HomeHow to Find Free CE

How to Find Free CE Courses for Your Mental Health License

A complete guide to finding, verifying, and completing free continuing education credits for licensed psychologists, social workers, counselors, and therapists.

The Challenge of CE for Mental Health Professionals

Continuing education (CE) is required for every licensed mental health professional, including psychologists, social workers, counselors, and marriage and family therapists. Most licenses require 20-40 CE hours per renewal cycle, with specific requirements for topics like ethics, suicide prevention, and cultural competency.

The problem: CE can be expensive. Many providers charge $15-$30 per CE hour, meaning a full renewal cycle could cost $300-$600 or more. For clinicians in community mental health, school settings, or early in their careers, this cost is a real burden.

The good news: there is a substantial ecosystem of free CE available from government agencies, professional associations, universities, and nonprofits. CEHive's mission is to make that free CE easy to find in one place.

Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Free CE

1

Know Your Requirements Before You Search

The first step is knowing exactly what your state and license require. Look up: • Total CE hours per renewal cycle • Required topic areas (ethics, suicide prevention, cultural competency, etc.) • Approved accreditors (APA, ASWB/ACE, NBCC, NASW, state-specific) • Format restrictions (live vs. self-paced hour limits) • Renewal deadline and cycle dates Your state licensing board's website is the official source. CEHive's Requirements section also has a searchable database of requirements by state and profession.
2

Understand What 'Free' Means for CE

Free CE comes in several forms, each with different trade-offs: • Completely free: No payment required, no account needed. Just access and complete. • Free with account: Requires creating a free account with the provider. No credit card needed. • Free for members: Available at no cost to members of a professional association (APA, NASW, NBCC, etc.) • Conditional free: Free for a limited time, or the first few credits are free. CEHive labels each course so you know what to expect before clicking through.
3

Verify Approval Before Starting

Even if a course is listed as "approved" for your profession, you should verify: • Is the approving body (APA, NASW, NBCC, etc.) accepted by your state board? • Does your state board accept self-paced/online CE, or only live formats? • Does the specific course topic fulfill a required CE category? • Is the course still active and not expired? Contact your licensing board if you're unsure. They can confirm in writing, which protects you.
4

Complete the Course and Get Your Certificate

Once you've verified eligibility: • Complete the course fully (partial completion typically doesn't count) • Pass any required post-test (usually 70-80% passing score) • Download and save your certificate of completion immediately • Note the approval number and accrediting body on the certificate • Store certificates securely, as boards often audit randomly and require proof Most providers send certificates via email; download a copy to your own storage as backup.
5

Track Your Hours Throughout the Cycle

Don't wait until the last minute. Best practices: • Keep a log of completed CE throughout your renewal cycle • Record: course title, provider, date, CE hours, and approval body • Know your renewal deadline and set calendar reminders 3 months before • Some states have an online portal where you report CE hours, so check if yours does • If you're audited, you'll need original certificates, not just your log Spreading CE throughout the cycle helps with retention and reduces cost.

Best Free CE Sources for Mental Health Professionals

These are some of the most reliable sources of free, board-approved CE for mental health clinicians.

SAMHSA

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers extensive free training on mental health, substance use, trauma, and crisis intervention. Most courses are APA- and NASW-approved.

Visit website →

NIMH

The National Institute of Mental Health provides free educational resources on mental health research, depression, anxiety, psychosis, and other conditions relevant to clinical practice.

Visit website →

VA TRAIN

The Department of Veterans Affairs offers a large library of free clinical CE through VA TRAIN, covering PTSD, suicide prevention, substance use, and evidence-based practices.

Visit website →

Zero Suicide Institute

Free and low-cost training specifically focused on suicide prevention and safe messaging, including evidence-based frameworks like Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST).

Visit website →

Professional Associations

APA, NASW, NBCC, AAMFT, and state-level associations regularly offer free webinars to members and sometimes to the public. Check their events calendars.

University Extension Programs

Many university departments of psychology, social work, and counseling offer free continuing education as a public service. Search for your state university's CE program.

Pro Tips for Getting the Most Free CE

Sign up for email lists from SAMHSA, APA, NASW, and your state association. Free webinars are often announced with short notice.

Attend live webinars when possible, as many free live trainings offer CE that isn't available in recorded format.

Join your state's psychological association or social work association. Member benefits often include free or heavily discounted CE.

Check if your employer offers CE reimbursement or access to CE platforms, as many health systems do.

Some podcast CE is available in self-paced format, which is a convenient option for clinicians with busy schedules.

Keep certificates indefinitely even after renewal, as boards can audit past cycles.

Start Finding Free CE on CEHive

CEHive aggregates free CE from SAMHSA, universities, nonprofits, and professional associations, all searchable by your license type, state, and topic area.

Search Free CE CoursesCheck Your State Requirements

Disclaimer: CE requirements, course approvals, and provider offerings change frequently. Always verify requirements with your state licensing board and confirm course approval before relying on any CE for license renewal. CEHive is not affiliated with any licensing board or CE provider.