Updated for 2026

California LMFT Continuing Education Requirements

California marriage and family therapists must complete 36 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LMFT license, including 6 hours of law & ethics.

36hours every 2 years
Topic minimums, counted within the 36
6law & ethics

The renewal cycle is biennial and is tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.

What the board saysCalifornia board rule
Licensees must complete 36 hours of continuing education during each renewal period1 (the two-year period that spans from the first day after the license's prior expiration date to the current license expiration date), including 6 hours of Law and Ethics2 during each renewal period. … Licensees renewing after July 1, 2023 may only claim a maximum of 18 hours3 each renewal period for teaching a course3.
What it means
  1. 36 hours every two-year renewal period
  2. 6 hours of law and ethics
  3. No more than 18 hours from teaching
BBS Continuing EducationLast verified August 2026Ruleset 2026.5How we verify
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Requirements

California LMFT requirements

Total

36 hoursYou need 36 hours every 2 years. The renewal cycle is biennial and is tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.

Topic minimums, counted within the 36

The remaining 30 hours are not tied to a topic minimum.
Law & Ethics
6
You need 6 hours each cycle.

Limits on how the hours are earned

Teaching
max 18 hrs
Board exam development panel service
max 6 hrs

Cycle and record rules

Renewal
The renewal cycle is biennial and is tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
Renewal fee
Renewal fees by license status
Status / feeAmount and conditions
Active renewal$220. Biennial total including $20 education-fund fee.
Board fee schedule
Delinquent active renewal total$320. Includes the $100 additional delinquency charge.
Board fee schedule

CE course costs are separate. Late renewal does not authorize practice on an expired license.

We verified these fees on 2026-09-30. Board fee schedule.

Approved providers
CE must be earned from a board-approved provider.
Recordkeeping
Keep CE documentation for 2 years after each renewal.
Board audit
The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance.
Late renewal
A late renewal adds a $100 late fee.

To keep your proof in order, see what to keep for a CE audit, which covers every state’s retention period and what the audit notice asks for.

Your hours

Check where you stand

Enter the hours you have completed this cycle to see what is left before your renewal.

Your result appears here as you enter hours.

Open the full LMFT CE hours calculator

Also hold a California LPC or LCSW license? Each board runs its own CE cycle. See the California LPC and California LCSW requirements.

California LMFT required trainings and mandates

Beyond the 36-hour CE total, California requires specific trainings. Some are due once around initial licensure, and others run on their own recurring schedule.

One-time requirements

  • One-time training of at least 6 hours in suicide risk assessment and intervention, required by first renewal on or after January 1, 2021 (B&P §§ 4980.396, 4999.66). (6 hours, one time).
  • One-time training of at least 3 hours in providing mental health services via telehealth, required by first renewal after July 1, 2023 (B&P § 4980.395). (3 hours, one time).
  • One-time 7-hour CE course in assessment and treatment of HIV/AIDS (16 CCR § 1887.3(b)). Satisfied in one of two mutually exclusive ways: (a) equivalent prior training submitted with the licensure application — the requirement is then satisfied with ZERO CE hours credited toward the 36-hour total; or (b) a 7-hour CE course completed post-licensure — those 7 hours count toward the 36-hour total. The counts_toward link below applies ONLY to path (b). (7 hours, one time).

Recurring mandates outside the 2-year cycle

  • One-time 7-hour training in child abuse assessment and reporting required as a condition of licensure (B&P § 28; 16 CCR § 1807.2). Typically completed during graduate program or within 5 years prior to licensure application.
Full board policy details
  • No live/in-person minimum. 100% of the 36 hours may be completed via approved self-study, online, or recorded courses. Live interactive webinars are treated equivalently to in-person courses.
  • No per-day hour cap. Licensees may complete multiple CE hours in a single day or from one multi-day course.
  • Course repeat restriction: A licensee may not claim the same course more than once per license type during a single renewal period (16 CCR § 1887.3), whether as an attendee or instructor. Different cycles may repeat the same course.
  • Teaching credit: An instructor may claim CE credit for teaching a board-approved course only once per renewal period, capped at 18 hours total from teaching per cycle (16 CCR § 1887.3).
  • Board exam development panel service: Licensees who serve on a BBS examination development panel earn up to 6 hours of CE credit per renewal cycle. These hours may ONLY be applied to the 6-hour law & ethics requirement; they do not count toward the remaining 30 non-ethics hours of the 36-hour total.
  • Inactive license status: No CE is required while on inactive status. The license must still be renewed every 2 years (fee only) and there is no time limit on remaining inactive. To reactivate, the licensee must complete 36 hours of CE within the 24 months preceding reactivation.
  • Retired license status: No CE is required to maintain a retired license. A retired licensee may apply to restore the license to active status within 3 years of retirement by completing 36 hours of CE within the 24 months preceding reactivation. After 3 years retired, the license cannot be restored and the individual must reapply for licensure.
  • Expired license: Up to 3 years after expiration, a licensee may renew late by completing the full 36-hour CE requirement within the 2 years prior to the late renewal and paying late fees. After 3 years expired, the license cannot be renewed.
  • Hardship CE waiver: The Board may grant a one-cycle CE waiver for severe disability or primary-caregiver hardship lasting at least one year of the cycle (16 CCR § 1887.2). Must be requested at least 60 days before expiration.
  • Dual licensees (e.g. LMFT + LPCC): One set of 36 hours may cover both licenses if the courses are relevant to each scope of practice (16 CCR § 1887.1). No double hours required.
  • Supervisor law-and-ethics carve-out: If a licensee takes a law & ethics course to satisfy a supervisor-training mandate, that course counts toward the 36-hour total but does NOT count toward the 6-hour law & ethics renewal minimum (16 CCR § 1887.3).

California LMFT CE: frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do California LMFT licensees need?

California requires 36 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LMFT license. The renewal cycle is biennial and is tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.

How many ethics hours are required for California LMFT licensees?

Of the total, 6 hours must be in law & ethics.

How often do California LMFT licensees renew?

The renewal cycle is biennial and is tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.

How much does California LMFT license renewal cost?
Renewal fees by license status
Status / feeAmount and conditions
Active renewal$220. Biennial total including $20 education-fund fee.
Board fee schedule
Delinquent active renewal total$320. Includes the $100 additional delinquency charge.
Board fee schedule

CE course costs are separate. Late renewal does not authorize practice on an expired license.

We verified these fees on 2026-09-30. Board fee schedule.

Sources and verification

State source
California board rule
Fee schedule
California board fee schedule
Last verified
August 2026
Ruleset version
2026.5

We reviewed this page against the California board source, and we refresh it from the compiled ruleset above. Methodology and disclaimer. Compliance data is for guidance only, not legal or board advice. Always confirm requirements with your licensing board before renewing. See something wrong? Report it

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California guides & data

What to keep for a CE audit →Learn what boards ask for in a CE audit, how long each state says to keep certificates, and what the notice looks like, then use the printable checklist.California mental health workforce data →229,073 active providers, or 582.1 per 100,000 residents, ranked 12 of 51. The page includes a county density map and free CSV downloads.

Other California CE requirement pages

California LPCCalifornia LCSWCalifornia PsychologistCalifornia Addiction CounselorCalifornia PMHNP

LMFT CE requirements in other states