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.
45
total hours / 3 years
6
ethics hours
Triennial renewal · calculating the next statewide deadline
Hawaii LMFT requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 45 hours every 3 years. |
| Renewal | Triennial cycle: CE due by December 31 every 3 years (2025, 2028, ...). |
| Ethics | 6 hours required each cycle. |
| New licensees | First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically. |
| Board audit | The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance. |
| Late renewal | A late renewal allows 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. |
Keeping the proof in order: what to keep for a CE audit, with every state’s retention period and what the audit notice asks for.
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.
We turn every category, format limit, and one-time rule on this page into a live checklist on your Hawaii LMFT record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Hawaii LMFT CE free →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. Triennial cycle: CE 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?
Triennial cycle: CE due by December 31 every 3 years (2025, 2028, ...).
Is the first renewal different for new Hawaii LMFT licensees?
First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically.
Sources & verification
- State source
- Hawaii board rule
- Last verified
- July 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.2
Reviewed against the Hawaii board source and refreshed 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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