Counseling Degrees & Licenses in West Virginia
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West Virginia, a small state in Appalachia featuring a population of nearly two million people, experiences several challenges within its mental healthcare system and thus offers ample opportunity for recent graduates seeking to contribute their skills to the effective functioning of the state healthcare system.
Specific issues that challenge the state’s healthcare system include a high rate of poverty, a relatively low rate of digital connectivity and a shortage of professionals specializing in substance abuse treatment. A high poverty rate also makes it challenging to generate the funds to maintain existing infrastructure and invest in new infrastructure.
Shortages in the availability of both primary care practitioners and behavioral health specialists contribute to long waiting times to access treatment. Additional factors contributing to poor health outcomes include aggressive marketing efforts by the tobacco industry, a prevailing perception of limited economic opportunity within the state, and limited transportation infrastructure that makes it difficult to efficiently access care.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2023), most West Virginians (53.1 percent) receive no mental health treatment. The state fares especially poorly regarding youth outcomes; Mental Health America ranks the state 20th for this population based on metrics such as the prevalence of mental illness and rates of access to care. West Virginia also has one of the highest rates of deaths of despair, namely deaths attributable to suicide, drug overdoses, and alcohol-related disease.
Current efforts to enhance the state’s mental healthcare system include adopting telehealth programming and workforce retention programs designed to incentivize skilled professionals to remain in West Virginia. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023), openings for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors are forecast to increase 18 percent nationally from 2022 to 2032.
Read on to discover how to join various counseling careers in West Virginia, including detailed information about academic programs and licensing.
Accredited Counseling Degree Programs in West Virginia
West Virginia University (Online Options)
The West Virginia University (WVU) School of Counseling and Well-Being offers a 63-credit master of arts in counseling degree. The program offers two study tracks: clinical mental health counseling and school counseling. Students may subsequently select an Area of Emphasis (AOE) from one of three options: community agency, school counseling, or clinical mental health.
- Clinical mental health counseling (CMHC) – Graduates of this program receive the training necessary to become licensed professional counselors.
- School counseling – This program trains professional counselors to work with student populations ranging from pre-K to adults. Graduates of this program are also trained to effectively work with numerous stakeholders, including parents, teachers, school administrators, and varied members of the larger local community. The curriculum is designed based on the American School Counselor Association’s (ASCA) National Model and the West Virginia Comprehensive Developmental School Counseling Program Model.
WVU also offers a low-residency, 63-credit master of science degree program in clinical rehabilitation and mental health counseling. This program is largely online with only two visits to campus required. Graduates of this program develop extensive skills to effectively work with various people with disabilities.
- Location: Morgantown, WV
- Duration: Two years or more, depending on full-time or part-time status
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Tuition: Resident part-time, $673 per credit
Marshall University (Online Options)
The Marshall University College of Education and Professional Development offers a 60-credit master of arts degree in counseling. Students may choose one of two emphases: clinical mental health or school counseling. For those pursuing clinical mental health counseling, the 60-credit requirement is based upon a standard maintained by the West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling.
- Clinical mental health – Graduates of this program may apply for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential. To become an LPC, graduates must complete post-graduate supervision and pass either the National Counselor Exam (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Exam (NCMHCE)
- School counseling – Graduates of this program are eligible to apply for a license, a certification or both. The LPC-WV license is granted through the West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling. Prior to licensure, applicants must complete post-graduate supervision and pass the National Counselor Exam (NCE). The West Virginia Department of Education offers a Pre-K-Adult School Counseling Certification. Applicants for this certification must pass the PRAXIS II Professional School Counselor Examination (5421).
Students interested in other professional development opportunities may elect to complete a five-course program to receive a graduate certificate of advanced studies in the topics of violence, loss, and trauma counseling. This certificate equips professionals to develop skills related to trauma-informed mental health counseling.
- Location: Huntington and South Charlestown, WV
- Duration: Three years or more
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- Tuition: Resident students, $4,580 per semester; non-resident students, $11,012 per semester; metro residents, $7,917 per semester
How Much Do Counselors Earn in West Virginia?
These numbers represent the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data from May 2022—the latest data available as of December 2023.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologist Salaries
| United States | West Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 62,880 | 620 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $102,740 | $72,720 |
| 10th percentile | $42,460 | $37,080 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $90,130 | $61,010 |
| 90th percentile | $168,790 | $105,510 |
Marriage and Family Therapist Salaries
| United States | West Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 62,080 | No data |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $63,300 | No data |
| 10th percentile | $36,840 | No data |
| 50th percentile (median) | $56,570 | No data |
| 90th percentile | $98,700 | No data |
Rehabilitation Counselor Salaries
| United States | West Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 82,420 | 370 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $46,020 | $44,520 |
| 10th percentile | $29,120 | $30,510 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $39,990 | $38,810 |
| 90th percentile | $71,270 | $72,840 |
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor Salaries
| United States | West Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| Number employed | 308,000 | 1,090 |
| Average annual salary (mean) | $64,200 | $51,220 |
| 10th percentile | $38,280 | $34,390 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $60,140 | $49,850 |
| 90th percentile | $98,530 | $68,950 |
Counseling Professional Associations & Resources in W. Virginia
- West Virginia Counseling Association
- West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling
- West Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors Association
- West Virginia Bureau for Behavioral Health
- American Association for Marriage And Family Therapy, West Virginia
- Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification
Mental Health Counseling (LMHC) Licenses in West Virginia: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling |
West Virginia licenses Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) and Provisional Licensed Professional Counselors (Provisional LPC). The requirements for a Provisional LPC license are:
To receive a full LPC license, candidates must meet the requirements for a provisional license, as well as complete 3,000 hours and two years of supervised work experience. At least 50 percent of the hours must be in direct contact with clients. There must be one hour of supervision for every 20 hours of practice. Up to 600 hours may be credited for a practicum or internship completed during a master’s degree. Doctorate holders need to only complete 1,500 hours and one year. Supervision must be continuous with no more than a six-week break. |
Both full LPC and provisional licenses in West Virginia must be renewed annually by June 30th. The fee for renewal is $145. Every two years, counselors must complete 35 continuing education hours. Three of those hours must be in ethics, and two must be related to veterans. |
School Counseling Licenses in West Virginia
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia Department of Education | The West Virginia Department of Education issues a student support certificate to school counselors. The requirements for an initial certificate are:
| The initial school counselor certificate issued in West Virginia is valid for three years. To renew, applicants must:
A renewal license is valid for five years. School counselors may apply for a permanent license after two five-year certificates, turning 60 years old, or earning a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification. |
Substance Abuse Counseling Licenses in West Virginia
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
West Virginia Certification Board for Addiction and Prevention Professionals (WVCBAPP) | The West Virginia Certification Board for Addiction and Prevention Professionals (WVCBAPP) certifies Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) and Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC). ADC certificate candidates must:
AADC license candidates must:
|
Recertification for ADC and AADCs in Virginia is required every two years. Both recertifications cost $175. Counselors are required to complete 40 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle, including six hours of ethics |
Rehabilitation Counseling Licenses in West Virginia
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
West Virginia rehabilitation counselors are either Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) or Provisional Licensed Professional Counselors (Provisional LPC). The requirements for a Provisional LPC license are:
To receive a full LPC license, candidates must meet the requirements for a provisional license, as well as complete 3,000 hours and two years of supervised work experience. At least 50 percent of the hours must be direct contact with clients. There must be one hour of supervision for every 20 hours of practice. Up to 600 hours may be credited for a practicum or internship completed during a master’s degree. Doctorate holders need to only complete 1,500 hours and one year. Supervision must be continuous with no more than a six-week break. |
Both full LPC and provisional licenses in West Virginia must be renewed annually by June 30th. The fee for renewal is $145. Every two years, counselors must complete 35 continuing education hours. Three of those hours must be in ethics, and two must be related to veterans. |
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Licenses in West Virginia
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) for national certification | Currently, there are no state certification or licensing requirements for applied behavior analysts in West Virginia. However, the 2018 Applied Behavioral Analysis law stipulates that for ABA therapy to be reimbursable by insurance, it must be provided by a BCBA-certified provider. |
Those providing ABA therapy in West Virginia who want to bill insurance will need to maintain a BCBA certification and meet those continuing education standards. |
Marriage and Family Therapy Licenses in West Virginia
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling |
West Virginia credentials Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) and Provisional Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (Provisional LMFT). The requirements for a Provisional LMFT license are:
To receive a full LMFT license, candidates must meet the requirements for a provisional license, as well as:
|
Both full LMFT and provisional licenses in West Virginia must be renewed annually by June 30th. The fee for a renewal is $145. Every two years, counselors must complete 35 continuing education hours. Three of those hours must be in ethics, and two must be related to veterans. |
Child (Pediatric) Behavioral Therapy Licenses in West Virginia
| Licensing Authority | Eligibility & Details | Renewal Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
West Virginia child therapists are either Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) or Provisional Licensed Professional Counselors (Provisional LPC). The requirements for a Provisional LPC license are:
To receive a full LPC license, candidates must meet the requirements for a provisional license, as well as complete 3,000 hours and two years of supervised work experience. At least 50 percent of the hours must be direct contact with clients. There must be one hour of supervision for every 20 hours of practice. Up to 600 hours may be credited for a practicum or internship completed during a master’s degree. Doctorate holders need to only complete 1,500 hours and one year. Supervision must be continuous with no more than a six-week break. |
Both full LPC and provisional licenses in West Virginia must be renewed annually by June 30th. The fee for renewal is $145. Every two years, counselors must complete 35 continuing education hours. Three of those hours must be in ethics, and two must be related to veterans. |
Bernd Geels
WriterBernd Geels is a Berlin, Germany-based freelance writer and artist. He holds an undergraduate degree in atmospheric science and two graduate degrees. He completed his most recent graduate degree in international environmental studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 2011. He is interested in healthcare, climate change, marine conservation, indigenous science and refugee issues. You can reach him directly at [email protected].