Current through Register Vol. XLII, No. 1, January 3, 2025
Section 17-3-20 - Renewals20.1. License periods shall be dated quarterly (first day of January, April, July and October) and shall expire two (2) years after the granting of the license for psychologists and three (3) years after granting of the license for a school psychologist.20.2. Thirty (30) days prior to expiration date of each license, the Board shall notify each licensee due for renewal via a letter to the last address of record filed with the Board. Failure to receive such a notice shall not relieve the licensee of the responsibility of renewing the license if the licensee intends to continue the practice of psychology in West Virginia.20.3. Continuing Education (CE) -- Continuing Education (post degree education) is required of all Licensed Psychologists, Supervised-Psychologists, Licensed School Psychologists, Licensed School Psychologist Independent Practitioners, and Supervised School-Psychologists. On each application for renewal, the above cited individuals must present to the Board documentary evidence of the completion of appropriate and adequate CE.20.4. Authorization -- The Board provides for authorization of Continuing Education in West Virginia. Continuing Education programs are automatically accepted if they are approved by the American Psychological Association or any of its sponsors, as well as the Academies of the Specialty Boards of the American Board of Professional Psychology, the West Virginia Psychological Association, the West Virginia Association of Professional Psychologists, The National Association of School Psychologists, its affiliated regional organizations, and the West Virginia School Psychologists Association.20.5. Required CE Hours -- Licensed Psychologists and Supervised-Psychologists are required to obtain a minimum or 20 Board approved Continuing Education hours per two year renewal cycle. Individuals holding licenses to practice psychology and school psychology may use the 20 hour Continuing Education requirement to satisfy the Continuing Education requirements for both licenses. However, dually licensed psychologists shall obtain at least 3 approved Continuing Education hours per renewal cycle in each area, both the primary and secondary areas.20.6. A minimum of 30 hours of Continuing Education credits per renewal period of 3 years or a valid National Certification card issued by the National Association of School Psychologists are/is required for a renewal for Licensed School Psychologists and School Psychologist Independent Practitioners.20.7. Specific Continuing Education Requirements -- Three (3) hours of Continuing Education in the area of ethics are required within each renewal period for all license holders and supervisees.20.8. A minimum of 50 percent of Continuing Education must be obtained from professional associations identified in 20.4. The remainder of continuing Education can be obtained from programs or activities including: 1. Presentation by a psychologist or other professional who has obtained recognized expertise in the specific subject area and is relevant to the field of psychology. The subject area must be relevant to the field of psychology. 2. APA approved self-study programs. 3. Formal professional presentations given by a licensee to a recognized professional audience. Licensees may acquire up to 6 continuing education hours for the initial presentation only. 4. Publications, Peer Reviewed Journals or Texts for up to 6 Continuing Education hours. 5. Grand Rounds from a medical institution with a clearly psychological focus. 6. Post Graduate Programs as specified in the Guidelines including successful completion of a graduate psychology course from a regionally accredited graduate institution. 7. Other options as noted in the Continuing Education Guidelines.20.9. The Board reserves the right to renew a license after the normal expiration date if the circumstances justify such action.20.10 If an ethical inquiry has been received regarding the competency or ethics of the licensee or supervisee, such licensees or supervisees may not circumvent or prevent investigation and/or resolution of the ethical complaint by deactivating their license or supervised-psychologist status.20.11 Effective January 1, 2017, two hours of the 20 hours required for each two year renewal period shall be about mental health conditions common to veterans and their family members. Such training shall include (1) inquiry about whether patients are veterans or family members of veterans, and (2) Screening veterans and their family members for: (a) suicide risk and suicide prevention; (b) posttraumatic stress, anxiety, panic, depressive, intermittent explosive and related disorders; and (c) the need for family and/or marital counseling.