How to Become a Counselor in West Virginia

As in many states, counselors in West Virginia who have obtained their licensure are known as licensed professional counselors (LPCs). The state’s premier professional organization for LPCs is the West Virginia Counseling Association, a branch of the American Counseling Association whose mission is “to enhance the quality of individual life in our society by promoting the development of professional counselors, advancing the counseling profession, and using the profession and practice of counseling to promote respect for human dignity.”

Licensure for LPCs is managed by the Wes Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling. Licensure requirements for counselors in West Virginia, including education, supervision, examination, fees, renewal and “licensure reciprocity,” are examined in detail below, along with salary information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and scholarships and loan repayment programs available to LPCs in the state.

Sponsored Online Counseling Programs

Northwestern University

The Family Institute at Northwestern University

info

Master of Arts in Counseling

Earn a CACREP-accredited master’s in counseling online from top-9 ranked1 Northwestern University.
 

1U.S. News & World Report: 2022 Best National University Rankings 

  • CACREP Accredited
  • Earn your MA in Counseling from Northwestern in as few as 18 months
  • Accelerated full-time, traditional, or part-time tracks available

New York University

NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development

info

Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance

Learn more about NYU Steinhardt’s online MA degree that prepares you to become a school counselor in as few as 18 months. Graduates can pursue certification and employment in pre-K–12 schools. Bachelor’s req.

  • Complete in as few as 18 months.
  • Pursue school counselor certification.
  • Study bilingual school counseling (optional). 
  • GRE scores are not required. 

infoSPONSORED

Counselor Education in West Virginia

To be licensed as a professional counselor in West Virginia, you must complete a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling from an institution accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, National Council on Accreditation for Teacher Education, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Council on Rehabilitation Education or a comparable accrediting body.

Appropriate degree programs will be 60 semester hours of graduate coursework (PDF, 147 KB) with a minimum of three semester hours in each of the following content areas:

  1. Counseling theories
  2. Counseling techniques
  3. Human growth and development
  4. Social and cultural foundations
  5. Individual appraisal
  6. Professional responsibilities
  7. Principles of etiology, assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and prevention of mental and emotional disorders and dysfunctional behavior
  8. Addictions counseling
  9. Group dynamics
  10. Lifestyle and career development
  11. Marriage, couples or family counseling
  12. Research and evaluation
  13. Supervised practicum
  14. Supervised internship

Additional required elective coursework should be in:

  1. Human sexuality
  2. Psychopharmacology
  3. Crisis intervention
  4. Biological basis of behavior
  5. Counseling special populations
  6. Rehabilitation counseling
  7. Counseling interventions
  8. Additional or advanced courses in any required curriculum category listed in section 6.1.b.1 through 14

Internship Requirements

In addition to the coursework listed above, LPC licensure in West Virginia requires the completion of a supervised practicum and internship. These requirements are distinct from post graduate supervision, which is also necessary for licensure.

(Back to Top)

Supervision Hours

“Supervision” is shorthand for directed, post graduate experience in professional counseling under supervision in a work setting. LPC licensure in West Virginia requires the completion of 3,000 hours of supervision for holders of master’s degrees and 1,500 hours for holders of doctoral degrees. At least 50% of those hours must be in direct client contact, and there should be one hour of supervised direction from an approved supervisor for every 20 hours of practice.

(Back to Top)

Examinations

LPC licensure in West Virginia requires a passing score on the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification, the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Exam or the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Exam.

National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)

The NCE is a 200-question, multiple-choice exam administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors. It assesses knowledge, skills and abilities in effective counseling services.

National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Exam (NCMHCE)

The NCMHCE tests knowledge of assessment, diagnosis, counseling, psychotherapy, administration, consultation and supervision. It consists of 10 clinical mental health counseling cases and assesses clinical problem-solving ability by testing identification, analysis and treatment. It is also administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors.

Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) Exam

The CRC exam consists of 175 multiple-choice questions across 10 subjects underlying rehabilitation counseling. One portion of the exam tests knowledge regarding counseling, while the other pertains to rehabilitation and disability issues. It is administered by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.

(Back to Top)

LPC Licensure Fees

LPCs in West Virginia can expect to pay the following fees (PDF, 114 KB) for their application, license and renewal:

LPC License Application: $250

LPC Temporary Permit: $50

LPC Initial License: $220 (Prorated)

LPC Annual License Renewal: $145

LPC Late License Renewal: $100

LPC Licensure by Endorsement Application: $300

(Back to Top)

LPC License Renewal

LPC licenses in West Virginia expire biennially on July 1 of each odd-numbered year. License renewal requires payment of the appropriate fees and the completion of continuing education.

Continuing Education

West Virginia LPCs must complete 35 hours of continuing education (CE) during each two-year renewal period. At least three of these hours must focus on related ethics. CE hours may be earned through graduate courses, publication of journal articles, publication of books, graduate course instruction, agency training, presentations, supervision and home study.

(Back to Top)

Additional Information

For Counselors Licensed in Other States

The West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling has an alternative route to licensure for counselors who have already obtained their licenses in other parts of the United States. This process is called “licensure by endorsement (PDF, 221 KB).” Out-of-state applicants are required to submit an application, copies of graduate education, exam results, two professional recommendation forms and the appropriate fee.

(Back to Top)

Average Counselor Salary in West Virginia

Counselors in West Virginia earned the following mean hourly and annual wages in May 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Type of CounselorAverage Hourly WageAverage Annual Wage
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder and Mental Health Counselors
$19.96
$41,520
Educational, Guidance, School and Vocational Counselors
$24.57
$51,110
Rehabilitation Counselors
$20.42
$42,480
All Other Counselors
$17.83
$37,080

(Back to Top)

West Virginia Counseling Scholarships

The following scholarships and loan repayment programs are available to LPCs in West Virginia:

  • Type: Scholarships
  • Amount: To Be Decided
  • Description: The American Psychological Association (APA), with funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, offers assistance to students enrolled full time in APA-accredited doctoral programs who have a strong commitment to a career in ethnic minority behavioral health services or policy.
  • Type: Scholarships
  • Amount: Up to $1,000 for multiple recipients
  • Description: This award from the American Psychological Foundation is available to one full-time graduate student in good standing at an accredited university who has demonstrated a commitment to stigma issues.
  • Type: Loan Repayments
  • Amount: Between $25,000 and $100,000
  • Description: West Virginia LPCs are eligible to apply for loan repayment assistance in exchange for working in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) at a site approved by the National Health Service Corps. Funding is tied to HPSA score and is in exchange for two years of full- or half-time service.
  • Type: Scholarships
  • Amount: To Be Decided
  • Description: The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program provides funds to schools, which in turn offer scholarships to full-time, financially needy students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are studying professional counseling, among other health professions.

(Back to Top)

*Licensure information including requirements, renewals, scholarships and fees were retrieved as of July 2022. Information may have changed since, check with the state’s board of licensing for more information.

Last updated: July 2022