New Jersey LPC Continuing Education Requirements
New Jersey counselors must complete 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LPC 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
Biennial renewal · calculating the next statewide deadline
New Jersey LPC requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 40 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: CE due by November 30 of even years. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Recordkeeping | Keep CE documentation for 5 years after each renewal. |
| Late renewal | A late renewal allows a 30-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.
- first time presentationmax 9 hrs
- publicationmax 8 hrs
- carryovermax 10 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
- 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: Teaching and presentation credit is limited to a new course or offering the licensee has not previously taught or presented. The rule does not impose a general repeat ban on attendees. The 1-hour opioid credit cannot be carried 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 every category, format limit, and one-time rule on this page into a live checklist on your New Jersey LPC record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track New Jersey LPC CE free →New Jersey LPC CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do New Jersey LPC licensees need?
New Jersey requires 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LPC license. Biennial cycle: CE due by November 30 of even years.
How many ethics hours are required for New Jersey LPC licensees?
Of the total, 5 hours must be in ethics legal.
How often do New Jersey LPC licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: CE due by November 30 of even years.
Are there subject-specific CE requirements for New Jersey LPC licensees?
Yes. In addition to ethics, New Jersey requires 3 hours of social cultural competence, 1 hour of prescription opioids.
Sources & verification
- State source
- New Jersey board rule
- Profession source
- NBCC continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- August 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.4
Reviewed against the New Jersey 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.
New Jersey mental health workforce data
38,996 active providers, or 408.4 per 100,000 residents, ranked 28 of 51. County density map and free CSV downloads.