If you hold a New York Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) registration, the NYS Education Department requires 36 hours of formal continuing education every three-year registration period. That total must include at least 3 hours of ethics or professional conduct, and registration periods starting on or after April 1, 2023 also require 3 credits in appropriate boundaries. Below is the full breakdown of what you need, what counts, and when it is due.
36 hours / 3 years
Thirty-six CE hours each triennial registration period.
Ethics (3 hrs)
At least 3 hours of ethics or professional conduct each cycle.
Appropriate boundaries (3 hrs)
Required for periods starting on or after April 1, 2023.
Self-study cap
No more than 12 hours may be self-study.
How many CE hours New York LMFTs need
New York requires 36 hours of formal continuing education every three years, tied to your triennial registration. No more than 12 hours may consist of self-study.
Mandated subject requirements
- Ethics or professional conduct: at least 3 hours each cycle.
- Appropriate boundaries: 3 credits for registrations on or after April 1, 2023.
- Mandated reporter training: required separately per state rules.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
New York LMFT registrations renew every three years. Complete and document your 36 hours before your registration expiration date.
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View pricingNew York Marriage & Family Therapists (LMFT) CME at a glance
- Ethics or Professional Conduct3 hrs · every renewal
At least 3 of the 36 hours must be in ethics or professional conduct each registration period.
- Appropriate Boundaries3 hrs · every renewal
3 credits of coursework in appropriate boundaries are required for registration periods starting on or after April 1, 2023.
- Mandated Reporter TrainingRequired · one time then ongoing
Mandated reporters must complete an updated child abuse identification training; most must complete the refreshed curriculum by the state deadline.
Always confirm with your licensing board
New York LMFT registrations renew on a three-year cycle. Licensees must complete 36 hours of acceptable formal continuing education during each three-year registration period, including at least 3 hours in ethics or professional conduct. For registration periods starting on or after April 1, 2023, licensees must also complete 3 credits of coursework in appropriate boundaries. No more than 12 hours may be self-study. Mandated reporter training is required separately.
CE requirements change. Confirm current rules with the NYS Office of the Professions before relying on these figures.
Source: New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions — State Board for Mental Health Practitioners. Board website · Researched as of 2026-06-01 · CME rules change; this is administrative guidance, not legal or CME-accreditation advice.
New York LMFT CE Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CE hours do New York LMFTs need?
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36 CE hours every three years.
Is an ethics course required for New York LMFTs?
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Yes — at least 3 hours of ethics or professional conduct each three-year period, plus 3 credits of appropriate boundaries for recent registration periods.
Can New York LMFTs use self-study?
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Yes, but no more than 12 of the 36 hours may consist of self-study activities.
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