Licensed Professional Counselor (professional counselor) · West Virginia · regulated by West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling (WVBEC) · high confidence
| Pre-license credential | Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate |
|---|---|
| Supervised experience | a minimum of 3000 hours of supervised counseling experience, after earning a master's degree (1500 hours after a doctoral degree in counseling) |
| Direct client contact | At least 50% in direct provision of counseling services to clients |
| Supervision | 1 hour direct supervision per 20 hours of practice (≈150 hours for 3,000) |
| Time limit | Associate license valid 36 months, renewable once for 24 months (60 months total) |
| Exams | Board-approved certification exam in counseling (Board accepts NCE, NCMHCE, CRC); exam passed before associate license; score valid 5 years |
Supervision
- How much: 1 hour direct supervision per 20 hours of practice (≈150 hours for 3,000)
- How often: 1 hr per 20 hrs practice; if supervisor not a full-time employee of same agency, at least twice each calendar month
- Who may supervise: Board-approved ALPS: LPC or LMFT licensed at highest level ≥2 yrs, 5 yrs counseling experience, Board-approved supervision training, jurisprudence exam; max 4 supervisees (8 with approval)
When hours count and what to keep
- Before your degree: Up to 600 hours credit toward the 3,000 for master's internship (committee decides); none toward doctoral 1,500
- Paperwork: Supervisor registration contract; verification of supervision forms incl. quarterly reports, supervisor midpoint and final Supervisor Verification and Assessment (SVA)
Can you be supervised remotely in West Virginia?
Only partly. Some supervision or presence must be in person or on site. What shapes this: supervisor on-site rule, state-only supervisor credential, prior board approval.
- Video supervision: The 2026 licensing rule allows supervision in person or by any secured, encrypted telecommunication method (27CSR1 §6.2.3). Direct supervision is defined as face-to-face or secured interactive contact such as telephone or video (§2.4). The Board's older Supervisor Registration Form/Contract (07/2021), still posted, says direct individual supervision 'is in person, face-to-face'. See board_questions.
- Phone only: allowed by the rule definition ('telephone, video, or other contact'), but it conflicts with the 2021 contract form
- In-person minimum: None in the 2026 rule. The 2021 Supervisor Registration contract says individual supervision is in person, face-to-face (conflict; see board_questions).
- Supervisor licensed in West Virginia? not required: the Board's ALPS page says the supervisor can be an LPC licensed in West Virginia or in any state whose LPC requirements are equal or greater (out-of-state supervisors attach a copy of their license)
- Supervisor credential: West Virginia ALPS (Approved Licensed Professional Supervisor). The supervisor must be pre-approved by the Board. Requirements: LPC or LMFT licensed at the highest level for 2 years, 5 years of counseling experience, Board-approved supervision training (15 or 30 contact hours by experience), the jurisprudence exam, and a professional statement.
- Supervisee cap: At most 4 individual applicants per ALPS, or up to 8 total with prior Board approval
- Board approval first: Yes. A supervisor registration contract with a pre-approved ALPS is filed with the application, and a job description is reviewed. In private practice, the informed consent is also reviewed, and all of this is approved before supervision begins. Changes of supervisor or job must be approved before they happen, or hours in between are nullified.
- If you live outside West Virginia: None set by the state
The client’s location decides which state’s rules apply. This is not legal advice; confirm with the board before building a program. Compare every state on the remote-supervision map.
Recent and pending changes
27CSR1 re-filed and effective April 14, 2026 (sunset Aug 1, 2031); creates LPC-Associate with 36+24-month validity.
Where the rules are unclear
West Virginia’s own documents disagree or are silent on these points. Ask the board if they affect you:
- 27CSR1 §6.2.3 (2026) allows supervision 'via any secured, encrypted telecommunication modality', but the posted Supervisor Registration contract (07/2021) says 'Direct individual supervision is in person, face-to-face'. Which governs?
- Does the FAQ requirement that the ALPS or another licensed mental health professional be 'onsite at all times' still apply under 27CSR1 (2026), which has no on-site clause? Can an associate see telehealth clients from home?
- Cadence: the rule says twice per calendar month when the supervisor is outside the practice; the FAQ and form say every 2 weeks with at least 1 hour per week. Which applies?
In the board’s own words
“a minimum of 3000 hours of supervised counseling experience, after earning a master's degree in counseling” — 27CSR1 §6.2✓ matched in the source
“A minimum of one (1) hour of direct supervision is required for every twenty (20) hours of practice.” — 27CSR1 §6.2.3✓ matched in the source
“supervision shall occur at least twice in each calendar month” — 27CSR1 §6.2.3✓ matched in the source
“An associate license is valid for 36 months... may renew their license once for an additional 24 months” — 27CSR1 §7.7✓ matched in the source
“Supervision can be conducted in-person or via any secured, encrypted telecommunication modality.” — 27CSR1 §6.2.3✓ matched in the source
“"Direct counselor supervision" means face to face or secured interactive contact such as telephone, video, or other contact” — 27CSR1 §2.4✓ matched in the source
“Direct individual supervision is in person, face-to-face.” — WVBEC LPC Supervisor Registration Form and Contract (07/2021), item 8✓ matched in the source
“This can be a Licensed Professional Counselor in West Virginia or in any other state where the LPC requirements are equal to or greater” — WVBEC ALPS page✓ matched in the source
“The professional supervisor shall be pre-approved by the Board” — 27CSR1 §6.2.4✓ matched in the source
“may not supervise more than four (4) individual applicants but may have additional supervisees (no more than eight (8) total) with prior Board approval” — 27CSR1 §6.2.3✓ matched in the source
“the ALPS or another licensed mental health professional must be onsite at all times while the provisionally licensed counselor is providing counseling services.” — WVBEC Supervision FAQ✓ matched in the source
“Licensed Professional Counselor-Associates may not own, operate or function as an independent contractor (1099) of a private practice” — 27CSR1 §7.6✓ matched in the source
4 more quotes are in the state explorer.
Other licenses in West Virginia
- LMFT (marriage and family therapist)
- LICSW (clinical social worker)
- Psychologist
- All West Virginia licenses · every state
Sources
- 27CSR1 Licensing Rule (eff. 4/14/2026) §27-1-6.2, 6.2.1–6.2.5
- WVBEC Becoming a Licensed Counselor page
- WVBEC Supervision FAQ
- WVBEC Approved Licensed Professional Supervisor (ALPS) page
- WVBEC LPC Supervisor Registration Form and Contract (07/2021), items 8 and 10, p. 2
- WVBEC Provisional LPC Application (2023), instructions and experience pages
- W. Va. Code §30-31A-1 Counseling Compact purpose (2022 SB 213)
Checked against West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling (WVBEC)’s rules, statutes and publications on September 25, 2026. The board decides; if your situation is unusual, confirm with them.