An increase of experience after licensure in order to provide supervision is ideal, but would prove very detrimental in Southwest Virginia for increasing the workforce. The workforce shortage limits service availability for the individuals we serve currently and expanding the requirements now would limit this further. According to the Virginia Medicaid Continuum of Behavioral Health Services report by the Farley Center, "Of the 133 counties in Virginia, 87 (65%) were designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas in 2018. Significant regional variation exists, with the greatest workforce shortages in the Southwest and Southside regions." Because of this workforce shortage, many people who become licensed do move into administrative roles due to requirements for supervisors to be LMHP type staff. It is difficult to fill LMHP type positions in Southwest Virginia and it is difficult for staff to find supervisors. I would also like to point out this information from the Continuum report as well, "Virginia ranks 40th in terms of access to behavioral health care in the nation. Virginia also ranks 41st in terms of availability of mental health providers, as measured by a ratio of population to providers." I believe this would be better served as a long term goal for the board as we build our work force.