Texas Counselor CE Requirements

LPCs are required to obtain a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education during each renewal period they hold a license. 

At least 6 of the hours obtained must be in the area of ethics, with another 3 hours in the area of cultural diversity and competency. These hours may be counted toward the total number of hours required.

Yes! There are no restrictions on the number of hours Texas counselors can complete through CE4Less – all 24 hours may be earned through CE4Less.

Effective January 1, 2024, at least half of the 24 hours must be obtained from a provider that is approved or endorsed by, “an international, national, regional, state, or local association of medical, mental, or behavioral health professionals”.  CE4Less is approved by several of these organizations (APA, ASWB, NBCC and others), which means there are no restrictions on the number of hours you can take through CE4Less.com.  For more information, you can review the Texas Administrative Code, Title 22 Part 30 Chapter 681 Subchapter C Rule 681.140 for the complete requirements for continuing education.

As defined in the Texas Administrative Code effective January 1, 2024:

• Minimum Continuing Education Hours Required:
  • An LPC must complete 24 hours of continuing education during each renewal period that they hold a license. The 24 hours of continuing education must include 6 hours in ethics and 3 hours in cultural diversity or competency.
  • A licensee may carry forward to the next renewal period, a maximum of 10 hours accrued during the current renewal period if those hours are not needed for renewal
• Special Continuing Education Requirements.
  • A licensee with supervisory status must complete 6 hours of continuing education in supervision.
  • A licensee must successfully complete the Texas jurisprudence examination each renewal period. Licensees who pass the Texas jurisprudence examination may claim 1 hour of continuing education in ethics.
  • The special continuing education requirements set out in this subsection may be counted toward the minimum continuing education hours required under subsection (a) of this section.
• Acceptable ethics hours include, but are not limited to continuing education on:
  • state or federal laws, including agency rules, relevant to the practice of professional counseling;
  • practice guidelines established by local, regional, state, national, or international professional organizations;
  • training or education designed to demonstrate or affirm the ideals and responsibilities of the profession; and
  • training or education intended to assist licensees in determining appropriate decision-making and behavior, improve consistency in or enhance the professional delivery of services, and provide a minimum acceptable level of practice.
• Acceptable cultural diversity or competency hours include, but are not limited to continuing education regarding age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, language, national origin, race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status.