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Continuing Education (CE) Requirements

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.

Continuing education must be taken from current Board approved providers.

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.

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.

Exceptions from the CE Requirements

A Request for Continuing Education Exception must be submitted to the Board at least 60 days prior to license expiration.The Board will notifies you within 30 working days after receipt of the request for exception’s status. If the request for exception is denied, you are responsible for completing the full amount of continuing education required for license renewal. 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; or
• During the licensee’s previous renewal period, the licensee or an immediate family member where the licensee has primary responsibility for the care of that family member was suffering from or suffered a disability. A disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of an individual. Verification of the disability must include all of the following:

1. The nature and extent of the disability
2. An explanation of how the disability would hinder the licensee from completing the continuing education requirement.
3. The name, title, address, telephone number, professional license or certification number, and original signature of the licensed physician or psychologist verifying the disability
4. If the request for exception is approved, it shall be valid for one renewal period.

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

LEP CE Requirements

At this time, LEPs are not required to complete continuing education. The Board has yet to adopt regulations enacting mandatory completion of continuing education. For more information, keep checking the Board website and watch your mailbox. The Board will give you ample notice for any changes.

Updated: May 14, 2007