Home/CE Requirements/Virginia/LMFT
Continuing Education

LMFT CE Requirements in Virginia

This page summarizes the current CE requirements for the LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) license in Virginia — renewal model, mandated topics, live/interactive rules, and home-study limits — with links to the official regulator.

20CE hours / cycle
1 yrrenewal cycle
0 hlive / interactive required
2 hethics required
Full Virginia LMFT requirements
Verified

LMFT

LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)
20hours / 1-year renewal cycle
No live / interactive hours required — all hours may be self-study
Mandated topics
  • Ethics, Standards of Practice, or Laws Governing Behavioral Science Professions in Virginia — 2 hMinimum 2 of the 20 hours per annual renewal (18VAC115-50-96).

Home study: No cap on home study; permitted as an approved activity type without a proportional limit. Documentation requires source material, content summary, and signed affidavit (18VAC115-50-96).

Board notes: Annual renewal cycle: 20 hours of continuing competency per annual renewal with a minimum of 2 ethics hours per year (18VAC115-50-95/96). No face-to-face or real-time interactive hours mandated. Up to 2 of the 20 hours may be satisfied via uncompensated counseling to low-income clients at a local health department or free clinic (3 volunteer hours = 1 CE hour). MFTs licensed by examination are exempt from CE for the first renewal after initial licensure.

law.lis.virginia.gov ↗dhp.virginia.gov ↗

Complete your marriage & family therapy CE with Triad

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

Browse CE coursesAll Virginia licenses
Frequently asked questions
How many CE hours does an LMFT need in Virginia?

An LMFT must complete 20 CE / continuing-education hours every 1 years in Virginia. That total includes 2 hours of ethics.

Are there required CE topics for LMFT in Virginia?

Yes. Virginia requires the following CE topics for LMFT: Ethics, Standards of Practice, or Laws Governing Behavioral Science Professions in Virginia (2 h).

Can LMFT CE be completed online in Virginia?

Generally yes — Virginia does not require live or interactive hours for LMFT, so approved online / home-study CE can typically satisfy the requirement. Home-study note: No cap on home study; permitted as an approved activity type without a proportional limit. Documentation requires source material, content summary, and signed affidavit (18VAC115-50-96)..

What else should LMFT renewals know in Virginia?

Annual renewal cycle: 20 hours of continuing competency per annual renewal with a minimum of 2 ethics hours per year (18VAC115-50-95/96). No face-to-face or real-time interactive hours mandated. Up to 2 of the 20 hours may be satisfied via uncompensated counseling to low-income clients at a local health department or free clinic (3 volunteer hours = 1 CE hour). MFTs licensed by examination are exempt from CE for the first renewal after initial licensure.

Other Virginia licenses
LCSW in Virginia30 CE hours every 2 yearsLPC in Virginia20 CE hours every 1 yearsLicensed Psychologist in Virginia14 CE hours every 1 yearsLicensed Behavior Analyst in Virginia32 CE hours every 2 years
LMFT CE requirements in other states
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontWashingtonWest 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.