Best Free CE Providers for Mental Health Professionals
A comprehensive guide to the most reliable free continuing education providers for psychologists, social workers, counselors, and therapists — with accreditation details and topic coverage.
How to Choose a Reliable Free CE Provider
Not all continuing education providers are equal. When choosing a CE provider for your license renewal, the most important factor is whether the provider is approved by an accrediting body accepted by your state licensing board. A course can be high quality and free while still not counting toward your renewal if it lacks the right accreditation (Neimeyer et al., 2012).
The main accrediting bodies for mental health CE are: APA (American Psychological Association) for psychologists; ASWB ACE (Association of Social Work Boards) for social workers; NBCC (National Board for Certified Counselors) for counselors; and AAMFT (American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy) for MFTs. Many providers hold multiple approvals, which makes their courses applicable across professions.
For free CE specifically, the most reliable sources are federal government agencies (SAMHSA, NIMH, VA), professional associations (APA, NASW, NBCC, NAADAC), and established nonprofits. These organizations have strong quality control processes and their courses are consistently accepted by licensing boards (Taylor & Neimeyer, 2009; Rubin et al., 2007).
Top Free CE Providers: Detailed Profiles
SAMHSA
GovernmentFreeThe Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is one of the largest sources of free, board-approved CE in the country. All courses are free and cover evidence-based practices across mental health and substance use.
VA TRAIN / National TRAIN
GovernmentFreeVA TRAIN offers a large library of free clinical CE accessible to all clinicians (not just VA employees). Topics focus heavily on PTSD, suicide prevention, evidence-based practices, and working with veterans and their families.
Zero Suicide Institute
NonprofitFreeThe Zero Suicide Institute provides free online training focused exclusively on suicide prevention and safe care. Courses are evidence-based and widely accepted by licensing boards for suicide prevention CE requirements.
NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health)
GovernmentFreeNIMH provides free educational resources on mental health research and clinical science. While not primarily a CE provider, NIMH materials support continuing education and research literacy for clinicians.
Mental Health America (MHA)
NonprofitFreeMental Health America offers free webinars and training resources for mental health professionals, with a focus on community mental health, prevention, and advocacy.
NAADAC
Professional AssociationFree for members / some free public webinarsThe National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors offers CE for substance abuse counselors and allied professionals. Members receive access to extensive free CE. Some webinars are free to non-members.
NASW (National Association of Social Workers)
Professional AssociationFree for membersNASW offers extensive CE resources for licensed social workers. Members receive access to free and discounted CE throughout the year. NASW-approved CE is accepted by most state social work boards.
APA (American Psychological Association)
Professional AssociationFree for members / some publicAPA offers CE webinars and on-demand courses for licensed psychologists. Some are free to the public; others require APA membership. APA-approved CE is the gold standard for psychologist renewal requirements.
Red Flags: CE Providers to Avoid
Be cautious of CE providers that show these warning signs:
No accreditation information listed on course page
Promises excessive CE hours for minimal effort or time
No post-test or knowledge assessment required
Certificate available immediately before course completion
Provider not listed in ASWB, NBCC, or APA approved provider directories
Broken or outdated course pages with no recent activity
No clear contact information for the CE provider
Course approval claims that seem too broad (approved in all 50 states for all professions)
How to Verify a CE Provider's Approval
Check the ASWB ACE Directory (Social Workers)
ASWB maintains a searchable directory of all ACE-approved CE providers at aswb.org. This is the authoritative source for social work CE approval.
Visit directory →Check the NBCC Approved Provider List (Counselors)
NBCC maintains a list of approved CE providers at nbcc.org. Search by provider name or topic area to verify NBCC approval.
Visit directory →Check APA's CE Sponsor List (Psychologists)
APA maintains a list of APA-approved CE sponsors. Sponsors must meet APA's quality standards and are listed on apa.org.
Visit directory →Confirm with Your State Board
When in doubt, contact your state licensing board directly and ask whether a specific provider and course are accepted for renewal credit. Get the confirmation in writing if possible.
Browse Free CE From Vetted Providers
CEHive aggregates free CE from all the providers listed above, searchable by profession, topic, and state.
Search Free CE CoursesDisclaimer: Provider accreditations and CE offerings change. Always verify course approval before relying on CE for license renewal. CEHive is not affiliated with any CE provider, accrediting body, or licensing board.