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
20
home study / self-study hours cap
15
in person hours cap
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. |
| Format limits | Up to 15 hours may be completed in person. |
| New licensees | First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically. |
| Approved providers | Qualifying CE may be offered or sponsored by national professional association and accredited university and recognized associations in counseling. |
| 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. |
Full board policy details
- At least 20 of the 35 hours must be from offerings other than those taught, conducted, produced, or presented by the licensee.
- Maximum 20 contact hours per biennium may be earned through home study programs. Only home study programs pre-approved by NBCC or ACA qualify.
- Maximum 15 contact hours per biennium may be earned through CE presented by the licensee's own employing agency personnel. CE delivered at the licensee's agency by an out-of-agency presenter does not count against this cap.
- Interactive webinars and live teleconferencing are treated as live instruction, not home study. Online (virtual) and in-person delivery are both acceptable for required hours.
- First-renewal ethics rule: the 3 ethics hours in a licensee's first renewal cycle must be earned in a formal program with an approved presenter (live or interactive), not via home study. In subsequent cycles ethics hours may be completed via approved home study.
- Programs pre-approved by NBCC or ACA are automatically accepted by the Board. Academic graduate coursework in counseling at accredited institutions counts at 15 hours per semester credit hour (10 per quarter hour). NBCC, ACA, accredited graduate counseling programs, and WVBEC-approved providers.
- Course repeat restrictions: credit for first-time preparation and presentation of a workshop, seminar, or conference is granted only once per biennium — a given presentation can be counted only once per biennium. Teaching a graduate course earns CE only if it is outside the licensee's regular duties or newly developed. Authoring a published journal article (10 hrs) or book (up to 30 hrs) counts only in the period of publication; credit for multiple authors is divided equally. Identical learning activities cannot be repeated for additional credit within the same cycle.
- License status — Inactive: a licensee on approved inactive status (LPC-I) is exempt from CE while inactive but may not practice. To return to active status, the licensee must document 35 hours of CE in the two years preceding reactivation, including 3 hours in ethics and 2 hours in veterans' mental health. Inactivity exceeding 5 years may subject the licensee to additional CE, supervision, and/or coursework at the Board's discretion.
- License status — Retired: a licensee in retired status (LPC-Retired) is exempt from CE while retired but may not practice. Reactivation requires meeting current CE requirements, comparable to reactivation from inactive status.
- No carryover of excess CE hours from one biennium to the next is permitted.
We turn all of this (every category, format limit, and one-time rule) 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. Up to 15 hours may be completed in person.
Is the first renewal different for new West Virginia LPC licensees?
First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically.
Sources & verification
- State source
- West Virginia board rule
- Profession source
- NBCC continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- May 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.1
Reviewed against the West Virginia board source and refreshed from the compiled ruleset above. Methodology and disclaimer. Compliance data is informational only and not legal or board advice. Always verify requirements with your licensing board before you renew. See something wrong? Report it →
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