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.
Licensure for LPCs is managed by the West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling. Licensure requirements for counselors in West Virginia, including education, supervision, examination, fees, renewal, and licensure by endorsement, 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.
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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 with a program accredited by CACREP, CAEP, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, or a comparable accrediting body recognized by the board. Acceptable graduate degrees include a specialization in clinical mental health counseling, marriage and family counseling, pastoral counseling, rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, and substance abuse or addictions counseling
Appropriate degree programs will be 60 semester hours of graduate coursework with a minimum of three semester hours in each of the following content areas:
- Counseling theories
- Counseling techniques
- Human growth and development
- Social and cultural foundations
- Individual appraisal
- Professional responsibilities
- Principles of etiology, assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and prevention of mental and emotional disorders and dysfunctional behavior
- Addictions counseling
- Group dynamics
- Lifestyle and career development
- Marriage, couples or family counseling
- Research and evaluation
- Supervised practicum
- Supervised internship
Additional required elective coursework should be in:
- Human sexuality
- Psychopharmacology
- Crisis intervention
- Biological basis of behavior
- Counseling special populations
- Rehabilitation counseling
- Counseling interventions
- Additional or advanced courses in any required curriculum category listed in the West Virginia standards 27CSR1
Supervised Practicum Requirements
In addition to the coursework listed above, LPC licensure in West Virginia requires completion of a supervised practicum, also known as an internship. These requirements are distinct from postgraduate supervision, which is also necessary for licensure. West Virginia defines a supervised practicum as counseling clients and groups under the direction of a graduate faculty member who is a licensed professional counselor or a related mental health professional. This may include critiquing of counseling, either observed or recorded on audio or videotape.
Post-Degree Supervision
“Supervision” is shorthand for directed, postgraduate experience in professional counseling under supervision in a work setting. LPC licensure in West Virginia requires 3,000 hours of supervised counseling experience after a master’s degree. At least 50% of those hours must be in direct client contact, and at least one hour of direct individual supervision is required for every 20 hours of practice. Applicants may receive up to 600 hours of internship credit toward the 3,000-hour master ’s-level requirement.
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 another exam as approved by the board.
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 assesses an entry-level clinical mental health counselor’s ability to apply knowledge through clinical case studies. In the current format, each case study includes one narrative and 9–15 multiple-choice questions.
LPC Licensure Fees
LPC’s in West Virginia can expect to pay the following fees (PDF, 112 KB):
- LPC Initial License: $250. This fee is prorated based on the date the license is issued and the number of quarters remaining in the current annual renewal cycle.
- LPC Licensure by Endorsement Application: $300
- LPC License Application: $250
- LPC Annual License Renewal: $145
- LPC Late License Renewal: $100
LPC License Renewal
LPC licenses in West Virginia must be renewed annually by June 30. Continuing education is completed on a biennial cycle, and renewal requires payment of the appropriate fees.
Continuing Education
West Virginia LPCs must complete 35 continuing education hours every biennium, including at least 3 hours in ethics and 2 hours focused on veterans and their family members. The board also limits home-study credit to 20 hours per biennium, requires that at least 20 hours be obtained by attending training or programs offered by others, and does not allow excess CE hours to roll over into the next renewal period. LPCs in West Virginia can review the full details on all acceptable continuing education types here: West Virginia LPC License Renewal CE Rule.
Additional Information
For Counselors Licensed in Other States
The West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling offers an alternative route to licensure for counselors who have already obtained licensure in other U.S. jurisdictions. This process is called licensure by endorsement. Out-of-state applicants are required to submit an application, copies of their graduate education, exam results, two professional recommendation forms, and the appropriate fee.
Counselor Salary in West Virginia
According to wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Maps: West Virginia, the following counselor occupations in West Virginia report the following median annual wages:
| Type of Counselor | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $55,420 |
Marriage and Family Therapists | $48,180 |
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors | $46,710 |
Rehabilitation Counselors | $44,220 |
Counselors, All Other | $41,740 |
West Virginia Counseling Scholarships
The following scholarships and loan repayment programs are available to LPCs in West Virginia:
Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS)
- Type: Scholarships
- Amount: Varies by school
- Description: The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program helps participating health professions and nursing schools provide scholarship funding to students from disadvantaged backgrounds with financial need. Prospective grad students typically do not apply directly to the federal government; instead, they can ask their school’s financial aid office whether this funding is available through their program.
National Health Service Corps State Loan Repayment Program (NHSC SLRP)
- Type: Loan Repayment
- Amount: Varies by state program
- Description: West Virginia residents may qualify for loan repayment through the National Health Service Corps State Loan Repayment Program. Funding helps eligible behavioral health and other health care professionals repay student loans after graduation, especially for those planning to work in underserved communities.
APA Interdisciplinary Minority Fellowship Program (IMFP)
- Type: Fellowship
- Amount: Not specified on the program page
- Description: The APA Interdisciplinary Minority Fellowship Program supports master’s and doctoral students in behavioral health fields, including mental health counseling, who are committed to improving care for underserved communities. In addition to professional development and mentoring, the program is designed for students planning careers that address mental health and substance use disparities among ethnic and racial minority populations.
Predoctoral Fellowship in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (MHSAS-Doc)
- Type: Fellowship
- Amount: $27,144 stipend
- Description: The American Psychological Association, with funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, offers this fellowship to full-time students in APA-accredited doctoral programs in psychology who are committed to careers serving underserved and underrepresented communities. The program provides financial support, mentoring, and professional development for future behavioral health professionals.
*Licensure information, including requirements, renewals, scholarships, and fees, was retrieved as of March 2026. Information may have changed since then; check with the state’s board of licensing for more details.
Information last updated: March 2026