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CEUs for counselors

Here’s how to find the continuing education options that are right for you.

As a counselor, it’s your job to support your clients with whatever mental health challenges they’re facing. That drive to help people is probably what led you to pursue this rewarding-but-challenging career in the first place. One important way to continue offering the best possible care to your client base is to stay current with your continuing education units (CEUs). 

Along with allowing you to keep your license active over time, continuing education, or CE, is a great opportunity for professional development. “They can help you upscale yourself as a counselor by increasing your competence and scope, so you can deepen your work or expand into new areas,” says Michael Heckendorn, LPC and Headway’s clinical lead of clinician education. 

As vital as continuing education is to your clinical career, it can be difficult (and honestly, expensive) to navigate the world of counseling CE. Read on to learn more about how much continuing education you need and how to find the CE option that’s right for you.

How much continuing education do I need? What types of CE are required?

There’s no one universal requirement for the amount and type of continuing education a counselor needs to complete. CE requirements for license renewal are ultimately determined by your state board.

Keep in mind that your state board may have restrictions that limit the amount of continuing education hours you can apply through distance learning (i.e. independent home study or online courses). That said, CE isn’t just online courses. You can earn them in other formats, such as webinars and sessions at conferences.

Common continuing education targets

There’s no shortage of opportunities to get continuing education units as a counselor. Most professional counselor state licensure boards accept the same approved CE providers as the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). The NBCC recognizes thousands of continuing education providers like Violet, Psychotherapy.net, and the American Counseling Association.

It’s important to be aware of your license requirements so you can pursue the amount and type of hours required by your state. From there, Heckendorn recommends choosing CE that helps broaden and deepen your scope as a therapist. 

CE can help you deepen your understanding of something you’re already trained in or adopt new skills that help you reach a different group of clients. For example, you could get certified in particular treatment modalities, like cognitive behavioral therapy or EMDR. 

You may also choose to brush up on non-clinical skills, such as mental health documentation. “Many of us don’t get training on compliant documentation in school like we do for interventions and theoretical orientations,” says Heckendorn. “The PESI documentation course explains how to document from intake to treatment plan and progress notes, while also pulling in information on differential diagnosis and medical necessity.”

It’s also common to pursue additional training in working with specific populations, such as the LGTBQIA+ or BIPOC communities (both certifications offered through Headway’s partnership with Violet). It may also be useful to get certified in working with underserved groups, such as youth or teenagers.

Where to find free counselor CEUs

There’s no way around it: CE can be expensive. And it may feel stressful to spend time on CE when you could be using that time to see more clients or grow your business. Luckily, Headway offers free credits toward CEUs for its providers.

Headway has partnered with PESI and Violet to offer Headway providers exclusive access to a diverse library of free CE courses — curated to support you. New and existing Headway providers can earn up to 90 CE hours through PESI’s range of specialized courses — each designed to support and expand your practice. Through Violet, you can access 50+ hours of accredited courses to fulfill CE/CME requirements and ensure culturally responsive care when working with BIPOC, LGBQ, and TGNC communities.

In addition, providers can take Headway courses now accredited through Violet directly within Headway Academy. Keep an eye out for accredited courses that display a small "CEUs" button. The American Counseling Association also offers one free CE credit per month, often open to non-members.

CEU requirements by state

If you’re seeking out CEU to maintain your counseling license, it’s important to consult your specific state guidelines as well as requirements for your license type. See the below list of U.S. states and their individual requirements here:

Note: These state-by-state links have been updated as of October 2, 2024.

No matter where you practice, navigating the world of CE can be difficult, especially on top of your workload. Try to reframe your pursuit of CE just as you might encourage someone in a session: While there may be challenging aspects, taking time to improve your practice will ultimately allow you to better serve your clients.

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