Across the United States, therapists, counselors, and other mental health professionals are often required to participate in continuing education (CE) credits, also known as CEUs to stay licensed. Professional licensing boards typically outline requirements mental health professionals must fulfill each year. In this post, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about continuing education for counselors, therapists, and other mental health professionals and break down each state’s requirements.
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Jump to a specific state’s requirements:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Washington D.C.
What Is Continuing Education for Counselors?
Continuing education for counselors are state required units (CEUs) that a counselor, therapist, or other mental health professional must take to keep their license active. Continuing education opportunities are available in a variety of formats including: workshops, online courses, seminars, peer consultations, and more. During the covid-19 pandemic, many CEUs were moved to an online structure. All continuing education courses must be generally approved by a state approved licensing agency to meet requirements for credit.
Why is Continuing Education Important for Mental Health Professionals?
Continuing education is important for mental health professionals for several reasons. Firstly, it’s an important requirement to keep your license active by fulfilling your state’s unique CEU requirements. Continuing education units (CEUs) are also important because they allow counselors, therapists, and other mental health professionals to keep up to date with best practices. Another great benefit of CEUs is that mental health professionals can network with other mental health professionals to grow, build better practices, and better serve patients in need.
Alabama CE Requirements
Alabama requires 10 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 10 hours ALC, 40 hours LPC every 2 years
Home study accepted? yes – 10 CEUs for online
Submission deadline: 7/31 every 2 years
Website: http://abec.alabama.gov/
Alaska CE Requirements
Alaska requires 40 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 40 hours every 2 years
Home study accepted? 20 hours allowed
Submission deadline: 10/31
Website: https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/ProfessionalCounselors.aspx
Arizona CE Requirements
Arizona requires 30 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 3 years.
CE Required : 30 hours / every 3 years
Home study accepted?
Submission deadline:
Website: http://azbbhe.us/
Arkansas CE Requirements
Arizona requires 24 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 24 hours / every 2 years
Home study accepted? Yes
Submission deadline:
Website: http://abec.myarkansas.net/
California CE Requirements
Arizona requires 36 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 36 hours / every 2 years
Home study accepted? yes
Submission deadline: N/A
Website: http://www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lpcc.html
Colorado CE Requirements
Colorado requires 40 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 40 hours
Home study accepted? N/A
Submission deadline: N/A
Website: https://dpo.colorado.gov/ProfessionalCounselor
Connecticut CE Requirements
Connecticut requires 15 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every year.
CE Required : 15 hours each year
Home study accepted?
Submission deadline:
Website: http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3121&q=396918
Delaware CE Requirements
Delaware requires 15 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every year.
CE Required : 40 hours every 2 years
Home study accepted? 20 hours allowed
Submission deadline: 9/30 biennially of even years
Website: https://dpr.delaware.gov/
Florida CE Requirements
Florida requires 25 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 25 hours + 2 hours Medical Errors and 3 hours Ethics every 2 years
Home study accepted? Yes, no limit
Submission deadline: 3/31
Website: http://floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov/renewals/licensed-mental-health-counselor/
Georgia CE Requirements
Georgia requires 35 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 35 hours / every 2 years
Home study accepted? yes,10 hours
Submission deadline:
Website: https://sos.ga.gov/index.php/licensing/plb/43
Hawaii CE Requirements
Hawaii requires no hours of continuing education for mental health professionals.
CE Required : Hawaii does not have CE requirements for licensure renewal. Licenses are on a triennial renew
Home study accepted? N/A
Submission deadline: June 30 Every 3 years
Website: http://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/programs/mental/
Idaho CE Requirements
Idaho requires 20 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every year.
CE Required : 20 hours / Idaho
Home study accepted? yes,10 hours
Submission deadline:
Website: https://ibol.idaho.gov/IBOL/BoardAdditional.aspx?Bureau=COU&BureauLinkID=130
Illinois CE Requirements
Illinois requires 30 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 30 hours every 2 years
Home study accepted?
Submission deadline: 3/31 odd years
Website: http://www.imhca.org/CEs
Indiana CE Requirements
Indiana requires 20 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every year.
CE Required : 20 hours / every year
Home study accepted? yes, 50% can be obtained online
Submission deadline: yearly ondate of issue
Website: http://www.in.gov/pla/social.htm
Iowa CE Requirements
Iowa requires 20 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 40 hours every 2 years
Home study accepted?
Submission deadline: 9/30 even years
Website: http://idph.iowa.gov/Licensure/Iowa-Board-of-Behavioral-Science/Continuing-Education
Kansas CE Requirements
Kansas requires 30 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 30 hours every 2 years
Home study accepted?
Submission deadline:
Website: http://ksbsrb.ks.gov/
Kentucky CE Requirements
Kansas requires 10 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every year.
CE Required : 10 hours / every year
Home study accepted?
Submission deadline: 10/31
Website: http://lpc.ky.gov/Pages/regulations.aspx
Louisiana CE Requirements
Louisiana requires 40 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 40 hours / every 2 years
Home study accepted?
Submission deadline: 6/30
Website: http://www.ldh.la.gov/index.cfm/directory/detail/530/catid/142
Maine CE Requirements
Maine requires 55 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 55 hours / every 2 years
Home study accepted?
Submission deadline: date of issue
Website: http://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/counselors/professional.html#renewal
Maryland CE Requirements
Maryland requires 40 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 40 hours every 2 years
Home study accepted? Yes, no more than 10 hours
Submission deadline: 12/31 every 2 years
Website: https://health.maryland.gov/Pages/Home.aspxhealth.maryland.gov/
Massachusetts CE Requirements
Massachusetts requires 30 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 30 hours every 2 years
Home study accepted? Yes
Submission deadline: 12/31 odd years
Website: http://www.mass.gov/ocabr/licensee/dpl-boards/mh/
Michigan CE Requirements
Michigan requires no continuing education for mental health professionals.
CE Required : None
Home study accepted? N/A
Submission deadline: every 3 years from date of issue
Website: http://mn.gov/boards/behavioral-health/lpc-and-lpcc/continuing-ed.jsp
Minnesota CE Requirements
Minnesota requires 40 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 40 hours every 2 years
Home study accepted?
Submission deadline:
Website: http://mn.gov/boards/behavioral-health/lpc-and-lpcc/continuing-ed.jsp
Mississippi CE Requirements
Mississippi requires 24 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 24 hours / every 2 years
Home study accepted?
Submission deadline: 6/30
Website: https://www.lpc.ms.gov/secure/index.asp
Missouri CE Requirements
Missouri requires 40 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 40 hours / every 2 years
Home study accepted? yes, 20 hours
Submission deadline:
Website: http://pr.mo.gov/counselors.asp
Montana CE Requirements
Montana requires 20 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every year.
CE Required : 20 hours / every year
Home study accepted?
Submission deadline: 12/31
Website: http://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/bbh#1
Nebraska CE Requirements
Nebraska requires 32 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 32 hours every 2 years
Home study accepted? yes, 20 hours allowed
Submission deadline: 9/1 even numbered years
Website: http://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Professions-and-Occupations.aspx
Nevada CE Requirements
Louisiana requires 20 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every year.
CE Required : 20 Hours / every year
Home study accepted?
Submission deadline: 12/31
Website: http://marriage.nv.gov/
New Hampshire CE Requirements
New Hampshire requires 40 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 40 hours / every 2 years
Home study accepted? yes, 20 hours allowed
Submission deadline: date of issue
Website: http://www.nh.gov/
New Jersey CE Requirements
New Jersey requires 40 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 40 hours / every 2 years
Home study accepted?
Submission deadline:
Website: http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/pc/Pages/regulations.aspx
New Mexico CE Requirements
New Mexico requires 40 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 40 hours / every 2 years
Home study accepted?
Submission deadline: 10/31
Website: http://www.rld.state.nm.us/boards/Counseling_and_Therapy_Practice_Requirements_and_Continuing_Education.aspx
New York CE Requirements
New York requires 36 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 3 years.
CE Required : 36 hours / every 3 years
Home study accepted? yes, 12 hours
Submission deadline: 1/1
Website: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/mhp/mhccehome.htm
North Carolina CE Requirements
North Carolina requires 40 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 40 hours / every 2 years
Home study accepted?
Submission deadline: 6/30
Website: http://www.ncblpc.org/license-info/renewal#ContinuingEducationRequirements
North Dakota CE Requirements
North Dakota requires 30 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 30 hours every 2 years
Home study accepted?
Submission deadline: Date of Issue
Website: http://www.ndbce.org/education.shtml
Ohio CE Requirements
Ohio requires 30 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 30 hours / every 2 years
Home study accepted? 30 hours
Submission deadline: date of issue
Website: http://cswmft.ohio.gov/Counselors.aspx
Oklahoma CE Requirements
Oklahoma requires 20 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every year.
CE Required : 20 hours / every year
Home study accepted? 10 hours
Submission deadline: 6/30
Website: http://www.ok.gov/behavioralhealth/
Oregon CE Requirements
Oregon requires 40 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 40 hours every 2 years
Home study accepted?
Submission deadline: last day of birth month
Website: http://www.oregon.gov/OBLPCT/pages/index.aspx
Pennsylvania CE Requirements
Pennsylvania requires 30 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 30 hours / every 2 years
Home study accepted? yes, 20 hours
Submission deadline:
Website: http://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/SocialWorkersMarriageanFamilyTherapistsandProfessionalCounselors/Pages/Board-Laws-and-Regulations.aspx#.VG-alVZOk5s
Rhode Island CE Requirements
Rhode Island requires 40 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 40 hours every 2 years
Home study accepted? yes, 20 hours allowed
Submission deadline: 7/1
Website: http://health.ri.gov/licenses/detail.php?id=228#three
South Carolina CE Requirements
South Carolina requires 40 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 40 hours every 2 years
Home study accepted?
Submission deadline: 8/31 odd years
Website: http://www.llr.state.sc.us/POL/Counselors/
South Dakota CE Requirements
South Dakota requires 40 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 40 hours / every 2 years
Home study accepted?
Submission deadline: 12/31 odd years
Website: https://dss.sd.gov/licensingboards/counselors/counselors.aspx
Tennessee CE Requirements
Tennessee requires 10 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every year.
CE Required : 10 hours / every year
Home study accepted? yes, 10 hours
Submission deadline:
Website: https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/pcmft-board/pcmft-board/licensure.html
Texas CE Requirements
Texas requires 24 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 24 hours every 2 years, plus Texas Jurisprudence Exam required
Home study accepted? Yes
Submission deadline: last day of birth month every other year
Website: https://www.bhec.texas.gov/statues-and-rules/index.html
Utah CE Requirements
Utah requires 40 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 40 hours / every 2 years
Home study accepted?
Submission deadline: 9/30
Website: http://www.dopl.utah.gov/licensing/cmhc.html
Vermont CE Requirements
Vermont requires 40 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 40 hours every 2 years
Home study accepted? 28 hours
Submission deadline: date of issue
Website: http://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/26/065/03269
Virginia CE Requirements
Virginia requires 20 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every year.
CE Required : 20 hours / every year
Home study accepted?
Submission deadline: 6/30
Website: https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/counseling/counseling_laws_regs.htm
Washington CE Requirements
Washington requires 36 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 36 hours / every 2 years
Home study accepted? Yes, 26 hours
Submission deadline:
Website: http://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/ProfessionsNewReneworUpdate/MentalHealthCounselor
West Virginia CE Requirements
West Virginia requires 35 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 35 hours / every 2 years
Home study accepted? 20 hours
Submission deadline: 6/30
Website: http://www.wvbec.org/becominganlpc.html
Wisconsin CE Requirements
Wisconsin requires 30 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 30 hours every 2 years
Home study accepted? Yes
Submission deadline: 6/30 odd years
Website: http://dsps.wi.gov/Home
Wyoming CE Requirements
Wyoming requires 45 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 45 hours / every 2 years
Home study accepted?
Submission deadline: date of birth
Website: http://mentalhealth.wyo.gov/
Washington D.C. CE Requirements
Washington D.C. requires 40 hours of continuing education for mental health professionals every 2 years.
CE Required : 40 hours
Home study accepted? yes
Submission deadline: 12/31 of even numbered years
Website: https://dchealth.dc.gov/
Final Thoughts on Continuing Education for Mental Health Professionals
Thank you for reading our post on continuing education for counselors, therapists, and other mental health professionals. In addition to being required by most states with the exception of a small handful, continuing education is a great opportunity to grow as a mental health professional. With every learning opportunity, there is an opportunity for you to transform your practice, your style, and even yourself.
TherapyByPro is an online mental health directory that connects mental health pros with clients in need. If you’re a mental health professional, you can Join our community and add your practice listing here. We have assessments, practice forms, and worksheet templates mental health professionals can use to streamline their practice. View all of our mental health forms, worksheet, and assessments here.
Author: Anthony Bart
Anthony Bart is a huge mental health advocate. He has primarily positioned his marketing expertise to work with mental health professionals so that they can help as many patients as possible. He is currently the owner of BartX, TherapistX, and TherapyByPro.
