Find Free CE Courses
For Your License
Search continuing education courses matched to your state and license. Every course shows clear free-status and last-verified dates.
How CEHive Works
CEHive makes it easy to find free continuing education courses matched to your license and state requirements.
Search by topic or keyword
Type any topic — trauma, ethics, substance use — and find matching free CE courses instantly.
Filter by your license and state
Narrow results by your license type (LCSW, LPC, MFT, etc.) and the states where you're approved.
Access courses for free
Each course is labeled with a clear free-status — from fully free CE credit to free training with optional CE fees — plus a last-verified date.
Don't just find CE. Track it to renewal.
Finding free CE is step one. CEHive's tracker turns scattered certificates into a clear path to your next license renewal — so you never miss a deadline or lose a certificate again.
Smart Upload
Snap a photo or drag in a PDF certificate — CEHive auto-extracts the course, credits, and date. No manual data entry.
CE Tracker Dashboard
See your completed hours, progress toward state requirements, and renewal deadlines in one live dashboard.
Renewal Planner
Set your renewal date and CEHive shows exactly what you still need — by topic, format, and state requirement.
Audit-Ready PDF Exports
Generate a board-ready CE audit report with one click. Never scramble for certificates at renewal time again.
What Is Continuing Education for Mental Health Professionals?
Continuing education (CE) is mandatory professional training required by state licensing boards for mental health clinicians to renew their licenses. All licensed psychologists, clinical social workers (LCSW), licensed professional counselors (LPC), marriage and family therapists (MFT), psychiatric nurse practitioners, and substance abuse counselors must complete CE hours each renewal cycle.
Most states require between 20 and 40 CE hours per renewal cycle, which is typically one to three years. Beyond the total hour requirement, licensing boards often mandate CE in specific topic areas. Ethics and professional conduct is the most commonly required topic, needed by virtually every license type in every state. Other commonly mandated topics include suicide prevention, cultural competency, and domestic violence.
CE credits are earned by completing approved training programs, which may include live webinars, self-paced online courses, podcasts, reading-based courses, and in-person workshops. Online CE has become the dominant format because of its accessibility and convenience, and free online CE is widely available from government agencies, nonprofits, and professional associations.
- 20-40 CE hours per renewal cycle (varies by state and license)
- 2-6 hours specifically in ethics or law and ethics
- Suicide prevention hours (required in many states)
- Cultural competency hours (required in some states)
- CE must be from an accreditor approved by your state board
Many CE providers charge $15-$30 per credit hour, meaning a full renewal cycle can cost $400-$800 out of pocket. Free CE from accredited sources lets clinicians meet renewal requirements without the financial burden, freeing resources for client care and professional development.
Free CE by License Type
Browse free CE courses curated for your profession and renewal requirements
Browse Free CE by Topic Area
Find courses on the topics your state board requires most, from ethics to trauma-informed care.
Ethics & Professional Conduct
Required by nearly every state board. Topics cover confidentiality, dual relationships, mandatory reporting, telehealth ethics, and the NASW and APA codes of ethics.
Suicide Prevention
Many state boards now mandate specific hours in suicide risk assessment and safe messaging. Free trainings from SAMHSA and Zero Suicide Institute are widely accepted.
Trauma-Informed Care
Evidence-based approaches including Trauma-Focused CBT, EMDR foundations, somatic therapies, and working with survivors of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).
Cultural Competency
Required in many states. Covers multicultural counseling, anti-racism frameworks, working with LGBTQ+ clients, and culturally responsive assessment practices.
Substance Use Disorders
Screening and brief intervention (SBIRT), motivational interviewing, harm reduction, medication-assisted treatment, and co-occurring disorders.
Telehealth & Technology
Best practices for remote therapy, HIPAA compliance in virtual settings, informed consent for telehealth, and ethical use of AI tools in clinical practice.
Trusted Free CE Sources
CEHive indexes free CE from these and many other reputable providers. All are recognized by major mental health accreditation bodies.
SAMHSA
Federal agency offering free CE on mental health, substance use, and trauma.
NIMH
National Institute of Mental Health — free clinical education resources.
VA TRAIN
Veterans Affairs training library with PTSD, suicide, and evidence-based CE.
Zero Suicide Institute
Free and low-cost suicide prevention training for clinicians.
APA Learning
APA-approved CE webinars and on-demand courses for psychologists.
NASW
National Association of Social Workers — member and public CE offerings.
About CEHive
CEHive is a free, searchable directory of continuing education courses for licensed mental health professionals. Our mission is to make it easier for clinicians to find the free CE credits they need for license renewal, without paying hundreds of dollars per cycle to commercial CE providers.
We aggregate free CE from federal agencies like SAMHSA, NIMH, and the VA; university extension programs and teaching hospitals; nonprofit mental health organizations; and professional associations including APA, NASW, and NBCC. Every course in our database is free to access, either with no account required or with a free registration.
CEHive is not affiliated with any licensing board, CE provider, or professional association. We are an independent directory built by clinicians, for clinicians.
Our database covers CE for psychologists (PhD, PsyD, LP), licensed clinical social workers (LCSW, LMSW, LSW), licensed professional counselors (LPC, LPCC, LCPC), marriage and family therapists (LMFT), psychiatric nurse practitioners (PMHNP), substance abuse counselors (CADC, LADC, CSAC), school counselors, and school psychologists.
You can search by topic area, state approval, accrediting body, CE format (webinar, self-paced, podcast, reading), and whether account creation is required. Our CE Requirements section provides state-by-state renewal requirement data to help you plan your CE.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about free CE for mental health license renewal.
Disclaimer
Users are responsible for verifying CE acceptance with their licensing board. Course approvals and availability may change. Always confirm that courses meet your specific state and license requirements before relying on them for renewal. CEHive is not affiliated with any licensing board, CE provider, or professional association.