Updated for 2026

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.

40hours every 2 years
Topic minimums, counted within the 40
36clinical mental health counseling theory and practice
4professional ethics
1systemic oppression and anti oppressive practice

Next deadline: January 31, 2027The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by January 31 of odd years.

What the board saysVermont board rule
With the first renewal application after two years of licensure, and with each subsequent renewal application, documentation of completion of 40 hours of continuing education1 is required. Only continuing education taken within two years of the renewal date is counted1 … (a) A minimum of four of the 40 hours must be specifically designated as continuing education in professional ethics2 … (b) The remaining 36 hours must be in the theory and practice of clinical mental health counseling3 … Individualized Learning Activities: No more than 28 of the 40 hours may be accrued in this category4. Home study programs including online or interactive training … Limitation: Not more than five continuing education hours5 may be granted during any two-year license renewal period for time spent in activities as an instructor or presenter5 in the field of clinical mental health counseling.
What it means
  1. 40 hours every 2 years
  2. 4 hours of professional ethics
  3. 36 hours in clinical mental health counseling theory and practice
  4. No more than 28 hours of home study and other individualized learning
  5. No more than 5 hours for teaching or presenting
Allied Mental Health Rules 3.26, 3.27, 3.32Last verified October 2026Ruleset 2026.7How we verify
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Requirements

Vermont LCMHC requirements

Total

40 hoursYou need 40 hours every 2 years. The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by January 31 of odd years.

Topic minimums, counted within the 40

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Theory and Practice
36
You need 36 hours each cycle.
Professional Ethics
4
You need 4 hours each cycle.
Systemic Oppression and Anti Oppressive Practice
1
You need 1 hour each cycle.

Limits on how the hours are earned

Home study / self-study
max 28 hrs
Teaching
max 5 hrs

Up to 28 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.

Cycle and record rules

Renewal
The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by January 31 of odd years.
Approved providers
Qualifying CE may be offered or sponsored by nbcc approved provider, aca approved provider, apa approved provider, aamft approved provider, national professional association, accredited university, board approved sponsor, and board approved individual activity.
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 January 31, 2027.

Your result appears here as you enter hours.

Open the full LPC CE hours calculator

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

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.

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. The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is 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?

The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is 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 and verification

State source
Vermont board rule
Profession source
NBCC continuing education guidance
Last verified
October 2026
Ruleset version
2026.7

We reviewed this page against the Vermont 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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Vermont 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.Vermont mental health workforce data →4,623 active providers, or 717.1 per 100,000 residents, ranked 5 of 51. The page includes a county density map and free CSV downloads.

Other Vermont CE requirement pages

Vermont LMFTVermont LCSWVermont PsychologistVermont Addiction CounselorVermont PMHNP

LPC CE requirements in other states