Updated for 2026

Massachusetts Psychologist Continuing Education Requirements

Massachusetts psychologists must complete 20 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their Psychologist license.

20hours every 2 years

The renewal cycle is biennial and is tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.

What the board saysMassachusetts board rule
All licensees are required, as a condition of license renewal, to complete a minimum of 20 hours1 of continuing education activities per licensure/renewal period (every two years). (3) Continuing education activities in the form of publication of books, chapters of books, and/or articles in refereed journals2, relevant to the science or practice of psychology may be substituted for not more than ten of the total 20 hours2 of continuing education activities required per licensure/renewal period.
What it means
  1. At least 20 hours every two years
  2. No more than 10 hours from publications
251 CMR 4.03Last verified August 2026Ruleset 2026.1How we verify
Start free trialExplore the demo →

It's free for 30 days, and you don't need a card.

Requirements

Massachusetts Psychologist requirements

Total

20 hoursYou need 20 hours every 2 years. The renewal cycle is biennial and is tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.

Limits on how the hours are earned

Publication
max 10 hrs

Cycle and record rules

Renewal
The renewal cycle is biennial and is tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
New licensees
The first renewal is different. New licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements, such as prorated hours or first-cycle-only rules, and we apply them automatically.
Approved providers
For formal learning program, qualifying CE may be offered or sponsored by apa approved provider and accredited university.
Recordkeeping
Keep CE documentation for 4 years after the end of each cycle.
Board audit
The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance.
Late renewal
A late renewal adds a late fee.

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 your renewal.

Your result appears here as you enter hours.

Open the full Psychologist CE hours calculator

Also hold a Massachusetts LPC license? Each board runs its own CE cycle. See the Massachusetts LPC requirements.

Massachusetts Psychologist required trainings and mandates

Beyond the 20-hour CE total, Massachusetts requires specific trainings. Some are due once around initial licensure, and others run on their own recurring schedule.

Recurring mandates outside the 2-year cycle

  • Domestic and Sexual Violence training (M.G.L. c. 112 § 264; 251 CMR 3.10(1)(c)). Applicants and licensees shall participate in domestic violence and sexual violence training as a condition for licensure, renewal, revival or reinstatement. One-time requirement, complete once and not again before each renewal; a prior completer need not repeat unless the Board requires it. The board grants 2 CE credits for the cycle in which it is taken, and it counts toward the 20-hour CE total. May be completed free online. Failure to attest completion blocks renewal.
Full board policy details
  • ACCEPTABILITY STANDARDS: CE activities must be clearly psychological in content and/or directly relevant to the science or practice of psychology. Two activity types are recognized: (a) formal learning programs with specific learning objectives sponsored by Board-recognized entities (up to the full 20 hours); and (b) publication of books, chapters of books, and/or articles in refereed journals relevant to the science or practice of psychology (capped at 10 of the 20 hours). Teaching is expressly NOT an accepted activity and earns no CE credit. EPPP study-course credits are not acceptable. A Continuing Education Hour is 60 consecutive minutes of an organized learning experience.
  • FORMAT CAPS/MINIMUMS: No cap on self-study/home study, all 20 hours may be completed by home study provided they are offered through APA-approved sponsors. No minimum live/in-person hours. No online/live distinction and no per-day or single-instructor caps. The only quantitative cap is on publications (no more than 10 of the 20 hours).
  • PROVIDERS: Massachusetts uses the APA-approved-sponsor model and does not pre-approve individual courses. Only programs offered through APA-approved sponsors are accepted. The codified rule's Board-recognized Entities definition also lists the American Psychological Association, recognized educational institutions (as defined in M.G.L. c. 112 § 118), and such other entities as the Board designates. There are no lettered Category A/B provider tiers.
  • COURSE REPEAT RESTRICTIONS: 251 CMR 4.00 contains no express prohibition on repeating a course within a cycle. Teaching earns no CE credit at all, so the instructor 'teach once per period' pattern does not arise. No other conditional repeat restrictions are stated.
  • LICENSE STATUS RULES: No formal inactive or retired license tier exists in the psychology board rules, and there is no inactive/retired CE exemption. No hardship, illness, military, or disability CE waiver exists in 251 CMR 4.00. Reactivation of a lapsed/expired license: within one renewal cycle (2 years) of lapse, renew by submitting the renewal form, paying all past-due renewal and late fees, and presenting evidence of completing all CE required by 251 CMR 4.00. For longer lapses, CE owed is 20 hours per renewal period, computed by the number of renewal periods between the last renewal and the most recent renewal date prior to application (scales with time inactive, MANUAL REVIEW). If the applicant is currently licensed in another jurisdiction with a CE requirement, the Board may in its discretion waive or modify the requirement. A licensee may not practice while the license is lapsed/expired.
  • NO ETHICS-HOURS REQUIREMENT: A third-party summary claiming 'at least three hours focused on ethics' is NOT supported by the codified rule or statute. 251 CMR 4.00 and M.G.L. c. 112 § 127 impose only a flat 20-hour requirement with no ethics, cultural-competency, telehealth, suicide, or other subject mandate.

Massachusetts Psychologist CE: frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do Massachusetts Psychologist licensees need?

Massachusetts requires 20 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a Psychologist license. The renewal cycle is biennial and is tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.

How often do Massachusetts Psychologist licensees renew?

The renewal cycle is biennial and is tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.

Is the first renewal different for new Massachusetts Psychologist licensees?

The first renewal is different. New licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements, such as prorated hours or first-cycle-only rules, and we apply them automatically.

Sources and verification

State source
Massachusetts board rule
Last verified
August 2026
Ruleset version
2026.1

We reviewed this page against the Massachusetts 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

Make your next renewal easier.

Add your Massachusetts Psychologist license and every requirement on this page becomes a checklist on your record.

Start free trialExplore the demo

30 days free, no credit card.

Massachusetts 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.Massachusetts mental health workforce data →67,140 active providers, or 938.5 per 100,000 residents, ranked 3 of 51. The page includes a county density map and free CSV downloads.

Other Massachusetts CE requirement pages

Massachusetts LPCMassachusetts LMFTMassachusetts LCSWMassachusetts Addiction CounselorMassachusetts PMHNP

Psychologist CE requirements in other states