Marriage and Family Therapist - Continuing Education

Continuing Education

Marriage and Family Therapist: Marriage and family therapists must complete and maintain proof of 32 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years. Visit WAC 246-809-600 through 246-809-650 for requirements and regulations.
Marriage and Family Therapist Associate: Marriage and family therapist associates must complete and maintain proof of 16 hours of continuing education (CE) every year. Visit WAC 246-809-600 through 246-809-650 for requirements and regulations.
Mental Health Counselors: Mental health counselors must complete and maintain proof of 32 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years. Visit WAC 246-809-600 through 246-809-650 for requirements and regulations.
Mental Health Counselor Associates: Mental health counselor associates must complete and maintain proof of 16 hours of continuing education (CE) every year. Visit WAC 246-809-600 through 246-809-650 for requirements and regulations.
Advanced Social Worker and Independent Clinical Social Worker: Advanced and independent clinical social workers must complete and maintain proof of 32 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years. Visit WAC 246-809-600 through 246-809-650 for requirements and regulations.
Advanced Social Worker Associate and Independent Clinical Social Worker Associate: Advanced associate and independent clinical associate social workers must complete and maintain proof of 16 hours of continuing education (CE) every year. Visit WAC 246-809-600 through 246-809-650 for requirements and regulations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I obtain all of my continuing education (CE) through distance learning?

There is no longer a limit on distance learning, the requirement has been updated in rule, WAC 246-809-610. The Department of Health will allow continuing education to be completed via online distance learning, either synchronous or asynchronous.

Asynchronous distance learning programs must include tests of comprehension upon completion.
Synchronous distance learning programs do not require tests of comprehension.

Who is required to have continuing education?

Licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT), licensed mental health counselors (LMHC), licensed advanced social workers (LASW) and licensed independent clinical social workers (LICSW) must complete CE as required in WAC 246-809-600. Licensed associates must complete CE under WAC 246-809-632.

Applicants applying for licensure as a licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed mental health counselor or licensed social worker must have completed 36 hours of CE, six of which must be in professional law and ethics. They must have received these hours after completing the academic requirements and prior to the department issuing their license.

Retired active licensed marriage and family therapists, retired active licensed mental health counselors and retired active licensed social workers must complete CE as outlined in WAC 246-809-730.

What courses are acceptable?

CE activities must support professional growth and strengthen competence as an LMFT, LMHC, LASW, or LICSW, consistent with WAC 246-809-610. Activities focused primarily on increasing income or improving office efficiency do not qualify.

Acceptable CE Activities

Approved courses and workshops — CE courses, seminars, workshops, and postgraduate institutes are acceptable when they feature instructors or speakers approved by a recognized professional organization or an accredited college or university.
Distance learning — Online CE is allowed if it’s approved by a recognized organization or accredited school and includes a test to show you understood the material.
Employer‑sponsored training — Training offered by your workplace can count as CE if it clearly supports your professional growth. You can use up to 26 hours of employer‑sponsored training per reporting period.
Other professional activities — Activities like serving on a panel or board, community service, research, peer consultation, or publishing in professional journals may count as CE if they support your professional development. You can use up to 6 hours of these activities per reporting period.

What are industry-recognized local, state, national, international organizations or institutions of higher learning?

WAC 246-809-620 says recognized organizations or institutions include, but aren't limited to, the following organizations:

Washington Association for Marriage and Family Therapy;
Washington State Society for Clinical Social Work;
Washington Chapter of the National Association of Social Work;
American Mental Health Counselors Association;
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy;
Clinical Social Work Federation;
National Association of Social Workers;
Washington Mental Health Counselors Association;
National Board for Certified Counselors;
Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care; or
Institutions of higher learning that are accredited by a national or regional accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation.

How many hours do I need and in what time period?

Associates

Associates must complete 16 hours of CE every year to renew their license. Required content includes:

Professional Ethics and Law — 6 hours every two years
Professional Roles and Boundaries — 2 hours every two years
Health Equity — 2 hours every four years

Required only for advanced social worker associates and independent clinical social worker associates:

Suicide assessment, treatment, and management — 6 hours every six years
Training must be selected from the Department of Health’s model list.

Retired Active Licensed Professionals

Retired active professionals must complete 18 hours of CE every two years to renew their license, including six hours in professional ethics and law.

How are credit hours determined for preparation and presentation of a lecture or an educational course?

The license holder who prepares and presents lectures or education that contributes to the professional competence of a licensed counselor may accumulate the same number of hours obtained for continuing education purposes by attendees as required in WAC 246-12-220 per WAC 246-809-640. Counselors may use the hours for presenting a specific topic lecture or education for continuing education credit only once during each reporting period. Credit hours for preparing and presenting a lecture or educational course are determined by the number of CE hours earned by the attendees. A license holder who develops and delivers CE eligible instruction may claim the same number of hours that participants receive, consistent with WAC 246 12 220.

A license holder may apply CE credit for presenting a specific lecture or educational topic only once per reporting period.

How do I document my courses?

Acceptable documentation includes transcripts, letters from course instructors, certificates of completion, or any other formal record that confirms the training was finished.

May I count training sponsored by my agency?

A counselor may count training provided by their employer if the training clearly supports the counselor’s professional development. The training must help build or strengthen skills needed for practice as a LMFT, LMHC, LASW or LICSW.

A counselor may apply up to 26 hours of employer‑sponsored training during each reporting period.

How do I become an approved continuing education provider?

The department does not approve or endorse continuing education providers. Instead, anyone offering continuing education must make sure their courses meet the standards already outlined in rule.

WAC 246-809-610: Eligible continuing education activities
WAC 246-809-620: Industry-recognized local, state, national, international organizations or institutions of higher learning