Updated for 2026

Massachusetts LMHC Continuing Education Requirements

Massachusetts counselors must complete 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LMHC license.

30hours every 2 years

Next deadline: December 31, 2027The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by December 31 of odd years.

What the board saysMassachusetts board rule
All licensees are required, as a condition of license renewal, to complete a minimum of 30 Contact Hours1 of continuing education activities per licensure/renewal period (every two years)2. These Contact Hours must be obtained from Board-recognized Entities.
What it means
  1. At least 30 contact hours each renewal
  2. The renewal period is every two years
262 CMR 7.03Last verified July 2026Ruleset 2026.3How we verify
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Requirements

Massachusetts LMHC requirements

Total

30 hoursYou need 30 hours every 2 years. The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by December 31 of odd years.

Cycle and record rules

Renewal
The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by December 31 of odd years.
Renewal fee
The board renewal fee is $155 every 2 years, and a late (delinquent) renewal adds a $57 fee.
New licensees
The first renewal is different. New licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements, such as prorated hours or first-cycle-only rules, and we apply them automatically.
Approved providers
CE must be earned from a board-approved provider.
Recordkeeping
Keep CE documentation for 4 years after each course's completion date.
Board audit
The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance.
Late renewal
A late renewal adds a $57 late fee.

To keep your proof in order, see what to keep for a CE audit, which covers every state’s retention period and what the audit notice asks for.

Your hours

Check where you stand

Enter the hours you have completed this cycle to see what is left before December 31, 2027.

Your result appears here as you enter hours.

Open the full LPC CE hours calculator

Also hold a Massachusetts LMFT or LCSW license? Each board runs its own CE cycle. See the Massachusetts LMFT and Massachusetts LCSW requirements.

Massachusetts LMHC required trainings and mandates

Beyond the 30-hour CE total, Massachusetts requires specific trainings. Some are due once around initial licensure, and others run on their own recurring schedule.

One-time requirements

  • One-time domestic and sexual violence training required by M.G.L. c.112 §264 and 262 CMR 7.03(2) as a condition of initial licensure and renewal. Once completed from a Board-approved program it need not be repeated; the ~2 CE hours may count toward the 30-hour cycle total. Waived when proof was submitted with the licensure application. Approved programs include the free online Chapter 260 training from the MA Dept. of Public Health. (2 hours, one time).

Recurring mandates outside the 2-year cycle

  • Applicants and licensees must complete Board-approved domestic and sexual violence training as a condition of licensure and renewal. It is a one-time lifetime requirement and the two CE hours count in the cycle in which the training is completed.
Full board policy details
  • Massachusetts imposes no delivery-format ratio or cap in 262 CMR 7.00 or current Board Policy 2020-01. All 30 hours may be live, online, or asynchronous when approved through the LMHC Board-recognized entity.
  • Course repeat restrictions: 262 CMR 7.00 does not impose a general duplicate-course or first-presentation restriction. Any credit remains subject to the rules of the Board-recognized entity that approved the activity.
  • License status rules: Massachusetts does not offer a formal inactive or retired status with CE waiver. All licensees who renew an active license must complete CE, there are no exemptions for non-practicing licensees. To reinstate a lapsed license: under 2 years lapsed requires 30 hours plus late fee; 2 to under 4 years requires 30 hours plus two renewal fees and late fee; 4 to under 6 years requires 60 hours completed in the prior 4 years plus two renewal fees and late fee; 6+ years requires 90 hours completed in the prior 6 years, two renewal fees, late fee, AND retaking the licensing exam (unless continuously licensed in another state). Hardship extensions of time may be granted by the Board on case-by-case basis if requested BEFORE renewal with documentation.
  • Recommended (not required) topics each cycle per Board Policy 2020-01: 3 hours Ethics, 3 hours Anti-Discrimination, and (for licensees who supervise) 3 hours Supervision. These are encouraged but not enforced, any 30 hours of approved CE satisfies the requirement.
  • Provider approval by license type: LMHC courses must be approved by MaMHCA (MMCEP) or NBCC. The Board itself does not approve individual courses; all CE must come from a Board-recognized entity's approved sponsor or be retroactively approved by such an entity. No partial allowance, 100% of hours must come from approved sources.
  • Dual-licensee credit reuse: a clinician dually licensed (e.g., LMHC + LMFT) under this board needs only 30 total hours, not 60, the same CE hour can count toward both licenses, provided the activity meets each profession's provider-approval criteria (e.g., dual-approved by NBCC and NEAFAST, or a split between discipline-specific trainings).

Massachusetts LMHC CE: frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do Massachusetts LMHC licensees need?

Massachusetts requires 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LMHC license. The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by December 31 of odd years.

How often do Massachusetts LMHC licensees renew?

The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by December 31 of odd years.

How much does Massachusetts LMHC license renewal cost?

The board's renewal fee is $155 every 2 years, per the Massachusetts board fee schedule. Renewing late adds a $57 delinquency fee on top. CE course costs are separate and set by course providers.

Is the first renewal different for new Massachusetts LMHC licensees?

The first renewal is different. New licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements, such as prorated hours or first-cycle-only rules, and we apply them automatically.

Sources and verification

State source
Massachusetts board rule
Profession source
NBCC continuing education guidance
Last verified
July 2026
Ruleset version
2026.3

We reviewed this page against the Massachusetts board source, and we refresh it 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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Massachusetts guides & data

What to keep for a CE audit →Learn what boards ask for in a CE audit, how long each state says to keep certificates, and what the notice looks like, then use the printable checklist.Massachusetts mental health workforce data →67,140 active providers, or 938.5 per 100,000 residents, ranked 3 of 51. The page includes a county density map and free CSV downloads.

Other Massachusetts CE requirement pages

Massachusetts LMFTMassachusetts LCSWMassachusetts PsychologistMassachusetts Addiction CounselorMassachusetts PMHNP

LPC CE requirements in other states