Loading
Virginia licenses Mental Health Counselors/Therapists as Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Applicants generally complete a qualifying graduate degree, accrue post-degree supervised clinical experience, and pass a national examination. Verify current education, supervised-experience, examination, renewal, and continuing education requirements directly with the Virginia Board of Counseling.
A graduate degree from a CACREP-accredited program (or a program that prepares individuals to practice counseling) covering the 13 core content areas. Verify current requirements with the Virginia Board of Counseling.
The National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) or the National Counselor Examination (NCE), administered by NBCC. Verify with the Virginia Board of Counseling.
A Board-approved post-degree residency of 2,000 hours of face-to-face client contact in clinical counseling, including 200 hours of individual face-to-face supervision, completed in no less than 21 months. Verify current requirements with the Virginia Board of Counseling.
License portability may be available by endorsement/reciprocity and, where the state participates, through the Counseling Compact. Verify Counseling Compact participation and endorsement eligibility with the Virginia Board of Counseling.
Telehealth practice is governed by state law and board rules. Verify current telehealth requirements with the Virginia Board of Counseling.
Other licensed behavioral-health professions in Virginia. Each links to its own full state guide — always verify current requirements with the relevant official board.
This guide is for general informational purposes only and should not be treated as legal, licensing, or employment advice. Counselor licensing laws, board rules, education and supervised-experience requirements, examinations, and renewal requirements vary by state and may change. Always verify current requirements directly with the official state counseling licensing board or applicable regulatory agency.