LPC CE Requirements in District of Columbia
This page summarizes the current CE requirements for the LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) license in District of Columbia — renewal model, mandated topics, live/interactive rules, and home-study limits — with links to the official regulator.
LPC
- Ethics — 6 h
- Trauma Counseling — 4 h
- LGBTQ Cultural Competence — 2 hMust be completed in addition to (not counted within) the public health priority hours (D.C. Law 21-95).
- Public Health Priorities — 4 h4 hours = 10% of the 40-hour total. 10% of the total CE requirement. Per the DC Health Director's Public Health Priorities notice (published 2/13/2025, effective Oct 1, 2025) the five designated domains are: Sexual and Reproductive Health; Chronic Disease Management; One Health; Healthcare Professional Retention and Capacity Building; and Community and Patient Safety. May be embedded within qualifying courses.
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How many CE hours does an LPC need in District of Columbia?
An LPC must complete 40 CE / continuing-education hours every 2 years in District of Columbia. That total includes 6 hours of ethics.
Are there required CE topics for LPC in District of Columbia?
Yes. District of Columbia requires the following CE topics for LPC: Ethics (6 h); Trauma Counseling (4 h); LGBTQ Cultural Competence (2 h); Public Health Priorities (4 h).
Can LPC CE be completed online in District of Columbia?
Generally yes — District of Columbia does not require live or interactive hours for LPC, so approved online / home-study CE can typically satisfy the requirement. Home-study note: No live/in-person minimum and no home-study cap: the Board of Professional Counseling's official renewal notice lists only 40 CEs incl. 6 ethics, 4 trauma, 2 LGBTQ and 10% (4 hrs) public health priorities, with no face-to-face restriction for LPCs (unlike the Board's MFT requirement, which does impose a 15-hour face-to-face minimum). Online CE is acceptable..
What else should LPC renewals know in District of Columbia?
40 hours per 2-year cycle; LPC licensees are exempt from CE for their first renewal. The 2-hour LGBTQ requirement is separate from and additional to the 4-hour public health priorities requirement. Renewal moving to birth-month expiration. Administered by the DC Health Board of Professional Counseling.