Tennessee Continuing Education (CE) Requirements

Work as a Mental Health Professional can be challenging, so decoding all the CE information shouldn’t be an added stressor.

As part of our mission to make Mental Health Professionals work a bit easier, we’ve checked your state board’s CE info for you! Here are the essentials that will help you find Continuing Education for TN Psychologists, TN Social Workers, TN Marriage and Family Therapists, TN Counselors, and TN Addiction Counselors.

CEs for Tennessee Mental Health Professionals

Click on the links below to view the CE/CEU requirements for each Profession. Please note: Unless otherwise stated, CE hours for Asynchronous and Required Topics are INCLUDED in the total CE hours required.

TN Psychologists

Psychologists (TN)

PhD, PsyD

Board website: Tennessee Board of Examiners of Psychology

TN Psychologist CE Requirements

Renewal Period2 years
Total Hours
Self-study/Asynchronous allowed
40 CE hours
{20 CE hours}
Required Topics
– APA Ethics and TN Statutes & Rules
– Cultural Diversity

3 Ethics CE hours
3 Cultural CE hours
A minimum of 20 CE hours must be live/real-time interaction;
At least 9 of the 40 CE hours must be from an APA approved sponsor

Approved CE Providers

STATE ApprovalsNATIONAL Approvals
– any State or Regional Psychological Association
– any recognized/relevant State or Regional
Professional Credentialing body
– APA
– Other approvals*
Relevant non-accredited psychology workshops, seminars or courses
can be completed for a maximum of 10 CE credits per year

* “Acceptable Continuing Education. (a) Continuing Education Provided by an APA Approved Sponsor – These are continuing education programs which are postdoctoral in nature and include formal learning objectives and evaluation of learning activities. At least nine (9) hours of CE must be obtained from an APA approved sponsor each license cycle and may include CE hours referenced in Rule 1180-01-.08(1)(e)…(b) Other Sponsor Approved Continuing Education – These are formal activities which are psychological in nature, provide documentation of attendance, and have a preassigned number of CE credits. Offerings can be sponsored by a regional psychological association, a state psychological association, a recognized and relevant national, regional or state professional credentialing body, an institution housing an APA-approved internship program, or a nationally recognized accredited college or university with a health-related professional training program…Workshops, seminars or courses – Relevant non-accredited psychology workshops, seminars or courses can be completed for a maximum of ten (10) hours of CE credit per year. Acceptable documentation will consist of certificates of attendance or registration receipts…” – Rule 1180-01-.08(2) of TN Psychologist Regulations

TN Social Workers

Social Workers (TN)

LBSW, LMSW, LAPSW, LCSW

Board website: Tennessee Board of Social Workers

TN Social Work CE Requirements

Renewal PeriodAnnually
Total Hours
LAPSW, LCSW
– relevant to SW

LMSW
– relevant to SW

LBSW
– relevant to SW

Self-study/Asynchronous allowed

15 CE hours
{10 CE hours}

12 CE hours
{7 CE hours}

9 CE hours
{4 CE hours}

{⅔ of CE hours}
Required Topics
– Professional Ethics
– SW/Professional Ethics

for Supervisors
– Supervision
Tennessee licensing rules

3 Ethics CE hours
2 Ethics CE hours


12 Supervision CE hours
{3 of 12 Supervision CE hours}
Required at least once every 4 years
– Suicide Prevention*

2 Suicide CE hours
*See Rule 1365-01-.09(3)(d)

Approved CE Providers

STATE Approvals NATIONAL Approvals
Accredited Institution of Higher Education
– any State, Regional, or local Professional
SW Association
– Other approvals*
ASWB
NASW
The board does not pre-approve continuing education programs.
It is the licensee’s responsibility to determine the CE content
applicable and appropriate to their professional development. 

* “Acceptable continuing education shall consist of seminars, workshops, or mini-courses oriented to the awareness of professional ethics and to the enhancement of social work practice, values, skills, and knowledge for the purpose of accomplishing specific written learning objectives. Cross-disciplinary offerings from medicine, law, administration, education and the behavioral sciences are acceptable, if they are clearly related to the awareness of professional ethics and to the enhancement of social work practices, values, skills, and knowledge. In-service training can be provided by the employer using presenters from the staff or from outside agencies. Attendance at educational events sponsored by national, state, regional, or local professional associations in the field or events related to the practice of the profession for which a nationally or regionally accredited institution of higher education grants CEU’s is acceptable. Providers who measure continuing education activities in “continuing education units” shall define CEU in clock hours…” – CE Information on TN Board of SW website

TN Marriage & Family Therapists

Marriage & Family Therapists (TN)

LMFT

Board website: Tennessee Board for Professional Counselors, Marital and Family Therapists and Clinical Pastoral Therapists

TN Marriage and Family Therapist CE Requirements

Renewal Period (2 years)CEs required Annually
Total Hours
– related to specific profession
Self-study/Asynchronous allowed
10 CE hours
{5 CE hours}
of CE hours}
Required Topics
– Ethics

3 Ethics CE hours
for Supervisors
– Supervision

4 Supervision CE hours
Professionals who hold two certificates and/or licenses
regulated by this board, must complete 15 CE hours per year.
Those with three certificates and/or licenses, must complete 20 CE hours per year.

Approved CE Providers

STATE Approvals NATIONAL Approvals
Accredited Institution of Higher Education
– any State Regulatory Board for MFT
– any State chapters or affiliates
of listed National Associations

AAMFT
– AASECT
– ACA
– APA
– NASW
– NBCC
– Other approvals*
CE must be relevant to the practice of marriage and family therapy practice

Acceptable Continuing Education – Acceptable continuing education shall consist of master or doctoral level course work from a nationally or regionally accredited institution of higher education; attendance at educational events sponsored or approved by national, state, regional, or local professional associations in the field; or events related to the practice of the profession for which a nationally or regionally accredited institution of higher education grants CEUs…Pre-approved course providers – Continuing education courses which pertain to the practice of marital and family therapy shall be considered approved if provided or sanctioned by the following entities: (i) American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy; (ii) American Association of Pastoral Counselors; (iii) American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists; (iv) American Counseling Association; (v) American Psychiatric Association; (vi) American Psychological Association; (vii) National Association of Social Workers; (viii) Any state professional association affiliated with the national associations listed in subparts (i) through (vii); (ix) National Board for Certified Counselors; (x) Nationally or regionally accredited institutions of higher education, including graduate courses and continuing education courses; and (xi) Any state regulatory agency for marital and family therapy in the United States…” – 0450-02-.12(2) & (5) of MFT Rules

TN Counselors

Counselors (TN)

LPC

Board website: Tennessee Board for Professional Counselors, Marital and Family Therapists and Clinical Pastoral Therapists

TN Professional Counselor Requirements

Renewal Period (2 years)CEs required Annually
Total Hours
– related to specific profession
Self-study/Asynchronous allowed
10 CE hours
{5 CE hours}
of CE hours}
Required Topics
– Ethics

3 Ethics CE hours
for Supervisors
– Supervision

4 Supervision CE hours
Professionals who hold two certificates and/or licenses
regulated by this board, must complete 15 CE hours per year.
Those with three certificates and/or licenses, must complete 20 CE hours per year.

Approved CE Providers

STATE Approvals NATIONAL Approvals
Accredited Institution of Higher Education
– any State Regulatory Board for Counseling
– any State chapters or affiliates
of listed National Associations
AAMFT
– AASECT
– ACA
– APA
– NASW
– NBCC
– Other approvals*
CE must be relevant to the practice of professional counseling

Acceptable Continuing Education – Acceptable continuing education shall consist of master or doctoral level course work from a nationally or regionally accredited institution of higher education; attendance at educational events sponsored or approved by national, state, regional, or local professional associations in the field; or events related to the practice of the profession for which a nationally or regionally accredited institution of higher education grants CEUs…Pre-approved course providers – Continuing education courses which pertain to the practice of marital and family therapy shall be considered approved if provided or sanctioned by the following entities: (i) American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy; (ii) American Association of Pastoral Counselors; (iii) American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists; (iv) American Counseling Association; (v) American Psychiatric Association; (vi) American Psychological Association; (vii) National Association of Social Workers; (viii) Any state professional association affiliated with the national associations listed in subparts (i) through (vii); (ix) National Board for Certified Counselors; (x) Nationally or regionally accredited institutions of higher education, including graduate courses and continuing education courses; and (xi) Any state regulatory agency for professional counseling in the United States…” – 0450-02-.12(2) & (5) of Counseling Rules

TN Addiction Counselors

Addiction Counselors (TN)

LADAC

Board website: Tennessee Board of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors

TN Alcohol and Drug Counselors CE Requirements

Renewal PeriodCEs required Annually
Total Hours
Self-study/Asynchronous allowed
15 CE hours
{6 CE hours}
Required Topics
– Ethics

3 Ethics CE hours
for QCS Supervisors*
– Supervision
Supervision Ethics

5 Supervision CE hours
{3 Ethics of 5 CE hours}
A minimum of 6 CE hours must be face to face.
*Supervision CE hours are IN ADDITION to required 15 CE hours per year.

Approved CE Providers

STATE Approvals NATIONAL Approvals
Accredited Institution of Higher Education
– TAADAC, Tennessee Association of Alcohol
and Drug Abuse Counselors
– TAADAS, Tennessee Association of Alcohol,
Drug and Other Addiction Services
– NAADAC
– Other approvals*

* “The following organizations and entities are authorized to present, sponsor, or approve continuing education courses, events, and activities related to the practice of alcohol and drug abuse counseling: (a) Nationally or regionally accredited institutions of higher education (b) NAADAC (The National Association for Addiction Professionals) (c) TAADAC (The Tennessee Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors) (d) Tennessee Department of Health (e) TAADAS (The Tennessee Association of Alcohol, Drug and Other Addiction Services) (f) TAMHO (The Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations) (g) Tennessee Department of Mental Health.” – 1200-30-01-.12(2) of Board Rules for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors

*Please note: This information is offered as a resource only. This information is provided as a courtesy and recommend you double check your state licensing board or accrediting organization for the latest regulations and specific requirements of your state when considering programs for Continuing Education credit. All licensed Professionals are solely responsible for understanding their licensing board’s requirements for continuing education training courses.  If you don’t know what these requirements are, you can find out by contacting your board.


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