Continuing Education
Iowa CE Requirements by License
Continuing-education / CPD renewal requirements for behavioral and mental health licenses in Iowa — hours or CPD model per cycle, mandated topics, live/interactive rules, and home-study limits. Pick a license for the full breakdown.
Iowa requirements at a glance
| License | Profession | CE / CPD | Ethics | Live / interactive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LISW | Social Work | 27 h / 2yr | 3 h | — |
| LMHC | Counseling | 40 h / 2yr | 3 h | — |
| Licensed Psychologist | Psychology | 40 h / 2yr | 6 h | — |
| LMFT | Marriage & Family Therapy | 40 h / 2yr | 3 h | — |
| Licensed Behavior Analyst | Behavior Analysis | 32 h / 2yr | 4 h | — |
Requirements by license
Verified
Iowa
LISW (Licensed Independent Social Worker; also LBSW/LMSW - all social work levels share the same CE rule)
27hours / 2-year renewal cycle
No live / interactive hours required — all hours may be self-study
Mandated topics
- Ethics — 3 hMinimum 3 hours per biennium in social work ethics (IAC 481-881.2(12)(b)).
- Supervision — 3 hOnly for independent-level (LISW) licensees who provide supervision (481-881.2(12)(k)).
- Mandatory Reporter - Child Abuse — 2 h2-hr initial course then 1-hr recertification every 3 years; only for those who regularly examine/attend/treat children; Iowa HHS-approved curriculum (481-895.7(3)).
- Mandatory Reporter - Dependent Adult Abuse — 2 h2-hr initial course then 1-hr recertification every 3 years; only for applicable mandatory reporters; Iowa HHS-approved curriculum (481-895.7(3)).
Verified
Iowa
LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor)
40hours / 2-year renewal cycle
No live / interactive hours required — all hours may be self-study
Mandated topics
- Ethics — 3 h3 of the 40 hours must be in ethics (IAC 481-881.2(10)(b)(1)).
- Supervision — 3 hRequired only for licensees serving in a supervisory role (effective compliance period beginning Oct 1, 2022; 481-881.2(10)(b)(2)).
- Mandatory Reporter - Child Abuse — 2 h2-hr initial course then 1-hr recertification every 3 years; mandatory reporters only; must be Iowa HHS-approved training (481-881.2(10)(b)).
- Mandatory Reporter - Dependent Adult Abuse — 2 h2-hr initial course then 1-hr recertification every 3 years; mandatory reporters only; must be Iowa HHS-approved training (481-881.2(10)(b)).
Verified
Iowa
Licensed Psychologist
40hours / 2-year renewal cycle
No live / interactive hours required — all hours may be self-study
Mandated topics
- Ethics / Iowa MH laws / Federal MH laws / Risk Management (mandated 6-hour block) — 6 hAt the SECOND renewal: 6 hrs in Iowa mental health laws/regulations OR risk management. At each renewal AFTER the second: 6 hrs in ethical issues, federal MH laws/regulations, Iowa MH laws/regulations, or risk management (licensee's choice). Iowa psychology has NO separate standalone ethics requirement; ethics is only an option within this block after the 2nd renewal (481-881.2(11)(a)-(b)).
- Mandatory Reporter - Child Abuse — 2 hRequired if examining/attending/treating children; per 481-880.10(3); reported hours counted but not exceeding hours required to maintain compliance.
- Mandatory Reporter - Dependent Adult Abuse — 2 hRequired if examining/attending/treating dependent adults; per 481-880.10(3); reported hours counted but not exceeding hours required to maintain compliance.
Verified
Iowa
LMFT (Licensed Marital and Family Therapist)
40hours / 2-year renewal cycle
No live / interactive hours required — all hours may be self-study
Mandated topics
- Ethics — 3 h3 of the 40 hours must be in ethics (IAC 481-881.2(10)(b)(1)).
- Supervision — 3 hRequired only for licensees serving in a supervisory role (effective Oct 1, 2022; 481-881.2(10)(b)(2)).
- Mandatory Reporter - Child Abuse — 2 h2-hr initial then 1-hr recertification every 3 years; mandatory reporters only; must be Iowa HHS-approved training.
- Mandatory Reporter - Dependent Adult Abuse — 2 h2-hr initial then 1-hr recertification every 3 years; mandatory reporters only; must be Iowa HHS-approved training.
Verified
Iowa
Licensed Behavior Analyst (BCBA) / Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst
32hours / 2-year renewal cycle
No live / interactive hours required — all hours may be self-study
Mandated topics
- Ethics — 4 hPer BACB recertification standard (4 ethics CEUs per 2-year cycle); Iowa sets no separate number.
- Supervision — 3 hPer BACB standard, only for certificants who provide supervision (3 supervision CEUs per cycle); Iowa sets no separate number.
- Mandatory Reporter - Child/Dependent Adult AbuseIowa mandatory-reporter training (481-880.10(3)) applies to licensed behavior analysts who examine/attend/treat children or dependent adults; 2-hr initial then 1-hr recert every 3 years, Iowa HHS-approved.
Complete your Iowa CE with Triad
AATBS and CE4Less offer board-approved continuing education across social work, counseling, psychology, MFT, and behavior analysis.
Frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do behavioral health licenses require in Iowa?
In Iowa, hour-based licenses require 27 to 40 continuing-education hours per renewal cycle depending on the license type; some credentials follow a CPD model instead. See the table above for each credential.
Do CE requirements differ by license type in Iowa?
Yes. Social work, counseling, psychology, marriage & family therapy, and behavior-analysis credentials each have their own requirements, mandated topics, and renewal cycles in Iowa. This page lists each one separately.
Does Iowa require ethics CE?
Iowa requires dedicated ethics continuing education for: LISW, LMFT, LMHC, Licensed Behavior Analyst, Licensed Psychologist. Exact hour counts are on each license's page.
CE requirements in other states
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew 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.