Dist. of Columbia counseling license requirements

We've listed some of the most common questions and answers for Dist. of Columbia counseling continuing education.

How many CE Credits does Dist. of Columbia require for counselors?

• Professionals licensed by the DC Board of Professional Counseling Licensing:

  • Professional Counselor (LPC), Certified Addiction Counselor I (CAC I), and Certified Addiction Counselor II (CAC II): 40 hours every 2 years. License expires every 2 years on the licensee's birth month.

• Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC): 2 hours on cultural competence topics every 2 years. License expires every 2 years on the licensee's birth month.

• Professionals licensed by the DC Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing:

  • Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT): 30 hours every 2 years. License expires every 2 years on the licensee's birth month.

Can I take my continuing education through Continued Counseling?

• Licensed Professional Counselors/Addiction Counselors: Yes. The DC Board of Professional Counseling Licensing accepts courses by NBCC and NAADAC approved providers. Continued has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7484. Continued is a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, #283836. Find courses offered for NBCC credit, or courses approved by NAADAC.

• Marriage and Family Therapists: Yes. The DC Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing accepts courses by NBCC. Continued has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7484. Find courses offered for NBCC credit.

Licensees are responsible for completing courses that align with the content requirements for their specific license.

Licensed Professional Counselors/Addiction Counselors credentialed by the DC Board of Professional Counseling Licensing (LPC, CAC I, CAC II):

• 2 hours of LGBTQ cultural competence each renewal period. Continued offers courses that may meet the cultural competence course requirement.
• 6 hours of ethics each renewal period. Continued offers courses that may meet the ethics course requirement.
• 4 hours of trauma counseling each renewal period. Continued offers courses that may meet the trauma counseling course requirement.
• 2 hours of content on SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines each renewal period. Continued does not currently offer this content.
• 4 hours of coursework on Public Health Priorities. For a list of Public Health Priorities topics, refer to the Board's website and then search our library for relevant topic areas.

Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LPGC): 

• 2 hours of LGBTQ cultural competence each renewal period. Continued offers courses that may meet the cultural competence course requirement.

Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT):

• 2 hours of LGBTQ cultural competence each renewal period. Continued offers courses that may meet the cultural competence course requirement.
• 6 hours of ethics each renewal period. Continued offers courses that may meet the ethics course requirement.
• 3 hours of coursework on Public Health Priorities. For a list of Public Health Priorities topics, refer to the Board's website and then search our library for relevant topic areas.
• A minimum of 15 hours must be obtained from live, interactive webinars or in-person CE courses. Continued offers live, interactive webinars.
• Continuing education may be in current and emerging issues in marriage and family therapy such as the study of: Non-traditional families, domestic violence, HIV, aging, end-of-life issues, addiction and psychopharmacology, or trauma.