How to Become a Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Virginia: Complete 2026 Guide

Want to become a clinical mental health counselor in Virginia? The career path looks promising, especially when it comes to money. Counselors in the Washington, D.C. metro area rank among the highest-paid nationwide. The numbers tell an impressive story. School counselors earn an average of $81,130, while Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) take home about $89,080. Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) earn around $73,210.

Virginia makes the path to becoming a licensed counselor clear and available. The state welcomes professionals from different backgrounds and provides multiple routes to licensure. Graduates with a school counseling concentration can get a five-year renewable license after two years of full-time teaching. People without teaching experience have options too. They can get a Letter of Eligibility from the Virginia Department of Education that lets them build their counseling experience. This piece covers everything about becoming a clinical mental health counselor in Virginia – from education requirements to licensing steps and job opportunities.

Types of Licensure in Virginia

Virginia’s counseling licensure system offers multiple paths, each with its own requirements and scope of practice. The Virginia Board of Counseling, a division of the Department of Health Professions, manages most counseling licenses in the state. The Virginia Department of Education handles school counselor licensure separately.

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) is the main credential for clinical mental health counselors in Virginia. LPCs apply counseling principles and methods to help achieve human development goals and treat mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders. This license allows qualified professionals to provide clinical mental health services in settings of all types. You’ll need a master’s or doctoral degree with 60 graduate semester hours covering 12 specific coursework areas. The requirements include 3,400 hours of supervised experience and passing either the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE).

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) represents another key credential from the Virginia Board of Counseling. LMFTs help individuals, couples, and families with social, emotional, and behavioral counseling to build healthy relationships, enhance communication, and solve interpersonal conflicts. These therapists must meet education and supervision requirements similar to LPCs.

Virginia provides three distinct credentials to substance abuse counseling professionals:

• Certified Substance Abuse Counselor Assistant (CSAC-A) – entry-level certification
• Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) – mid-level certification
• Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner (LSATP) – advanced licensure

The Board of Counseling also licenses or certifies other mental health professionals, including Behavioral Health Technicians, Certified Rehabilitation Providers, Qualified Mental Health Professionals, and Registered Peer Recovery Specialists.

Starting your career, you can become a Resident in Counseling while completing post-graduate supervised experience. This temporary status lets you work under supervision as you pursue full licensure. During this time, you’ll gather the required supervised hours and prepare for the licensing examination.

Virginia offers “licensure by endorsement” to counselors licensed in other states. While Virginia doesn’t have automatic reciprocity agreements with other states, you might qualify if you hold a valid license in good standing from another jurisdiction that matches Virginia’s requirements.

Licensed counselors must stay current with continuing education requirements. LPCs need 20 hours of continuing competency for each annual license renewal. This includes at least three hours of ethics, standards of practice, or laws governing behavioral science professions in Virginia.

School counselors take a different path through the Virginia Department of Education. Their licensure follows the Licensure Regulations for School Personnel under 8 VAC 20-21-610 for pre K-12 settings.

Your career goals should guide your choice of license. LPCs and similar credentials in other states (like Licensed Mental Health Counselors or LMHCs) share comparable duties—such as diagnosing and treating mental disorders—though specific requirements and titles vary by location. A Virginia license qualifies you to work in private practices, hospitals, community clinics, and schools.

Earn Your Degree

Your path to becoming a counselor in Virginia starts with the right graduate education. You’ll need a master’s or doctoral degree program that prepares you to practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Virginia.

Your graduate program should include at least 60 semester hours (or 90 quarter hours) of coursework. Virginia regulations state that your degree must come from a program with:

• A clear sequence of academic study that prepares professional counselors
• An identifiable counselor training facility with appropriate resources
• Primary responsibility for core and specialty curriculum
• Supervised practicum and internship experiences

The graduate counseling program must cover these 12 essential areas:

1. Professional counseling orientation and ethical practice
2. Social and cultural diversity
3. Human growth and development
4. Career development
5. Counseling and helping relationships
6. Group counseling and group work
7. Assessment and testing
8. Research and program evaluation
9. Diagnosis of mental and emotional disorders
10. Appraisal of individuals
11. Counseling theories and techniques
12. Practicum and internship

The time you’ll spend depends on your educational path. After finishing your bachelor’s degree, you should plan for at least four years to meet Virginia’s counseling licensure requirements. A master’s degree usually takes two to three years of full-time study, while a doctoral program needs six to eight years.

CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) accreditation deserves your attention. While Virginia doesn’t strictly require CACREP accreditation, these programs are built to meet the state’s 60-semester-hour requirement and cover all 12 mandatory coursework areas. This accreditation makes it easier to transfer your license to other states.

Virginia has several quality counseling programs across the state. William & Mary, Virginia Tech, George Mason University, University of Virginia, Marymount University, Liberty University, Old Dominion University, and Virginia Commonwealth University offer varied programs. You can choose between online and campus-based options.

William & Mary’s CACREP-accredited master’s and doctoral programs offer concentrations in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling, and Military and Veterans Counseling—with some online options. Virginia Tech runs a 60-hour Master of Arts in Education in Counselor Education at their Roanoke campus. George Mason University provides a 60-credit program that readies students for various counseling roles.

The hands-on part of your education plays a crucial role. You’ll need a 600-hour internship experience with at least 240 hours of direct client contact. Most programs include this through practicum and internship placements at community agencies, college counseling centers, hospitals, or clinics. These supervised hours might count toward your post-degree requirements and could shorten your path to licensure by several months.

After you complete your degree, you can start the supervised residency needed for full licensure in Virginia. Programs at Lynchburg University and Old Dominion University highlight that their graduates meet the educational requirements to begin this process.

Get Licensed

A licensed counselor’s journey in Virginia starts after you complete your graduate degree. The Virginia Board’s definition of a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) includes someone with training in counseling methods that help achieve human development goals and address mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders.

Your first step after graduation is to register as a Resident in Counseling with the Virginia Board. This temporary license lets you start building your supervised experience. You’ll need to find a qualified supervisor to oversee your clinical work.

The supervised experience requirement in Virginia consists of:

• 3,400 total hours of supervised counseling experience
• At least 2,000 hours of face-to-face client contact
• Minimum of 200 hours of in-person supervision (one hour per 40 hours of work)
• Completion within a timeframe of 21 months to 4 years

Virginia accepts two national tests for LPC licensure: the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) or the National Counselor Examination (NCE). You need to pass either one after completing your supervised hours.

You can get full licensure through two pathways:

Licensure by Examination: This path suits candidates who completed their education and supervised experience in Virginia. You’ll need to submit verification of your degree, coursework, supervision hours, and examination results.

Licensure by Endorsement: Licensed counselors from other states might qualify for endorsement. Virginia provides three pathways based on your post-licensure experience, education credentials, or certification status.

The application process includes these steps:

1. Review Virginia’s laws and regulations governing counseling practice
2. Gather required documentation (verification forms, NPDB self-query report, transcripts)
3. Complete the online application
4. Upload all supporting documentation
5. Pay the application fee ($175 – non-refundable)
6. Wait for board approval (typically 45-60 days)

Keeping detailed records of your supervision sessions and clinical hours is vital. Incomplete applications stay active for only one year, so organization matters.

The endorsement process reviews your credentials against Virginia’s standards if you’re licensed elsewhere. The Board looks at your education, supervised experience, examination results, and post-licensure practice to determine eligibility.

Virginia LPC licenses expire annually on June 30. You’ll need 20 hours of continuing education each year to renew, and at least two hours must focus on ethics, standards of practice, or relevant laws.

Find Employment

Your next vital step after getting your license involves landing a job as a clinical mental health counselor in Virginia. The state welcomes qualified counselors with opportunities in a variety of public and private sectors.

Several excellent resources help connect counselors with positions throughout Virginia. The Virginia Association of Community Services Boards (VACSB) runs a career center that posts new community-based positions. Recent listings include roles for children’s community-based therapists, crisis stabilization specialists, and school-based therapists.

Mental health personnel positions in public schools appear on the Virginia Department of Education’s website. This platform lists openings for school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists statewide.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) might interest counselors who want to serve veterans. They actively seek psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and peer specialists. VA positions come with unique benefits. You can practice your license’s full scope while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

State mental health facilities like the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute and Central State Hospital post counseling positions regularly. Their competitive benefits include disability protection, generous leave, health insurance, and pension retirement programs. Some positions even qualify for sign-on bonuses and educational loan reduction programs.

Licensed professionals will find opportunities at private practices and counseling centers throughout Virginia. Virginia Beach Counseling Services, to name just one example, looks for Licensed Professional Counselors to fill part-time and full-time positions.

Job hunting becomes easier with professional organizations. The Virginia Counselors Association (VCA)’s Career Center lets you subscribe to job notifications, post your resume, and browse current openings. The National Association of Social Workers Virginia Chapter maintains a dedicated job board for clinical mental health counselor positions.

LinkedIn showcases many mental health counseling opportunities across Virginia. Roles range from senior clinician positions to peer recovery specialists. The salaries remain competitive – a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor position with the Department of Veterans Affairs in Chesapeake offers $62,020 annually.

Remember to showcase your education, licensure credentials, and specialized training when applying. These qualities will set you apart from other candidates.

Remain Compliant

Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors must meet specific professional standards and continuing education requirements to keep their licenses active. The Virginia Board of Counseling has established several compliance requirements that you must follow to stay in good standing.

Licensed Professional Counselors need 20 hours of continuing competency each year when they renew their license. Two of these hours must cover ethics, standards of practice, or Virginia’s behavioral science laws. You can complete up to two hours through volunteer counseling at local health departments or free clinics that serve low-income individuals. You earn one hour of continuing education credit for every three hours you volunteer.

The Board now requires all license renewals online as part of their “Go Green” initiative. You’ll receive email notices 45-60 days before your renewal deadline instead of paper notices.

Documentation plays a crucial role in your career. You should keep original records of your continuing education for two years after renewal. The Board randomly audits licensees after renewals to check compliance. You must provide certificates, official transcripts, or other documentation when asked.

Client records need safekeeping for five years from when services end. For minors, you must keep records either five years past their 18th birthday or ten years after termination, whichever takes longer.

The law requires you to report any known or suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of children, elderly, or incapacitated adults to Virginia’s Department of Social Services.

Your license could face denial or disciplinary action if you falsify or omit information on your application. Your address will become public under Virginia Code § 54.1-2400.2, but you can provide a work address for public disclosure.

Your professional practice must align with Virginia’s regulations for professional conduct. These rules ensure you work within your expertise, protect client confidentiality, avoid dual relationships, and properly document services.

Next Steps

The experience of becoming a clinical mental health counselor in Virginia follows a well-laid-out path that needs dedication, education, and ongoing professional development. This piece covers the different licensure types available, from Licensed Professional Counselors to Marriage and Family Therapists. Each type serves specific needs in the mental health field.

You’ll need a master’s or doctoral degree with 60 semester hours covering 12 core counseling areas. After graduating, you register as a Resident in Counseling and accumulate 3,400 supervised hours. This includes 2,000 hours of direct client contact. Once you pass either the NCMHCE or NCE examination, you can apply for full licensure.

Licensed counselors have strong job prospects in Virginia. Of course, you’ll find opportunities in a variety of settings—community service boards, schools, veterans’ facilities, state mental health institutions, and private practices. These roles come with competitive salaries. The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area offers some of the highest wages nationwide.

You retain control of your license by meeting continuing education requirements. The Board requires 20 hours each year, with at least two hours focused on ethics or relevant laws. On top of that, you must maintain detailed client records and stay current with obligations about suspected abuse or neglect.

Clinical mental health counseling provides a rewarding career path for people passionate about helping others through life challenges and mental health concerns. The requirements might seem extensive, but each step prepares you to provide quality care to Virginians who need mental health support. Your steadfast dedication to this profession contributes by a lot to the Commonwealth’s community well-being.