Update: - as a workaround to fix this issue:
Eventually I had to use to cheat to get it back down to work properly again as it annoyed me for days.
Tried to replicate the issue but didn't come back.
Had to use go to Cheat Console with CTRL SHIFT C and enable cheats: Testingcheats True
Then typed: stats.set_stat rankedStatistic_WitchOccult_WitchXP 50
This would bring my level back to Neophyte Spellcaster rank and would refund my Talent points back and whatever cause the XP bar to load rapidly to return to normal.
Instead of Neophyte level (50), I could probably use 350 or 850 to other ranks and might still work.
After that, to bring back up to Virtuoso, I used: stats.set_stat rankedStatistic_WitchOccult_WitchXP 2350
To get extra Talent point, then would use: stats.set_stat rankedStatistic_WitchOccult_WitchXP 2850
But only did that once or twice as I had went through Practicing Magic and Experimenting numerous times so just getting back what I should have got.
Anyway, once it was fixed, I turned cheats off with: Testingcheats False
Turned off Cheat console with CTRL SHIFT C again
Bought perks of ones I originally had and continued leveling up as normal.
Testing leveling up by practicing magina and experimenting and XP bar now loads up normally and when gets to the end, gives you a point.
Now I can continue playing.
Popping a confirmation into this thread as well that the above solution works for me, on a relatively new spellcaster who got stuck at 17 perk points. He's the third spellcaster sim to bug out on me while several others have made it to filling out all their perks without issue.
