In Hawaii, both Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) and Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) are required to complete continuing education (CE) to maintain their licensure. These CE requirements ensure that counselors and therapists stay updated on current practices, ethics, and advancements in the field of mental health.

Below is a detailed overview of the CE requirements for each license.

1. Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC) CE Requirements

• Total CE Hours: LMHCs must complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years.

• Ethics Requirement: Out of the 40 required hours, at least 6 hours must be specifically in ethics training. This ensures that counselors remain current on professional standards, legal responsibilities, and ethical decision-making in their practice.

• Approved CE Courses: CE activities must be related to the practice of counseling and can include courses, workshops, seminars, or other professional development activities. The courses should be approved by organizations such as:

  • National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
    • Agents of Change Continuing Education is NBCC-approved
  • American Counseling Association (ACA)
  • State-approved or accredited educational institutions

• Documentation: LMHCs must retain documentation of completed CE hours for at least four years, in case of an audit by the licensing board. This documentation should include certificates of completion that show the number of hours earned, the date of completion, and the title of the course.

2. Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT) CE Requirements

• Total CE Hours: MFTs must complete 45 hours of continuing education during each two-year renewal period.

• Ethics Requirement: At least 6 hours of the required 45 must be focused on ethics. This ensures that MFTs are well-versed in maintaining professional boundaries, confidentiality, and legal responsibilities in their clinical work.

• Approved CE Courses: CE activities for MFTs must be directly related to marriage and family therapy or general mental health care. Approved CE providers include:

  • American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
  • Accredited universities and institutions that offer courses in family therapy or mental health
  • Any continuing education program approved by a professional body or regulatory board related to marriage and family therapy

• Documentation: Similar to LMHCs, MFTs are required to maintain records of completed CE for at least four years. Certificates or transcripts must include the date, course title, provider name, and the number of hours earned.

CE Content Areas

While ethics training is mandatory for both LMHCs and MFTs, the remaining CE hours can be focused on a variety of content areas, including but not limited to:

• Counseling Theories and Techniques: Courses on evidence-based practices, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and other therapeutic approaches.
• Cultural Competency: CE activities that focus on working with diverse populations, addressing cultural and systemic issues in mental health care.
• Trauma-Informed Care: Training in recognizing and addressing trauma in clients, including specific modalities like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
• Substance Abuse Counseling: Courses related to addiction, co-occurring disorders, and substance abuse treatment.

Failure to Meet CE Requirements

If a licensee does not complete the required CE hours within the renewal period, they may face penalties, including fines, delayed renewal, or license suspension. In some cases, an extension or grace period may be granted, but this is not guaranteed. Practitioners are encouraged to plan their continuing education activities well in advance to avoid these issues.

Online and Distance Learning for CE

Hawaii allows counselors and therapists to complete their CE requirements through online or distance learning platforms, as long as the courses are from approved providers. This flexibility enables busy professionals to stay current with their education without needing to attend in-person events.

Resources for Finding CE Courses

Here are some key resources where counselors and therapists in Hawaii can find approved continuing education courses:

• Agents of Change Continuing Education 
• National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): https://www.nbcc.org
• American Counseling Association (ACA): https://www.counseling.org
• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT): https://www.aamft.org

By staying up-to-date on CE requirements, LMHCs and MFTs in Hawaii can ensure they continue to provide high-quality, ethical, and evidence-based care to their clients while maintaining their professional licensure.

Agents of Change Continuing Education is a great way to meet Hawaii Counselor and Therapist CE requirements and track your completed CEs, with over 150 NBCC-approved courses that meet these requirements!

Agents of Change has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7620. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Agents of Change is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.