Louisiana LPC & LPC-S Continuing Education Requirements
Louisiana counselors must complete 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LPC / LPC-S license, including 3 hours of ethics and 6 hours of diagnosis.
40
total hours / 2 years
3
ethics hours
6
diagnosis hours
20
home study / self-study hours cap
10
recorded / on-demand hours cap
Biennial · renewal date varies by licensee.
Louisiana LPC & LPC-S requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 40 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date. |
| Ethics | 3 hours required each cycle. |
| Diagnosis | 6 hours required each cycle. |
| Format limits | Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study. |
| Format limits | Up to 10 hours may be completed through recorded / on-demand. |
| Recordkeeping | Keep CE documentation for 2 years after each renewal. |
| Board audit | The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance. |
Full board policy details
- A maximum of 20 of the 40 hours may be earned via online format (webinars, virtual courses, home-study, recorded webinars). At least 20 hours must be obtained through face-to-face/live in-person instruction. Live synchronous webinars count toward the online cap. Coursework from an accredited institution is exempt from the online cap.
- Home-study (recorded media, journal article reading, recorded webinars) is capped at 10 hours per cycle within the 20-hour online allowance. Must come with a provider-issued CE certificate (NBCC, ACA, etc.).
- Presenting credit: 5 CE hours per 1 hour of original presentation delivered, up to 10 hours per cycle. Must be to a professional audience. Repeating the same presentation in the same cycle does not yield additional credit — only original (first delivery) presentations count.
- Publication credit: 5 CE hours per published article or book chapter in a professional journal or book, up to 10 hours per cycle. Content must be in one of the board's 14 approved content areas.
- Academic coursework: 15 CE hours per semester hour (10 per quarter hour). No cap — all 40 hours may be earned via accredited academic coursework, and these hours are exempt from the online cap.
- Research: 1 CE hour per hour spent in planning or conducting original research in counseling, up to 10 hours per cycle.
- Personal therapy as a client: 1 CE hour per hour received from a qualified mental health professional with credentials equal to or greater than those required of the licensee, up to 10 hours per cycle.
- Provider approval is NOT required: Louisiana does not restrict CE to approved providers and sets no minimum percentage or cap on hours from approved providers. CE from organizations or instructors not pre-approved is admissible but is subject to Board review at renewal — content must fit one of the 14 approved counseling content areas and the presenter must have appropriate credentials. CE from ACA (and its state/regional chapters such as LCA) and NBCC is automatically accepted.
- Course repeat restriction: a licensee cannot claim credit twice for the same course (whether as a learner or presenter) within a single renewal period. Each CE activity must be a distinct learning experience. Excess hours do not carry forward to the next cycle.
- License status: Louisiana has no formal inactive or retired CE-exempt status. If a license lapses, it may be renewed within 2 years by paying back fees and showing proof of CE for the missed period (full 40 hours of makeup CE required). Beyond 2 years lapsed, the licensee must reapply as a new applicant. No automatic CE waivers for military duty or hardship — any relief is at board discretion.
- There is no exam-substitution pathway for renewal CE in Louisiana. Active LPCs cannot take the NCE or NCMHCE in lieu of completing CE hours.
- No conditional or provisional renewal is offered for licensees short on CE. CE must be completed prior to the renewal date; the license will lapse if hours are not met.
We turn all of this (every category, format limit, and one-time rule) into a live checklist on your Louisiana LPC / LPC-S record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Louisiana LPC / LPC-S CE free →Louisiana LPC & LPC-S CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Louisiana LPC / LPC-S licensees need?
Louisiana requires 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LPC / LPC-S license. Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
How many ethics hours are required for Louisiana LPC / LPC-S licensees?
Of the total, 3 hours must be in ethics.
How often do Louisiana LPC / LPC-S licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
Are there subject-specific CE requirements for Louisiana LPC / LPC-S licensees?
Yes. In addition to ethics, Louisiana requires 6 hours of diagnosis.
Can Louisiana LPC / LPC-S licensees complete CE online or by home study?
Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study. Up to 10 hours may be completed through recorded / on-demand.
Sources & verification
- State source
- Louisiana board rule
- Profession source
- NBCC continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- May 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.1
Reviewed against the Louisiana 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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