If you hold a Virginia Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) license, the Board of Counseling requires 20 hours of continuing competency every annual renewal, including at least 2 hours emphasizing ethics, standards of practice, or Virginia behavioral science law. Below is the full breakdown of what you need, what counts, and when it is due.
20 hours / year
Twenty continuing competency hours each annual cycle.
Ethics/law (2 hrs)
At least 2 hours of ethics, standards, or law.
Pro bono credit
Up to 2 hours via documented pro bono services.
First-renewal exemption
Examination licensees exempt for first renewal.
How many CE hours Virginia LMFTs need
Virginia requires 20 hours of continuing competency every year, tied to your annual license renewal.
Mandated subject requirements
- Ethics, standards of practice & law: at least 2 hours each year.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
Virginia LMFT licenses renew annually. Complete and document your 20 hours before your expiration date. An LMFT licensed by examination is exempt for the first renewal.
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View pricingVirginia Marriage & Family Therapists (LMFT) CME at a glance
- Ethics, Standards of Practice & Law2 hrs · every renewal
A minimum of 2 of the 20 hours must emphasize ethics, standards of practice, or laws governing behavioral science professions in Virginia.
Always confirm with your licensing board
Virginia LMFT licenses renew annually. Licensees must complete a minimum of 20 hours of continuing competency each year, including at least 2 hours emphasizing ethics, standards of practice, or laws governing behavioral science professions in Virginia. Up to 2 hours may be satisfied through documented pro bono counseling services.
CE requirements change. Confirm current rules with the Virginia Board of Counseling before relying on these figures.
Source: Virginia Board of Counseling (Department of Health Professions). Board website · Researched as of 2026-06-01 · CME rules change; this is administrative guidance, not legal or CME-accreditation advice.
Virginia LMFT CE Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CE hours do Virginia LMFTs need?
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20 continuing competency hours every year, including 2 hours of ethics, standards, or law.
Is an ethics course required for Virginia LMFTs?
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Yes — at least 2 of the 20 hours must emphasize ethics, standards of practice, or Virginia law.
Are new Virginia LMFTs exempt from CE?
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Yes — an LMFT licensed by examination is exempt from continuing competency for the first renewal.
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