How to Become a Clinical Mental Health Counselor in West Virginia: A Guide

A career as a clinical mental health counselor in West Virginia comes with excellent growth prospects. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts counselor jobs will grow by 18% in the U.S. from 2022 to 2032. This positive outlook makes it an ideal time to enter this fulfilling profession.

The path to becoming a licensed professional counselor in West Virginia follows clear steps. You’ll need to complete a graduate degree in Counseling from a CACREP-accredited program. The state requires 3,000 hours of supervised work over two years. At least 1,500 of these hours must involve direct client contact. Your earning potential will vary by specialty. Substance abuse counselors earn around $41,520 yearly, while educational counselors can make about $51,110 annually.

This piece outlines all requirements, educational paths, and licensing steps you need to build your career in this growing field. The information here will help you establish your practice in West Virginia, whether you’re starting your education or relocating to the state.

Types of Licensure in West Virginia

West Virginia’s tiered licensing system creates a clear path to become a clinical mental health counselor. You’ll need to know these different license types to plan your career path in mental health.

The West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling manages the licensing process for counselors statewide. This board sets the standards for education, training, and character requirements for Licensed Counselors and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists. The board also holds hearings and handles license decisions to protect West Virginia citizens’ welfare.

Mental health professionals in West Virginia can get these counseling licenses:

• Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC/PLC) – This is the first credential you can get after completing your master’s degree and passing required exams. You’ll need supervision while gaining experience toward full licensure. The provisional license lets you provide counseling services under supervision.
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – You’ll get this full, independent license after meeting all educational, exam, and supervision requirements. This credential allows independent practice with ongoing education requirements.
• Temporary Permit – This permit helps counselors who are waiting to finish exams or transfer credentials from other states. You can practice under supervision for a limited time.
• Licensure by Endorsement – Already licensed in another state? This option helps you transfer your credentials to West Virginia. You won’t need to restart the licensing process if you meet state standards.

West Virginia also offers special credentials for different counseling fields. LPC credentials work for mental health counselors and professionals from school counseling and rehabilitation counseling backgrounds.

Marriage and family therapists need a graduate degree in marriage and family therapy from a CACREP, COAMFTE, or similar accredited program. School counselors take a different route – they need certification from the West Virginia Department of Education with a student support certificate. The West Virginia Certification Board for Addiction and Prevention Professionals offers two levels for substance abuse counselors: Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) and Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC).

The application fee structure breaks down like this:

• LPC License Application: $250
• LPC Temporary Permit: $50
• LPC Initial License (prorated): $220
• LPC Annual License Renewal: $145
• LPC Late License Renewal: $100
• LPC Licensure by Endorsement Application: $300

Your license stays active by completing 35 hours of continuing education every two years. This must include at least three hours of ethics training. These requirements keep you up-to-date with the latest professional standards.

Earn Your Degree

A graduate degree is the first step to becoming a clinical mental health counselor in West Virginia. The state has set specific and strict educational requirements to help you gain expertise in providing mental health services.

You need a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling from an accredited institution. West Virginia requires programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or similar accrediting bodies. Your program should include 60 semester hours of graduate coursework that covers both theory and practical skills.

Several West Virginia schools offer CACREP-accredited counseling programs with clinical mental health specializations:

West Virginia University (WVU) has a Master of Science in Counseling program that focuses on Clinical Mental Health. Students can attend classes on campus or online. The program prepares you to work in hospitals, outpatient centers, non-profits, private practices, community agencies, and government institutions. Full-time students usually finish in two years, while part-time students might take up to four years.

Marshall University runs a fully online Master of Arts program in counseling that takes 60 credit hours. The program combines self-paced and live classes to meet professional counselor licensure requirements.

West Virginia Wesleyan College provides a 60-credit Master of Arts in Counseling through online group learning. Classes mix live and recorded online sessions, with about 2.5 hours of required live instruction each week.

Your coursework must cover these key areas, whatever program you choose:

• Counseling theories and techniques
• Human growth and development
• Social and cultural foundations
• Individual appraisal
• Professional responsibilities
• Diagnosis and treatment planning
• Addictions counseling
• Group dynamics
• Lifestyle and career development
• Marriage, couples, or family counseling
• Research and evaluation

Programs also include supervised practicum and internship work. These hands-on experiences help you develop practical counseling skills with professional guidance.

Most programs put students in groups that move through advanced coursework together. This shared learning environment helps you build strong professional relationships that benefit your future practice.

Programs focus on personal growth along with academic excellence and counseling skills. This integrated approach helps you develop self-awareness and emotional intelligence needed for effective counseling.

Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. Some programs want a grade of B- or higher in every course. You must also show you can handle professional counselor duties and display the personal qualities and ethical standards needed for effective therapeutic relationships.

After completing your program, you’ll be ready to seek licensure as a professional counselor in West Virginia, having met all educational requirements for the licensing process.

Get Licensed

Getting your clinical mental health counselor license in West Virginia is the next big step after completing your graduate degree. The West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling manages this detailed process to make sure all practitioners meet high professional standards.

You’ll need to submit your application to the Board through their electronic application system, which launched in October 2023. Before that, request a licensure packet – you should get it within seven days. Make sure your application has official transcripts sent straight from your school, two professional recommendations on Board forms, and personal reference letters from people not connected to your professional recommendations.

The fees break down like this: $250 for the original LPC License Application, $50 if you need a Temporary Permit, and $220 for the LPC Initial License (prorated). Licensed counselors from other states pay $300 for the Licensure by Endorsement Application.

After your educational credentials check out, you must pass one of these three exams:

• The National Counselor Examination (NCE) – a 200-question multiple-choice exam that tests knowledge and skills in effective counseling services
• The National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) – tests assessment, diagnosis, counseling, and psychotherapy knowledge through clinical case studies
• The Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Exam (CRC) – consists of 175 multiple-choice questions covering rehabilitation counseling topics

The Board needs to approve your exam registration. You’ll need a signed form and $195 for the fee. You can take these computer-based exams at approved centers during two weeks each month.

Supervised experience is the base of full licensure. Master’s degree holders must complete 3,000 supervised hours, while doctoral degree holders need 1,500 hours. Half of these hours must be direct client contact, and you need one hour of supervision for every 20 hours of practice. This happens under a provisional license that lasts 36 months and can be extended for 24 more months if needed.

Good moral character is essential to get your license. You’ll need a criminal background check. Anyone with a felony conviction or crime with moral turpitude must show proof of rehabilitation and current fitness to practice.

A temporary permit costs $50 if you want to practice while finishing other requirements. This permit lasts up to six months without renewal options. You must have supervision during this time, and these hours count toward your required supervised experience.

The Board reviews your final license application once you complete your education, examination, and supervised experience. Your license needs renewal every two years with 35 hours of continuing education, including three hours of ethics training. Renewal costs $145 yearly, with a $100 penalty for late submissions.

Find Employment

The job market for clinical mental health counselors in West Virginia looks bright with plenty of opportunities in many sectors. Mental health counselor jobs will grow by 28% through 2030, creating lots of openings for qualified professionals throughout the state.

Mental health counselors in West Virginia earn $47,520 on average per year. Your earnings can go up with specialization or if you work in urban areas. Substance abuse counselors make about $41,520 yearly, while educational counselors can earn up to $51,110 per year.

You’ll find many work settings once you get your license:

• Healthcare Facilities: Hospitals and healthcare clinics are always looking for counselors to help with patient mental health needs.
• Government and Nonprofit Organizations: These places offer essential mental health services and often pay the highest wages for mental health counselors nationwide.
• Telehealth Services: Many providers now offer telemedicine options in West Virginia, so LPCs can help patients remotely.
• Private Practice: Starting your own practice lets you serve different community needs.
• Correctional Facilities: You can work as a correctional counselor with incarcerated populations.
• Educational Institutions: Schools and higher education settings need counselors too.

West Virginia will be short of 250-280 full-time mental health counselors by 2030. This makes it a great time to start your career. The ongoing opioid crisis has created more openings for substance abuse counselors.

The West Virginia Counseling Association can boost your professional experience. Members get access to networking events, workshops, and conferences to stay up-to-date with field developments.

State-sponsored career fairs and mental health initiatives are great ways to meet potential employers. You can find job listings specifically for LPCs on the West Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors Association (WVLPCA) website.

The Behavioral Health Workforce initiatives offer chances to grow professionally. The state provides helpful resources like the WV Mental and Behavioral Health Pathways Guide and Career Pathways Video Series to help you develop.

Working in West Virginia gives you a chance to help underserved communities and build trust that leads to better mental health outcomes. Rural and underserved areas often offer better job security and sometimes higher wages for counselors who choose to practice there.

Remain Compliant

Getting your clinical mental health counselor license in West Virginia comes with the responsibility to follow state regulations. You need to meet professional standards throughout your career under the supervision of the West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling.

Continuing education is the base of keeping your license active. Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) need to complete 35 hours of continuing education every two years. Here’s what those hours should include:

• 3 hours must cover ethics
• 2 hours should focus on mental health conditions affecting veterans and their families
• You can complete 20 hours through home study

LPCs who supervise others must take an extra 3 hours of supervision training every two years. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) follow similar requirements, with one difference – their ethics training must focus on marriage and family therapy.

The West Virginia Board has made license renewal easier by launching an electronic system that eliminates paper applications. You can renew your license and pay fees online. The system will send you automatic email reminders about upcoming renewal deadlines to help you stay on track.

The annual license renewal costs $145. Your license will expire if you don’t renew by June 30. Missing this deadline leads to these additional costs:

• Within 60 days: $145 renewal fee plus $100 late fee
• After 60 days: $145 renewal fee plus $100 late fee and $250 reinstatement fee

Working with an expired license could be considered unlicensed practice – a serious violation. Note that your continuing education must come from providers approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). The Board accepts several education formats, including graduate courses, journal publications, presentations, and supervision.

Staying compliant will give you legal authorization to practice and helps you keep up with the latest developments in clinical mental health counseling.

Next Steps

A career as a clinical mental health counselor in West Virginia brings both professional satisfaction and stable employment. The field expects 18% job growth through 2032, which shows the growing need for qualified mental health professionals throughout the state. Your path starts with a CACREP-accredited master’s degree. You’ll then need to pass rigorous examinations and complete 3,000 hours of supervised practice. This well-laid-out process will give you both theoretical knowledge and practical skills to help others effectively.

The state’s tiered licensing system lets you advance clearly from Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor to full LPC status. Once licensed, you’ll find many job opportunities in healthcare facilities, government organizations, schools, and private practice. Mental health services are valued here, with an average annual salary of $47,520. This is especially important as the state tackles critical needs in substance abuse counseling and rural communities that lack services.

You’ll need 35 hours of continuing education every two years to keep your professional status current. This includes specific training in ethics and veterans’ mental health conditions. These requirements help you stay updated with the latest practices while meeting regulatory standards.

Your work as a mental health counselor means more than just career growth. The biggest reward comes from helping address West Virginia’s mental health challenges. Your commitment to ethical practice, continuous learning, and compassionate care makes you vital to the state’s healthcare system. You’ll help people find their way to better mental health with dignity and hope.