Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions

Preferred Citation

Minutes of the Virginia Board of Counseling, [cite specific dates and accession used]. State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Accession 53938 was transferred by the Dept. of Health Professions on 07/24/2023.

Processing Information

This collection has been processed using minimal processing standards: the original arrangement has been maintained, the container list is brief and simple, and the records have not been refoldered and fasteners have not been removed. Electronic records are in original order with original file names.

Historical Information

Regulation of the health professions began late in the nineteenth century. On January 31, 1884, the General Assembly passed an act creating the Board of Medical Examiners to certify physicians for practice in Virginia. Two years later, acts establishing the Board of Dental Examiners (now the Board of Dentistry) and the Board of Pharmacy were passed by the General Assembly on February 26 and March 3, 1886, respectively. The Board of Embalmers (now the Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers) was created by an act passed on March 5, 1894, and the Board of Veterinary Examiners (now the Board of Veterinary Medicine) was established by an act passed on February 27, 1896. On May 1, 1903, the General Assembly created the Board of Graduate Nurses (now the State Board of Nursing), and on March 11, 1916, the Board of Optometry was established by legislative action.

The Dept. of Health Regulatory Boards was created by an act passed by the General Assembly on March 31, 1977, to provide administrative services to the health regulatory boards of the state. The boards continue to regulate their professions through the examination, licensing, and disciplining of the practitioners of health science. In 1986, the Dept. of Health Regulatory Boards became the Dept. of Health Professions. Its mission is to enhance the delivery of safe and competent health care by licensing qualified health care professionals, enforcing standards of practice, and providing information to both practitioners and consumers of health care services.

The Virginia Board of Counseling consists of a 12-member Board, a Regulatory Board, an Advisory Board on Art Therapy, as well as administrative, enforcement, licensing, and support staff. The Board licenses, certifies or registers: Certified Rehabilitation Providers, Certified Substance Abuse Counselors, Certified Substance Abuse Counseling Assistants, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, License Professional Counselors, Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioners, Qualified Mental Health Professionals, Registered Peer Recovery Specialists, Residents in Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy and Substance Abuse Treatment.

Scope and Content

Minutes, 2016-2020, documenting the meetings, activities, discussions, policy decisions and recommendations of the Virginia Board of Counseling. Includes minutes and agendas for formal board meetings, as well as for formal hearings, informal hearings, telephone conference calls, public hearings, and for committees and and other group meetings (Art Therapy Advisory Board, Informal Conference Committee, Regulatory Committee, Regulatory Advisory Board, Special Conference Committee, Supervisor Summit).

Accession 53938 consists of Minutes, 2016-2020, in electronic format.

Additional Note

Must make arrangements prior to arrival to view electronic records.

Additional Note

These records are part of the Virginia Dept. of Health Professions record group (RG# 37)