Psychotherapist CPD Requirements in Finland

Psychotherapists in Finland follow a CPD-based model rather than a fixed hour total. Psychotherapist is a protected professional title (nimikesuojattu ammattinimike) granted by the national supervisory authority (formerly Valvira, now Lupa- ja valvontavirasto) under the Act on Health Care Professionals (559/1994) and Government Decree 1120/2010, upon completion of approved university-coordinated psychotherapist training. The right to use the title is granted for life with no periodic renewal and no fixed statutory CPD/CE hour requirement. As with all health care professionals, Section 18 of Act 559/1994 imposes a general duty to maintain and develop the competence required by the work, with a parallel employer duty to enable continuing education (taydennyskoulutus). There is no mandatory renewal-linked CPD hour count.

Finland does not mandate specific CE subjects for Psychotherapist beyond the general requirement — any board-approved continuing education generally counts. Always confirm with the regulator.

Generally yes — Finland does not require live or interactive hours for Psychotherapist, so approved online / home-study CE can typically satisfy the requirement. Home-study note: Not applicable - no statutory CPD hour requirement or format restrictions.

Family therapists / couple and family therapy practitioners are covered here: 'marriage and family therapist' is not a separate regulated title in Finland - family therapy (perheterapia) is one of the recognised psychotherapy orientations trained and registered under the psychotherapist title. Lifelong protected title, no renewal cycle. Ongoing supervision (tyonohjaus) and CPD are professionally expected and often employer- or association-driven, but not a statutory licence-maintenance requirement. Supervisory authority merger (Valvira -> Lupa- ja valvontavirasto) on 1 Jan 2026 did not change the substantive rules.