If you hold a Pennsylvania Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license, the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors requires 30 continuing education hours every two-year renewal cycle, including 3 hours of ethics, 2 of child abuse reporter training, and 1 of suicide prevention. Up to 20 hours may be home study. Below is the full breakdown of what you need and when it is due.
30 hours / 2 years
Thirty CE clock hours each biennial renewal cycle.
3 ethics
At least 3 hours in ethics.
2 child abuse + 1 suicide
Child abuse reporter training and suicide prevention.
20 home study cap
Up to 20 hours may be home study.
How many CE hours Pennsylvania LPCs need
Pennsylvania requires 30 CE hours every two years. Excess hours do not carry over.
Mandated subject requirements
- Ethics: 3 hours.
- Child abuse recognition and reporting: 2 hours (3 hours at initial renewal).
- Suicide prevention: 1 hour.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
Pennsylvania LPC licenses renew every two years.
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View pricingPennsylvania Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) CME at a glance
- Ethics3 hrs
At least 3 of the 30 hours must be in ethics each biennial cycle.
- Child Abuse Recognition & Reporting2 hrs
2 hours of child abuse reporter training each renewal (the initial renewal requires 3 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting).
- Suicide Prevention1 hr
At least 1 hour of suicide prevention content each renewal.
Always confirm with your licensing board
Pennsylvania LPC licenses renew biennially through the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors. Up to 20 hours may be home study; excess hours do not carry over.
CE requirements change. Confirm current rules with the Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors before relying on these figures.
Source: Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional 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.
Pennsylvania LPC CE Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CE hours do Pennsylvania LPCs need?
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30 CE hours every two years.
What topics are mandated for Pennsylvania LPCs?
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3 hours ethics, 2 hours child abuse reporter training, and 1 hour suicide prevention.
Can Pennsylvania LPCs do CE by home study?
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Yes — up to 20 of the 30 hours may be home study.
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