I am writing in support of petition 281 titled Licensure by Endorsement. Inclusion of the NCLEP into the endorsement rules will pave the way for a simple, clear, and reasonable portability path for counselors in Virginia. It is jointly proposed by four leading counseling organizations (AASCB, ACES, AMHCA, and NBCC) and will play a vital role in addressing the portability problem that faces the profession by increasing access to care while protecting the public. Now is the time to remedy this problem. Oversight will continue to be implemented throughout the licensee's counseling career. CACREP are extremely valuable to increase the knowledge and skills of masters level students. Virginia is in critical need of more qualified mental health professionals. Streamlining the licensure process would decrease the critical need of mental health resources. In my work as a mental health professional in both the school and community, I have heard parents plee for help for their families but are limited to a small selection of mental health services due to long wait times, locations to far from their homes, and a lack of representation of diverse counselors. A parent or person seeking mental health services should NOT have to wait several months to see a counselor, especially those who are willing to seek services. I have also heard first hand from colleagues that they are burnt out from their caseloads, which decreases the quality of services. VIRGINIA can lead the way to a more feasible path to licensure for the entire nation. Just think about how many lives can be saved, men, women, elderly, and children who will be provided faster, more immediate services due to the abundance of highly trained counselors. THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW! The longer we wait, the various mental health statistics will continue to rise, as well as the rates for incarcerations and medical cost. We can be the change we want to see. ACT NOW!

Thank you for your consideration.