What is Counselor Supervision?
Supervision is an intervention provided by a more senior member of a profession to a more junior member or members of that same profession. A counseling supervisor provides consultation to new therapists. They answer questions, provide guidance, and assist with developing clinical counseling skills. They are ultimately responsible for the well-being of their supervisee’s clients.
LPC Supervision
To earn the title of Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Virginia:
1. Educational Requirements
Graduate with your master of counseling degree from a CACREP accredited university. Submit your application to the Virginia Board of Counseling
2. Residency
Accrue the 3,400 required hours of supervised experience in a clinical setting with required supervision.
3. Examination
Pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counselors Examination (NCMHCE).
Notify the Virginia Board of Counseling of your passed exam and completed a residency to receive your Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) title.
CSAC Supervision
To earn the title of Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) in Virginia:
1. Educational Requirements
A Bachelor’s degree; and 240 clock hours of didactic training in substance abuse education from one of the
following programs:
- A regionally accredited college or university; or
- Seminars or workshops from one of the approved providers and in the core
content areas listed in 18VAC115-30-50. - 120 of the required 240 hours must be completed prior to registration of
supervision.
2. Residency
Accrue 2,000 hours of supervised experience in the practice of clinical substance abuse counseling services.
3. Examination
Once staff has approved your application for CSAC examination, you will receive an email from the Board advising you that you have been approved to take the NCAC-I exam towards CSAC certification in Virginia. The examination is administered through the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP) with the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC).
Associations we're affiliated with
1. American Counseling Association
The American Counseling Association is a membership organization representing licensed professional counselors, counseling students, and other counseling professionals in the United States. It is the world’s largest association exclusively representing professional counselors.
2. Virginia Counselor Association
The Virginia Counselor Association Foundation has been supporting Counselors in the Commonwealth of Virginia for more than 20 years.
3. Association of Addiction Professionals
NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, represents the professional interests of more than 100,000 addiction counselors, educators and other addiction-focused health care professionals in the United States, Canada and abroad.
4. American Mental Health Association
The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) is the professional membership organization that represents the clinical mental health counseling profession. Clinical membership in AMHCA requires a master’s degree in counseling or a closely related mental health field and adherence to AMHCA’s National Standards for Clinical Practice.