Colorado LPC Continuing Education Requirements
Colorado counselors must complete 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LPC license.
40
total hours / 2 years
Biennial renewal · calculating the next statewide deadline
Colorado LPC requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 40 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: CE due by August 31 of odd years. |
| Carryover | Up to 5 unused hours can carry into the next cycle. |
| New licensees | An LPC first licensed during a renewal cycle accrues 1.66 PDH for each month or portion of a month licensed in that cycle. |
| Recordkeeping | Keep CE documentation for 5 years after the end of each cycle. |
| Board audit | The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance. |
| Late renewal | A late renewal allows a 60-day grace period after expiration and a late fee. |
Limits on how the hours are earned
Board caps and floors on where the 40 hours can come from.
- carryovermax 5 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
- No more than 20 PDH from any single Professional Development Activity may be credited each cycle. The limit applies to each activity, not to an aggregate activity category or delivery format. Approved LPC PDA categories include volunteer service, mentoring/supervision, presenting, coursework, independent learning, and group learning. 1 PDH = 1 clock hour. No live/in-person minimum; no per-day cap.
- Up to 5 excess PDH earned in the last 6 months of the renewal cycle may be carried forward to the next cycle (LPC rule 4 CCR 737-1.18).
- Colorado does not pre-approve CE providers. Any course or activity that fits one of the Board-allowed Professional Development Activity categories and enhances the licensee's professional competence may be claimed. Documentation is self-maintained; no provider accreditation is required.
- Course repeat restrictions: The rule does not explicitly prohibit repeating the same course or claiming credit for teaching identical content multiple times in one cycle. However, each claimed activity must genuinely enhance competence or contribute new learning. The Board may deny credit for activities that do not meet CPC criteria upon audit. Best practice is to claim a given presentation or course only once per cycle unless substantively updated.
- License status rules: Licensees on inactive status are exempt from CPC requirements while inactive (4 CCR 737-1.19). To reactivate, the licensee must complete the full 40 PDH within the 2 years immediately preceding the reactivation application. If the license has been inactive for more than 2 years, the licensee must also pass the Colorado Mental Health Jurisprudence Exam AND demonstrate competency via one of: (a) written account of relevant work experience plus verification of any out-of-state license in good standing, (b) retake the national licensing exam (NCE), (c) complete 10 additional PDH for each year (or part of year) inactive beyond the initial 2 years, or (d) another Board-approved method. Military licensees on federally funded active duty for more than 120 days are exempt from CPC and renewal fees for that cycle per C.R.S. 12-20-302.
- Dual-license exemption: An LPC who also holds another Colorado mental health license (e.g., LMFT, LCSW, psychologist) and has met that license's CPD requirements may be exempted from duplicate CPC under 4 CCR 737-1.18; one set of 40 hours can satisfy both licenses (Deem Status).
We turn every category, format limit, and one-time rule on this page into a live checklist on your Colorado LPC record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Colorado LPC CE free →Colorado LPC CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Colorado LPC licensees need?
Colorado requires 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LPC license. Biennial cycle: CE due by August 31 of odd years.
How often do Colorado LPC licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: CE due by August 31 of odd years.
Is the first renewal different for new Colorado LPC licensees?
An LPC first licensed during a renewal cycle accrues 1.66 PDH for each month or portion of a month licensed in that cycle.
Sources & verification
- State source
- Colorado board rule
- Profession source
- NBCC continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- July 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.3
Reviewed against the Colorado 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.
Colorado mental health workforce data
36,559 active providers, or 608 per 100,000 residents, ranked 11 of 51. County density map and free CSV downloads.