Arkansas LPC & LAC Continuing Education Requirements
Arkansas counselors must complete 24 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LPC / LAC license, including 3 hours of ethics.
24
total hours / 2 years
3
ethics hours
Biennial · renewal date varies by licensee.
Arkansas LPC & LAC requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 24 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date. |
| Ethics | 3 hours required each cycle. |
Full board policy details
- Arkansas does not impose a live/self-study ratio or in-person minimum. Acceptable CE activities include workshops, presenting, academic coursework, publishing, and professional service. Workshops by qualified professionals from state/nationally recognized programs or NBCC-approved providers are accepted.
- Credit conversion formulas: Presenters earn 2 CE hours per 1 hour of initial presentation. Academic coursework earns 15 CE hours per 1 course credit hour. Teaching a new course or publishing a journal article/book earns 10 CE hours. Leadership/professional service earns 10 CE hours. Volunteer services under the Arkansas Volunteer Health Care Act earn 1 CE hour per 8 volunteer hours.
- Course repeat restrictions: Presenter credit (2 hours per hour of presentation) is awarded only for the INITIAL presentation of a workshop; repeating the same presentation does not earn additional presenter credit. The rules do not otherwise explicitly forbid re-taking the same CE course.
- License status rules: Non-practicing (inactive) status is available for counselors out of work due to health, retirement, military service, or other extenuating circumstances. Non-practicing licensees are NOT exempt from CE — they must still submit proof of the 24 required CE hours at renewal. Non-practicing status may be renewed up to TWICE without additional Board approval, requiring only the normal renewal fee and CE; renewals beyond two consecutive cycles in non-practicing status require additional Board approval. If a license has been lapsed/expired for over 12 months, the licensee must reapply as a new applicant; within 12 months of expiration, late renewal is possible with fees and full CE compliance. No formal CE waivers or extensions are offered.
- CE submission deadline and enforcement: Evidence of CE completion must be submitted by May 31 of the renewal year. If CE evidence has not been submitted by May 31, the license will NOT be renewed and will be SUSPENDED until the CE requirement is met. This is a hard, calendar-date deadline distinct from the anniversary expiration date and applies regardless of when in the cycle the license was issued.
- Specialization: If a licensee has a specialization listed on their Statement of Intent, they must complete CE hours specific to that specialization. The rule does not specify a minimum number of hours.
- Supervisors: 3 of the 6 required supervision CE hours must be from Board-recognized state associations or an Arkansas university-sponsored program.
- A licensee short on CE hours may take the NCE, NCMHCE, or AMFTRB examination and meet the national passing score as a substitute for CE clock hours. This is separate from the conditional/extension process.
We turn all of this (every category, format limit, and one-time rule) into a live checklist on your Arkansas LPC / LAC record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Arkansas LPC / LAC CE free →Arkansas LPC & LAC CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Arkansas LPC / LAC licensees need?
Arkansas requires 24 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LPC / LAC license. Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
How many ethics hours are required for Arkansas LPC / LAC licensees?
Of the total, 3 hours must be in ethics.
How often do Arkansas LPC / LAC licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
Sources & verification
- State source
- Arkansas board rule
- Profession source
- NBCC continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- May 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.2
Reviewed against the Arkansas board source and refreshed from the compiled ruleset above. Methodology and disclaimer. Compliance data is informational only and not legal or board advice. Always verify requirements with your licensing board before you renew. See something wrong? Report it →
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