District of Columbia CEU

District of Columbia CE Requirements and Courses Requirements for Counselors and Marriage & Family Therapists, Social Workers, Addiction Professionals and Psychologists.

District of Columbia CE Details

District of Columbia Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Renewal Information

In the District of Columbia, Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) are required to renew their licenses biennially, with the mandate of completing 40 hours of approved continuing education (CE) within the two-year period prior to the expiration date of their license. Specific CE requirements for DC counselors include 6 CE hours dedicated to Ethics. Additionally, counselors must complete 4 CE hours in Trauma Counseling. A unique aspect of DC's CE requirements is the inclusion of 4 CE hours (10% of the total required CE) focused on public health priorities identified by the District of Columbia. These priorities cover a wide range of topics such as responsible opioid prescribing, nutrition and obesity Finally, counselors are required to complete 2 CE hours of training in cultural competence and appropriate clinical treatment specifically for LGBTQIA+ individuals.

  • Duration: 2 years
    • Source: 6610 CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS 6610.4 An applicant for renewal of a license shall submit proof of having completed forty (40) hours of approved continuing education credit during the two-year (2) period preceding the date the license expires.

CE Requirement:

  • Total Continuing Education (CE) Hours Required: 40 CE
    • Source: 6610 CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS 6610.4 An applicant for renewal of a license shall submit proof of having completed forty (40) hours of approved continuing education credit during the two-year (2) period preceding the date the license expires.

Specific Continuing Education Requirements:

  1. Ethics:
    • Hours Required: 6 CE
      • Source: 6610 CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS 6610.4 Six of the forty (40) hours shall be in Ethics.
  2. Trauma Counseling:
    • Hours Required: 4 CE
      • Source: 6610 CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS 6610.4 four (4) of the forty (40) hours shall be in Trauma Counseling.
  3. Public Health Priorities in the District:
    • Hours Required: 4 CE (10% of total CE)
      • Source: Board of Professional Counseling Winter 2021 Announcement: UPDATED CONTINUING EDUCATION INFORMATION for LPC & CACI/II: The public health priorities requirement was established for all health care professions regulated by the Department of Health, with the intent of going into effect starting with the 2018-2020 license cycle. Below are the updated established requirements: At least ten percent (10%) or four (4) hours of the total required CE shall be in the subjects determined by the Director as public health priorities of the District of Columbia every five (5) years or less frequently as deemed appropriate. The following topics have been identified as key public health priorities:
        • 1. Responsible opioid prescribing and effective pain management;
        • 2. Nutrition and obesity prevention;
        • 3. Identifying and reporting abuse (child and adult), neglect (child and adult), human trafficking, and domestic violence;
        • 4. Sexual health (including taking sexual history, discussing sexual experiences with patients, sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV/AIDS), HPV vaccines, connections to cancer, latent tuberculosis, safe sex, and birth control);
        • 5. Ethics and appropriate patient interactions (i.e. boundaries, patient privacy, and communications including telehealth);
        • 6. Smoking, vaping, and tobacco (including dangers, smoking cessation, and non-smoke tobacco products);
        • 7. Preparing your patients for an emergency and handling vulnerable populations in an emergency;
        • 8. Identifying impairment (physical or mental) in patients and providers (including complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act);
        • 9. Vaccinations (including legal requirements and appropriate exemptions); and,
        • 10. Implicit bias, cultural competence and Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in health and health care..
  4. Cultural Competence, LGBTQIA+:
    • Hours Required: 2 CE
      • Source: Board of Professional Counseling Winter 2021 Announcement: UPDATED CONTINUING EDUCATION INFORMATION for LPC & CACI/II: Two (2) hours of CE of the forty (40) hours are required in cultural competence and appropriate clinical treatment specifically for individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender non-conforming, queer, or questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.

TCI Statement of Approval

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6693. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

NBCC CE hours are accepted by the District of Columbia Board of Professional Counseling.