Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Health Professions
 
Board
Board of Counseling
 
chapter
Regulations Governing the Practice of Professional Counseling [18 VAC 115 ‑ 20]
Action Requirement for CACREP accreditation for educational programs
Stage Proposed
Comment Period Ended on 7/14/2017
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5/25/17  9:43 am
Commenter: Ariann Robino, Virginia Tech

I Support This Regulatory Action
 

This regulatory change will help protect the public in Virginia and ensure client welfare. 

Regulations are not about whether a certain program is included or not, it should be about what is best for clients that come see professional counselors. The American Counseling Association, the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, the American Mental Health Counselors Association, the National Board for Certified Counselors, and the American Association of State Counseling Boards have all adopted a position that the process of CACREP accreditation should be the prerequisite for licensure as a professional counselor.

As a licensed professional counselor, I have observed the significant differences between those training in CACREP program versus non-accredited programs. Oftentimes, this difference is stark and unsettling with issues based in ethics and client safety. 

Virginia has very inclusive policies that allow anyone with two years of licensure experience in another state, to relocate to Virginia and get licensed by endorsement. Please support this regulatory change, and thank you for your consideration.

CommentID: 59475