The Center for Ethical Practice, Inc.

Virginia Licensing Boards:
Links to Regulations +
Summary of Record Retention & CE Requirements

Virginia Board of Counseling
http://www.dhp.state.va.us/counseling/counseling_laws_regs.htm
[ 18 VAC 115-20-10 et seq. -- Revised April 14, 2010 ]

Continuing Education (CE) Requirement:
Licensed counselors must complete a minimum of 20 hours of continuing competency
for each annual licensure renewal. A minimum of two (2) of these hours shall be in courses that emphasize the ethics, standards of practice or laws governing behavioral science professions in Virginia. [ 18VAC115-20-105, A ]

Record Retention Requirement:
Client records must be maintained for a minimum of five years or as otherwise required by law from the date of termination of the counseling relationship with the following exceptions:
a. At minimum, records of a minor child shall be maintained for five years after attaining the age of majority (18) or ten years following termination, which ever comes later;
b. Records that are required by contractual obligation or federal law to be maintained for a longer period of time; or
c. Records that have transferred to another mental health service provider or given to the client or his legally authorized representative. [ 18VAC115-20-130, C 5]

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Virginia Board of Psychology
http://www.dhp.state.va.us/psychology/psychology_laws_regs.htm
[ 18 VAC 125-20-10 et seq. -- Revised April 14, 2010 ]

Continuing Education (CE) Requirement:
Licensed psychologists must complete a minimum of 14 hours of board-approved continuing education courses each year for annual licensure renewal. A minimum of 1.5 of these hours shall be in courses that emphasize the ethics, standards of practice or laws governing the profession of psychology. [ 18VAC125-20-121, A ]

Record Retention Requirement:
Keep pertinent, confidential records for at least five years after termination of services to any consumer. [ 18VAC125-20-150, 13 ]

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Virginia Board of Social Work
http://www.dhp.virginia.gov/social/social_laws_regs.htm
[ 18 VAC 140-20-10 et seq. -- Revised January 7, 2010 ]

Continuing Education (CE) Requirement:
Licensed clinical social workers shall be required to have completed a minimum of 30 contact hours of continuing education and licensed social workers shall be required to have completed a minimum of 15 contact hours of continuing education for each biennial licensure renewal. Courses or activities shall be directly related to the practice of social work or another behavioral health field. A minimum of two (2) of those hours must pertain to ethics or the standards of practice for the behavioral health professions or to laws governing the practice of social work in Virginia. [ 18VAC140-20-105, A ]

Record Retention Requirement:
Maintain client records for a minimum of six years or as otherwise required by law from the date of termination of the therapeutic relationship with the following exceptions:
a. At minimum, records of a minor child shall be maintained for six years after attaining the age of majority or 10 years following termination, whichever comes later;
b. Records that are required by contractual obligation or federal law to be maintained for a longer period of time;
c. Records that have been transferred to another mental health professional or have been given to the client or his legally authorized representative. [ 18VAC140-20-150, C 5 ]

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