Tristate (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) Therapist and Counselor Continuing Education (CE) Requirements

Trying to determine precisely what continuing education requirements you need to meet as a therapist or counselor in the Tri-State area can be confusing. Each state has its own board, its own rules, and its own deadlines. If you are practicing in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut, you cannot assume that what satisfies one license will automatically cover another. That is why it helps to review the requirements side by side, with clear explanations of what counts, the number of hours required, and which topics are mandatory.

These rules are not just bureaucratic checkboxes. Continuing education exists to make sure that professionals are staying current with new research, ethical standards, cultural needs, and practical tools that actually matter in clinical practice.

Whether you are newly licensed or have been practicing for decades, keeping up with these requirements protects your license and strengthens your skills. Understanding the differences between New York’s limits on self-study, New Jersey’s emphasis on ethics and opioid training, and Connecticut’s annual mandates can save you time, stress, and even money.

Fortunately, you do not have to figure this all out on your own. There are providers like Agents of Change Continuing Education, which offers more than 150 ASWB and NBCC-approved courses, along with frequent live continuing education events throughout the year. With resources like that, meeting the Tristate (NY, NJ, Connecticut) Therapist and Counselor Continuing Education (CE) Requirements becomes more manageable. This guide will walk you through the details so you can focus less on paperwork and more on what matters: your clients.

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.

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1) Therapist and Counselor CE Requirements for New York, New Jersey, Connecticut

New York CE Requirements for Therapists and Counselors

In New York, the rules are overseen by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and the Office of the Professions. These rules apply to Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC), licensed psychologists, licensed social workers, and other mental health practitioners. Below is what you need to know in plain terms.

Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC)

• Every LMHC must complete 36 hours of acceptable formal continuing education during each three-year registration period.

• Self-study (i.e. courses without live interaction) is allowed, but no more than 12 hours (i.e. one-third of total) per 3-year period. 

• Courses must be from NYSED-approved providers in subject areas relevant to mental health counseling. 

• You cannot carry over excess hours into the next renewal cycle.

• If your registration period is shorter than 36 months (e.g. when your license is first activated or reactivated), your required hours are prorated based on months. 

• If your registration begins on or after April 1, 2023, you must complete 3 hours of continuing education in appropriate professional boundaries during each 3-year cycle.

Licensed Psychologists in NY

• Every licensed psychologist must complete 36 hours of continuing education in each triennial registration period. 

• Among those 36 hours, 3 hours must address professional ethics, laws, rules, and regulations in New York. 

• Independent (self-study) courses are allowed, but no more than 12 hours of self-study per registration period.

• The excess hours above 36 cannot carry forward.

• The 3-hour boundary/ethical training requirement also applies to psychologists, social workers, mental health practitioners licensed under relevant articles, for registration periods beginning on or after April 1, 2023. 

Common Issues & Tips for NY

• Always check whether the CE provider is approved by NYSED (or the relevant board). If a course is not from an approved provider, you can’t count it. 

• Keep documentation (certificates, program descriptions) for at least 4 years in case of audit.

• It’s smart to aim a few extra hours beyond what’s minimally required; just in case you misjudge or one course is rejected.

• Because the boundary training requirement is newer, make sure you include that in your next cycle (if your cycle begins April 1, 2023 or later).

• Live or interactive online courses count fully; self-study has maximum limits.

Overall, compliance in New York is fairly rigid: 36 hours every three years, with constraints on self-study, a boundary/ethics requirement, and no carryover.

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New Jersey CE Requirements for Social Workers, Counselors, & Therapists

New Jersey’s system is a little more segmented by license level, and many therapists in NJ are actually licensed as social workers (LSW, LCSW) or under counseling boards depending on specialization. Below is what I found.

3.1 Social Workers in New Jersey (CSW, LSW, LCSW)

Because many therapists and counselors may hold social work credentials in NJ, the NJ social work continuing education rules are especially relevant.

• CSW (Certified Social Worker): requires 20 hours of continuing education every two years.

• LSW (Licensed Social Worker): needs 30 hours every two years.

• LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker): must complete 40 hours every two years.

Within those hours:

• Ethics: 5 hours are required. 

• Social & Cultural Competence: 3 hours are required for each license class (CSW, LSW, LCSW). 

• Prescription Opioid Drugs: At least 1 hour addressing prescription opioids is required in every licensing cycle. 

• Clinical Hours Requirement for LCSW: at least 20 of the 40 hours must relate directly to clinical practice. 

• Carryover: If you complete more than required in one cycle, some surplus credits may be carried over:

  • For LCSW: up to 8 surplus credits can carry over. 

  • For LSW: up to 6 surplus credits carryover.

  • For CSW: up to 4 surplus credits. 

• All CE hours can be done via home study or online (with approval), unless specified otherwise. 

• All courses or conference sessions must be individually approved by NASW-NJ or ASWB-NJ to be eligible for CEUs. NJ does not accept provider approvals from other states or blanket provider status.

3.2 Counselors / Therapists Under Other Boards in NJ

If you’re licensed under other boards (e.g. counseling or psychology), you’ll need to check the NJ Board of Psychological Examiners or the counseling board for specific CE requirements. But often therapists hold social work credentials in NJ, so the above is applicable.

3.3 Tips & Practical Advice in NJ

• Check each CE course to ensure NASW-NJ or ASWB-NJ approval (if you’re a social worker). That means even if a provider is “national,” each course must be accepted locally.

• Be careful: a course approved in one state doesn’t automatically count in NJ.

• Because you can carry over a modest number of credits, it’s sometimes wise to take a few extra credits so you have a buffer.

• For the opioid requirement, make sure the hour is clearly labeled and meets state rules.

• Document everything (syllabi, certificates, course descriptions). NJ boards may audit licensees.

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Connecticut CE Requirements for Therapists, Counselors, & Psychologists

Connecticut’s rules are somewhat variable, depending on your license type (professional counselor, marriage & family therapist, psychologist, or social worker). I’ll focus on therapists and counselors first, then touch on psychologists.

Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) & Marriage & Family Therapists (MFT)

• LPCs in Connecticut must complete 15 hours of continuing education during each renewal period (typically annually). 

• MFTs likewise must complete 15 hours each year. 

• Some required topics:

  • At least 2 hours must be in mental health conditions affecting veterans and their families, every year (or specified cycle).

  • At least 1 hour must be in cultural competence (for LPC/MFT). 

• Formats: CE courses may be offered or approved by NBCC, ACA, AAMFT, regional universities, DPH, etc. Qualifying continuing education includes courses offered by nationally or regionally recognized providers or academic institutions, so long as content is relevant to counseling practice. 

• You must maintain records and documentation (certificate, syllabus) in case of audit.

• There is some ambiguity: a few sources say LPC CE is annually, others say biennially. But the majority lean toward 15 hours annually. 

Psychologists in Connecticut

• For psychologists, the rule is 10 hours of continuing education during each registration (12-month) period. 

• No more than 5 CE units may be completed via distance learning, home study, or asynchronous formats each year.

• Qualifying activities: courses, seminars, workshops, postdoctoral institutes offered or approved by APA, accredited institutions, DMHAS, or behavioral science organizations. 

• Additionally, at least 2 hours every six years must address mental health conditions common to veterans and their families. 

Practical Considerations in CT

• Because Connecticut expects CE every year, pacing becomes more critical.

• Make sure to cover the veterans and cultural competence hours (they’re mandatory).

• Use a mix of live and online to satisfy the in-person or interactive requirement.

• If you’re licensed in multiple states (e.g. CT + NY), you might try to find CEs acceptable in both to double-count.

• Agents of Change Continuing Education’s catalog (150+ ASWB/NBCC-approved courses) may help you hit multiple state requirements with overlap, and their live continuing education events throughout the year give you options to fulfill interactive requirements.

2) Comparative Summary: Tristate (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) Therapist and Counselor CE Requirements

Here is a high-level CE Requirements comparison:

State	Typical Renewal Period	CE Hours Required	Format Constraints / Topic Mandates	Notes / Key Differences
New York	Every 3 years (triennial)	36 hours for LMHC; 36 hours for psychologists	No more than 12 self-study hours; some ethics/boundary mandates	Applies only after first registration; pro-rata for partial periods
New Jersey	Every 2 years (biennial)	40 hours (LCSW), 30 hours (LSW), 20 hours (CSW)	Ethics, social/cultural competence, clinical hours required	Some carryover allowed; opioid credit required
Connecticut	Every year (for LPC, MFT)	15 hours (LPC, MFT)	Some required topics: veterans, cultural competence	Psychologists: 10 hours per year

As you can see, the differences are not trivial. If you’re licensed in more than one of these states, or plan to be, the trick is to understand each state’s core rules, and then possibly “over-comply” so you cover all bases.

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 Tristate Area

Dealing with three different systems can feel overwhelming, but here are strategies to keep you on track:

Build a CE Roadmap

• At the start of each license cycle, map out due dates, minimum hours, special topic requirements (ethics, boundaries, veterans), and limits on self-study.

• Create a spreadsheet that lists the required hours, hours completed, and “buffer” hours.

Choose CE Providers Thoughtfully

• Use providers that clearly list which state boards approve their courses. That way, you reduce the risk of a course being rejected.

• Agents of Change Continuing Education is a valuable provider, offering over 150 ASWB and NBCC-approved courses for social workers, counselors, and mental health professionals. Because many boards accept ASWB/NBCC courses, these often overlap with multiple states’ acceptance frameworks.

• Agents of Change also offers live continuing education events frequently throughout the year, which help with interactive hour requirements in states like CT or NY (for boundary training).

Mix Live and Self-Study Wisely

• Don’t leave all your hours to self-study, especially in states that cap self-study hours (NY, CT).

• Use live/webinar/interactive components for mandatory topics (ethics, boundaries, veterans), which often require direct interaction.

• Save self-study for elective or background topics once your live hours are satisfied.

Track & Retain Good Documentation

• Keep CE certificates, syllabi, provider approval statements, sign-in sheets for live events, and transcripts.

• Retain them for at least as long as the state’s audit window (often 3–4 years).

• Organize by license, state, and date to ease audit time.

Overlap When Possible (Double Count)

• When possible, choose CE courses that are acceptable in more than one state. For instance, if a course is NBCC and APA approved, many boards in the tristate area will accept it.

• However, be cautious: always verify that the course is accepted for your specific license in your state before taking it.

Stay Ahead of New Rules

• Periodically check whether your state has introduced new requirements (e.g. in NY, the boundary training requirement is relatively new).

• Subscribe to board newsletters or regulatory updates.

• Set personal reminders 6 months before renewal to audit your CE progress.

Q: What happens if I don’t complete the required continuing education before my license renewal date?

A: If you miss the required hours in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut, you risk having your license renewal delayed or even denied. In some cases, you may be placed on inactive status until you meet the requirements, which means you cannot legally practice.

Boards may allow you to make up hours in the next cycle, but you may also face fines or disciplinary action. To avoid last-minute stress, it’s best to track your hours throughout the renewal period rather than cramming them in at the end.

Q: Do online or self-paced courses count toward Tristate (NY, NJ, Connecticut) Therapist and Counselor Continuing Education (CE) Requirements?

A: Yes, but with limitations. New York allows a portion of credits to be completed through self-study, capped at 12 hours every three years. Connecticut limits the number of hours psychologists and social workers can earn through asynchronous or distance learning, requiring some to be live or interactive. New Jersey is more flexible with online study but requires that courses be specifically approved by NASW-NJ or ASWB-NJ.

Always check your board’s official list of approved providers before committing to an online program.

Q: Can one course count toward multiple state requirements if I hold licenses in more than one Tristate state?

A: Often, yes, but with some caveats. A course approved by NBCC or ASWB is usually accepted in multiple states, making it possible to apply the same credits to different licenses. However, topic-specific requirements vary: for example, New York requires professional boundaries training, New Jersey requires opioid-related content, and Connecticut requires courses on veterans’ mental health and cultural competence.

The smart approach is to select courses that are nationally approved while also meeting those state-specific mandates. Providers like Agents of Change Continuing Education make it easier by offering a wide range of approved courses that can often fulfill overlapping requirements.

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