West Virginia Code of State Rules Agency 27 - Counseling
Here’s a detailed overview of West Virginia Code of State Rules – Agency 27: Counseling (Board of Examiners in Counseling), current as of the latest updates (March 21, 2025) (regulations.justia.com):
🧾 Structure: Title 27 – Board of Examiners in Counseling
Agency 27 comprises these main series:
27‑01: Licensing Rules – Initial licensure requirements (§27‑1‑1 to §27‑1‑17) (law.cornell.edu)
27‑02: Counselor Fee Schedule – Fees applied to licensure and renewals (§27‑2‑1 to §27‑2‑2)
27‑03: LPC Renewal & Continuing Education – Biennial renewal and CLE rules (§27‑3‑1 to §27‑3‑6)
27‑04: Addictions Counselor Licensure – Restricted practice licensure standards (§27‑4‑1 to §27‑4‑5) (law.cornell.edu)
27‑05: Complaint / Disciplinary Procedures – Process for complaints (§27‑5‑1 to §27‑5‑7)
27‑06: Contested Case Hearings – Formal hearing rules for disputes (§27‑6‑1 onward) (apps.sos.wv.gov)
27‑07: Open Meetings & Bylaws – Board governance and transparency rules (apps.sos.wv.gov)
27‑08 – 27‑09: MFT Licensing & Fee Rules – For Marriage & Family Therapists (apps.sos.wv.gov)
27‑10: MFT Renewal & Continuing Education – CLE requirements for MFTs (§27‑10‑1 to §27‑10‑6)
🎯 Focus on LPC Renewal & Continuing Education (Series 27‑03)
Key requirements for Licensed Professional Counselors (effective July 1, 2017) :
35 contact hours required every 2 years
≥ 3 hrs ethics training (first cycle must be formal; later cycles may use ACA online/home-study)
≥ 2 hrs specific to veterans’ mental health issues
Alternative credits accepted:
Every academic graduate semester hour = 15 contact hrs; quarter hour = 10 hrs
Publishing journal articles or books earn up to 30 hrs
Agency-based CE (presented by qualified personnel) up to 15 hrs
Teaching approved graduate-level content grants up to 10 hrs
First-time professional presentations/workshops: up to 10 hrs
Max 20 hrs via home-study (must be NBCC or ACA pre-approved)
At least 20 hrs must be from external presenters (not yourself)
No carryover of excess hours to the next cycle (regulations.justia.com, regulations.justia.com, apps.sos.wv.gov)
A summary from the Board itself confirms these points: “All Licensed Professional Counselors … are required to complete 35 Continuing Education hours biannually to include three (3) hours in Ethics and two (2) hours specific to veterans...” (wvbec.org)
💡 Other Highlights
Licensing rules (27‑01) define qualifications for LPCs and MFTs, educational standards, exams, and temporary permits (law.cornell.edu)
Fee schedule (27‑02) is updated periodically; current version effective July 1, 2017, amended in July 2022 (law.cornell.edu)
Discipline and hearings (27‑05 / 27‑06) detail procedures for complaints, investigations, contested cases, and due process (apps.sos.wv.gov)
Boards and meetings (27‑07) require compliance with Open Meetings Act and established bylaws for Board governance
MFT rules (27‑08‑27‑10) largely mirror LPC structures, including CLE requirements similar to LPC standards
✅ Summary Table
Series
Topic
27‑01
Initial licensure standards for LPC/MFT
27‑02
Fee schedules
27‑03
LPC renewal & continuing education
27‑04
Addictions counsel licensure
27‑05
Disciplinary procedures
27‑06
Contested hearings
27‑07
Open meetings & Board governance
27‑08–10
MFT licensing, fees, renewal & CE
🧭 Next Steps?
Let me know if you'd like a deep dive into any section:
Text of specific sections (e.g., definitions in 27‑01, ethics rules in 27‑03‑4)
Details on MFT continuing education (27‑10)
Fee breakdowns or complaint procedure summaries
Clarification on licensing exemptions or temporary permits per WVC §30‑31‑11 (wvlegislature.gov, law.cornell.edu, code.wvlegislature.gov)
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