Kentucky counseling license requirements

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

How many CE Credits does Kentucky require for counselors?

• Professionals licensed by the Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Professional Counseling Associate (LPCA): 10 hours per year. Licenses expire on 10/31 annually.

• Professionals Licensed by the Kentucky Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors:

  • LCADC, LADC, CADC: 60 hours every 3 years.
  • LCADC Associate: 20 hours every year.
  • CADC Associate I, CADC Associate II: 30 hours per year.
  • Registered Alcohol and Drug Peer Support Specialist and Temporary Registered Alcohol and Drug Peer Support Specialist: 10 hours per year.
  • Certified Clinical Supervisor: 9 hours every 3 years, plus the 60 hours required for the LCADC, LADC, or CADC license.

• Professionals licensed by the Kentucky Board of Licensure for Marriage and Family Therapists:

  • Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT): 15 hours per year. License expires annually based on the date of issuance.

  • Marriage and Family Therapy Associate (MFTA): 10 hours per year. License expires annually based on the date of issuance.

Can I take my continuing education through Continued Counseling?

• Licensed Professional Counselors: Yes. The Kentucky Board of Professional Counselors accepts courses sponsored by an approved provider of professional associations such as the NBCC. Continued has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7484. Find courses offered for NBCC credit.

• Addiction Counselors: Yes. The Kentucky Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors accepts courses by NAADAC approved providers. Continued is a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, #283836. Find courses approved by NAADAC.

• Marriage & Family Therapists: No. Continued is not currently approved by the Kentucky Board of Licensure for Marriage and Family Therapists to offer continuing education courses to licensed marriage and family therapists.

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

Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCA):

• There is no limit to the number of continuing education hours that can be completed online as long as they are obtained through an approved provider. As an approved sponsor through NBCC, Continued is considered a board approved provider.
• 3 hours must be obtained in domestic violence. Continued offers courses that may meet the domestic violence course requirement.
• 6 hours must be obtained in suicide assessment, treatment, and management every 3 years. Continued offers courses that may meet the suicide assessment requirement.
• 3 hours must be obtained on the law for regulating professional counseling every 3 years. Continued does not currently offer a course that meets this requirement.

Addiction Counselors:

• All CE hours shall be relevant to the field of Alcohol and Drug counseling.

• LCADC, LADC, CADC:

  • There is no limit to the number of continuing education hours that can be completed online; however, at least 30 of the 60 required hours must be through live interactive webinars. Continued offers live courses to help meet this requirement.
  • 3 hours of ethics each renewal period. Continued offers courses that may meet the ethics course requirement.
  • 6 hours of suicide assessment, treatment, and management each renewal period. Continued offers courses that may meet the suicide assessment, treatment, and management course requirement.
  • 3 hours of supervision each renewal period. Continued offers courses that may meet the supervision course requirement.

• LCADC Associate:

  • There is no limit to the number of continuing education hours that can be completed online; however, at least 10 of the 20 required hours must be through live interactive webinars. Continued offers live courses to help meet this requirement.
  • 3 hours of ethics each renewal period. Continued offers courses that may meet the ethics course requirement.
  • 6 hours of suicide assessment, treatment, and management each renewal period. Continued offers courses that may meet the suicide assessment, treatment, and management course requirement.

• CADC Associate I, CADC Associate II:

  • There is no limit to the number of continuing education hours that can be completed online; however, at least 15 of the 30 required hours must be through live interactive webinars. Continued offers live courses to help meet this requirement.
  • 6 hours of ethics each renewal period. Continued offers courses that may meet the ethics course requirement.
  • 6 hours of suicide assessment, treatment, and management each renewal period. Continued offers courses that may meet the suicide assessment, treatment, and management course requirement.

• Registered Alcohol and Drug Peer Support Specialist and Temporary Registered Alcohol and Drug Peer Support Specialist:

  • There is no limit to the number of continuing education hours that can be completed online; however, at least 5 of the 10 required hours must be through live interactive webinars. Continued offers live courses to help meet this requirement.

• Certified Clinical Supervisor:

  • There is no limit to the number of continuing education hours that can be completed online; however, at least half of the required hours must be through live interactive webinars. Continued offers live courses to help meet this requirement.
  • 3 hours of supervision each renewal period. Continued offers courses that may meet the supervision course requirement. These hours may be included in the continuing education hours required for the CADC, LADC, or LCADC credential held by the certified clinical supervisor.