Alabama LPC Continuing Education Requirements
Alabama counselors must complete 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LPC license, including 6 hours of ethics.
40
total hours / 2 years
6
ethics hours
Biennial · renewal date varies by licensee.
Alabama LPC requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 40 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date. |
| Ethics | 6 hours required each cycle. |
| Format limits | At most 25% of hours may be home study / self-study. |
| New licensees | First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically. |
| Approved providers | Qualifying CE may be offered or sponsored by nbcc approved provider, crcc approved provider, naadac approved provider, asca approved provider, alabama department of mental health, and apa approved provider and recognized associations in counseling. |
| Recordkeeping | Keep CE documentation for 3 years after the end of each cycle. |
| Board audit | The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance. |
Limits on how the hours are earned
Board caps and floors on where the 40 hours can come from.
- home study / self-studymax 25%
- professional contributionmax 10 hrs
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
- At least 75% of the 40 hours must be real-time interactive. In-person attendance and synchronous interactive technology qualify; recorded, reading, and other asynchronous activities are limited to 25%.
- Up to 10 hours may be earned from documented presenting, peer-reviewed publication, or qualifying board/commission/professional-office service. The rule also requires documentation from two of those activity types; that cross-category condition remains manual.
- LPC-S renewal requires five hours devoted to supervision during the accompanying LPC cycle. The hours count within the 40-hour total and cannot be hours awarded merely for providing supervision.
- ABEC accepts NBCC- or CRCC-approved activities and activities provided and sponsored by NAADAC, ASCA, the Alabama Department of Mental Health, or APA under the policy revised November 17, 2024.
- A short initial LPC term is prorated at 1.67 hours for each month or part of a month, rounded up, with at least six ethics hours. This requires manual review because the engine cannot model the part-month ceiling.
We turn every category, format limit, and one-time rule on this page into a live checklist on your Alabama LPC record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Alabama LPC CE free →Alabama LPC CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Alabama LPC licensees need?
Alabama requires 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LPC license. Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
How many ethics hours are required for Alabama LPC licensees?
Of the total, 6 hours must be in ethics.
How often do Alabama LPC licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
Can Alabama LPC licensees complete CE online or by home study?
At most 25% of hours may be home study / self-study.
Is the first renewal different for new Alabama LPC 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
- Alabama board rule
- Profession source
- NBCC continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- August 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.3
Reviewed against the Alabama 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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What to keep for a CE audit
What boards ask for in a CE audit, how long each state says to keep certificates, what the notice looks like, and a printable checklist.
Alabama mental health workforce data
9,968 active providers, or 191.9 per 100,000 residents, ranked 51 of 51. County density map and free CSV downloads.