Updated for 2026

Alabama Psychologist Continuing Education Requirements

Alabama psychologists must complete 20 continuing education hours per year to renew their Psychologist license.

20

total hours / year

Annual renewal · calculating the next statewide deadline

Alabama Psychologist requirements

RequirementNotes
Total continuing education20 hours per year.
RenewalAnnual cycle: renewal filing due October 15 each year; license expires September 30.
CarryoverUp to 6 unused hours can carry into the next cycle.
New licenseesFirst renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically.
Approved providersQualifying CE may be offered or sponsored by apa approved provider, national professional association, and governmental agency and recognized associations in psychology, psychiatry, social work, and medicine.
Board auditThe board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance.
Late renewalA late renewal allows a $20 late fee.
Other mandatesMandated child abuse/neglect reporter training via the Alabama DHR. The Board hosts a free online training and states expressly that it does NOT count toward annual CE requirements. The underlying reporting duty (Code of Ala. §26-14-3) is statutory; the training itself is encouraged rather than imposed as a fixed-hour board mandate.

Limits on how the hours are earned

Board caps and floors on where the 20 hours can come from.

  • teachingmax 6 hrs
  • carryovermax 6 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.

Total hours
20 hours per year.
Renewal
Annual cycle: renewal filing due October 15 each year; license expires September 30.
Carryover
Up to 6 unused hours can carry into the next cycle.
New licensees
First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically.
Approved providers
Qualifying CE may be offered or sponsored by apa approved provider, national professional association, and governmental agency and recognized associations in psychology, psychiatry, social work, and medicine.
Board audit
The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance.
Late renewal
A late renewal allows a $20 late fee.
Other mandates
Mandated child abuse/neglect reporter training via the Alabama DHR. The Board hosts a free online training and states expressly that it does NOT count toward annual CE requirements. The underlying reporting duty (Code of Ala. §26-14-3) is statutory; the training itself is encouraged rather than imposed as a fixed-hour board mandate.

Alabama Psychologistrequired trainings & mandates

Beyond the 20-hour CE total, Alabama requires specific trainings — some once around initial licensure, some on their own recurring schedule.

Recurring mandates outside the 1 year cycle

  • Mandated child abuse/neglect reporter training via the Alabama DHR. The Board hosts a free online training and states expressly that it does NOT count toward annual CE requirements. The underlying reporting duty (Code of Ala. §26-14-3) is statutory; the training itself is encouraged rather than imposed as a fixed-hour board mandate.
Full board policy details
  • Home/self-study: NO cap. All 20 hours may be earned via APA-approved home, independent, distance, book-based, or online study (Rule 750-X-3A-.05). No minimum live/in-person hours required. The rule does not distinguish live-interactive online from self-study.
  • COURSE REPEAT RESTRICTIONS: The rule is silent on participants repeating a course within a cycle — no express prohibition. For instructors, teaching the same course more than once per cycle is not separately prohibited, but presenter credit is capped at 6 hours per annual renewal cycle regardless of how many times one presents (Rule 750-X-3A-.05(4)).
  • LICENSE STATUS RULES: CE is NOT required while a license is on Inactive status (practice and title use are suspended). Alabama has no separate 'retired' status — only Active and Inactive exist. Reactivating from Inactive to Active requires submission of proof of compliance with the previous year's CE requirements (the previous year's 20 hours), payment of current renewal/CE fees, and the reinstatement form (Rule 750-X-4-.02(3)). No hardship, medical, military, or disability CE waiver/extension exists in Chapter 750-X-3A or 750-X-4. If CE or fees are not satisfied by the deadline, the license lapses — there is no conditional/provisional registration to keep practicing while completing the balance.
  • Provider model: APA-approved-sponsor model plus a Board-discretion equivalency pathway for programs from other psychology-related organizations (e.g., AMA, NASW, NIMH) that meet the five criteria in Rule 750-X-3A-.05(2) and provide the equivalent of APA-defined credit. No lettered provider-tier (Category A/B) system. No stated percentage split between provider types.

We turn every category, format limit, and one-time rule on this page into a live checklist on your Alabama Psychologist record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.

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Alabama Psychologist CE: frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do Alabama Psychologist licensees need?

Alabama requires 20 continuing education hours per year to renew a Psychologist license. Annual cycle: renewal filing due October 15 each year; license expires September 30.

How often do Alabama Psychologist licensees renew?

Annual cycle: renewal filing due October 15 each year; license expires September 30.

Is the first renewal different for new Alabama Psychologist licensees?

First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically.

Sources & verification

State source
Alabama board rule
Last verified
August 2026
Ruleset version
2026.2

Reviewed against the Alabama 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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Alabamaguides & data

Other Alabama CE requirement pages

Psychologist CE requirements in other states