Continuing Education
Washington CE Requirements by License
Continuing-education / CPD renewal requirements for behavioral and mental health licenses in Washington — hours or CPD model per cycle, mandated topics, live/interactive rules, and home-study limits. Pick a license for the full breakdown.
Washington requirements at a glance
| License | Profession | CE / CPD | Ethics | Live / interactive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LICSW | Social Work | 32 h / 2yr | 6 h | — |
| LMHC | Counseling | 32 h / 2yr | 6 h | — |
| Licensed Psychologist | Psychology | 60 h / 3yr | 4 h | — |
| LMFT | Marriage & Family Therapy | 32 h / 2yr | 6 h | — |
| BCBA | Behavior Analysis | 32 h / 2yr | 4 h | — |
Requirements by license
Verified
Washington
LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker) / LASW (Licensed Advanced Social Worker)
32hours / 2-year renewal cycle
No live / interactive hours required — all hours may be self-study
Mandated topics
- Professional Ethics and Law — 6 h
- Professional Roles and Boundaries — 2 h
- Suicide Assessment, Treatment and Management — 6 h6 hours once every six years; first training during the first full CE reporting period after initial licensure; must be from the DOH model list (RCW 43.70.442 / WAC 246-809-615)
- Health Equity — 2 h2 hours once every four years (WAC 246-12-830)
Verified
Washington
LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor)
32hours / 2-year renewal cycle
No live / interactive hours required — all hours may be self-study
Mandated topics
- Professional Ethics and Law — 6 h
- Professional Roles and Boundaries — 2 h
- Suicide Assessment, Treatment and Management — 6 h6 hours once every six years; first training during the first full CE reporting period after initial licensure; from the DOH model list (WAC 246-809-615)
- Health Equity — 2 h2 hours once every four years (WAC 246-12-830)
Verified
Washington
Licensed Psychologist
60hours / 3-year renewal cycle
No live / interactive hours required — all hours may be self-study
Mandated topics
- Ethics — 4 h
- Health Equity — 2 h2 hours each 3-year cycle (effective Jan 1, 2024; WAC 246-12-830)
- Suicide Prevention/Assessment — 6 h6 hours once every six years; must be from the DOH model list
- Jurisprudence Examination — 1 h1 hour of CE may be claimed per cycle for passing the jurisprudence (JP) exam; per DOH, passing the JP exam is mandatory in the first CE cycle after August 14, 2025 and optional thereafter.
Verified
Washington
LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)
32hours / 2-year renewal cycle
No live / interactive hours required — all hours may be self-study
Mandated topics
- Professional Ethics and Law — 6 h
- Professional Roles and Boundaries — 2 h
- Suicide Assessment, Treatment and Management — 6 h6 hours once every six years; first training during the first full CE reporting period after initial licensure; from the DOH model list (WAC 246-809-615)
- Health Equity — 2 h2 hours once every four years (WAC 246-12-830)
Verified
Washington
BCBA (national) / Washington Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA)
32hours / 2-year renewal cycle
No live / interactive hours required — all hours may be self-study
Mandated topics
- Professional ethics and boundaries of a behavior analyst — 4 hWA requirement under the 32-hour CE route: WAC 246-805-401 requires a minimum of 4 hours in professional ethics and boundaries of a behavior analyst. (Matches, and is not merely borrowed from, the BACB 4-ethics-CEU standard.) Not separately required if the licensee instead maintains a certification, e.g., BACB, that itself requires CE.
- Behavior analytic skill development and current clinical practices — 20 hWAC 246-805-401: at least 20 of the 32 hours; no more than 8 hours may be business-practice professional development.
- Health equity — 2 hWAC 246-805-401: 2 hours of health equity CE every four years as described in WAC 246-12-800 through 246-12-830 (first due in the first full CE reporting period after Jan 1, 2024). DOH's ABA CE webpage phrases this as 'per reporting period'; the rule text says every four years.
- Supervision — 3 hBACB national standard for those who supervise (3 supervision CEUs per 2-year cycle; rises to 4 effective Jan 1, 2027); not a Washington requirement.
Complete your Washington CE with Triad
AATBS and CE4Less offer board-approved continuing education across social work, counseling, psychology, MFT, and behavior analysis.
Frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do behavioral health licenses require in Washington?
In Washington, hour-based licenses require 32 to 60 continuing-education hours per renewal cycle depending on the license type; some credentials follow a CPD model instead. See the table above for each credential.
Do CE requirements differ by license type in Washington?
Yes. Social work, counseling, psychology, marriage & family therapy, and behavior-analysis credentials each have their own requirements, mandated topics, and renewal cycles in Washington. This page lists each one separately.
Does Washington require ethics CE?
Washington requires dedicated ethics continuing education for: BCBA, LICSW, LMFT, LMHC, Licensed Psychologist. Exact hour counts are on each license's page.
CE requirements in other states
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
Updated August 2026 from official licensing-board, regulatory-college, and government sources. CE / CPD requirements change often — always confirm current rules directly with your licensing board or regulator before you renew. Informational only, not legal advice.