Updated for 2026

Texas LPC Continuing Education Requirements

Texas counselors must complete 24 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LPC license, including 6 hours of ethics and 3 hours of cultural diversity competency.

total hours / 2 years

ethics hours

cultural diversity competency hours

home study / self-study hours cap

Biennial · renewal date varies by licensee.

Texas LPC requirements

Requirement	Notes
Total continuing education	24 hours every 2 years.
Renewal	Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
Ethics	6 hours required each cycle.
Cultural Diversity Competency	3 hours required each cycle.
Format limits	Up to 1 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
Approved providers	Qualifying CE may be offered or sponsored by international professional association, national professional association, state professional association, local professional association, accredited university, public school district, education service center, governmental agency, nonprofit religious or charitable organization, hospital or hospital system, and board approved supervisor.
Recordkeeping	Keep CE documentation for 3 years after each renewal.
Board audit	The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance.
Late renewal	A late renewal allows a 365-day grace period after expiration and a late fee.
One-time requirements	All LPCs must successfully complete the Texas jurisprudence exam each renewal period; passing may be claimed as 1 hour of ethics CE. (1 hour, one time).
One-time requirements	Texas HB 2059 mandates completion of an HHSC-approved Human Trafficking Prevention training each renewal cycle; 1 hour of CE may be claimed. (1 hour, one time).
Other mandates	Texas Occupations Code §116.002 requires all health-care providers, including LPCs, to complete an HHSC-approved Human Trafficking Prevention training course each renewal cycle. The course may be claimed as 1 hour of CE credit.

Full board policy details

Self-study (informal solo learning such as independent reading) is capped at 1 hour per renewal period. Organized CE activities from third-party providers that issue a certificate are NOT considered self-study and are not subject to this cap.
All 24 hours may be earned via online/distance learning so long as the provider issues a certificate of completion. Texas does not distinguish between live and asynchronous CE for credit purposes; there is no minimum in-person requirement.
Effective January 1, 2024, at least 50% of CE hours must come from one of the enumerated approved provider categories (professional associations, accredited universities, governmental agencies, school districts/ESCs, nonprofit religious/charitable mental-health organizations, hospitals/hospital systems, board-approved supervisors, or a provider approved/endorsed by one of these). The remaining hours may be from any provider of the licensee's choosing. Texas does not pre-approve providers or courses.
Course repeat restriction: Multiple instances or occurrences of the same continuing education activity may not be claimed within the same renewal period. Instructors may only claim credit once for the same presentation in a cycle (subject to the 5-hour teaching cap). Identical courses, presentations, or publications cannot be double-counted.
License status — Inactive: A licensee on inactive status is not required to complete CE while the license is inactive. To return to active status, the licensee must complete the standard CE requirements for the renewal period before reactivation. Retired status similarly imposes no CE obligation, but practice is prohibited; returning to active practice requires reactivation per board approval.
License status — Military waiver: Licensees serving on active duty in the military are exempt from CE requirements during the period of duty and may request a waiver through CE Broker.
Delinquent renewal: If CE is not completed by the expiration date, the license moves to delinquent status. The licensee has up to 12 months to complete CE and renew late (with late fees); practice is not permitted during delinquency. After one year, the license fully expires and the practitioner must reapply for licensure.
Dual licensure (LPC + LMFT): A practitioner holding both an LPC and LMFT license must satisfy each board's CE requirements independently. The same CE course may be reported to satisfy both licenses' requirements where the content qualifies, but each license is renewed and tracked separately.

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Texas LPC CE: frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do Texas LPC licensees need?

Texas requires 24 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LPC license. Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.

How many ethics hours are required for Texas LPC licensees?

Of the total, 6 hours must be in ethics.

How often do Texas LPC licensees renew?

Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.

Are there subject-specific CE requirements for Texas LPC licensees?

Yes. In addition to ethics, Texas requires 3 hours of cultural diversity competency.

Can Texas LPC licensees complete CE online or by home study?

Up to 1 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.

Sources & verification

State source: Texas board rule
Profession source: NBCC continuing education guidance
Last verified: May 2026
Ruleset version: 2026.1

Reviewed against the Texas 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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Other Texas CE requirement pages

Texas LCSW