Texas counseling license requirements

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

How many CE Credits does Texas require for counselors?

• Professionals licensed by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors:

  • LPC: 24 hours every 2 years. License expires on the last date of the licensee's birth month biannually.
  • LMFT: 30 hours every 2 years. License expires on the last date of the licensee's birth month biannually.
  • LPC-Associate and LMFT-Associate: Continuing education not required. License expires 60 months from the date of issuance.

• Professionals licensed by the Texas Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Program of the Texas Department of Health and Human Services:

  • LCDC (with master's degree): 24 hours every 2 years.
  • LCDC (without master's degree): 40 hours every 2 years.

• Professionals with credentials from the Texas Certification Board of Addiction Professionals:

  • ADC, AADC, CCDS, CCS, CSC: 40 hours every 2 years.
  • Other credentials: Refer to board rules.

Can I take my continuing education through Continued Counseling?

• Licensed Professional Counselors & Marriage and Family Therapists: Yes. Courses on Continued may be used to meet continuing education requirements for professionals licensed through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. 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 Texas Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Program and the Texas Certification 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.

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

Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC):

• There is no limit to the number of continuing education hours that can be completed online.
• 6 hours of ethics must be obtained each renewal. Continued offers courses that may meet the ethics course requirement.
• 3 hours of continuing education, ensuring competency when providing services to a distinct population each renewal. Continued offers courses that may meet the cultural diversity course requirement.
• If a supervisor, 6 hours of supervision must be obtained each renewal. Continued offers courses that may meet the supervision course requirement.
• If providing telehealth services, 2 hours of technology-assisted services must be obtained each renewal. Continued offers courses that may meet the telehealth requirement.
• Licensees are required to complete a course on human trafficking each renewal period; these courses must be completed from the list of HHS-Approved Human Trafficking Courses for Health Care Practitioners.

• 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.

Licensed Marriage and Family Counselors (LMFT):

• There is no limit to the the number of continuing education hours that can be completed online.
• 6 hours of ethics must be obtained each renewal. Continued offers courses that may meet the ethics course requirement.
• 3 hours of continuing education, ensuring competency when providing services to a distinct population each renewal. Continued offers courses that may meet the cultural diversity course requirement.
• If providing telehealth services, 2 hours of technology-assisted services must be obtained each renewal. Continued offers courses that may meet the telehealth course requirement.
• If a supervisor, 6 hours of supervision must be obtained each renewal. Continued offers courses that may meet the supervision course requirement.
• Licensees are required to complete a course on human trafficking each renewal period; these courses must be completed from the list of HHS-Approved Human Trafficking Courses for Health Care Practitioners.

• 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.

Addiction Counselors:

• For professionals credentialed by the Texas Certification Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors:

• ADC, AADC, CCDS, CCS, CSC:

  • There is no limit to the number of continuing education hours that can be completed online.

• AADC:

  • 3 hours of ethics each renewal period. Continued offers courses that may meet the ethics course requirement.
  • 3 hours of supervision each renewal period. Continued offers courses that may meet the supervision course requirement.

• CCS, CSC:

  • 6 hours of clinical supervision each renewal period. Continued offers courses that may meet the clinical supervision course requirement.

• For professionals credentialed by the Texas Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Program:

  • LCDC:

    • All continuing education hours must be specific to substance use disorders and their treatment or related to chemical dependency counseling as defined by the dimensions of knowledge, skills and attitudes competencies. Related education hours can include courses in psychology, sociology, counseling, mental health, behavioral science, psychiatric nursing, ethics and rehabilitation counseling.
    • There is no limit to the number of continuing education hours that can be completed online.
    • 3 hours of ethics each renewal period. Continued offers courses that may meet the ethics course requirement.
    • 6 hours of HIV/AIDS each renewal period. Continued offers courses that may meet the HIV/AIDS course requirement.
    • If your job duties as an LCDC include clinical supervision, the required hours of continuing education must include 3 hours of clinical supervision each renewal period. Continued offers courses that may meet the clinical supervision course requirement.
    • Licensees are required to complete a course on human trafficking each renewal period; these courses must be completed from the list of HHS-Approved Human Trafficking Courses for Health Care Practitioners.