Continuing Education

LPC CE Requirements in South Carolina

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

40CE hours / cycle

2 yrrenewal cycle

0 hlive / interactive required

6 hethics required

Full South Carolina LPC requirements

Verified

LPC

LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor)

40hours / 2-year renewal cycle

No live / interactive hours required — all hours may be self-study

Mandated topics

Ethics — 6 hMust be specific to ethical standards for the professional license (Reg Ch 36 / CE Guidelines).
Suicide Assessment, Treatment and Management — 1 hConfirmed in SC Reg Ch 36 (2024 suicide-training law); not in the older 2021 CE Guidelines PDF.

Home study: No cap on online/home-study FORMAL CE - Reg Ch 36 states credit may be obtained in person OR online with no in-person minimum. A cap applies only to INFORMAL/alternative CE (presentations, publications, course prep): Reg Ch 36 allows up to 20 such hours; the 2021 CE Guidelines PDF states a 15-hour informal cap.

Board notes: SC Board of Examiners for LPC, MFT & Addiction Counselors: 40 hours per 2-year period (reporting Sep 1 - Aug 31; deadline Aug 31 of odd years), tracked in CE Broker. 40 = 6 ethics + 1 suicide + remaining practice hours. Supervisors (LPC-S) need an additional 10 hours of formal supervision CE beyond the 40. Note discrepancy between the current regulation (Ch 36: 20-hr informal cap) and the older 2021 Guidelines PDF (15-hr informal cap).

llr.sc.gov ↗scstatehouse.gov ↗llr.sc.gov ↗

Complete your counseling CE with Triad

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

Browse CE courses All South Carolina licenses

Frequently asked questions

How many CE hours does an LPC need in South Carolina?

An LPC must complete 40 CE / continuing-education hours every 2 years in South Carolina. That total includes 6 hours of ethics.

Are there required CE topics for LPC in South Carolina?

Yes. South Carolina requires the following CE topics for LPC: Ethics (6 h); Suicide Assessment, Treatment and Management (1 h).

Can LPC CE be completed online in South Carolina?

Generally yes — South Carolina 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 on online/home-study FORMAL CE - Reg Ch 36 states credit may be obtained in person OR online with no in-person minimum. A cap applies only to INFORMAL/alternative CE (presentations, publications, course prep): Reg Ch 36 allows up to 20 such hours; the 2021 CE Guidelines PDF states a 15-hour informal cap..

What else should LPC renewals know in South Carolina?

SC Board of Examiners for LPC, MFT & Addiction Counselors: 40 hours per 2-year period (reporting Sep 1 - Aug 31; deadline Aug 31 of odd years), tracked in CE Broker. 40 = 6 ethics + 1 suicide + remaining practice hours. Supervisors (LPC-S) need an additional 10 hours of formal supervision CE beyond the 40. Note discrepancy between the current regulation (Ch 36: 20-hr informal cap) and the older 2021 Guidelines PDF (15-hr informal cap).

Other South Carolina licenses

LISW-CP in South Carolina40 CE hours every 2 years Licensed Psychologist in South Carolina24 CE hours every 2 years LMFT in South Carolina40 CE hours every 2 years BCBA in South Carolina32 CE hours every 2 years

LPC CE requirements in other states

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.