Maryland LCPC & LGPC Continuing Education Requirements
Maryland counselors must complete 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LCPC / LGPC license.
40
total hours / 2 years
30
live hours minimum
10
home study / self-study hours cap
Biennial · renewal date varies by licensee.
Maryland LCPC & LGPC requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 40 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date. |
| Format limits | Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study. |
| Format limits | At least 30 hours must be earned live. |
| 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 national professional association, regional professional association, state professional association, accredited university, and governmental agency. |
| Recordkeeping | Keep CE documentation for 4 years after each renewal. |
| Board audit | The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance. |
| Other mandates | One-time completion of an approved implicit bias and structural racism training program (per Md. Health Occupations Article §1-225). Required at the first license renewal occurring on or after April 1, 2026. Attestation is required on the renewal application. The Board may allow this training to count toward CE hours. |
Total hours
40 hours every 2 years.
Renewal
Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
Format limits
Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
At least 30 hours must be earned live.
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 national professional association, regional professional association, state professional association, accredited university, and governmental agency.
Recordkeeping
Keep CE documentation for 4 years after each renewal.
Board audit
The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance.
Other mandates
One-time completion of an approved implicit bias and structural racism training program (per Md. Health Occupations Article §1-225). Required at the first license renewal occurring on or after April 1, 2026. Attestation is required on the renewal application. The Board may allow this training to count toward CE hours.
Full board policy details
- At least 30 of the 40 CEUs must be Category A (formal programs offered by Board-approved sponsors with attendance documentation and certificate of completion). No more than 10 CEUs may be Category B (informal/self-directed learning, in-house trainings, peer supervision, distance learning with proof of mastery, or receiving formal professional supervision). All 40 hours may be Category A if desired.
- Home study with no oversight or verification is explicitly NOT creditable (COMAR 10.58.05.04). Distance learning may count as Category B only with evidence of appropriateness, minimum mastery of materials, and completion.
- Teaching a Category A program is credited at up to 3 CEUs per hour taught, maximum 20 CEUs per renewal. Presenting a professional paper earns up to 3 CEUs per hour of presentation, maximum 6 CEUs per paper.
- Authoring a book = up to 40 CEUs in the year of publication; a juried (peer-reviewed) journal article or book chapter = up to 15 CEUs in the year of publication. Editing a book = up to 30 CEUs in the year of publication; editing a scientific or professional journal = up to 30 CEUs for EACH year of service (a continuous 2-year journal editorship can yield up to 60 CEUs per renewal). Reviewing a professional book or journal = up to 10 CEUs per year of service. Academic coursework: 1 semester credit = 15 CEUs; 1 quarter credit ≈ 10 CEUs. Authoring/editing/reviewing are Category A activities (COMAR 10.58.05.05).
- Category B activities (informal courses, in-house colloquia, invited-speaker sessions, formal professional supervision, peer case-conference / peer supervision groups, and distance-learning programs) do NOT require a Board-approved sponsor — the automatic sponsor-approval list in COMAR 10.58.05.05 applies only to Category A. Category B credit must still meet Board standards; individualized learning requires evidence of appropriateness, minimum mastery of materials, and completion (COMAR 10.58.05.06).
- Multiple credentials: a licensee who holds more than one license or certificate under the Board must complete the full CE requirement separately for each credential — a single set of 40 hours does not satisfy two credentials, though the same qualifying course content may be applied toward each (subject to the no-duplicate-credit rule within each credential).
- Course repeat restriction: each program may be credited only once per renewal period (COMAR 10.58.05.05(A)(2)(c)). Instructors who teach the same course multiple times in a cycle may claim credit only for the first delivery. The same principle applies to attendance — no duplicate credit for repeating identical content within the same cycle.
- Surplus CE hours beyond the required 40 may NOT be carried over to the next renewal period (COMAR 10.58.05.03(B)).
- Inactive status: licensees may apply for inactive status before expiration and pause CE during the inactive period. To reactivate, the licensee must meet the renewal CE requirements in effect at the time of reactivation (typically 40 hours completed within the prior 2 years). Maryland does not provide a formal "retired" status that exempts CE. There is no automatic CE waiver — the Board may grant a written extension request submitted before the renewal date in cases of significant illness, procedural/ technical difficulty, or other circumstances beyond the licensee's control. Hours earned during an extension count only toward the previous renewal period.
- No exam substitution: Maryland does not allow passing a licensing exam in lieu of completing CE hours.
We turn all of this (every category, format limit, and one-time rule) into a live checklist on your Maryland LCPC / LGPC record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Maryland LCPC / LGPC CE free →Maryland LCPC & LGPC CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Maryland LCPC / LGPC licensees need?
Maryland requires 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LCPC / LGPC license. Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
How often do Maryland LCPC / LGPC licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
Can Maryland LCPC / LGPC licensees complete CE online or by home study?
Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study. At least 30 hours must be earned live.
Is the first renewal different for new Maryland LCPC / LGPC 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
- Maryland board rule
- Profession source
- NBCC continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- May 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.1
Reviewed against the Maryland 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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