North Carolina's professional-counselor license is the Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), regulated by the NC Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors. The Board requires 40 continuing education hours every two-year renewal cycle, including 3 hours of ethics, plus the state-provided jurisprudence exam (5 credits counting as ethics). Renewals are due June 30. Below is the full breakdown of what you need and when it is due.
40 hours / 2 years
Forty CE hours each biennial renewal cycle.
3 hours ethics
At least 3 hours focusing on ethics.
Jurisprudence exam
5 credits from the state exam, counting as ethics.
Renews June 30
Renewals are due by June 30.
How many CE hours North Carolina LCMHCs need
North Carolina requires 40 CE hours every two years for LCMHC renewal.
Mandated subject requirements
- Ethics: at least 3 hours.
- Jurisprudence exam: 5 credits, counting as ethics.
- Clinical supervision (LCMHC-S): supervisors need 10 hours of supervision training within the 40-hour total.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
North Carolina LCMHC licenses renew every two years by June 30.
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View pricingNorth Carolina Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) CME at a glance
- Ethics3 hrs
At least 3 of the 40 hours must focus on ethics each biennial cycle.
- Jurisprudence Exam (counts as ethics)5 hrs
The state-provided jurisprudence exam provides 5 credits, which count as ethics.
Always confirm with your licensing board
North Carolina's professional-counselor license is the Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), regulated by the NC Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors. Renewals are due by June 30. Records must be kept for seven years.
CE requirements change. Confirm current rules with the North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors before relying on these figures.
Source: North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors. Board website · Researched as of 2026-06-01 · CME rules change; this is administrative guidance, not legal or CME-accreditation advice.
Licensed in more than one state?
Counseling Compact: active. Operational; participating states issue the counseling privilege to practice across member states.
Each state license carries its own CME requirement and renewal date — if you hold more than one, you need a plan for each.
North Carolina LCMHC CE Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CE hours do North Carolina LCMHCs need?
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40 CE hours every two years.
How many ethics hours are required in North Carolina?
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At least 3 hours of ethics, plus 5 jurisprudence-exam credits that count as ethics.
When are North Carolina LCMHC renewals due?
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By June 30 of the renewal year.
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