New Jersey LMFT Continuing Education Requirements
New Jersey marriage and family therapists must complete 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LMFT license, including 5 hours of law & ethics, 3 hours of social and cultural competence, and 1 hour of prescription opioid drugs.
40
total hours / 2 years
5
law & ethics hours
3
social and cultural competence hours
1
prescription opioid drugs hours
Biennial renewal · calculating the next statewide deadline
New Jersey LMFT requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 40 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: CE due by June 30 of even years. |
| Law & Ethics | 5 hours required each cycle. |
| Social and Cultural Competence | 3 hours required each cycle. |
| Prescription Opioid Drugs | 1 hour required each cycle. |
| Format limits | Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study. |
| Format limits | At least 20 hours must be earned in person. |
| Carryover | Up to 10 unused hours can carry into the next cycle. |
| Approved providers | Qualifying CE may be offered or sponsored by national professional association, state professional association, accredited university, national certifying body, and credentialing body and recognized associations in counseling, mft, social work, psychology, psychiatry, addiction counseling, and rehabilitation counseling. |
Limits on how the hours are earned
Board caps and floors on where the 40 hours can come from.
- in personmin 20 hrs
- home study / self-studymax 20 hrs
- first time presentationmax 9 hrs
- publicationmax 30 hrs
- carryovermax 10 hrs
Full board policy details
- At least 20 of the 40 contact hours must be obtained through face-to-face instruction (N.J.A.C. 13:34-5.2(b)). By implication up to 20 hours (50%) may be non-face-to-face. The rule does not define "face-to-face," so it is not stated whether live-interactive/synchronous webinars count as face-to-face or as self-study — verify with the Board.
- A contact hour = a 60-minute clock hour with no less than 50 minutes of content; one 10-minute break allowed per contact hour. Credit only for courses at least one contact hour long (N.J.A.C. 13:34-5.4(a)).
- NJ credit-conversion ratios (N.J.A.C. 13:34-5.4(b)): graduate/post-graduate coursework beyond licensure standards = 15 contact hours per semester credit; teaching a NEW graduate/post-graduate course = 15 contact hours per semester credit; authoring an article in a professional refereed journal = 15 contact hours per article, max 30 per biennium; doctoral dissertation completion and acceptance = 40 contact hours per biennium; attending conferences/programs/ courses/workshops = 1 contact hour per hour attended (or the organization's calculation, whichever is greater); presenting a course/program/workshop = 1.5 contact hours per new course, max 9 per biennium; developing and completing distance-learning programs (Internet, video, audio, CD-ROM) = as calculated by the endorsing organization, max 20 per biennium.
- Carry-over: up to 10 CEUs may be carried into the next biennial period, and only if earned within the last six months of the biennial period (N.J.A.C. 13:34-5.2(e)). The one mandatory opioid credit is NOT carry-over eligible (N.J.A.C. 13:34-5.2(f)).
- COURSE REPEAT RESTRICTIONS: Teaching/presenting credit is limited to NEW material — "new" means a course the licensee has not taught previously in any educational setting (N.J.A.C. 13:34-5.4(b)2, (b)6). Re-teaching or re-presenting previously taught material earns no additional credit. The rule does not expressly prohibit re-taking the same course for attendance credit within a cycle.
- LICENSE STATUS RULES: CE is required for ACTIVE license renewal; a licensee may renew as INACTIVE (may not practice) and the rule does not require CE to maintain inactive status. Chapter 34 recognizes only active and inactive renewal — there is no separate retired/emeritus CE tier. Reactivation from inactive (N.J.A.C. 13:34-1.11) and reinstatement after suspension for non-renewal (N.J.A.C. 13:34-1.12) each require evidence of completing one biennium's worth of CE (40 contact hours including the 5/3/1 topic distribution) for the biennial period immediately prior to the period sought. An applicant currently, actively licensed in good standing in another state who has met that state's CE is deemed compliant; specific required courses may be completed within 12 months following reactivation/ reinstatement. The Board may additionally require an exam/assessment, refresher course, or supervision on a finding of possible practice deficiencies.
- Hardship waiver (N.J.A.C. 13:34-5.6): the Board may waive CE requirements on an individual basis for reasons of hardship such as illness, disability, active service in the military, or other good cause. The licensee must submit the request in writing, during the biennial period for which waiver is sought, stating specific reasons and any additional documentation the Board requests. No fixed maximum duration is specified. There is NO exam-substitution pathway or conditional/ provisional registration for a CE shortfall at renewal in NJ.
- Deemed-acceptable social/cultural competence course: a course in that subject area approved by the Board of Social Work Examiners, the Professional Counselor Examiners Committee, or the Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee is deemed acceptable (N.J.A.C. 13:34-5.3(d)).
We turn every category, format limit, and one-time rule on this page into a live checklist on your New Jersey LMFT record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track New Jersey LMFT CE free →New Jersey LMFT CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do New Jersey LMFT licensees need?
New Jersey requires 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LMFT license. Biennial cycle: CE due by June 30 of even years.
How many ethics hours are required for New Jersey LMFT licensees?
Of the total, 5 hours must be in law & ethics.
How often do New Jersey LMFT licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: CE due by June 30 of even years.
Are there subject-specific CE requirements for New Jersey LMFT licensees?
Yes. In addition to ethics, New Jersey requires 3 hours of social and cultural competence, 1 hour of prescription opioid drugs.
Can New Jersey LMFT licensees complete CE online or by home study?
Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study. At least 20 hours must be earned in person.
Sources & verification
- State source
- New Jersey board rule
- Last verified
- July 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.2
Reviewed against the New Jersey 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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