West Virginia LPC Continuing Education Requirements
West Virginia counselors must complete 35 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LPC license, including 3 hours of ethics and 2 hours of veterans' mental health.
35
total hours / 2 years
3
ethics hours
2
veterans' mental health hours
Biennial renewal · calculating the next statewide deadline
West Virginia LPC requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 35 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: CE due by June 30 of odd years. |
| Ethics | 3 hours required each cycle. |
| Veterans' Mental Health | 2 hours required each cycle. |
| Format limits | Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study. |
| New licensees | For the first renewal, the three ethics hours must be completed in a formal, in-person program with a presenter. |
| Approved providers | CE must be earned from a board-approved provider. |
| Recordkeeping | Keep CE documentation for 6 years after each renewal. |
| Board audit | The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance. |
| Late renewal | A late renewal allows a 60-day grace period after expiration and a late fee. |
Limits on how the hours are earned
Board caps and floors on where the 35 hours can come from.
- home study / self-studymax 20 hrs
- in-house employer trainingmax 15 hrs
- first time presentationmax 10 hrs
- licensee produced activitymax 15 hrs
Keeping the proof in order: what to keep for a CE audit, with every state’s retention period and what the audit notice asks for.
Full board policy details
- At least 20 hours must come from offerings other than activities taught, conducted, produced, or presented by the licensee. Credits must carry the licensee_produced_activity category for the structured aggregate cap to apply.
- Home study is capped at 20 hours and must be approved by NBCC or ACA.
- Training presented by personnel of the licensee's own employing agency is capped at 15 hours. This is an activity/source classification, not an in-person delivery cap.
- Interactive webinars are not home study, but the first-renewal ethics requirement specifically calls for a formal in-person program.
- First-time workshop or seminar presentation is capped at 10 hours. The rule's first-time restrictions do not create a general attendee repeat-course ban.
- Return from inactive status requires 35 hours from the preceding two years, including three ethics and two veterans-mental-health hours; inactivity beyond five years may trigger additional Board requirements.
We turn every category, format limit, and one-time rule on this page into a live checklist on your West Virginia LPC record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track West Virginia LPC CE free →West Virginia LPC CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do West Virginia LPC licensees need?
West Virginia requires 35 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LPC license. Biennial cycle: CE due by June 30 of odd years.
How many ethics hours are required for West Virginia LPC licensees?
Of the total, 3 hours must be in ethics.
How often do West Virginia LPC licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: CE due by June 30 of odd years.
Are there subject-specific CE requirements for West Virginia LPC licensees?
Yes. In addition to ethics, West Virginia requires 2 hours of veterans' mental health.
Can West Virginia LPC licensees complete CE online or by home study?
Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
Is the first renewal different for new West Virginia LPC licensees?
For the first renewal, the three ethics hours must be completed in a formal, in-person program with a presenter.
Sources & verification
- State source
- West Virginia board rule
- Profession source
- NBCC continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- August 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.2
Reviewed against the West Virginia board source and refreshed from the compiled ruleset above. Methodology and disclaimer. Compliance data is for guidance only, not legal or board advice. Always confirm requirements with your licensing board before renewing. See something wrong? Report it →
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Create your free recordWest Virginiaguides & data
What to keep for a CE audit
What boards ask for in a CE audit, how long each state says to keep certificates, what the notice looks like, and a printable checklist.
West Virginia mental health workforce data
5,546 active providers, or 314 per 100,000 residents, ranked 40 of 51. County density map and free CSV downloads.