DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) Therapist and Counselor CE Requirements

If you are a therapist or counselor practicing in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia, you already know that your work goes far beyond just sessions with clients. Part of maintaining your license involves keeping up with continuing education (CE) requirements, which can sometimes feel like a maze of rules and deadlines. Each jurisdiction in the DMV has its own set of standards that dictate how many hours you need, what topics you must cover, and how often you must renew.

What makes things tricky is that these requirements are not one-size-fits-all. Washington, DC focuses heavily on topic-specific hours such as ethics and trauma. Maryland sets limits on the number of credits that can be earned through informal or self-directed learning. Virginia, on the other hand, requires fewer hours but insists on yearly compliance. For busy professionals, missing a detail could mean scrambling at renewal time or even risking a lapse in licensure.

The good news is that once you understand the rules, staying compliant becomes much easier. This article breaks down the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) Therapist and Counselor Continuing Education (CE) Requirements in plain language. You will see what each state expects, where the differences lie, and how resources like Agents of Change Continuing Education can simplify the process. By the end, you will have a clear roadmap to keep your license active and your skills sharp.

Did you know? Agents of Change Continuing Education offers Unlimited Access to 150+ ASWB and NBCC-approved CE courses for one low annual fee to meet your state’s requirements for Continuing Education credits and level up your career

We’ve helped tens of thousands of Social Workers, Counselors, and Mental Health Professionals with Continuing Education, learn more here about Agents of Change and claim your 5 free CEUs.

1) Therapist and Counselor CE Requirements for DC, Maryland, and Virginia

Washington, DC

Who Regulates It & Renewal Cycle

The District of Columbia Board of Professional Counseling oversees licensure and renewal for professional counselors, marriage & family therapists, etc.
Licenses are renewed biennially (every 2 years).
You must submit proof of continuing education with your renewal application.

CE Requirements: Hours, Topics, Mode

For Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs):

Required: 40 CE hours every 2 years
Within those 40 hours:
• 6 hours in ethics
• 4 hours in trauma counseling
• 2 hours in cultural competence / LGBTQ topics (this is separate from the public health priority hours)
• 10% of the total hours (i.e., 4 hours) must be in topics designated by the DC Department of Health as public health priorities
Mode and live requirement:
• Up to 100% of the 40 hours can be done via home study or online; there is no strict in-person minimum.
• “Live / real-time interactive sessions” are acceptable, but DC doesn’t force a minimum live requirement in all categories.

For Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists (LMFTs) in DC:

Required: 30 CE hours every 2 years
Required topics:
• 6 hours in ethics
• 2 hours in cultural competence / LGBTQ topics
• Public health priority: 10% (i.e. 3 hours, roughly) in topics designated by DOH
Mode: some flexibility with home study or distance learning for permitted hours.

Other points:

The LGBTQ cultural competence hours (2 hours) are not considered part of the public health priority hours; they must be completed in addition to these.
DC accepts courses from NBCC-approved providers like Agents of Change Continuing Education and other recognized CE providers.
You must keep documentation (certificates, course descriptions) for at least 4 years in case of audit.

Summary Table: DC CE for Counselors/Therapists

License Type	Hours / Renewal	Ethics Requirement	Other Topic Mandates	Live / Online Rule
LPC	40 hours every 2 yrs	6 hours	4 hrs trauma, 2 hrs LGBTQ comp, 10% public health priority	Up to 100% online/home study allowed
LMFT	30 hours every 2 yrs	6 hours	2 hrs LGBTQ comp, 10% public health priority	Home study/distance allowed as permitted

Maryland

Regulatory Agency & Renewal Cycle

The Maryland Board of Professional Counselors & Therapists handles licensure and renewal.
Licenses are renewed every 2 years.

CE Requirements: Hours, Categories, Topic Limits

Total required: 40 CE hours every 2 years
Of those 40 hours:
• At least 30 hours must be in “Category A” activities
• Not more than 10 hours may be in “Category B” activities
What qualifies as and distinctions between Category A and B:
• Category A includes formal programs: courses, workshops, seminars, symposia, and activities like authorship or editing of juried publications.
• Category B includes informal in-house sessions, invited speakers, case conferences, individual learning (supervision, etc.), and distance learning (if suitable) with documented mastery.
Maryland also mandates implicit bias training, one time, for all health care practitioners during the first renewal.
Excess CE hours (beyond 40) may not be carried forward to the next renewal period.
Must retain documentation for at least 4 years for board inspection.
Maryland accepts courses from NBCC-approved providers like Agents of Change Continuing Education

Special Notes

The requirement is uniform across LCPC, LGPC, LCMFT, LGMFT (i.e. clinical and non-clinical counselors/therapists) in many cases.
Up to 10 hours (Category B) can often include distance learning or other less structured formats.
For renewal periods shorter than 2 years (e.g. due to late licensure), the minimum Category A requirement is adjusted (e.g. 20 Category A)

Summary Table: Maryland CE for Counselors/Therapists

License Type / Scope	Hours / Renewal	Category A Requirement	Category B Limit	Special Mandates
LCPC, LGPC, LCMFT, LGMFT	40 CE hours every 2 yrs	≥ 30 hrs	≤ 10 hrs	One-time implicit bias training, no carryover, documentation retention

Virginia

Regulatory Body & Renewal Timing

The Virginia Board of Counseling is responsible for regulating licensure, renewal, and continuing competency standards.
Licenses are renewed annually, with continuing competency required each year.

CE / Continuing Competency: Hours, Ethics, Special Rules

For Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs), LMFTs, and LSATPs:

Required: 20 hours of continuing competency per year.
Of those 20 hours, a minimum of 2 hours must be in ethics, standards of practice, or laws governing behavioral science professions in Virginia.
Up to 2 hours of the 20 may be satisfied through uncompensated volunteer counseling services to low-income clients at local health departments or free clinics. The conversion is: 1 hour CE credit for every 3 hours of volunteer counseling, as documented.
The Board may grant an extension (up to one year) for good cause (e.g. illness, military service, disasters) if requested in writing before renewal.
The Board may grant exemptions under extraordinary circumstances, though this doesn’t waive the requirement, just delays compliance.

For Residents in Counseling (i.e. provisional/trainee status):

On annual renewal, residents must attest to 3 hours of continuing education in ethics, standards, or law.
Must also attest that a supervisory contract is in effect with a Board-approved supervisor for all locations where they provide clinical counseling.

Other notes:

The Board accepts NBCC courses like those offered by Agents of Change Continuing Education.
The Virginia Board of Counseling explicitly states that all 20 hours may be completed by home study (i.e. distance, online) if the provider is approved.

Summary Table: Virginia CE / Continued Competency

License Type	Hours per Year	Ethics / Law Minimum	Volunteer Option	Special / Residency Rule
LPC / LMFT / LSATP	20 hours	≥ 2 hours	Up to 2 hours (via volunteer services)	Extension/exemptions allowed
Resident in Counseling	3 hours	All in ethics/standards/law	N/A	Must maintain supervisory contract

Learn more about Agents of Change Continuing Education. We’ve helped tens of thousands of Social Workers, Counselors, and Mental Health Professionals with their continuing education, and we want you to be next!

2) Comparative Summary: DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) Therapist and Counselor CE Requirements

Let’s put the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) Therapist and Counselor Continuing Education (CE) Requirements side by side to see patterns and key differences:

Jurisdiction	Renewal Frequency	Total CE / Competency Hours	Ethics / Law Minimum	Other Mandates	Mode Flexibility	Special Rules
DC	Every 2 years	LPC: 40 hrs; LMFT: 30 hrs	LPC: 6 hrs; LMFT: 6 hrs	Trauma, LGBTQ, public health priority	Up to 100% online/home study	Keep 4 yrs records, NBCC approval, no carryover beyond cycle
Maryland	Every 2 years	40 hrs for most counselor/therapist licenses	No specific fixed ethics floor (but must follow course relevance)	Implicit bias training (one time), Category A minimum	Up to 10 hrs in Category B	No carryover, 4-year record retention
Virginia	Every year	20 hrs	Minimum 2 hrs in ethics/law	Volunteer option, extension, exemption	Online / home study allowed	Residents require 3 hrs ethics, must maintain supervision

Agents of Change has helped tens of thousands of Social Workers, Counselors, and Mental Health Professionals with Continuing Education, learn more here about Agents of Change and claim your 5 free CEUs!

3) Tips for Managing & Meeting CE Requirements in the DMV

Smaller annual CE burden in Virginia
Virginia spreads the 20 hours per year, which can be easier to manage than stacking up 40 every two years (as in DC or Maryland).
Topic specificity is tighter in DC
DC demands discrete hours for ethics, trauma, LGBTQ competency, and public health priority topics. Your CE plan needs to ensure those categories are filled.
Category distinctions in Maryland
You can’t put all your hours in informal or online formats in Maryland; only up to 10 via Category B. For the bulk, go for courses, workshops, or formal offerings (Category A).
Volunteer counseling counts in Virginia
If you do pro bono or volunteer counseling to underserved populations at clinics or health departments, you might earn up to 2 hours of your 20 via that route (3 hours of service = 1 hour CE) in Virginia.
Extensions and exemptions
In Virginia and DC, the boards allow written requests for delay or exception under serious conditions. If you know you’ll be out (military, major illness), apply early.
Audit readiness matters
Save your certificates, transcripts, course outlines, and any proof of attendance for at least 4 years (DC and Maryland). Boards may ask.
CE provider approval matters
Always confirm that your CE provider is approved (NBCC, or accepted by state board). Agents of Change Continuing Education is one such provider with over 150 ASWB/NBCC-approved courses and offers live CE events often throughout the year. Mentioning them again because they’re relevant: Agents of Change offers live continuing education events frequently during the year, giving you options for real-time learning.

Using Agents of Change Continuing Education to Meet Requirements

A smart way to manage your CE burden is to rely on a trusted provider that covers many jurisdictions. Agents of Change Continuing Education is one such resource:

They offer more than 150 ASWB and NBCC-approved courses designed for social workers, counselors, and mental health professionals.
Many of those courses are structured to satisfy the categories (ethics, trauma, etc.) required by DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
Because they are NBCC-approved, credits often transfer more easily across states (subject to board acceptance).
Agents of Change frequently hosts live continuing education events, which helps with meeting the “live / interactive” or formal course elements that some states require or prefer.
Using a single provider helps you track, record, and organize CE credits in a unified system rather than chasing disparate sources.

If your practice is in the DMV region, having a CE partner that knows the nuances of DC, Maryland, and Virginia rules can save you from mismatches or rejected credits.

4) FAQs – DMV Therapist and Counselor CE Requirements

Q: What types of courses actually count toward my CE hours?

A: Courses must typically be relevant to professional counseling, marriage and family therapy, or mental health practice. Approved CE usually comes from recognized providers such as the NBCC, ASWB, or state-approved organizations. In DC, you will need to complete topic-specific courses like ethics, trauma counseling, and LGBTQ cultural competence. Maryland distinguishes between Category A (formal programs like workshops, courses, and publications) and Category B (informal or self-directed learning, such as case conferences or supervision). Virginia requires annual hours that can be completed entirely online if the provider is approved. Always make sure the course certificate lists the provider, number of hours, and subject matter so you can prove compliance during an audit.

Q: Can I spread out my CE hours over time or do I need to complete them all at once?

A: You can absolutely spread them out over your renewal cycle, and in fact, that is the best strategy. In DC and Maryland, you are given two years to complete your hours, which allows for steady progress without last-minute stress. Virginia requires continuing competency every year, so planning throughout the year is key. Many professionals choose to tackle their ethics or mandatory topic hours early, then fill in with electives later. Providers like Agents of Change Continuing Education make this easier by offering a mix of self-paced online courses and live events that you can schedule flexibly across your renewal period.

Q: What happens if I do not meet the CE requirements before my license renewal?

A: Falling short of CE requirements can have serious consequences. At best, you may have to pay additional fees or face a delayed renewal. At worst, your license could lapse, forcing you to stop practicing until it is reinstated. Some boards, like Virginia’s, allow for extensions if you apply in advance with a valid reason such as illness or military service. DC and Maryland are stricter, often requiring documentation and sometimes denying renewals until requirements are met. To avoid these stressful scenarios, keep careful records of your CE, maintain a personal tracking system, and consider partnering with a reliable CE provider that organizes and documents credits for you.

5) Conclusion

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► Learn more about the Agents of Change Continuing Education here: https://agentsofchangetraining.com

About the Instructor, Meagan Mitchell: Meagan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been providing Continuing Education for Social Workers, Counselors, and Mental Health Professionals for more than 10 years. From all of this experience helping others, she created Agents of Change Continuing Education to help Social Workers, Counselors, and Mental Health Professionals stay up-to-date on the latest trends, research, and techniques.

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Disclaimer: This content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment