Texas Counseling Continuing Education: Your License Renewal Guide

Texas counselors need to keep up with their continuing education to maintain their professional license. The state requires approved human trafficking training during each renewal cycle. The renewal requirements change based on your credentials and education level.

You must complete specific continuing education requirements during the two-year Texas LPC renewal period. LCDCs with master’s degrees need to complete 24 hours of continuing education. Those without advanced degrees must finish 40 hours. The good news is that eligible continuing education programs accept credentials from SBEC, LPC, NBCC, LMFT, LCDC, SW, Licensed Specialist in School Psychology, and Psychologist. Professional counselors review these programs to ensure they meet regulatory standards. You can complete your CE requirements from home through live webinar courses.

Let me help you understand everything about Texas counseling continuing education, approved providers, and your license renewal process.

Texas LPC Continuing Education Requirements

Texas Licensed Professional Counselors need to complete specific continuing education requirements to keep their license active. LPCs must complete 24 continuing education hours every two years according to the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council.

The 24-hour requirement breaks down into these specific areas:

• 6 hours of ethics training (including Texas-specific ethics)
• 3 hours in cultural diversity/distinct populations[84]
• At least 1 hour of human trafficking prevention through an HHSC-approved course[84]

The jurisprudence examination counts as 1 hour toward your ethics requirement, and you must pass it during each renewal period. LPC Supervisors need 6 more hours of supervision-related topics to maintain their supervisor status.

Starting January 1, 2024, half of your required CE hours must come from qualified providers under rule 681.140(f). Qualified providers include professional associations, educational institutions, governmental entities, and charitable organizations focused on mental health improvement.

Training for distinct populations needs to target specific groups with shared attributes rather than general clinical approaches. This requirement helps LPCs serve different client populations effectively.

Finding and Choosing Approved CE Providers

The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council no longer pre-approves specific continuing education providers or courses. Texas counselors must ensure that half of their CE hours come from qualified sources to comply with the “50% Rule”.

Qualified providers include:

• International, national, regional, state, or local mental health professional associations
• Public schools, charter schools, or education service centers
• Government entities (city, county, state, federal)
• Accredited higher education institutions
• Religious or charitable organizations devoted to mental health
• Licensees with supervisor status
• Hospitals or hospital systems

You can choose any provider that follows Council rules for the other half of your CE hours. Several reputable organizations provide Texas-approved continuing education, such as the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC), universities like UNT, and various online platforms.

A letter, email, certificate, or transcript must document all continuing education activities. These documents should show your name, topic covered, training dates, and hours earned. The Council audits licensees regularly to verify compliance, so keeping detailed records of completed courses is essential.

Step-by-Step License Renewal Process

Your Texas LPC license renewal happens every two years on the last day of your birth month. The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council handles renewals through their online system.

You’ll need these items ready:

• All 24 required CE hours completed
• A passing score on the jurisprudence examination
• Completion of an HHSC-approved human trafficking prevention course

The council sends email and postcard reminders about 30 days before your license expires. Notwithstanding that, you should mark your calendar because missing deadlines leads to delinquent status and extra fees.

Here’s how to renew:

1. Sign in to the Online Licensing System (available through the BHEC website)
2. Fill out the renewal application
3. Submit your continuing education hours
4. Pay your renewal fee

Random audits happen monthly, affecting 5% of licensees who must verify their CE hours. You’ll need to show proof of completion if selected.

Missing your deadline puts your license in delinquent status, and you can’t practice legally until renewal. Late fees apply for renewals up to one year after expiration. Your license expires permanently after that, and you’ll need to start a new application process.

New renewals might require electronic fingerprinting if you haven’t done it before.

Next Steps

Texas counseling license renewal needs careful attention to continuing education. LPCs must complete 24 CE hours during each two-year cycle. This includes specific training in ethics, cultural diversity, and human trafficking prevention. LPC Supervisors need extra hours to focus on supervision topics.

The “50% Rule” states that half your CE hours should come from qualified providers like professional associations, educational institutions, or government entities. Pre-approval may no longer exist, but you need solid documentation because random audits happen often.

Your license renewal is due on the last day of your birth month. Missing this deadline will make your license delinquent. Keeping track of these deadlines will help you avoid extra fees and practice interruptions. The online renewal system makes this process easier, but you must meet all requirements first.

Good record-keeping of completed courses is crucial. Keep certificates that show your name, topic, dates, and hours earned – they are a great way to get through potential audits. Set calendar reminders a few months before your deadline. This gives you enough time to finish any remaining requirements. These proactive steps will give a smooth path forward in your professional counseling career while you help Texans who need your mental health expertise.