2019 US Virgin Islands Code
Title 27 - Professions and Occupations
Chapter 4A - The Practice of Professional Counseling Services
§ 209. Application for Licensed Professional Counselor
(a) The Board shall issue a license as a licensed professional counselor if the applicant:
(1) has met the requirements set forth in section 206 of this chapter;
(2) has demonstrated to the Board the successful completion of a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours in counseling, including a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling that includes a practicum or internship in a counseling setting and course work in each of the following areas:
(A) Counseling theory and practice;
(B) [Omitted]
(C) Human growth and development, including abnormal development/psychopathology;
(D) Lifestyle and career development;
(E) Group dynamics, processes, counseling, and consulting;
(F) Appraisal/assessment and testing of individuals;
(G) Principles of diagnosis, treatment, planning and prevention of mental and emotional disorders and dysfunctional behavior;
(H) Social and cultural foundation/multi-cultural counseling;
(I) Marriage and family counseling/therapy;
(J) Research and program evaluation; and
(K) Professional orientation and ethics.
(3) has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Board the successful completion of no fewer than three years of post-academic degree experience in a counseling setting, including a minimum of 2,500 hours of professional counseling as defined in section 201, of which 300 hours involve direct counseling, and a minimum of 300 hours of supervised experience under an approved supervisor;
(4) passes the examination requirement established by the Board; and
(5) proves that the education received by the applicant was received from an institution of higher education, which at the time the applicant graduated was accredited by the United States Department of Education and by an accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation, the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors, or can demonstrate equivalent course work at an institution of higher education located outside the United States, which at the time the applicant was enrolled and at the time the applicant graduated maintained a standard of training substantially equivalent to the standards of training of those institution in the United States which are accredited by a regional accrediting body recognized by the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation of the Association of Specialized and professional Accreditors.
(A) The applicant shall have received education and training from an institution or program of higher education officially recognized by the government of the country in which it is located as an institution or program to train students to practice as professional counselors or psychotherapists.
(B) The applicant shall have the burden of establishing that the requirements of this paragraph have been met.
(b) The Board may require documentation, such as an evaluation by a foreign equivalency determination service as evidence that the applicant’s graduate degree program and education are equivalent to an accredited program in the United States.
