Updated for 2026

Hawaii LMFT Continuing Education Requirements

Hawaii marriage and family therapists must complete 45 continuing education hours every 3 years to renew their LMFT license, including 6 hours of ethics.

45hours every 3 years
Topic minimums, counted within the 45
6ethics

Next deadline: December 31, 2028The renewal cycle is triennial, and CE is due by December 31 every 3 years (2025, 2028, ...).

What the board saysHawaii board rule
Pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes section 451J-10, continuing education ("CE") will be required to renew an MFT license. Beginning with the renewal for the licensing triennium 1/1/2017 - 12/31/2019, and prior to every triennial renewal thereafter, each licensee shall complete 45 credit hours of CE within the 3-year period preceding the renewal date1; provided that a minimum of 6 credit hours are in ethics2.
What it means
  1. 45 hours every 3 years
  2. 6 hours of ethics
HRS § 451J-10Last verified July 2026Ruleset 2026.2How we verify
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Requirements

Hawaii LMFT requirements

Total

45 hoursYou need 45 hours every 3 years. The renewal cycle is triennial, and CE is due by December 31 every 3 years (2025, 2028, ...).

Topic minimums, counted within the 45

The remaining 39 hours are not tied to a topic minimum.
Ethics
6
You need 6 hours each cycle.

Cycle and record rules

Renewal
The renewal cycle is triennial, and CE is due by December 31 every 3 years (2025, 2028, ...).
New licensees
The first renewal is different. New licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements, such as prorated hours or first-cycle-only rules, and we apply them automatically.
Board audit
The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance.
Late renewal
A late renewal adds a late fee.
Provisional renewal
The board allows a provisional/conditional renewal for up to 36 months before full compliance is required. Per HRS § 451J-10(e), an LMFT short on CE at renewal may submit a notarized affidavit and request for extension. If granted, the licensee renews but must complete 90 hours (with 12 ethics) by the next triennium. Grounds limited to geographic isolation or incapacity/hardship.

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 December 31, 2028.

Your result appears here as you enter hours.

Open the full LMFT CE hours calculator

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

Full board policy details
  • Hawaii statutes do not impose any specific format or delivery-mode constraints. All 45 hours may be completed via self-study, online, or live formats. There is no minimum live or in-person requirement and no cap on home-study/self-paced hours.
  • Course repeat restrictions: The same course content generally cannot be claimed twice for credit within a single renewal period. Hawaii does not award CE credit for teaching, presenting, publishing, or other professional activities, only participation in continuing education courses counts toward the 45 hours.
  • License status rules: Inactive licensees are not required to complete CE while inactive. To reactivate, the licensee must show CE equivalent to the requirement (typically 45 hours including 6 ethics earned within the 3 years prior to reactivation). A forfeited license may be restored within 1 year of expiration upon paying fees and (if audited) showing CE compliance; after 1 year the license terminates and the person must reapply as a new applicant. There is no separate retired/emeritus status for LMFT/LMHC.
  • Hardship extension: A licensee who has not completed CE may renew conditionally by submitting a notarized affidavit explaining noncompliance and requesting an extension. If granted, the licensee must complete 90 hours (including 12 ethics) by the end of the next triennium. Grounds: practice in isolated geographic area lacking CE opportunities, or incapacity/undue hardship/extenuating circumstances. Extensions are individual and not routinely renewable.
  • Excess CE hours do not carry forward to the next renewal cycle.
  • Hawaii does not require additional CE for supervisors, telehealth practitioners, or other specialty practice modalities beyond the standard requirement.

Hawaii LMFT CE: frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do Hawaii LMFT licensees need?

Hawaii requires 45 continuing education hours every 3 years to renew a LMFT license. The renewal cycle is triennial, and CE is due by December 31 every 3 years (2025, 2028, ...).

How many ethics hours are required for Hawaii LMFT licensees?

Of the total, 6 hours must be in ethics.

How often do Hawaii LMFT licensees renew?

The renewal cycle is triennial, and CE is due by December 31 every 3 years (2025, 2028, ...).

Is the first renewal different for new Hawaii LMFT licensees?

The first renewal is different. New licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements, such as prorated hours or first-cycle-only rules, and we apply them automatically.

Sources and verification

State source
Hawaii board rule
Last verified
July 2026
Ruleset version
2026.2

We reviewed this page against the Hawaii 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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Hawaii 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.Hawaii mental health workforce data →5,688 active providers, or 397 per 100,000 residents, ranked 31 of 51. The page includes a county density map and free CSV downloads.

Other Hawaii CE requirement pages

Hawaii LPCHawaii LCSWHawaii PsychologistHawaii Addiction CounselorHawaii PMHNP

LMFT CE requirements in other states