VA Creating Occupational Category for Counselors

Washington, Feb. 17 – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has approved the creation of a new occupational category for Licensed Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists.

VA staff notified the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc., that the agency’s undersecretary for health signed off on the classification process, but it has not been determined whether each profession will get an individual classification or a shared one.

NBCC has been unyielding in its efforts to implement the 2006 law recognizing counselors in the VA. Proper implementation requires the creation of a federal occupational classification for mental health counselors by the Office of Personnel Management.

An NBCC statement said the organization was pleased with “this step forward,” but remains vigilant in our pursuit of a separate classification.

“NBCC acted independently by meeting with senators, representatives and committee staff on over 50 occasions,” the statement said. “We believe that consistent pressure from a counseling organization was a key factor in keeping the issue alive and before policy makers.”

The statement added the process for establishing qualification standards may take a year to complete, but “the VA has at least provided a light at the end of the tunnel.”

The statement noted help from former VA Chief Network Officer Dr. Jule Moravec and from David Gorman, executive director of the Disabled American Veterans. It also expressed appreciation for separate advocacy efforts on the issue by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the American Counseling Association, and the American Mental Health Counselors Association.