Tennessee counseling license requirements

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

How many CE Credits does Tennessee require for counselors?

• Professionals licensed by the Tennessee Board for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists, and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapists:

  • LPC, LMFT, LCPT: 10 hours per year for a total of 20 hours per renewal cycle. Licenses expire on the last day of the licensee's birth month biannually.

• Professionals licensed by the Tennessee Board for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors:

  • LADC I, LADC II: 30 hours every 2 years (15 hours must be completed per year).
  • QCS: In addition to the above requirements, an additional 10 hours in supervision.

Can I take my continuing education through Continued Counseling?

• Licensed Professional Counselors and Marriage & Family Therapists: Yes. For professionals licensed through the Tennessee Board for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapists, the board accepts courses by NBCC approved providers. 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 Tennessee Board of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors accepts courses by NAADAC approved providers. Continued is a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, #283836. Find courses approved by NAADAC.

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

Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Marriage and Family Counselors (LPC, LMFT, LCPT):

• 3 hours in (i) ethics and/or (ii) Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, Chapter 22; and/or (iii) Official Compilation, Rules and Regulations of the State of Tennessee, Chapter 0450-2 must be obtained each renewal. Continued offers courses that may meet the ethics course requirement.
• If a supervisor, 3 hours must be obtained in supervision. Continued offers courses that may meet the supervision course requirement.
• If a licensee holds 2 certificates or licenses, they must obtain 30 hours every 2 years. 10 hours must be directly related to the practice of each profession for which they are certified.
• If a licensee holds 3 certificates or licenses, they must obtain 40 hours every 2 years. 10 hours must be directly related to the practice of each profession for which they are certified.

Addiction Counselors 

• LADC I, LADC II, QCS:

  • There is a limit of 12 hours of continuing education that can be completed online.
  • 6 hours of ethics each renewal period. Continued offers courses that may meet the ethics course requirement.
  • 4 hours of suicide prevention once every 4 years. Continued offers courses that may meet the suicide prevention course requirement.

• QCS:

  • In addition to the above requirements:
  • 10 hours of clinical supervision, including 6 that are relevant to supervision ethics. Continued offers ethics courses and supervision courses that may meet these requirements.

CE Broker Reporting: 

Proof of required CE must be electronically submitted directly to CE Broker. Continued will report course completions to CE Broker for approved courses. You may also self-report to CE Broker. The Continued provider number for CE Broker is 50-29950.