The Virginia Counselors Association
The Virginia Counselors Association is a 501c6 nonprofit founded in 1930 serving approximately 1,200-1,500 licensed counselors, educators, and students in Virginia as the state branch of the American Counseling Association. It delivers membership, NBCC-approved continuing education, advocacy, an annual convention, and a chapter/division network statewide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1930
- HeadquartersYorktown, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Virginia Counselors Association does
The Virginia Counselors Association (VCA) is a 501c6 nonprofit professional association founded in 1930 in Richmond, Virginia (originally as the Virginia Personnel and Guidance Association) and headquartered in Yorktown. It operates as the Virginia state branch of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and serves approximately 1,200-1,500 licensed professional counselors, school counselors, counselor educators, supervisors, graduate students, and retired counselors across Virginia. The organization delivers member services through a YourMembership.com-powered association management platform supporting membership enrollment, event registration, career center access, email marketing, and a member-only Supervisors Registry, alongside 19 active local chapters and 13 specialty divisions.
VCA monetizes through four primary revenue streams: tiered membership dues ($30-$75 annually across Student, New Professional, Retired, Regular, and Professional tiers), annual convention registration ($140-$400 depending on member status and timing), paid professional development training including 20-hour Clinical Supervision ($400-$500) and multi-tier QMHP Supervisor Credential Training ($250-$600), and convention exhibitor/sponsorship fees ($600-$1,500 tables; $1,500-$5,000 sponsorship tiers). The organization is an NBCC-approved continuing education provider (ACEP No. 2047), and CE hours earned through VCA programming apply to Virginia LPC license renewal, creating structural stickiness with the membership base.
Beyond member services, VCA operates a state-level advocacy function through retained lobbyist Debra Rodman, having spearheaded Virginia becoming the first state to license professional counselors, elementary school counselor staffing mandates (mid-1970s), continuing education statutory authority (2002), and the counseling compact legislation (HB 1433/SB 802, 2023). A separate VCA Foundation funds scholarships and HBCU counseling program accreditation. The organization is governed by an elected Board of Directors with volunteer chapter and division leadership, and revenue is not publicly disclosed.
The Virginia Counselors Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Virginia Counselors Association
- Legal name
- Virginia Counselors Association
- Website
- https://vcacounselors.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1930
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Virginia Counselors Association is a 501c6 nonprofit founded in 1930 serving approximately 1,200-1,500 licensed counselors, educators, and students in Virginia as the state branch of the American Counseling Association. It delivers membership, NBCC-approved continuing education, advocacy, an annual convention, and a chapter/division network statewide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Virginia Counselors Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Association Services (Counseling Membership)
- NAICS
- Professional Organizations (81392)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Behavioral Health & Counseling (Social Work, Psychology, Substance Use CE) (EDAAALAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)
Keywords
Where The Virginia Counselors Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Yorktown
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
The Virginia Counselors Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership dues across multiple tiers: Professional and Regular members pay $75/year; New Professional and Student members pay $30/year; Retired members pay $40/year. Membership revenue supports organizational operations, professional development, and advocacy activities.
- Convention and Event Registration: Revenue from annual convention registration fees: VCA Members pay $185-$210 (early/regular); Non-members pay $295-$400; Students/Retired pay $140-$190. Events include Clinical Supervision Training ($400-$500), QMHP Supervisor Training ($250-$600), and Leadership Academy ($50/person).
- Exhibitor and Sponsorship Revenue: Exhibitor fees at annual convention: 1 table $600, 2 tables $1,000, 3 tables $1,500. Sponsorship tiers: Platinum $5,000, Gold $2,500, Silver $1,500. Convention attendance 550-650 professionals annually.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Professional Member - Master's degree or higher in counseling or related field |
| Subscription | Annual | Regular Member - Interest and activities consistent with Association |
| Subscription | Annual | Student Member - Full or part-time student in counseling program |
| Subscription | Annual | New Professional Member - First and second years in new counselor role |
| Subscription | Annual | Retired Member - Age 55+ retired from counseling profession |
| Subscription | Annual | Employer (only) - HR or non-counselor job posting access |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Full Convention Registration - Thursday through Saturday |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Clinical Supervision Training - 3 Day/20 Hour Webinar |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | QMHP Supervisor Credential Training |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Exhibitor Table Fees at Annual Convention |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
The Virginia Counselors Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Virginia Counselors Association (VCA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional membership association that serves approximately 1,200-1,500 counselors, counselor educators, and supervisors across Virginia through tiered annual memberships, an annual convention, continuing education and clinical supervision training programs, advocacy at the Virginia General Assembly, and a network of 19 local chapters and 13 specialty divisions. As the Virginia state branch of the American Counseling Association, VCA delivers NBCC-approved continuing education, licensure support, networking, and legislative advocacy for the counseling profession in Virginia.
Product overview
The Virginia Counselors Association operates primarily as a professional membership organization rather than a software product company. Its core offering is the VCA website and membership platform, which provides member services including event registration, professional development, career resources, and advocacy tools for Virginia counselors. The organization offers supplementary programs including clinical supervision training, QMHP credential training, an annual Leadership Academy, a Supervisors Registry, Career Center, and Annual Awards Program. VCA also organizes the annual VCA Convention and maintains a network of 19 local chapters and 13 specialty divisions across Virginia. Member benefits include access to the Mental Health Academy online education platform through a partnership arrangement.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- VCA Annual Membership
Quantifiable outcome
- Annual convention attendance of 550-650 professionals providing up to 18 CE hours each
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Virginia Counselors Association
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Virginia Counselors Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Virginia Counselors Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- American Counseling Association (ACA)flagshipVCA is the state branch of the American Counseling Association, the world's largest counseling organization. VCA members are expected to comply with ACA Ethics and Professional Standards. The current ACA Ethical Code (updated 2014) governs member conduct. VCA has representation on ACA's governing bodies and Southern Region leadership.
- ACA Southern RegioncoreVCA is a member of the ACA Southern Region, one of the regional divisions of the American Counseling Association. This connection provides access to regional conferences, leadership opportunities, and advocacy coordination across southern states.
- NBCC (National Board for Certified Counselors)coreVCA is approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 2047). Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. VCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. CE hours can be used for LPC licensure renewal in Virginia.
- Virginia Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (VACES)coreVACES is a specialty division of VCA, founded in 1971. It focuses on counselor education and supervision standards, providing resources for faculty, supervisors, and graduate programs in Virginia.
- Mental Health AcademyminorAs a VCA member, you are entitled to join Mental Health Academy, an online counselor education platform offering additional professional development resources beyond VCA's own offerings.
- VCA FoundationcoreThe VCA Foundation (vcafoundation.org) supports counselors through scholarships (Pete Warren Scholars, Michele Dowdy Emerging Leader Student Grant, BIPOC Award), advocacy funding, and professional development support. Counselors are described as 'the Foundation, Every Day'.
- YourMembership.comcoreAssociation management software provider powering the VCA website with membership management, event registration, email marketing, career center, and member-only content. YourMembership.com has been a provider since 1998.
- Debra RodmancoreDebra Rodman serves as VCA's lobbyist, advocating for counseling legislation at the Virginia General Assembly. She led efforts on counseling compact legislation (HB 1433, SB 802) that passed in 2023.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Virginia Counselors Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pennsylvania Counseling Association: ACA-affiliated state counseling association in Pennsylvania providing membership, advocacy, professional development events, and CE programming parallel to VCA's offerings.
- North Carolina Counseling Association: Another ACA state branch professional membership association serving North Carolina counselors with parallel structure: chapters, divisions, annual convention, CE programs, and LPC advocacy. Comparable in scale and operational model.
- Georgia Counselors Association: ACA state branch providing membership, advocacy, and professional development to Georgia counselors; same membership tiers, annual convention model, and Continuing Education provider role as VCA.
- Texas Counseling Association: State-level professional association for counselors in Texas operating the same ACA-affiliated structure, multi-tier membership, annual convention, CE provision, and state legislative advocacy as VCA. Directly comparable in mission, revenue model, and chapter/division framework.
- Florida Counseling Association: State-level ACA branch serving Florida counselors with membership, CE, advocacy, and conference programs. Operates the same nonprofit professional association structure with comparable chapter and division networks.
- Illinois Counseling Association: Mid-size ACA state branch professional association for Illinois counselors with comparable membership dues, annual conference, CE offerings, chapter structure, and state advocacy work.
Broad incumbents
- American Counseling Association: The national parent organization of which VCA is a state branch. Operates across all 50 states with broader scope including ethics, publications, and national advocacy; comparable governance, ethics standards, and CE functions but at national scale.
- American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA): National professional association specifically for clinical mental health counselors, providing overlapping CE, advocacy, and member services with VCA but at national scope and with specialty focus rather than state-level generalist coverage.
Emerging players
- PESI (Professional Education Services Institute): For-profit continuing education provider serving mental health professionals with online courses and live events; competes with VCA's CE programs and trainings (Clinical Supervision, QMHP) for the same LPC renewal wallet share but lacks advocacy and community functions.
Others
- National Association of Social Workers - Virginia Chapter: Adjacent professional association serving licensed social workers in Virginia with overlapping CE, advocacy at the General Assembly, and chapter structure; competes for member mindshare of mental health professionals in the same legislative and professional development ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Virginia Counselors Association social profiles
Digital presenceThe Virginia Counselors Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Virginia Counselors Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles22 records
The Virginia Counselors Association subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
The Virginia Counselors Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Virginia Counselors Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Virginia Counselors Association
What does The Virginia Counselors Association do?
The Virginia Counselors Association (VCA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional membership association that serves approximately 1,200-1,500 counselors, counselor educators, and supervisors across Virginia through tiered annual memberships, an annual convention, continuing education and clinical supervision training programs, advocacy at the Virginia General Assembly, and a network of 19 local chapters and 13 specialty divisions. As the Virginia state branch of the American Counseling Association, VCA delivers NBCC-approved continuing education, licensure support, networking, and legislative advocacy for the counseling profession in Virginia.
Is The Virginia Counselors Association a public or private company?
The Virginia Counselors Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Virginia Counselors Association founded?
The Virginia Counselors Association was founded in 1930. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is The Virginia Counselors Association based?
The Virginia Counselors Association is headquartered in Yorktown, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Virginia Counselors Association make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are convention and Event Registration and exhibitor and Sponsorship Revenue.
Who are The Virginia Counselors Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pennsylvania Counseling Association, North Carolina Counseling Association, Georgia Counselors Association, Texas Counseling Association, Florida Counseling Association and Illinois Counseling Association. Broad incumbents are American Counseling Association and American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA). PESI (Professional Education Services Institute) is listed as an emerging player. National Association of Social Workers - Virginia Chapter is listed as an others.
Does The Virginia Counselors Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Virginia Counselors Association.
What industry is The Virginia Counselors Association in?
The Virginia Counselors Association's product category is Professional Association Services (Counseling Membership). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAALAD, Behavioral Health & Counseling (Social Work, Psychology, Substance Use CE), with a secondary code of BPAGADAK, Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 81392 and its SIC code is 8600.