Updated for 2026

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.

35hours every 2 years
Topic minimums, counted within the 35
3ethics
2veterans' mental health

Next deadline: June 30, 2027The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by June 30 of odd years.

What the board saysWest Virginia board rule
A licensee shall obtain 35 continuing education contact hours1 of approved continuing professional education every biennium … At least 3 of the 35 contact hours shall be in counselor related ethics2 … At least 2 of the 35 contact hours3 shall be in mental health conditions specific to veterans and family members of veterans3 … The Board shall grant a maximum of 20 contact hours4 within each biennium period for home study programs4.
What it means
  1. 35 contact hours every two years
  2. 3 hours of ethics
  3. 2 hours on veterans’ mental health
  4. No more than 20 hours of home study
27CSR3 27-3-4Last verified August 2026Ruleset 2026.2How we verify
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Requirements

West Virginia LPC requirements

Total

35 hoursYou need 35 hours every 2 years. The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by June 30 of odd years.

Topic minimums, counted within the 35

The remaining 30 hours are not tied to a topic minimum.
Ethics
3
You need 3 hours each cycle.
Veterans' Mental Health
2
You need 2 hours each cycle.

Limits on how the hours are earned

Home study / self-study
max 20 hrs
In-house employer training
max 15 hrs
First time presentation
max 10 hrs
Licensee produced activity
max 15 hrs

Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.

Cycle and record rules

Renewal
The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by June 30 of odd years.
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
The board allows a 60-day grace period after expiration. A late renewal adds a late fee.

To keep your proof in order, see what to keep for a CE audit, which covers every state’s retention period and what the audit notice asks for.

Your hours

Check where you stand

Enter the hours you have completed this cycle to see what is left before June 30, 2027.

Your result appears here as you enter hours.

Open the full LPC CE hours calculator

Also hold a West Virginia LMFT or LCSW license? Each board runs its own CE cycle. See the West Virginia LMFT and West Virginia LCSW requirements.

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.

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. The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is 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?

The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is 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 and verification

State source
West Virginia board rule
Profession source
NBCC continuing education guidance
Last verified
August 2026
Ruleset version
2026.2

We reviewed this page against the West Virginia board source, and we refresh it 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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West Virginia guides & data

What to keep for a CE audit →Learn what boards ask for in a CE audit, how long each state says to keep certificates, and what the notice looks like, then use the printable checklist.West Virginia mental health workforce data →5,546 active providers, or 314 per 100,000 residents, ranked 40 of 51. The page includes a county density map and free CSV downloads.

Other West Virginia CE requirement pages

West Virginia LMFTWest Virginia LCSWWest Virginia PsychologistWest Virginia PMHNP

LPC CE requirements in other states