Accreditation Overview

As a credentialing entity for state certification through the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), VARR accredits recovery residences around the NARR Standards and a Social Model of Recovery. VARR accredited recovery residences provide the highest level of service to their residents in the state of Virginia. A “recovery residence” denotes a safe and healthy residential environment in which skills vital for sustaining recovery are learned and practiced in a home-like setting, based on Social Model principles. The Social Model is fundamental to all levels of recovery residences and is operationalized by the NARR Standards. Social Model philosophy promotes norms that reinforce healthy living skills and associated values, attitudes, and connection with self and community for sustaining recovery.

As of July 1, 2025, the Certification of Recovery Residences is mandatory through SB838 and the re-enacted code § 37.2-431.1.

1 1 - Accreditation Overview
2 1 - Accreditation Overview

Basic Outline of the Accreditation Process

 

  1. Contact the VARR Office directly expressing interest in certification or complete VARR’s online application which will trigger the VARR Office to contact you
  2. Review the NARR Standards 3.0, VARR’s Code of Ethics, and VARR’s Certification & Compliance Agreement
  3. If not already done, complete VARR’s online application
  4. Verify legal entity status, appropriate insurance coverage, and verify permission from property owner to operate recovery residence
  5. Submit policies and procedures to meet the standards
  6. Perform an on-site inspection of the recovery residence to meet the standards
  7. Sign VARR Certification & Compliance Agreement, VARR Code of Ethics & VARR Assurances
  8. Accreditation complete

Accreditation Fees

VARR Annual Affiliate Fee – VARR Accredited providers will be required to pay a flat-rate, annual VARR Affiliate Fee of $750. This fee is paid once per organization per year, even if the organization has multiple residences. The Annual Affiliate Fee is paid upon achieving accreditation of an organization’s first residence and annually thereafter so long as the organization maintains at least one accredited recovery residence

VARR Accreditation Fee – In addition to the Annual Affiliate Fee, accredited providers will pay an Accreditation Fee of $10 per accredited bed. 

  • Ex: If Recovery House inc. operates 40 beds their  Accreditation Fee would be $400 (40 x $10)

TOTAL FEE: The VARR Annual Affiliate Fee and Accreditation Fee will be invoiced together on the same invoice upon an organization’s initial achievement of accreditation and annually thereafter.

  • Ex: If Recovery House Inc, operates 40 beds, they will pay the Annual Affiliate Fee of $750 plus the Accreditation Fee of $400 ($10 per bed) for a total invoice amount of $1150.

If an organization adds accredited beds during the year for which they’ve already paid the Annual Affiliate Fee they will be invoiced a separate Accreditation Fee for the additional accredited beds

Maintaining Accreditation

In order to maintain accreditation, a recovery residence operator will complete the re-accreditation process which is initiated by submitting an application for re-accreditation for each accredited residence. The re-accreditation process is to be completed within the 60-days prior of the expiration date that is displayed on the Certificate of Compliance that is issued upon accreditation.

If an accredited recovery residence operator does not complete required items for maintaining accreditation prior to the expiration date, then an operator will enter into Lapsed Accreditation. Lapsed Accreditation is when an operator has failed administratively to maintain their accreditation before the expiration date on their Certificate of Compliance. During a Lapsed Accreditation, an operator still holds their accreditation for 90-days past the expiration date. If they fail to complete the required items to maintain accreditation during that 90-day period then the accreditation will be expired on Day 91.

Any operator that allows their accreditation to lapse will be provided with the following information:

    1. Notification of lapsed accreditation.
    2. Instructions for maintaining their accreditation.
    3. Deadline for submitting any required materials.
    4. Deadline for when lapsed accreditation will become a revocation of accreditation.

 

Changes made in the 2025 Virginia General Assembly now require recovery residences to be certified in order to remain active and legally operate in coordination with state agencies. To support independent operators in meeting this requirement, the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) has established a Conditional Certification process, allowing time to achieve full accreditation through a DBHDS-recognized certifying body. If you are going to apply for VARR accreditation and have not yet completed the DBHDS Conditional Certification, please see below. Full Certification can be achieved after completing the DBHDS Conditional Certification and VARR Accreditation.

Key Highlights:

  • Tiered Certification Structure
    • Tier 1: Initial conditional certification for 6 months
    • Tier 2: One-time 90-day extension (based on demonstrated progress)
    • Not Certified: Termination of certification due to insufficient progress
  • Progress Monitoring
    • Applicants must provide documentation, as requested, showing meaningful steps toward full accreditation through an approved body (e.g., VARR, Oxford House).
    • A 5-month check-in will assess progress and determine eligibility for continuation or extension.
  • Enforcement
    • Operating without certification may be subject to penalties, including a Class 1 misdemeanor under Virginia law.

For your convenience you can also access the application using this direct link: https://forms.office.com/g/5ub0u17xDu. The application should take about 5 minutes to complete.

Questions? If you have any questions or concerns about completing the form on time, please contact the DBHDS Recovery Residence Office immediately at rrofva@dbhds.virginia.gov

Recovery Residence

A “recovery residence” denotes a safe and healthy residential environment in which skills vital for sustaining recovery are learned and practiced in a home-like setting, based on Social Model principles.

VARR Accredited Recovery Residence

A recovery residence that meets the NARR 3.0 Standards and is accredited by VARR.

Certified Recovery Residence

A recovery residence that meets the NARR 3.0 Standards and is accredited by VARR that has also completed additional steps to be on the state certified list of recovery residence managed by DBHDS

VARR Operator

The organization or entity that maintains and operates a recovery residence has met the NARR 3.0 Standards and is certified through VARR.

The Social Model of Recovery

“In the Social Model, recovery is enhanced by a belief in a person’s sense of hope for a better future, and an ability to assist in and control the recovery process. Recovery is supported by a community of peers willing to share their experiences and to assist the individual on the journey to recovery, essentially becoming part of a functional family…” – Ron Luce