If you hold an Iowa Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) license, the Board of Behavioral Science requires 40 hours of continuing education every two-year renewal cycle, due September 30 of even years, including a minimum of 3 hours of ethics. Up to half of excess CE may be carried over. Below is the full breakdown of what you need, what counts, and when it is due.
40 hours / 2 years
Forty CE hours each biennial renewal cycle.
Ethics (3 hrs)
A minimum of 3 hours of ethics each cycle.
Carryover allowed
Up to 50% of excess CE may carry over.
First-renewal exemption
No CE required for the first renewal.
How many CE hours Iowa LMFTs need
Iowa requires 40 hours of continuing education every two years, tied to your biennial license renewal by September 30 of even years.
Mandated subject requirements
- Ethics: a minimum of 3 of the 40 hours each cycle.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
Iowa LMFT licenses renew every two years by September 30 of even years. Complete and document your 40 hours before that date.
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View pricingIowa Marriage & Family Therapists (LMFT) CME at a glance
- Ethics3 hrs · every renewal
A minimum of 3 of the 40 hours must be in ethics each cycle.
Always confirm with your licensing board
Iowa LMFT licenses renew biennially by September 30 of even-numbered years through the Board of Behavioral Science. Licensees must complete 40 CE hours each cycle, including a minimum of 3 hours of ethics. Up to 50% of excess CE may be carried over to the next biennium. Therapists licensed for the first time are not required to complete CE for their first renewal.
CE requirements change. Confirm current rules with the Iowa Board of Behavioral Science before relying on these figures.
Source: Iowa Board of Behavioral Science. Board website · Researched as of 2026-06-01 · CME rules change; this is administrative guidance, not legal or CME-accreditation advice.
Iowa LMFT CE Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CE hours do Iowa LMFTs need?
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40 CE hours every two years, including 3 hours of ethics.
Can Iowa LMFTs carry over CE?
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Yes — up to 50% of excess CE may be carried over to the next biennium.
Are new Iowa LMFTs exempt from CE?
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Yes — those licensed for the first time are not required to complete CE for the first renewal.
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