18VAC125-30-40: Educational requirements

An applicant for certification as a sex offender treatment provider shall:

1. Document completion of one of the following degrees:

a. A master's or doctoral degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or nursing from a regionally accredited university; or

b. The degree of Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from an institution that is approved by an accrediting agency recognized by the Virginia Board of Medicine

Graduates of institutions that are not accredited by an acceptable accrediting agency shall establish the equivalency of their education to the educational requirements of the Virginia Board of Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Nursing or Medicine.

2. Provide certificates of completion documenting 50 clock hours of education acceptable to the board in the following areas, with 15 clock hours in each area identified in subdivisions 2 a and 2 b of this section, 10 clock hours in the area identified in subdivision 2 c of this section, and five clock hours in each area identified in subdivisions 2 d and 2 e of this section:

a. Sex offender assessment;

b. Sex offender treatment interventions;

c. Etiology/developmental issues of sex offense behavior;

d. Criminal justice and legal issues related to sexual offending; and

e. Treatment effectiveness and issues related to relapse prevention or recidivism of sex offenders.