Executive Summary
Issue Area 1:The Board of Examiners in Counseling Fulfills Most of the General
Provisions for Licensing Boards
The Board of Examiners in Counseling (BOEC) was created in 1986 for the purpose of
regulating the profession of counseling. Part of this review examined whether the BOEC was in
compliance with general provisions for licensing Boards required under Chapter 30, Article 1 of the
West Virginia Code. The substantive findings of the report are as follows:
- The BOEC license fees are not adequate to carry out its duties. As of January
20, 1999 the Board only had $2,270 left for the remainder of the fiscal year. As a
result, the Board's Program Specialist voluntarily delayed being paid for 120 hours
of work this year until the adequacy of funding was certain. However, the
Legislature passed the Board's proposed rule changes during the 1999
legislative session which increased license fees to an adequate level.
- The Board Investigates and Resolves Complaints as required. Nine
complaints have been investigated over the last three years, resulting in the
suspension of a license and the surrender of another.
- The Board is in compliance with most requirements for professions and
occupational licensing boards, such as being accessible to the public, meeting
regularly and establishing quorum, and filing financial disclosure statements with
the Ethics Commission.
- There was no impropriety with respect to the Board's travel reimbursement.
- The BOEC's renewal fee should be pro-rated when applicants apply for a license
between the 2-year renewal dates. Since applicants are not required to pay a pro
rated amount, the Legislative Auditor found that between July 1995 and June
1997 the Board lost an estimated $1,884 in revenue.
- The Board should validate certain application information and Continuing
Education.