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LPC CE Requirements in Pennsylvania

This page summarizes the current CE requirements for the LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) license in Pennsylvania — renewal model, mandated topics, live/interactive rules, and home-study limits — with links to the official regulator.

30CE hours / cycle
2 yrrenewal cycle
0 hlive / interactive required
3 hethics required
Full Pennsylvania LPC requirements
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LPC

LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor)
30hours / 2-year renewal cycle
No live / interactive hours required — all hours may be self-study
Mandated topics
  • Ethics — 3 h
  • Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting (Act 31) — 2 h3 hours required before initial licensure; 2 hours each renewal thereafter
  • Suicide Prevention/Assessment (Act 74) — 1 hMay not be counted toward the 3 ethics hours

Home study: No cap - the Board eliminated its live-CE requirement on 11/19/2019, so all 30 hours may be completed online/home study.

Board notes: Regulated by the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors (49 Pa. Code Ch. 49). Biennial renewal Feb 28 (even years). First-time licensees are exempt from the full 30-hour requirement for their first renewal period (must still complete Act 31 child abuse training); no carryover of excess hours.

pa.gov ↗pa.gov ↗

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Frequently asked questions
How many CE hours does an LPC need in Pennsylvania?

An LPC must complete 30 CE / continuing-education hours every 2 years in Pennsylvania. That total includes 3 hours of ethics.

Are there required CE topics for LPC in Pennsylvania?

Yes. Pennsylvania requires the following CE topics for LPC: Ethics (3 h); Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting (Act 31) (2 h); Suicide Prevention/Assessment (Act 74) (1 h).

Can LPC CE be completed online in Pennsylvania?

Generally yes — Pennsylvania does not require live or interactive hours for LPC, so approved online / home-study CE can typically satisfy the requirement. Home-study note: No cap - the Board eliminated its live-CE requirement on 11/19/2019, so all 30 hours may be completed online/home study..

What else should LPC renewals know in Pennsylvania?

Regulated by the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors (49 Pa. Code Ch. 49). Biennial renewal Feb 28 (even years). First-time licensees are exempt from the full 30-hour requirement for their first renewal period (must still complete Act 31 child abuse training); no carryover of excess hours.

Other Pennsylvania licenses
LCSW in Pennsylvania30 CE hours every 2 yearsLicensed Psychologist in Pennsylvania30 CE hours every 2 yearsLMFT in Pennsylvania30 CE hours every 2 yearsBCBA in Pennsylvania32 CE hours every 2 years
LPC CE requirements in other states
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonRhode 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.