Which states cap online CE?
The era of the conference-hotel CE weekend is mostly over — but not everywhere. 31 states still limit how much of a LPC, LMFT, LCSW, Psychologist renewal can come from self-study or recorded coursework, whether as a flat hour cap, a percentage of the total, or a live-hours minimum that squeezes on-demand CE from the other side. Each rule below links to the state page citing the board source.
Alabama
- At most 25% of hours may be home study / self-study.
- Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- At least 10 hours must be earned live.
Alaska
- At most 50% of hours may be home study / self-study.
- At least 20 hours must be earned live.
- At most 50% of hours may be home study / self-study.
- At least 10 hours must be earned live.
- Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- At least 20 hours must be earned live.
Arkansas
- Up to 15 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
Connecticut
- Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- At least 5 hours must be earned live.
- Up to 5 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
Delaware
- At least 10 hours must be earned live.
Georgia
- Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- At least 5 hours of ethics must be earned live.
- Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- At least 5 hours of professional ethics must be earned live.
- At least 6 hours must be earned live.
Kansas
- Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
Louisiana
- Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- At least 20 hours must be earned live.
Maine
- Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- At least 15 hours must be earned live.
Maryland
- Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
Michigan
- At most 50% of hours may be home study / self-study.
- At least 22.5 hours must be earned live.
Minnesota
- At most 50% of hours may be home study / self-study.
Mississippi
- Up to 12 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- At least 2 hours of ethics must be earned in person.
- Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- At least 20 hours must be earned live.
Missouri
- Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
Nevada
- Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 15 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- At least 15 hours must be earned live.
New Hampshire
- Up to 30 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 30 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 30 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- At least 6 hours of ethics must be earned live.
New Jersey
- Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- At least 20 hours must be earned in person.
- At least 10 hours of sponsored continuing education must be earned live.
New Mexico
- Up to 7 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
New York
- Up to 12 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 12 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 12 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 12 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
North Carolina
- Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
North Dakota
- Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
Ohio
- Up to 23 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
Oklahoma
- Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- At least 3 hours of ethics must be earned live.
- At least 8 hours must be earned live.
Pennsylvania
- Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 15 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
Rhode Island
- Up to 8 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- At least 22 hours must be earned live.
- Up to 24 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
Tennessee
- At least 20 hours must be earned live.
Texas
- Up to 1 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 1 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 1 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 1 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
Utah
- Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 18 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
Vermont
- Up to 28 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
Virginia
- Up to 5 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- At least 6 hours must be earned live.
West Virginia
- Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
- At least 10 hours of category I must be earned live.
States with no stated online-CE limit
For the professions tracked here, these states' published rules impose no self-study cap or live-hours minimum — a fully online renewal is possible on paper. Category minimums (like ethics) still apply, and some boards require specific courses to be live; verify on the state page.
Arizona · California · Colorado · Florida · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kentucky · Massachusetts · Montana · Nebraska · Oregon · South Carolina · South Dakota · Washington · Wisconsin · Wyoming
Online CE limits: common questions
Can I complete all my CE hours online?
In most states, yes — but 31 states limit it for at least one of the professions we track (LCSW, LPC, LMFT), through home-study hour caps, percentage caps, or live/in-person minimums. If your state appears in the table, check the linked rule before planning a fully on-demand renewal.
What's the difference between live online and self-study CE?
Boards that cap "online" CE almost always mean self-paced/recorded coursework. A live, interactive webinar usually counts as live CE even though it happens online — the distinguishing feature is real-time interaction, not the venue. Each state's rule text (linked in the table) controls.
What happens if I exceed my state's home-study cap?
Hours over the cap simply don't count toward renewal, which is how licensees end up short in an audit despite completing enough total hours. Track capped categories separately rather than assuming every certificate counts.
Related: the State of Mental Health CE Requirements report · ethics CE requirements by state