(Updated March 2011)
LEGISLATION
None
LATEST INFORMATION
The VA issued an occupational standard for "licensed professional mental health counselors" (LPMHCs) in September of 2010. The standard establishes LPMHCs at the same GS series levels of pay and responsibility as clinical social workers. The VA is restricting eligibility for LPMHC positions to counselors with a master's degree in mental health counseling or a related field from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). ACA joined the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) and the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) in asking the VA to allow alternative eligibility for counselors from non-CACREP programs, but the VA declined, as doing so would grant an exemption for counseling from similar requirements placed on other master's level mental health professions. The VA also declined our request to recognize counseling doctoral degrees.
Even counselors meeting the VA's requirements are having a hard time finding LPMHC positions. A search of "mental health counselor" positions at the federal government's http://www.usajobs.gov website turned up 29 total positions, almost all of which were for other positions, including "nursing assistant," "audiologist," "new parent support home visitor," and several for "social worker." Not one of the positions was for a "licensed professional mental health counselor." In comparison, a search for "social worker" positions returned 351 hits.
ACA has asked the VA to rectify this situation and instruct local facilities to begin using the new LPMHC designations -- including by making mental health therapist positions open to professionals from multiple disciplines, including counseling -- but so far the VA hasn't responded. VA central office staff have, however, stated that local facilities do not need any further guidance or authority in order to hire counselors using the new standard.
ACA will begin working with congressional staff, if necessary, to move the issue forward.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
ACA encourages qualified counselors interested in working with the VA to take the following three steps:
- Go to the http://www.usajobs.gov website to check for VA jobs in your area. Given current hiring practices, you are most likely to find mental health therapist positions by searching for "social worker" positions.
- If you find a position you believe are qualified for, try calling or emailing ther person identified as a contact for the position on the right-hand column of the page. Ask if the position is open to individuals with a counseling degree and/or licensure as a professional counselor.
- If you are told that counselors are not eligible, or if you don't hear back at all, contact your Representative's or Senators' local office -- you can identify your members of Congress and find their phone numbers through ACA's internet site at http://capwiz.com/counseling -- to ask for their help. Explain to the staff person that their local VA facility is not using licensed professional counselors to help meet veterans' mental health treatment needs, despite the 2006 law enacted by Congress recognizing counselors as mental health professionals within the VA health care system.
ACA wants to know how VA facilities across the country are -- or are not -- using the LPMHC occupational standard. We encourage you to share your experiences, and especially any involvement by or information from congressional offices, with Scott Barstow of ACA's staff at the contact number and address below.
BACKGROUND
On December 22, 2006, President Bush signed S. 3421, the "Veterans Benefits, Healthcare, and Information Technology Act of 2006" (now Public Law 109-461). Public Law 109-461 includes language establishing explicit recognition of licensed professional counselors as mental health specialists within health care programs operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill also establishes explicit recognition of licensed marriage and family therapists.
The full VA occupational standard for LPMHCs is available online at http://www1.va.gov/vapubs/viewPublication.asp?Pub_ID=507&FType=2. Counselors must be fully licensed -- somewhere -- for employment at VHA facilities, or be working toward licensure. Failure to become licensed within 2 years from date of appointment may result in termination. Fully licensed LPMHCs are eligible for GS-11 positions, with more responsibility and autonomy; the standard also includes more advanced GS-12 through -14 level positions for LPMHCs with experience at lower grade level positions. Counselors who are not yet licensed may be eligible for GS-9 entry level positions.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Scott Barstow
American Counseling Association
Office of Public Policy and Legislation
(800) 347-6647 Ext. 234
sbarstow@counseling.org