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 WA Psychologists, WA Social Workers, WA Marriage and Family Therapists, WA Counselors, and WA Addiction Counselors.
CEs for Washington 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.
- Washington Psychologists CE requirements
- Washington Social Workers CE requirements
- Washington Marriage and Family Therapists CE requirements
- Washington Mental Health Counselors CE requirements
- Washington Substance Use Disorder Professionals CE requirements
WA Psychologists
Psychologists (WA)
PhD, PsyD
Board website: Washington Examining Board of Psychology
WA Psychologist CE Requirements
| Renewal Period | 3 years |
| Total Hours – Self-study/Asynchronous allowed | 60 CE hours {No limit} |
| Required Topics – Ethics | 4 Ethics CE hours |
| Requirement every 6 years – Suicide assessment, treatment and Management* | 6 Suicide CE hours |
* “[Suicide Prevention] training must be on the department’s model list for training programs in suicide assessment, treatment and management.” – WAC 246-924-255 of WA Administrative Code for Psychologists
Approved CE Providers
| STATE Approvals | NATIONAL Approvals |
| – WA Examining Board of Psychology – any State or Regional Psychological Association and their subchapters – any recognized Behavioral Science Organizations – Accredited Educational Institutions | – APA – Other approvals* |
or scientific competence in psychology
* “Courses, seminars, workshops, and postdoctoral institutes offered or sponsored by the following qualify for CE credit for a licensed psychologist: (a) Educational institutions chartered by a state and recognized (accredited) by a regional association of schools, colleges and universities as providing graduate level course offerings. Documentation must be recorded on an official transcript or certificate of completion; (b) The American Psychological Association; (c) Regional or state psychological associations or their subchapters; (d) Psychology internship training centers; (e) Other professionally or scientifically recognized behavioral science organizations; and (f) The Washington state examining board of psychology.” – WAC 246-924-240(4). of WA Administrative Code for Psychologists
WA Social Workers
Social Workers (WA)
LICSW
Board website: WA State Board of Health – Social Work
WA Social Work CE Requirements
| Renewal Period | 2 years |
| Total Hours – Self-study/Asynchronous allowed | 36 CE hours {26 CE hours} |
| Required Topics – Professional Law and Ethics | 6 Ethics CE hours |
| Requirement every 6 years – Suicide assessment, treatment and Management* | 6 Suicide CE hours |
* “[Suicide Prevention] training must be on the department’s model list for training programs in suicide assessment, treatment and management.” – WAC 246-809-615 of WA Administrative Code for SWs
Approved CE Providers
| STATE Approvals | NATIONAL Approvals |
| – Accredited College or University – State and local chapters of listed Professional Associations | – AAMFT – ASWB – CSWE – NASW – NBCC – Other approvals* |
to the advancement of professional competence
* “Industry-recognized local, state, national, international organizations or institutions of higher learning. Local, state, national, and international organizations that are industry-recognized and institutions of higher learning include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) Washington Association for Marriage and Family Therapy; (2) Washington State Society for Clinical Social Work; (3) Washington Chapter of the National Association of Social Work; (4) American Mental Health Counselors Association; (5) American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy; (6) Clinical Social Work Association; (7) National Association of Social Workers; (8) Washington Mental Health Counselors Association; (9) National Board for Certified Counselors; (10) Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care; and (11) Institutions of higher learning that are accredited by a national or regional accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation.” – WAC 246-809-620 of WA Administrative Code for Social Workers
WA Marriage & Family Therapists
Marriage & Family Therapists (WA)
LMFT
Board website: WA State Board of Health – Marriage and Family Therapist
WA Marriage and Family Therapist CE Requirements
| Renewal Period | 2 years |
| Total Hours – Self-study/Asynchronous allowed | 36 CE hours {26 CE hours} |
| Required Topics – Professional Law and Ethics | 6 Ethics CE hours |
| Requirement every 6 years – Suicide assessment, treatment and Management* | 6 Suicide CE hours |
* “[Suicide Prevention] training must be on the department’s model list for training programs in suicide assessment, treatment and management.” – WAC 246-809-615 of WA Administrative Code for MFTs
Approved CE Providers
| STATE Approvals | NATIONAL Approvals |
| – Accredited College or University – State and local chapters of listed Professional Associations | – AAMFT – ASWB – CSWE – NASW – NBCC – Other approvals* |
to the advancement of professional competence
* “Industry-recognized local, state, national, international organizations or institutions of higher learning. Local, state, national, and international organizations that are industry-recognized and institutions of higher learning include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) Washington Association for Marriage and Family Therapy; (2) Washington State Society for Clinical Social Work; (3) Washington Chapter of the National Association of Social Work; (4) American Mental Health Counselors Association; (5) American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy; (6) Clinical Social Work Association; (7) National Association of Social Workers; (8) Washington Mental Health Counselors Association; (9) National Board for Certified Counselors; (10) Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care; and (11) Institutions of higher learning that are accredited by a national or regional accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation.” – WAC 246-809-620 of WA Administrative Code for MFTs
WA Counselors
Counselors (WA)
LMHC
Board website: WA State Board of Health – Mental Health Counselors
WA Mental Health Counselor Requirements
| Renewal Period | 2 years |
| Total Hours – Self-study/Asynchronous allowed | 36 CE hours {26 CE hours} |
| Required Topics – Professional Law and Ethics | 6 Ethics CE hours |
| Requirement every 6 years – Suicide assessment, treatment and Management* | 6 Suicide CE hours |
* “[Suicide Prevention] training must be on the department’s model list for training programs in suicide assessment, treatment and management.” – WAC 246-809-615 of WA Administrative Code for LMHCs
Approved CE Providers
| STATE Approvals | NATIONAL Approvals |
| – Accredited College or University – State and local chapters of listed Professional Associations | – AAMFT – ASWB – CSWE – NASW – NBCC – Other approvals* |
to the advancement of professional competence
* “Industry-recognized local, state, national, international organizations or institutions of higher learning. Local, state, national, and international organizations that are industry-recognized and institutions of higher learning include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) Washington Association for Marriage and Family Therapy; (2) Washington State Society for Clinical Social Work; (3) Washington Chapter of the National Association of Social Work; (4) American Mental Health Counselors Association; (5) American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy; (6) Clinical Social Work Association; (7) National Association of Social Workers; (8) Washington Mental Health Counselors Association; (9) National Board for Certified Counselors; (10) Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care; and (11) Institutions of higher learning that are accredited by a national or regional accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation.” – WAC 246-809-620 of WA Administrative Code for LMHCs
WA Addiction Counselors
Addiction Counselors (WA)
SUDP
Board website: WA State Board of Health – SUD Professional
WA Substance Use Disorder Professionals CE Requirements
| Renewal Period | 2 years |
| Total Hours – Self-study/Asynchronous allowed | 28 CE hours {No limit} |
| Required Topics – Professional Law and Ethics – Specific topic areas in WAC 246-811-030 (2)(a)-(w) | 4 Ethics CE hours 14 SUD CE hours |
| Requirement every 6 years – Suicide assessment, treatment and Management* | 3 Suicide CE hours |
are required for a total of 40 hours every two years
* “[Suicide Prevention] training must be on the department’s model list for training programs in suicide assessment, treatment and management.” – WAC 246-811-280 of WA Administrative Code for SUDPs
Approved CE Providers
| STATE Approvals | NATIONAL Approvals |
| – Accredited College or University | – NAADAC – Other approvals* |
to the advancement of professional competence
* “Acceptable continuing education. (1) Programs having a featured instructor, speaker(s) or panel that is industry recognized; (2) Distance learning programs; (3) Agency sponsored trainings; (4) Course work at institutions of higher learning that are accredited by a national or regional accrediting body recognized by the commission on recognition of postsecondary accreditation; or (5) In-service training programs limited to seven hours per reporting period.” – WAC 246-811-250 of WA Administrative Code for SUDPs
*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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