The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation in 2024 requiring all Virginia guardians to complete training developed by DARS on the following topics:
- the responsibilities and duties of guardians,
- how to complete annual guardianship reports,
- how to involve and encourage participation of incapacitated adults in decisions made by such guardians,
- medical advocacy,
- and decision-making on behalf of other persons.
In addition, any skilled professional hired to assist the guardian with their responsibilities must complete the training.
When do I need to complete the training?
The deadline for completing the training will depend on when the guardian was appointed:
| Appointment Date | Training Completion Deadline |
|---|---|
| Prior to July 1, 2025 | January 1, 2027 |
| July 1, 2025 or after | Within 120 days after the date of qualification |
Guardians and skilled professionals who have completed the training within 36 months in conjunction with another guardianship appointment do not need to repeat the training.
How do I complete the training?
Please select your preferred language:
Please register below to access the training. You will be redirected to the online training once you complete the registration form. The registration form must be completed each time you wish to access the training.
The training will take approximately 60 minutes to complete. If you exit out of the training before you finish, your progress may not be saved.
Deberá completar el formulario de registro a continuación para acceder a la capacitación de Virginia Guardian. Una vez que te registres, aparecerá un mensaje con un enlace para acceder a la formación. El formulario de inscripción debe completarse cada vez que desee acceder a la capacitación.
La capacitación tardará aproximadamente 60 minutos en completarse. Si sales del entrenamiento antes de terminar, es posible que tu progreso no se guarde.
English
To request the training in Vietnamese, Arabic, Chinese, or Korean, please complete the request and registration form by clicking the button below.
Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
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عربي (Arabic)
لطلب التدريب باللغة العربية، يرجى تعبئة نموذج الطلب والتسجيل بالضغط على الزر أدناه
中国人 (Chinese)
如需申请中文培训，请点击下面的按钮填写申请表和注册表。
한국인 (Korean)
한국어 교육을 요청하려면 아래 버튼을 클릭하여 요청 및 등록 양식을 작성하십시오.
What happens after I complete the training?
A certificate will be available for you to print or save electronically at the end of the training. Please save the certificate for your records.
The “Report of Guardian for an Incapacitated Person” form, often referred to as the annual report, was updated on July 1, 2025, to include a statement as to whether the guardian or any skilled professional has completed the training. You will indicate whether you have completed the training when the initial or annual report is due. An updated version of the form can be found on the Resource page.
How do I access the Resource page?
DARS created several resources that have been made available to all guardians and skilled professionals. The resources can be accessed at any time, and they are not required as part of the Virginia Guardian Training.
Attorneys Seeking Credit Hours
The Virginia Guardian Training has been approved by the Virginia Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Board for 1 hour of credit. This credit does not apply to the area of legal ethics or professionalism. Attorneys who completed the Virginia Guardian Training for the 2025 reporting year are not eligible to retake the course for MCLE credit in 2026, as the content remains the same.
In addition, this course has been approved by the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court of Virginia for 1 hour of continuing education for guardians ad litem (GAL).
Attorneys must send a copy of their certificate of completion to guardianship@dars.virginia.gov after they complete the training. The email must indicate which credit is requested. A Certification of Attendance form will be emailed in return within (5) business days.
What if I have questions or need assistance?
Please contact Ellie Rest, Guardian Training Program Coordinator, by calling 757-634-2918 or emailing guardianship@dars.virginia.gov for any questions about the Virginia Guardian Training or accommodations needed to complete the training.
Also, you may find answers by reviewing the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below.
FAQs
The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation in 2024 that requires the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) to develop and implement training for guardians.
All guardians of incapacitated adults and any skilled professionals retained by a guardian to perform duties on behalf of the guardian must complete the training.
A skilled professional is someone retained or hired by a guardian to perform guardianship duties on behalf of the guardian. For example, if a guardian hires a professional to conduct visits every 120 days on the guardian’s behalf, the professional is considered a skilled professional for the purposes of the Virginian Guardian Training.
No. Unless facility staff are performing guardian duties on behalf of a guardian, then professionals providing a service to the incapacitated adult are not considered skilled professionals for the purposes of the Virginia Guardian Training.
Yes. Under the new legislation, all guardians must complete the training.
Yes. All guardians must complete the training.
Guardians appointed on or after July 1, 2025, must complete the training within 120 days after qualification. Guardians appointed on or before June 30, 2025, must complete the training no later than January 1, 2027. The same dates apply to skilled professionals.
While users work at their own pace, the training will take approximately 60 minutes to complete. DARS recommends completing the training in one sitting when possible as your progress may not be saved if you exit the training before completing it.
It is free for all users.
The training is available online and can be accessed at your convenience. Visit the Virginia Guardian Training webpage and complete the brief Guardian Training Registration Form. Once you submit the registration form, a link will appear that will take you to the training.
No. DARS recommends you keep a copy for your records. The “Report of Guardian for an Incapacitated Person” form, often referred to as the “Annual Report,” was updated and released on July 1, 2025. The guardian will indicate their training status on the form when the next Annual Report is due.
Yes, the training is open and available to anyone.
Yes! Please visit the Virginia Guardian Training Resource page for tools, guides, and links to other webpages related to guardianship.
This program is managed by the Division for Community Living.