Pennsylvania LPC Continuing Education Requirements
Pennsylvania counselors must complete 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LPC license, including 3 hours of ethics, 2 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting, and 1 hour of suicide prevention.
30
total hours / 2 years
3
ethics hours
2
child abuse recognition and reporting hours
1
suicide prevention hours
Biennial renewal · calculating the next statewide deadline
Pennsylvania LPC requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 30 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: CE due by February 28 of odd years. |
| Ethics | 3 hours required each cycle. |
| Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting | 2 hours required each cycle. |
| Suicide Prevention | 1 hour required each cycle. |
| Format limits | Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study. |
| New licensees | An LPC is exempt for the biennial renewal period following initial licensure. |
| Approved providers | CE must be earned from a board-approved provider. |
| Recordkeeping | Keep CE documentation for 4 years after each renewal. |
| Board audit | The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance. |
Limits on how the hours are earned
Board caps and floors on where the 30 hours can come from.
- home study / self-studymax 20 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
- No more than 20 of the 30 hours may be earned by home study. Excess hours do not carry into another biennium.
- Programs from providers listed in 49 Pa. Code section 49.36 are accepted; other activities may qualify through the Board approval process in section 49.37. Use the current Board/provider rules rather than treating a short sponsor list as exhaustive.
- The code limits first-time teaching and other alternative-activity credit where stated, but does not establish a general ban on an attendee repeating a course during the biennium.
- To reinstate an inactive or lapsed license, the applicant must document compliance with the CE requirement for the preceding biennium. The amount is the ordinary 30-hour requirement, so it is not duplicated as a separate engine total.
- A written hardship request may support an extension or waiver for serious illness, military service, or another documented circumstance accepted by the Board.
We turn every category, format limit, and one-time rule on this page into a live checklist on your Pennsylvania LPC record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Pennsylvania LPC CE free →Pennsylvania LPC CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Pennsylvania LPC licensees need?
Pennsylvania requires 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LPC license. Biennial cycle: CE due by February 28 of odd years.
How many ethics hours are required for Pennsylvania LPC licensees?
Of the total, 3 hours must be in ethics.
How often do Pennsylvania LPC licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: CE due by February 28 of odd years.
Are there subject-specific CE requirements for Pennsylvania LPC licensees?
Yes. In addition to ethics, Pennsylvania requires 2 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting, 1 hour of suicide prevention.
Can Pennsylvania LPC licensees complete CE online or by home study?
Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
Is the first renewal different for new Pennsylvania LPC licensees?
An LPC is exempt for the biennial renewal period following initial licensure.
Sources & verification
- State source
- Pennsylvania board rule
- Profession source
- NBCC continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- August 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.3
Reviewed against the Pennsylvania 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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Create your free recordPennsylvaniaguides & data
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.
Pennsylvania mental health workforce data
50,517 active providers, or 386.8 per 100,000 residents, ranked 33 of 51. County density map and free CSV downloads.