# W. Va. Code § 16-1-5: State health officer; Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health; appointment; qualifications; term

> West Virginia · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C16_A1_S5

## Section

- **Citation:** W. Va. Code § 16-1-5
- **Heading:** State health officer; Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health; appointment; qualifications; term
- **Jurisdiction:** West Virginia
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** WV Code / Chapter 16 / Article 1 / Section 5

## Text

The Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health may be designated the state health officer. The commissioner and the state health officer shall be appointed by the secretary. The commissioner shall be a person holding a doctorate degree in public health administration unless designated the state health officer. The state health officer shall be licensed under the laws of this state to practice medicine. The commissioner and the state health officer serve at the will and pleasure of the secretary and shall not be actively engaged or employed in any other business, vocation, or employment, serving full-time in the duties of the office as prescribed by this article.

## Nearby sections

- [W. Va. Code § 16-1-1 §16-1-1. Purpose.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C16_A1_S1.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 16-1-2 §16-1-2. Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C16_A1_S2.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 16-1-3 §16-1-3. Powers and duties of the Secretary.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C16_A1_S3.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 16-1-4 §16-1-4. Proposal of rules by the secretary.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C16_A1_S4.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 16-1-5 §16-1-5. State health officer; Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health; appointment; qualifications; term.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C16_A1_S5.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 16-1-6 §16-1-6. Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health; powers and duties.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C16_A1_S6.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 16-1-7 §16-1-7. Commissioner serving on advisory boards.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C16_A1_S7.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 16-1-8 §16-1-8. Inclusion of Alzheimer's disease in existing public health programs.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C16_A1_S8.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 16-1-9 §16-1-9. Duties and powers of the commissioner; supervision over local sanitation; violations; jurisdiction; penalties.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C16_A1_S9.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 16-1-9A §16-1-9a. Regulation of public water systems.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C16_A1_S9A.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 16-1-9B §16-1-9b. Permit approval for individual systems with surface water discharge; reserve areas.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C16_A1_S9B.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 16-1-9C §16-1-9c. Required update or completion of source water protection plans.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C16_A1_S9C.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 16-1-9D §16-1-9d. Wellhead and Source Water Protection Grant Program.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C16_A1_S9D.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 16-1-9E §16-1-9e. Long-term medical study.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C16_A1_S9E.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C16_A1_S5. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.