Bill
SB 334
The bill updates West Virginia rules for licensing marriage and family therapists, detailing education, supervised experience, exams, discipline, and administrative procedures.
SB 334 (Session 2026) – West Virginia
Board of Examiners in Counseling rule relating to marriage and family therapist licensing
Summary at a glance
- Purpose: Institute or modify Board of Examiners in Counseling (West Virginia) rules applicable to licensing the Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) credential. The bill appears to address licensing standards, rulemaking, or administrative procedures tied to the MFT profession within the state Board of Examiners in Counseling.
- Primary sponsor: Senate co-sponsor Patricia Rucker (with primary sponsor seat implied by introduction in Senate).
Key provisions and changes (as implied by bill title and context)
- Regulation scope: Establishes or updates rules governing the licensing process for marriage and family therapists in West Virginia, under the purview of the Board of Examiners in Counseling.
- Licensure requirements: Potentially specifies education, supervised experience, examination requirements, and ethical standards necessary to become a licensed MFT.
- Rulemaking authority: Clarifies or expands the Board’s authority to adopt, amend, or repeal rules governing licensure, renewals, and disciplinary actions for MFTs.
- Discipline and penalties: May set forth grounds for discipline, complaint procedures, and sanctions (e.g., license suspension or revocation) for violations of credentialing rules.
- Administrative procedures: Could include timelines for applications, renewals, and hearing processes; potential fee provisions or budgetary considerations for licensure activities.
- Transitional provisions: If applicable, may provide for grandfathering provisions, timelines for currently licensed professionals to meet updated standards, or phased implementation of new rules.
Who is affected
- Marriage and family therapists seeking licensure in West Virginia.
- Existing MFT licensees subject to updated or clarified rules.
- Supervision entities and approved supervisors involved in the supervised practice requirement.
- Employers and educational institutions offering MFT programs or employing licensed MFTs, which must comply with state licensure standards.
- The Board of Examiners in Counseling, which administers licensing rules for MFTs.
Timeline and procedural notes
- Introduction and referral: Filed January 15, 2026; referred to Judiciary in the Senate (per action history).
- Status: Currently introduced and pending committee action (Judiciary committee) as part of the 2026 session process.
- Effective date: Not specified in the provided text; typically, such rule changes become effective upon final passage and regulatory filing, with potential compliance timelines for applicants or renewals.
Additional context
- Co-sponsor: Patricia Rucker (Senate).
- The bill’s actual text is not included in full here; the description references “Board of Examiners in Counseling rule relating to marriage and family therapist licensing,” indicating a rules-focused bill rather than broad statutory reform.
Notes for further review
- For a precise understanding of the substantive changes, the exact bill text is needed to identify:
- Specific licensure requirements (education, exams, supervised hours, experience).
- Any new or updated disciplinary provisions.
- Fee changes, renewal cycles, and compliance timelines.
- Transition provisions for current licensees and grandfathering rules.
- If you want, I can generate a more detailed analysis once the official text is provided or after the committee substitute is released.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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