Updated for 2026

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.

30hours every 2 years
Topic minimums, counted within the 30
3ethics
2child abuse recognition and reporting
1suicide prevention

Next deadline: February 28, 2027The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by February 28 of odd years.

What the board saysPennsylvania board rule
The Board requires, as a condition of biennial renewal of a professional counselor’s license, the completion during the preceding biennium of 30 clock hours1 of continuing education in acceptable courses and programs offered by approved providers. Up to 20 clock hours may be obtained by home study2. Excess clock hours may not be carried over to the next biennium. At least 3 of the required 30 clock hours must be related to ethical issues3 and at least 2 of the required 30 clock hours must be completed in child abuse recognition and reporting4 …
What it means
  1. 30 hours every two years
  2. No more than 20 hours of home study
  3. 3 hours of ethics
  4. 2 hours on child abuse recognition and reporting
49 Pa. Code § 49.32Last verified August 2026Ruleset 2026.4How we verify
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Requirements

Pennsylvania LPC requirements

Total

30 hoursYou need 30 hours every 2 years. The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by February 28 of odd years.

Topic minimums, counted within the 30

The remaining 24 hours are not tied to a topic minimum.
Ethics
3
You need 3 hours each cycle.
Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting
2
You need 2 hours each cycle.
Suicide Prevention
1
You need 1 hour each cycle.

Limits on how the hours are earned

Home study / self-study
max 20 hrs

Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.

Cycle and record rules

Renewal
The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by February 28 of odd years.
Renewal fee
Renewal fees by license status
Status / feeAmount and conditions
Active renewal$95. Biennial fee under 49 Pa. Code 47.4.
Board fee schedule
Late charge per month or partial month$5. Additional monthly charge under Fee Act section 225; not a flat penalty.
Board fee schedule

CE course costs are separate. Late renewal does not authorize practice on an expired license.

We verified these fees on 2026-09-30. Board fee schedule.

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.

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 February 28, 2027.

Your result appears here as you enter hours.

Open the full LPC CE hours calculator

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

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.

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. The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is 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?

The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by February 28 of odd years.

How much does Pennsylvania LPC license renewal cost?
Renewal fees by license status
Status / feeAmount and conditions
Active renewal$95. Biennial fee under 49 Pa. Code 47.4.
Board fee schedule
Late charge per month or partial month$5. Additional monthly charge under Fee Act section 225; not a flat penalty.
Board fee schedule

CE course costs are separate. Late renewal does not authorize practice on an expired license.

We verified these fees on 2026-09-30. Board fee schedule.

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 and verification

State source
Pennsylvania board rule
Fee schedule
Pennsylvania board fee schedule
Profession source
NBCC continuing education guidance
Last verified
August 2026
Ruleset version
2026.4

We reviewed this page against the Pennsylvania 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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Pennsylvania 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.Pennsylvania mental health workforce data →50,517 active providers, or 386.8 per 100,000 residents, ranked 33 of 51. The page includes a county density map and free CSV downloads.

Other Pennsylvania CE requirement pages

Pennsylvania LMFTPennsylvania LCSWPennsylvania PsychologistPennsylvania PMHNP

LPC CE requirements in other states