Home/CE Requirements/California/LMFT
Continuing Education

LMFT CE Requirements in California

This page summarizes the current CE requirements for the LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) license in California — renewal model, mandated topics, live/interactive rules, and home-study limits — with links to the official regulator.

36CE hours / cycle
2 yrrenewal cycle
0 hlive / interactive required
6 hethics required
Full California LMFT requirements
Verified

LMFT

LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)
36hours / 2-year renewal cycle
No live / interactive hours required — all hours may be self-study
Mandated topics
  • Law and Ethics — 6 hRequired every renewal period.
  • Suicide Risk Assessment and Intervention — 6 hOne-time requirement for renewals/reactivations after Jan 1, 2021; coursework or supervised applied experience.
  • Telehealth (incl. law and ethics of telehealth) — 3 hOne-time requirement for renewals/reactivations after July 1, 2023.
  • HIV/AIDS — 7 hOne-time requirement completed during the FIRST renewal period only (new licensees).

Home study: No overall cap on home/self-study from a BBS-approved CE provider; coursework must be from a BBS-approved CE provider. No live or in-person hours are mandated.

Board notes: Regulated by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS). 36 hrs/2-yr cycle with 6 hrs Law & Ethics every cycle. Suicide (6 hr) and telehealth (3 hr) are one-time requirements not repeated each cycle. New LMFTs must also complete a one-time 7-hr HIV/AIDS course at first renewal.

bbs.ca.gov ↗bbs.ca.gov ↗

Complete your marriage & family therapy CE with Triad

AATBS and CE4Less offer board-approved continuing education for marriage & family therapy professionals — ethics, cultural competency, clinical topics, and more.

Browse CE coursesAll California licenses
Frequently asked questions
How many CE hours does an LMFT need in California?

An LMFT must complete 36 CE / continuing-education hours every 2 years in California. That total includes 6 hours of ethics.

Are there required CE topics for LMFT in California?

Yes. California requires the following CE topics for LMFT: Law and Ethics (6 h); Suicide Risk Assessment and Intervention (6 h); Telehealth (incl. law and ethics of telehealth) (3 h); HIV/AIDS (7 h).

Can LMFT CE be completed online in California?

Generally yes — California does not require live or interactive hours for LMFT, so approved online / home-study CE can typically satisfy the requirement. Home-study note: No overall cap on home/self-study from a BBS-approved CE provider; coursework must be from a BBS-approved CE provider. No live or in-person hours are mandated..

What else should LMFT renewals know in California?

Regulated by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS). 36 hrs/2-yr cycle with 6 hrs Law & Ethics every cycle. Suicide (6 hr) and telehealth (3 hr) are one-time requirements not repeated each cycle. New LMFTs must also complete a one-time 7-hr HIV/AIDS course at first renewal.

Other California licenses
LCSW in California36 CE hours every 2 yearsLPCC in California36 CE hours every 2 yearsLicensed Psychologist in California36 CE hours every 2 yearsBCBA in California32 CE hours every 2 years
LMFT CE requirements in other states
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
Updated July 2026 from official licensing-board, regulatory-college, and government sources. CE / CPD requirements change often — always confirm current rules directly with your licensing board or regulator before you renew. Informational only, not legal advice.