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Continuing Education (CE) Requirements

Continuing education must be taken from current Board approved providers.

MFT and LCSW CE Requirements

MFTs and LCSWs must complete 36 hours of continuing education within the preceding two years of their license renewal date. Licensees renewing for the first time only need to complete a minimum of 18 hours of continuing education by the expiration date of the license. The Continuing Education and License Renewal Information Brochure is a helpful publication for keeping licensees informed of new continuing education requirements.

Mandatory Coursework

MFTs and LCSWs are required to complete 6 hours of Law and Ethics training with every renewal. All other mandatory courses are one-time requirements. Please refer to the CE Chart for more information.

LEP CE Requirements

On May 24, 2011, the Office of Administrative Law approved the Board’s regulations that require all Licensed Education Psychologists (LEP) licensed by the Board to complete mandatory continuing education during each license renewal period. Please refer to the “LEP CE Requirements” for more information on the new requirements. You can also refer to “Approved Regulation” for the final language.

Auditing Information

If you are a licensee, you certify completion of continuing education on your renewal application. Random CE audits ensure compliance. If audited, you will receive a letter from the Board requesting copies of your continuing education certificates or course documentation as proof of compliance. Failure to comply with the Board’s audit may result in enforcement action.

Keep proof of completed coursework for at least four years.

CE Requirements Exceptions and Special Accommodations

A Request for an exception from, or a reasonable accommodation for, continuing education requirements must be submitted to the Board at least 60 days prior to license expiration. The Board will notify you within 30 working days after receipt of the request for exception or reasonable accommodation  on the status of the request.  If the request for exception or reasonable accommodation is denied, you are responsible for completing the full amount of continuing education required for license renewal. If the request for exception or accommodation is approved, it will be valid for one renewal period. The Board shall grant the exception if provided evidence, satisfactory to the Board, that:

• For at least one year during the licensee’s previous license renewal period the licensee was absent from California due to military service.
• For at least one year during the licensee’s previous license renewal period the licensee resided in another country;

The Board may grant a reasonable accommodation if, for at least one year during the licensee’s previous license renewal period, the licensee or an immediate family member, including a domestic partner, where the licensee is the primary caregiver for that family member, had a physical or mental disability or medical condition as defined in Section 12926 of the Government Code. The physical or mental disability or medical condition must be verified by a licensed physician or psychologist with expertise in the area of the physical or mental disability or medical condition. Verification of the physical or mental disability or medical condition must be submitted by the licensee on the “Request for Continuing Education Exception – Verification of Disability or Medical Condition” form.

For more information on exceptions to the continuing education, please call (916) 574-7866.

Updated: July 26, 2011