The petitioner requests that the Board of Counseling amend 18VAC115-20-40 to exempt licensed marriage and family counselors from passing the NCMHCE or NCE to apply for licensure as a professional counselor and accept passage of the National MFT for those applicants.

The petition for rulemaking will be published in the Virginia Register of Regulations on October 21, 2024. The petition will also be published on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall to receive public comment, which will open on October 21, 2024 and will close on November 20, 2024. The Board will consider the petition and all comments in support or opposition at the next meeting after the close of public comment, currently scheduled for January 24, 2025. The petitioner will be notified of the Board’s decision after that meeting.