To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish qualifications for the appointment of a person as a marriage and family therapist, qualified to provide clinical supervision, in the Veterans Health Administration.
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Would establish formal qualifications for Veterans Health Administration marriage and family therapists who seek to provide clinical supervision, requiring state authorization — on top of existing degree and licensing requirements — to hold that supervisory designation.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would amend 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(10) to create a distinct qualification tier for VHA marriage and family therapists who are authorized to provide clinical supervision. Under existing law, candidates for those positions must hold an appropriate master's degree and be licensed or certified in a state. This bill would add that anyone seeking the added designation of qualified clinical supervisor must also be recognized by that same licensing state as a provider of — or otherwise permitted to provide — clinical supervision.
The bill does not alter the base appointment requirements for VHA marriage and family therapists who do not seek a supervisory role, and it does not affect other mental health professional categories in the VHA system.
Key provisions
- 1Would add a new subparagraph to 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(10) requiring that VHA marriage and family therapists in clinical supervisor roles also be recognized by their licensing state as authorized to provide clinical supervision.
Who would be affected
Marriage and family therapists who are employed by or seeking appointment in the Veterans Health Administration and who wish to hold the clinical supervisor designation. State licensing boards whose decisions on supervisory authorization would directly determine federal eligibility under the new standard.
Why it matters
VHA clinical supervisors oversee and train other therapists, making their qualifications consequential for the quality of mental health care provided to veterans. By anchoring the supervisory credential to state-level authorization, the bill sets a clear and verifiable threshold, which could affect which current or prospective VHA therapists qualify to fill supervisory roles.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(10) (Sec. 1)
Adds a new subparagraph (B) establishing that VHA marriage and family therapists seeking the clinical supervision qualification must also hold state authorization to provide clinical supervision.
Agencies directed to act
How implementation would work
The VHA would apply the new qualification standard when appointing marriage and family therapists to positions designated as qualified to provide clinical supervision. No rulemaking is mandated by the bill text; the amendment is a direct statutory change to the appointment eligibility criteria in title 38. In practice, VHA human-resources staff would verify that a supervisory-role candidate holds state authorization to provide clinical supervision in the state where they are licensed, in addition to the existing degree and licensure checks.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Official CRS summary
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This bill establishes eligibility requirements for the appointment of an individual in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) as a marriage and family therapist who is qualified to provide clinical supervision. In order to be appointed as a marriage and family therapist in the VHA who is qualified to provide clinical supervision, a person must hold an appropriate master’s degree, be licensed or certified, and (1) be authorized to provide clinical supervision in the state they are licensed in, or (2) be designated as an approved supervisor by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Legislative subjects
Armed Forces and National Security; Family services; Health personnel; Mental health; Veterans' medical care
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-99