District of Columbia Counselor CE Requirements and Courses

Washington DC Counselors are required to complete 40 hours of continuing education every 2 years.

Yes! There are no restrictions on the number of hours Washington DC counselors can complete through CE4Less – all 40 hours may be earned through CE4Less.

CE4Less is approved by the American Psychological Board (APA) and the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) and NAADAC for continuing education.

Our Unlimited Plan is a great option for DC Counselors who want to satisfy all their continuing education requirements for one low price! Check out our options here.

Looking for online live synchronous courses? Check out our options here.

DC Counselor licenses must be renewed every 2 years by the licensee’s birth month.

Every renewal DC Counselors must complete:

• • 6 hours in Ethics (See our courses in Ethics & Telemental Health and Ethics Boundary Issues)

• 4 hours in Trauma Counseling
  • An Introduction to Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care (1 hour)
  • The Effects of Trauma (2 hours)
  • Trauma-Informed Screening, Assessment, and Treatment (2 hours)
• 4 hours or at least ten percent (10%) of their required total continuing education in the domains listed as Public Health Priorities:
  1. Sexual and Reproductive Health
  2. Chronic Disease Management
  3. One Health
  4. Healthcare Professional Retention and Capacity Building
  5. Community and Patient Safety

Many of our courses address these public health priorities and the domains are intended to be interpreted liberally. Please see our full course list for all available offerings, which includes the following courses that meet this requirement:

• Opioid Use Disorder
• Intimate Partner Violence: Assessment, Safety, Planning, Trauma, Sociocultural Aspects, Perpetrator Dynamics, and Legal Issues
• Human Trafficking
• An Introduction to Chronic Pain and Chronic Pain Education
• Child Maltreatment Part I: Child Abuse and Neglect
• Fertility and Sexual Health Interviews
• Implicit Bias: Awareness and Management for Mental Health Professionals
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Clinical Practice
• Advising People on Using 988 Versus 911: Practical Approaches For Healthcare Providers
• Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Family and Organizational Cultures
• Burnout and Wellness in Social Workers, Psychologists, and Counselors

For more information, please contact the DC Health Municipal Regulations for Professional Counseling at (202) 442-5955, see their website (available here) for additional information about your license or renewal requirements, or see DC’s rules and regulations relating to Counselor licensure and continuing education.