-A exam (board-approved vendor)

Scope: Performs delegated substance-abuse counseling tasks under supervision (paraprofessional tier).
  1. EducationHigh-school diploma/GED or post-secondary degree plus 120 hours of didactic substance-abuse counseling education.
  2. Supervision / experience180 hours of supervised experience performing the substance-abuse client tasks defined in the regulations.
  3. ExamPass the board-approved CSAC-A examination.
  4. ApplicationRegister supervision, then submit training and experience verification.

Official Addiction & Substance Use Counseling resources

Social Work

Prep for the ASWB exam →
LBSW

Licensed Bachelor's Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Bachelors exam

Scope: General (non-clinical) social work at the baccalaureate level.
  1. EducationBachelor's in social work from a CSWE-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required for the exam-track LBSW (entry tier).
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Bachelors exam.
  4. ApplicationSubmit education verification, NPDB self-query, and the online application with fee.
LMSW

Licensed Master's Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Masters exam

Scope: Non-clinical master's-level social work practice.
  1. EducationMaster's in social work from a CSWE-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required for the exam-track LMSW.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Masters exam.
  4. ApplicationSubmit education verification, NPDB self-query, and the online application with fee.
LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Required exam: ASWB Clinical exam

Scope: Independent clinical social work — diagnosis and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.
  1. EducationMSW with a clinical course of study from a CSWE-accredited program (advanced HBSE, psychopathology, diversity, research, clinical practice, and a 600-hour clinical practicum).
  2. Supervision / experienceBoard-approved post-master's supervised experience: 3,000 hours of clinical social-work services, at least 1,380 hours of face-to-face client contact, and 100 hours of individual face-to-face supervision, completed in two to four consecutive years.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Clinical exam.
  4. ApplicationRegister supervision before starting; submit notarized Verification of Clinical Supervision, education & field-placement verification, NPDB self-query, and fee.

Official Social Work resources

Marriage & Family Therapy

Prep for the National MFT Exam →
Resident in MFT

Resident in Marriage and Family Therapy

Required exam: None at this stage

Scope: Provides clinical MFT under supervision; cannot practice independently.
  1. Education60 semester / 90 quarter hours of graduate study including coursework in the 10 MFT core content areas.
  2. Supervision / experienceObtain a signed supervisor contract identifying the worksite before starting, then work toward the 2,000 face-to-face hours and 200 supervision hours.
  3. ExamNo exam at this stage.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the supervisory contract, transcript, registration fee, and NPDB self-query.
LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Required exam: AMFTRB National MFT Exam

Scope: Independent practice of marriage and family therapy.
  1. EducationGraduate degree from a CACREP- or COAMFTE-accredited program (or equivalent) with coursework in the 10 core content areas.
  2. Supervision / experienceBoard-approved post-degree residency: 2,000 hours of face-to-face client contact in clinical MFT plus 200 hours of supervision, completed in no fewer than 21 months.
  3. ExamPass the National MFT Examination (AMFTRB).
  4. ApplicationRegister supervision; submit verification of supervision, transcript, NPDB self-query, and fee.

Official Marriage & Family Therapy resources

Psychology

Prep for the EPPP →
Clinical Psychologist

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Required exam: EPPP Part 1 (ASPPB) — no separate VA jurisprudence exam

Scope: Independent practice of clinical psychology — assessment, diagnosis, and psychological intervention.
  1. EducationDoctorate in clinical, counseling, or school psychology from an APA/CPA/PCSAS-accredited (or substantially equivalent) program, including an accredited internship and a supervised practicum in assessment, diagnosis, and intervention.
  2. Supervision / experienceA residency of 1,500 hours of supervised experience in clinical psychology, completed in no fewer than 12 months and no more than 3 years. Doctoral practicum hours may count; internship hours may not.
  3. ExamPass the EPPP Part 1 – Knowledge (ASPPB) within two years of approval to sit. Virginia does not require a separate jurisprudence exam for psychology.
  4. ApplicationSubmit internship verification, pre-doctoral practicum verification, graduate-study-area verification, post-degree supervision verification, and NPDB self-query.

Official Psychology resources

Behavior Analysis

Prep for the BCBA exam →
LBA

Licensed Behavior Analyst

Required exam: BACB BCBA exam (no additional VA exam)

Scope: Independent practice of applied behavior analysis.
  1. EducationGranted on the basis of current BCBA certification from the BACB — the master's degree, coursework, and supervised fieldwork are all satisfied at the BACB level.
  2. Supervision / experienceNo separate Virginia fieldwork or experience verification; the BACB certification's requirements apply.
  3. ExamPass the BACB BCBA exam (no additional Virginia exam).
  4. ApplicationApply online with proof of active BCBA certification. CE: 32 hours per biennium including 4 ethics hours.
LABA

Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst

Required exam: BACB BCaBA exam

Scope: Practices behavior analysis under the supervision of an LBA.
  1. EducationGranted on the basis of current BCaBA certification from the BACB.
  2. Supervision / experienceNo separate Virginia verification; the BACB certification's requirements apply.
  3. ExamPass the BACB BCaBA exam.
  4. ApplicationApply online with proof of active BCaBA certification. CE: 20 hours per biennium including 4 ethics hours.

Official Behavior Analysis resources

All licenses

Virginia licensing portals & background checks.

How to use this page. Each card shows the education, supervised experience, exam, and application steps for one Virginia 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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