The short answer
Yes. CHAMPVA pays any provider licensed by the state for the service and working within their scope, which includes independently licensed LPCs, LMHCs, LMFTs, LCSWs, and psychologists. VA Community Care uses counselors, marriage and family therapists, social workers, and psychologists who are credentialed with the regional network or hold a Veterans Care Agreement.
Which licenses can treat CHAMPVA clients?
Any license that lets you provide the service in your state, used within its scope. 38 CFR 17.270 defines an authorized provider as one licensed or certified by the state to provide the service. The CHAMPVA Guidebook adds that the provider must work within the scope of that license.
For outpatient psychotherapy, that generally includes:
- Licensed professional counselors, under whatever title your state uses (LPC, LPCC, LMHC, LCPC, and others)
- Licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT)
- Licensed clinical social workers (LCSW, or your state's independent clinical title)
- Licensed psychologists
CHAMPVA has no network, so there's no separate CHAMPVA credentialing. See Authorized CHAMPVA Providers.
What about VA Community Care?
VA Community Care pays community providers who are in the Community Care Network (CCN) or who have a Veterans Care Agreement with a VA facility. Behavioral health networks include counselors, marriage and family therapists, social workers, and psychologists. The regional administrator (Optum or TriWest) credentials each provider, and VA's rules on eligible providers are in 38 CFR 17.4030.
VA also checks that providers aren't excluded from federal health programs.
Can pre-licensed clinicians bill these programs?
Generally not under their own name. An associate-level license (such as LPC Associate, LMFT Associate, or LMSW) requires supervision. Whether supervised services can be billed, and how, depends on the program and state law, and it's an area where mistakes lead to recoupments. Check with the program before billing anything a supervisee provides.
Does the license have to match the client's state?
Yes. For telehealth, you must be licensed where the client is located. That rule comes from state licensing law, not from VA, and it applies to both programs. See Can Therapists See Telehealth Clients in Another State?
What about TRICARE and Medicare?
They have their own provider rules. TRICARE has specific certification requirements for mental health counselors. Medicare began paying mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists in 2024. See How Therapists Become TRICARE Providers and Medicare for LPCs and LMFTs.
How ValorWell handles this
ValorWell works with any independently licensed mental health therapist whose license can bill insurance: LPC, LPCC, LMHC and other state counselor titles, LMFT, LCSW, and psychologists. ValorWell handles the credentialing for its pathways; you provide your license and professional information.
Right now, ValorWell isn't working with associates who need supervision or with prescribers. See What a Therapist Needs to Join ValorWell.
Important limits
- Scope still applies. A license that allows therapy doesn't allow psychological testing or prescribing unless your state says so.
- Program rules can change. Check VA's current provider guidance before relying on any list.
- Licensure isn't credentialing. For VA Community Care, you still need to be credentialed in the network or hold a VCA before you see Veterans.