Licensure requirements in West Virginia include graduate education, supervised experience, and examinations. School psychologist certification is managed separately for practice in PreK–12 school settings.
Primary Licensing Authority
The West Virginia Board of Examiners of Psychologists (WVBEP) is responsible for the licensure and regulation of psychologists in West Virginia.
Licensed Psychologist Requirements
Education Requirements
- Doctoral degree in psychology (or equivalent field) from an APA- or regionally accredited institution required for independent practice.
- Continuing education: 20 hours annually, with at least 3 hours in ethics every two years.
Supervised Experience Requirements
- Approximately 3,600–4,000 total supervised hours required, including:
- Predoctoral internship of at least 1,800 hours
- Postdoctoral supervised experience of at least one year (1,800–2,000 hours)
- Predoctoral internship of at least 1,800 hours
Examination Requirements
- Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP)
- Oral examination before the Board, including jurisprudence and ethics content
Other Psychology Licenses in West Virginia
School Psychologist
Certification for school-based practice is managed by the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE), Office of Certification. Independent or private practice requires additional licensure from WVBEP.
Credentialing Requirements
- Master’s or higher degree in school psychology from a state-approved or NASP-accredited program
- 1,200-hour internship, with at least 600 hours in a school setting
- Passing score on the Praxis School Psychologist (5403) examination
- Application through the WVDE Educator Certification (EPIC) system
- State and federal fingerprint-based background checks
Scope of Practice
- School psychologists certified by WVDE may provide psychological services in PreK–12 educational settings, including:
- Educational and psychological assessment
- Counseling, consultation, and intervention
- Special education evaluation and IEP participation
- Behavioral and mental health support
- Crisis prevention and response
- Educational and psychological assessment
- Independent or private practice outside of schools requires separate licensure by WVBEP.
Master’s-Level License
- West Virginia licenses psychologists at both the doctoral and master’s levels.
- Master’s-level licensees must complete five years of supervised professional practice before qualifying for independent licensure.
- Both license levels require passage of the EPPP.
Other Roles
- The West Virginia Board of Examiners of Psychologists oversees doctoral- and master’s-level psychologists, school psychologists, and supervised trainees.
- The West Virginia Department of Education manages certification for school-based psychologists; WVBEP governs independent practice.
Scope of Practice Considerations
- Only doctoral-level psychologists may immediately qualify for independent practice.
- Master’s-level psychologists must complete five years of supervised practice before independent licensure.
- School psychologists certified through WVDE are limited to practice within educational settings.
PSYPACT Status in West Virginia
West Virginia is a participating PSYPACT state. PSYPACT is an interstate compact that allows licensed psychologists to practice telepsychology and conduct temporary in-person psychological services across state lines among participating states.
Key Takeaways
- West Virginia licenses psychologists at both the doctoral and master’s levels, with additional supervised practice required for master’s-level independent licensure.
- Doctoral-level licensure requires 3,600–4,000 hours of supervised experience, the EPPP, and an oral exam.
- School psychologist certification is overseen by WVDE for practice in PK–12 school settings.
- West Virginia participates in PSYPACT, allowing eligible psychologists to practice across state lines under the Compact.
- The WVBEP is the authority for psychologist licensure and independent practice. Consult the Board and WVDE for current requirements.
Important Note: Licensure requirements can change over time and may vary based on individual circumstances. While every effort has been made to provide accurate and current information, prospective psychologists should always consult the appropriate state licensing board and education agency for the most up-to-date licensure and certification requirements.
