HomeLMFT License Renewal Guide

Complete Guide to LMFT License Renewal

Everything licensed marriage and family therapists need to know about CE requirements, renewal deadlines, approved providers, and how to find free CE by state.

What LMFT License Renewal Requires

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) must renew their license every one to three years depending on their state, and renewal requires completing a set number of continuing education (CE) hours. Across all states, LMFT renewal CE requirements share several common elements: a total hour requirement, mandatory ethics hours, and approval by a recognized accreditation body such as AAMFT or state-specific MFT boards (Northey, 2002).

The total CE hours required per renewal cycle ranges from 20 to 36 hours. Most states fall in the 30-hour range for a two-year cycle. Ethics CE is universally required, typically 3–6 hours per cycle. Many states have added additional mandated topics including suicide prevention, domestic violence, human trafficking, and implicit bias training.

Understanding your specific state's requirements is the essential first step. The table below covers every state and jurisdiction in our database, built from each licensing board's published requirements and updated as boards change them. Where your state is concerned, the board's own site always wins.

LMFT CE Requirements by State

StateCE HoursEthicsCycleDetails
Alabama40 hrs6 hrs2-year
Alaska45 hrs2 hrs2-year
Arizona30 hrs3 hrs2-year
Arkansas24 hrs3 hrs2-year
California36 hrs6 hrs2-year
Colorado40 hrs-2-year
Connecticut30 hrs3 hrs2-year
Delaware40 hrs3 hrs2-year
Florida30 hrs3 hrs2-year
Georgia35 hrs5 hrs2-year
Hawaii45 hrs6 hrs3-year
Idaho12 hrs6 hrs2-year
Illinois30 hrs3 hrs2-year
Indiana40 hrs2 hrs2-year
Iowa40 hrs3 hrs2-year
Kansas40 hrs3 hrs2-year
Kentucky39 hrs3 hrs3-year
Louisiana40 hrs3 hrs2-year
Maine55 hrs4 hrs2-year
Maryland40 hrs3 hrs2-year
Massachusetts30 hrs3 hrs2-year
Michigan20 hrs3 hrs2-year
Minnesota40 hrs3 hrs2-year
Mississippi20 hrs3 hrs2-year
Missouri40 hrs-2-year
Montana20 hrs-1-year
Nebraska32 hrs4 hrs2-year
Nevada30 hrs3 hrs2-year
New Hampshire40 hrs6 hrs2-year
New Jersey40 hrs5 hrs2-year
New Mexico30 hrs3 hrs2-year
New York36 hrs-3-year
North Carolina20 hrs3 hrs1-year
North Dakota30 hrs6 hrs2-year
Ohio30 hrs3 hrs2-year
Oklahoma20 hrs3 hrs1-year
Oregon40 hrs6 hrs2-year
Pennsylvania30 hrs3 hrs2-year
Rhode Island40 hrs3 hrs2-year
South Carolina40 hrs6 hrs2-year
South Dakota40 hrs4 hrs2-year
Tennessee10 hrs3 hrs1-year
Texas30 hrs6 hrs2-year
Utah40 hrs6 hrs2-year
Vermont20 hrs4 hrs2-year
Virginia30 hrs-1-year
Washington32 hrs6 hrs2-year
West Virginia30 hrs6 hrs1-year
Wisconsin30 hrs-2-year
Wyoming30 hrs-2-year

Requirements for 50 states and jurisdictions. Click any row for details, and confirm with your state board before relying on this data.

Approved CE Accreditation for Marriage & Family Therapists

AAMFT Approved Providers

The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) maintains a directory of approved CE providers. AAMFT-approved CE is accepted in nearly all states for LMFT renewal. When searching for free CE, look for the AAMFT-approved provider designation.

AAMFT Approved Provider Directory →

State-Specific MFT Board Approvals

Some states have their own approval process for MFT CE providers. For example, California's BBS maintains its own list of approved CE providers. Many states also accept CE approved by NBCC, APA, or ASWB for MFT renewal.

APA-Approved CE for MFTs

While APA primarily approves CE for psychologists, many states also accept APA-approved CE for marriage and family therapists, particularly for clinical and evidence-based practice topics. Check your state board to confirm APA CE acceptance.

NBCC-Approved CE for MFTs

NBCC (National Board for Certified Counselors) approves CE that is accepted in many states for MFT renewal as well as counselor renewal. Many free CE providers are dually approved by AAMFT and NBCC.

CE Formats: What Counts for LMFT Renewal?

Different CE formats are accepted by most state boards, though some have restrictions on self-study hours.

Live Webinar

Pros: Real-time Q&A, interactive case discussionsCons: Scheduled time required

Self-Paced Online

Pros: Complete on your own schedule, widely available freeCons: Some states cap self-study hours

Podcast CE

Pros: Very convenient, available during commutesCons: Limited MFT-specific selection

Reading-Based

Pros: Flexible, academic journal articlesCons: Requires active engagement to retain

In-Person Workshop

Pros: Networking, experiential learningCons: Travel required, rarely free

How to Complete Your LMFT Renewal CE for Free

Despite the cost of many commercial CE providers, it is entirely possible to complete all or most of your LMFT renewal CE for free. Federal agencies, nonprofits, and professional associations collectively offer hundreds of free, accredited CE courses each year (Sprenkle & Blow, 2004).

SAMHSA Training: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers an extensive library of free training covering topics including trauma-informed care, substance use, suicide prevention, and family therapy approaches. Many SAMHSA trainings are approved for MFT CE.

VA TRAIN: The Department of Veterans Affairs offers free clinical training through VA TRAIN, with hundreds of courses on PTSD, evidence-based practices, couples and family therapy, and clinical skills. Access is free and does not require VA employment.

AAMFT Member Benefits: AAMFT members receive access to free and discounted CE webinars throughout the year. The annual AAMFT membership can pay for itself in CE savings alone. Check your state AAMFT division for local events.

University Extension Programs: Many university marriage and family therapy programs and continuing education departments offer free or low-cost CE webinars to alumni and the public.

LMFT Renewal Checklist

Look up your exact renewal date and CE deadline on your state board's license lookup

Confirm total CE hours required for your license level

Check required topic areas: ethics, suicide prevention, domestic violence, and any state-specific mandates

Verify which accrediting bodies (AAMFT, state-specific) your board accepts

Find free CE courses on CEHive filtered by your state and profession

Complete ethics CE first, as these fill up on free platforms

Download and save all certificates of completion immediately after finishing

Keep a running log of: course title, provider, date, CE hours, approval body

Submit renewal and CE documentation before your expiration date

Find Free CE for Your LMFT Renewal

Search CEHive's directory of free, accredited CE courses for licensed marriage and family therapists, filtered by state, topic, and format.

Search Free LMFT CE Courses

Disclaimer: CE requirements change frequently. Always verify with your state licensing board before relying on any CE for renewal. CEHive is not affiliated with AAMFT or any licensing board.