Resources · Path to Licensure

Step-by-step licensure pathways in West Virginia.

West Virginia combines Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists under one board (WVBEC), while social workers, psychologists, and addiction professionals are credentialed separately. Two distinctive features stand out: West Virginia is one of the few states that still licenses master’s-level psychologists (under a long, five-year supervised “Supervised-Psychologist” track in addition to the doctoral path), and addiction counseling is credentialed through voluntary IC&RC certification via WVCBAPP rather than a state license. West Virginia does NOT license behavior analysts at the state level — ABA practice relies on national BACB (BCBA) certification only, so that profession is omitted here. The state participates in the Counseling Compact, and the social work board issues a four-tier ladder (LSW, LGSW, LCSW, LICSW).

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Professional CounselingAddiction & Substance Use CounselingSocial WorkMarriage & Family TherapyPsychology

Professional Counseling

Prep for the NCMHCE / NCE →
Provisional LPC

Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor

Required exam: No separate exam to obtain; NCE or NCMHCE (or CRC) is required before advancing to full LPC.

Scope: Temporary credential allowing supervised counseling practice while accruing post-degree hours toward full LPC; valid 36 months (renewable once for an additional 24 months).
  1. EducationEarn a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling from a CACREP/CAEP-accredited (or comparable board-recognized) program.
  2. Supervision / experienceSecure a board-approved supervisor (ALPS) and a supervision agreement; the provisional period is when the 3,000 supervised hours are accrued.
  3. ExamNo exam required to be issued the provisional license; candidates typically register for the NCE or NCMHCE during this stage.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the provisional license application, official transcripts, and supervision plan to WVBEC with fees.
LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

Required exam: National Counselor Examination (NCE) or National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) by NBCC, or the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) exam.

Scope: Independent practice of professional counseling, including diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.
  1. EducationComplete a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling from a CACREP/CAEP-accredited or comparable board-recognized program.
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete 3,000 hours of post-master’s supervised counseling experience (1,500 hours with a doctorate), with at least 50% in direct client contact and one hour of individual supervision per 20 hours of practice.
  3. ExamPass the NCE or NCMHCE (or CRC exam).
  4. ApplicationSubmit the LPC application, transcripts, verified supervised-hours documentation, exam results, and fees to WVBEC.

Official Professional Counseling resources

Addiction & Substance Use Counseling

Prep for the MAC / NCAC exam →
ADC

Alcohol and Drug Counselor (WVCBAPP certification — not a state license)

Required exam: IC&RC Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) examination.

Scope: Entry/standard substance use disorder counseling credential issued by WVCBAPP, an IC&RC affiliate; transferable to other IC&RC jurisdictions via reciprocity. This is a voluntary professional certification, not a West Virginia state license.
  1. EducationMeet WVCBAPP educational requirements including specified hours of SUD-specific education (degree level varies by certification standard); applicant must live or work in WV at least 51% of the time.
  2. Supervision / experienceAccumulate the required supervised work experience in addiction/SUD services and supervised practicum hours per the current WVCBAPP ADC standard.
  3. ExamPass the IC&RC International ADC examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the WVCBAPP ADC application, documentation, NAADAC/IC&RC code-of-ethics agreement, and fees; recertify every two years with 40 CE hours.
AADC

Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (WVCBAPP certification — not a state license)

Required exam: IC&RC International AADC examination.

Scope: Advanced (master’s-level) SUD counseling certification issued by WVCBAPP via IC&RC; for clinicians providing higher-level clinical addiction services.
  1. EducationHold the master’s degree and SUD-specific education required by the WVCBAPP AADC standard; live or work in WV at least 51% of the time.
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete the supervised clinical addiction-counseling experience hours required for the AADC standard.
  3. ExamPass the IC&RC International AADC examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the WVCBAPP AADC application, documentation, code-of-ethics agreement, and fees; recertify every two years with 40 CE hours (including 6 hours SUD-specific ethics).

Official Addiction & Substance Use Counseling resources

Social Work

Prep for the ASWB exam →
LSW

Licensed Social Worker (Level A)

Required exam: ASWB Bachelors examination.

Scope: Generalist social work practice at the bachelor’s level.
  1. EducationEarn a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experienceNo post-degree supervised experience required for entry-level licensure (a temporary permit is available to practice pending exam).
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Bachelors level examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the LSW application, transcripts, and fees to the WV Board of Social Work (mailed; not faxed/emailed).
LGSW

Licensed Graduate Social Worker (Level B)

Required exam: ASWB Masters examination.

Scope: Graduate-level (non-independent) social work practice; entry credential for MSW holders.
  1. EducationEarn a master’s degree in social work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experienceNo post-MSW experience required for this tier (a temporary permit is available pending exam).
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Masters level examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the LGSW application, transcripts, and fees to the WV Board of Social Work.
LCSW

Licensed Certified Social Worker (Level C)

Required exam: ASWB Advanced Generalist examination.

Scope: Independent social work practice including behavioral-health diagnosis and treatment using accepted diagnostic taxonomies.
  1. EducationEarn an MSW from a CSWE-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete two years of post-master’s social work practice experience.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Advanced Generalist level examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the LCSW application, transcripts, experience verification, and fees to the WV Board of Social Work.
LICSW

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (Level D)

Required exam: ASWB Clinical examination.

Scope: Independent clinical social work practice, the state’s top clinical tier.
  1. EducationEarn an MSW (or higher) from a CSWE-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete two or more years of post-graduate experience including 3,000 hours of supervised clinical social work practice.
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Clinical level examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the LICSW application, transcripts, supervised clinical-hours verification, and fees to the WV Board of Social Work.

Official Social Work resources

Marriage & Family Therapy

Prep for the National MFT Exam →
Provisional LMFT

Provisional Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Required exam: No separate exam to obtain; the AMFTRB national exam is required before advancing to full LMFT.

Scope: Temporary credential allowing supervised MFT practice while accruing post-degree hours toward full LMFT; valid 36 months (renewable for 24 months by written request).
  1. EducationEarn a graduate degree in marriage and family therapy accredited by COAMFTE, CACREP, or a comparable body, including a 300-hour practicum.
  2. Supervision / experienceSecure a board-approved supervisor and supervision plan; one hour of direct supervision is required for every 20 hours worked during the provisional period.
  3. ExamNo exam required to be issued the provisional license; candidates register for the AMFTRB exam during this stage.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the provisional LMFT application, transcripts, and supervision plan to WVBEC with fees.
LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Required exam: AMFTRB (Association of Marital & Family Therapy Regulatory Boards) national MFT examination.

Scope: Independent practice of marriage and family therapy.
  1. EducationComplete a graduate degree in marriage and family therapy accredited by COAMFTE, CACREP, or a comparable body, including a 300-hour practicum.
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete at least 3,000 hours of post-degree supervised experience (1,500 hours with a doctorate), at least 50% in face-to-face therapy with couples, families, and individuals, over not less than two years (one year for doctoral).
  3. ExamPass the AMFTRB national MFT examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the LMFT application, transcripts, verified supervised-hours documentation, exam results, and fees to WVBEC.

Official Marriage & Family Therapy resources

Psychology

Prep for the EPPP →
Licensed Psychologist (Master’s)

Licensed Psychologist — Master’s-Level (Supervised-Psychologist track)

Required exam: EPPP plus a state oral examination.

Scope: West Virginia is one of the few states that still licenses master’s-level psychologists. Candidates practice as a board-approved “Supervised-Psychologist” (Gold Card) for five years before full licensure.
  1. EducationEarn an MA or MS with at least 50 graduate hours of psychology coursework from a regionally accredited institution (at least 50% on-campus; distance-only degrees do not qualify), in a psychology/educational-psychology department covering required core areas.
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete five years of supervised practice in WV under a board-approved supervisor as a W-2 employee, with quarterly reports and a mid-point evaluation (Gold Card renewed annually).
  3. ExamPass the EPPP within five years (taken at least once in the first 12 months; max five attempts), then pass the Board’s oral examination.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the Supervised-Psychologist application, transcripts, supervision contract, and fees to the WV Board of Examiners of Psychologists; license issued after the oral exam.
Licensed Psychologist (Doctoral)

Licensed Psychologist — Doctoral-Level

Required exam: EPPP plus a state oral examination.

Scope: Independent practice of psychology at the doctoral level.
  1. EducationEarn a doctoral degree (PhD, PsyD, or EdD) in psychology from a regionally accredited institution meeting the Board’s coursework standards.
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete a board-approved supervised internship/experience of at least 1,800 hours under an approved supervisor (W-2 employment in WV).
  3. ExamPass the EPPP within two years (max five attempts), then pass the Board’s oral examination covering legal, ethical, and professional practice.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the application, transcripts, supervised-experience verification, and fees to the WV Board of Examiners of Psychologists; license issued after the oral exam.
School Psychologist

Licensed School Psychologist (Level 1 / Level 2)

Required exam: EPPP and/or Praxis School Psychologist examination plus board review (per the Board’s School Psychologist standard).

Scope: Board-licensed school psychology credential. Level 1 permits practice only within a school setting; Level 2 permits independent practice of school psychology outside school settings.
  1. EducationComplete a specialist-level (or higher) school psychology graduate program meeting the Board’s School Psychologist education standard.
  2. Supervision / experienceComplete the required supervised school-psychology internship/experience; Level 2 requires additional post-internship supervised practice (a doctorally trained applicant may reach Level 2 after one year beyond internship).
  3. ExamPass the examination(s) required by the Board for the School Psychologist credential.
  4. ApplicationSubmit the School Psychologist application, transcripts, supervised-experience verification, and fees to the WV Board of Examiners of Psychologists.

Official Psychology resources

All licenses

West Virginia licensing portals & background checks.

How to use this page. Each card shows the education, supervised experience, exam, and application steps for one West Virginia license, plus its scope of practice. Licensing rules change — always confirm current requirements with the official board before you apply. Verified against the official state boards in June 2026.

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