New Jersey LPC & LAC Continuing Education Requirements
New Jersey counselors must complete 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LPC / LAC license, including 5 hours of ethics legal, 3 hours of social cultural competence, and 1 hour of prescription opioids.
40
total hours / 2 years
5
ethics legal hours
3
social cultural competence hours
1
prescription opioids hours
10
carryover cap
Biennial · renewal date varies by licensee.
New Jersey LPC & LAC requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 40 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date. |
| Ethics Legal | 5 hours required each cycle. |
| Social Cultural Competence | 3 hours required each cycle. |
| Prescription Opioids | 1 hour required each cycle. |
| Carryover | Up to 10 unused hours can carry into the next cycle. |
| 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, accredited university, and governmental agency and recognized associations in counseling, mft, social work, psychology, psychiatry, nursing, rehabilitation counseling, and addiction counseling. |
| Late renewal | A late renewal allows a 30-day grace period after expiration and a late fee. |
Full board policy details
- LPC biennial renewal cycle runs from December 1 of an even-numbered year through November 30 of the next even-numbered year (N.J.A.C. 13:34-15.1). The cycle is fixed by the Board and not tied to license issuance or birthdate.
- New Jersey LPCs have no cap on self-study or online CE; all 40 hours may be obtained via distance learning from approved providers. There is no minimum in-person/live requirement for LPCs.
- Approved providers include NBCC, ACA, APA (Psychological and Psychiatric), NASW, AAMFT, CRCC, American Orthopsychiatric Association, AMA, ANA, NAADAC, Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, and IC&RC member boards. Courses not pre-approved by a listed organization must be submitted to one of those organizations for approval; the Committee does not pre-approve individual courses. Per N.J.A.C. 13:34-15.4(a).
- Teaching, presenting, publishing, and graduate-level academic coursework are NOT exempt from the approved-provider/qualifying-source requirement. Academic coursework must be taken at a regionally accredited institution of higher education; teaching and publishing earn credit only when the activity meets the rule's criteria (e.g., a 'new' course not previously taught, or a qualifying scholarly article). All 40 hours each cycle must be unique qualifying activities from approved sources.
- COURSE REPEAT RESTRICTIONS: Credit for teaching a course is only available for a course the licensee has not previously presented in any educational setting (N.J.A.C. 13:34-15.5(b)2). Attending or teaching the same identical course twice in a cycle does not yield additional credit. The 1-hour opioid credit cannot be carried over into the next renewal cycle.
- LICENSE STATUS RULES: Licensees on inactive status are exempt from CE during the inactive period and may not practice. To reactivate, the licensee must show proof of completing the 40 CE hours that would have been required for the biennial period preceding reactivation. A current active license in another state with equivalent CE during the inactive period satisfies this. Missing mandatory topic hours (ethics, cultural competence, opioids) may be completed within 12 months following reactivation. Lapsed/suspended licenses require the same reinstatement CE evidence. Hardship waivers (illness, disability, military service, or other good cause) may be requested in writing under N.J.A.C. 13:34-15.7.
We turn all of this (every category, format limit, and one-time rule) into a live checklist on your New Jersey LPC / LAC record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track New Jersey LPC / LAC CE free →New Jersey LPC & LAC CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do New Jersey LPC / LAC licensees need?
New Jersey requires 40 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 New Jersey LPC / LAC licensees?
Of the total, 5 hours must be in ethics legal.
How often do New Jersey LPC / LAC licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
Are there subject-specific CE requirements for New Jersey LPC / LAC licensees?
Yes. In addition to ethics, New Jersey requires 3 hours of social cultural competence, 1 hour of prescription opioids.
Is the first renewal different for new New Jersey LPC / LAC 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
- New Jersey board rule
- Profession source
- NBCC continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- May 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.1
Reviewed against the New Jersey 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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