Vermont LCMHC Continuing Education Requirements
Vermont counselors must complete 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LCMHC license, including 4 hours of professional ethics, 36 hours of clinical mental health counseling theory and practice, and 1 hour of systemic oppression and anti oppressive practice.
40
total hours / 2 years
4
professional ethics hours
1
systemic oppression and anti oppressive practice hours
36
clinical mental health counseling theory and practice hours
Biennial renewal · calculating the next statewide deadline
Vermont LCMHC requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 40 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: CE due by January 31 of odd years. |
| Professional Ethics | 4 hours required each cycle. |
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling Theory and Practice | 36 hours required each cycle. |
| Systemic Oppression and Anti Oppressive Practice | 1 hour required each cycle. |
| Format limits | Up to 28 hours may be completed through home study / self-study. |
| Approved providers | Qualifying CE may be offered or sponsored by national professional association and accredited university. |
| 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 40 hours can come from.
- home study / self-studymax 28 hrs
- teachingmax 5 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
- Of the 40 required hours, no more than 28 may be from individualized learning (home-study, asynchronous online, or other self-directed activities). At least 12 hours must come from formal activities.
- Synchronous virtual training (interactive live webinars or live-stream courses) counts as live in-person training and is not subject to the individualized learning cap.
- Teaching/presenting credit is capped at 5 hours per renewal cycle, granted only once per subject taught in a cycle (no credit for repeating the same presentation), only for actual presentation time (not preparation), and not for teaching that is part of regular job duties.
- CE conversion: 1 academic semester credit = 15 CE hours; 1 quarter credit = 10 CE hours; 1 workshop hour = 1 CE hour. Breaks, meals, and non-learning time must be excluded.
- Inactive status: licensees on inactive status are not required to complete CE during the inactive period. To reactivate, the licensee must complete the CE requirements for the last full licensing period preceding reinstatement (40 hours including 4 ethics).
- Expired/lapsed license: reinstatement requires CE for the last full licensing period. If lapsed more than 5 years and not licensed in another jurisdiction, the applicant must register as a nonlicensed psychotherapist, complete 750 hours of supervised practice over at least 6 months, and pass the Vermont law examination.
- Hardship extension: the Board may grant an extension to complete the remainder of required CE only in cases of extreme hardship. Request must be made before the renewal deadline.
- Pre-approved CE providers include NBCC, ACA, AMHCA, APA, and AAMFT — programs offered or approved by these organizations are accepted without prior Board review. Other programs may be submitted for individual Board approval.
- Teaching credit for the same subject may be counted only once per renewal period. The rules do not impose a general repeat-course prohibition on attendees.
- Documentation: licensees must document completion of the required CE hours with each renewal application. CE records are subject to inspection and audit by the Board.
- Acceptable CE content spans the mental-health disciplines: counseling, marriage and family therapy, social work, psychology, and psychiatry. Content outside these disciplines is not admissible toward the 40-hour requirement.
We turn every category, format limit, and one-time rule on this page into a live checklist on your Vermont LCMHC record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Vermont LCMHC CE free →Vermont LCMHC CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Vermont LCMHC licensees need?
Vermont requires 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LCMHC license. Biennial cycle: CE due by January 31 of odd years.
How many ethics hours are required for Vermont LCMHC licensees?
Of the total, 4 hours must be in professional ethics.
How often do Vermont LCMHC licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: CE due by January 31 of odd years.
Are there subject-specific CE requirements for Vermont LCMHC licensees?
Yes. In addition to ethics, Vermont requires 36 hours of clinical mental health counseling theory and practice, 1 hour of systemic oppression and anti oppressive practice.
Can Vermont LCMHC licensees complete CE online or by home study?
Up to 28 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
Sources & verification
- State source
- Vermont board rule
- Profession source
- NBCC continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- August 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.4
Reviewed against the Vermont 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.
Vermont mental health workforce data
4,623 active providers, or 717.1 per 100,000 residents, ranked 5 of 51. County density map and free CSV downloads.