Licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) are professional and compassionate individuals who undergo rigorous and thorough training to help families, couples, individuals, and children work through complex emotions, mental health issues, and relationship dynamics. Because of this responsibility and expertise, LMFTs are not done learning once they have received their MFT master’s degree, or after they finish their internship hours as an associate MFT and become licensed. Instead, LMFTs are expected to complete continuing education courses (or, continuing education unitsCEUs) that are mandated both nationally and by their state. Continue reading to learn more about MFT CEUs and how they are beneficial for mental health professionals.
2026 MFT Continuing Education Updates
- Telehealth CE acceptance expanding: More states now accept live-webinar and asynchronous online CEUs without caps, a shift accelerated by pandemic-era policy changes that many boards have since made permanent.
- Suicide prevention training mandates growing: States including Washington, Nevada, and Kentucky have added or expanded requirements for suicide risk assessment and intervention CEUs as part of license renewal.
- Cultural competency and DEI requirements: Several states now require dedicated CEU hours in cultural humility, implicit bias, or working with underserved populations. New Jersey, for example, requires all licensed therapists to complete cultural competency training at each renewal.
- AAMFT continuing education portal: The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy continues to expand its online CE catalog, with new micro-courses and on-demand webinars covering emerging topics like AI-assisted therapy tools and psychedelic-assisted therapies.
What are MFT CEUs?
Continuing education units/credits (CEUs) are learning opportunities for licensed marriage and family therapists that help them stay updated on current trends in mental health treatment and psychotherapy. CEUs are required by the licensing boards of many states for mental health professionals to stay licensed. These learning opportunities are mandated state-wide and nationally to help LMFTs continue to provide excellent care to their clients, because great client care is good for both the individual and family, and is thereby good for the community as a whole.
MFT CEU Requirements
CEUs are required for licensed marriage and family therapists in most U.S. states. Each state licensing board sets its own rules for how many hours are needed, which topics must be covered, and how often therapists must renew. The requirements for continuing education units vary between states, but most require a certain number of hours to be taken a year or every two years. Below is an example of how the requirements can vary between states.
California
- CEU Requirements: 36 hours every two years. Those who are renewing for the first time must complete a minimum of 18 hours.
- Home study is accepted with no limit on the number of hours.
- Required courses:
- Seven hours of Domestic Violence training, a one-time requirement.
- Six hours of Law & Ethics to be completed at each renewal.
- Three hours of Aging & Long Term Care, a one-time requirement.
- Seven hours of HIV-AIDS, a one-time requirement.
Florida
- CEU Requirements: 30 hours every two years
- Home study is accepted with no limit on the number of hours.
- Required courses:
- Two hours of Medical Errors training
- Three hours of Ethics & Boundaries
- Three hours of Laws & Rules
- Two hours of Domestic Violence (required every third biennium)
New York
- CEU Requirements: 36 hours every three years
- Up to 12 hours of home study are accepted.
- Required courses:
- No specific courses were noted, however, that does not necessarily mean that there are none. Check with your state’s requirements.
Types of MFT CEUs
At the time the course starts, CEUs must be taken from an accredited post secondary educational institution, a BBS-approved provider, or an approval agency recognized by the Board. Vista Continuing Education is one provider of CEUs that has been approved by the BBS. Some professional licensing boards may require a certain number of continuing education units that are live in-person as opposed to online via video recordings, video conference trainings, and reading materials. As the world heads more and more towards a technology-centered future, the online education route is becoming more and more accessible and popular.
Why Are MFT CEUs Important?
Marriage and family therapy has been shown to help individuals and families more effectively than many traditional treatment methods. Because the field draws on psychology, sociology, and an evolving understanding of human behavior, MFTs need to stay current. CEUs give therapists the chance to refresh foundational knowledge, learn new treatment approaches, and keep pace with changes in clinical best practices.
Beyond meeting a licensing requirement, CEUs can help therapists sharpen skills they use every day, revisit topics they may not have studied since graduate school, and build confidence in newer specialty areas like telehealth or trauma-informed care. Many therapists also find that CEU courses connect them with other professionals, creating opportunities to share what’s working in their practice and pick up new ideas. For those considering a career shift within the field, CEUs can serve as a low-commitment way to explore a new specialty before investing in additional certification.
What Will You Learn in MFT CEUs?
CEU courses span a wide range of topics. The subjects available may change depending on the time of year and provider, but they generally fall into a few broad categories.
Clinical Skills and Treatment Approaches
- Trauma and PTSD: Covers trauma-informed interventions and tools for helping clients who have experienced abuse or other traumatic events.
- Addiction: Goes beyond substance use to address emotional sobriety, co-occurring disorders, and access to effective treatment options.
- Anxiety and Depression: Introduces newer frameworks like ecopsychology and helps therapists stay current on evidence-based approaches to two of the most common presenting concerns.
- Suicidality: Provides refresher training on risk assessment, safety planning, and clinical response to suicidal ideation.
- Grief and Loss: Builds skills around complicated grief, anticipatory loss, and supporting clients through bereavement.
Specialty Populations
- ADHD: Covers current research on diagnosis and treatment beyond medication, including strategies for couples and families affected by ADHD.
- Autism: Addresses the diversity of presentations across the spectrum, with tools for working with neurodiverse couples and families.
- Child and Adolescent Issues: Focuses on developmental considerations, play-based interventions, and working with families on youth mental health concerns including teen suicidality.
- Gender Identity and Sexuality: Covers affirming approaches to working with LGBTQ+ clients and addresses sexual health topics relevant to couples therapy.
Professional Practice and Ethics
- Ethics: Required by most states at every renewal cycle. Courses typically cover maintaining professional boundaries, cultural competency, and navigating dual relationships.
- HIPAA and Privacy: Reinforces federal and state privacy requirements that apply to clinical documentation, electronic records, and telehealth sessions.
- Telehealth: Teaches therapists how to run an effective virtual practice while staying compliant with evolving state and federal regulations.
- Compassion Fatigue and Burnout: Helps therapists recognize warning signs and build sustainable self-care practices to protect their own mental health.
- Therapy Resistance: Offers strategies for working with mandated or reluctant clients and turning resistance into productive therapeutic engagement.
How to Find an Affordable CEU Program
It’s important to note that there is a cost to renewing your MFT license each renewal period, which is about every 2 or 3 years depending on your state. Costs can add up, as they may include both the fee for your license renewal and the cost of each course needed to meet your hourly requirement. So, it makes sense that you would want to look for classes that are legitimate, low-cost, high quality, and have what you need.
Some agencies provide continuing education programs either internally or externally for free, so when it comes to searching for a program for MFTs, a good place to start might be by asking your supervisor or colleagues if you work at an office or agency. If you work in private practice, you could look on the website of your state’s licensing board.
When looking for a quality website, be sure to note that it is, in fact, approved by your state board. Feel free to compare the pricing of each website you come across to find one that suits your budgeting and educational needs.
Other ways to find CEUs are through organizations recognized by state licensing boards as approved CEU providers. Some of the most widely accepted include:
- American Psychological Association (APA)
- Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
- California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
- California Psychological Association (CPA)
- National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
- National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
- National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC)
Additional MFT CEU Resources
- American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT) – AAMFT’s own continuing education portal with on-demand courses, live webinars, and annual conference recordings. Members receive discounted rates on most offerings.
- SAMHSA Continuing Education for Professionals Concerned with Trauma – Free trauma-focused CE resources from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, covering evidence-based practices and trauma-informed care frameworks.
- Mind Remake Project: 75 Free Online Resources for Mental Health Professionals – A curated directory of no-cost continuing education options across multiple platforms, useful for therapists looking to meet requirements on a budget.
Frequently Asked Questions About MFT CEUs
How many CEUs do I need to renew my MFT license?
CEU requirements vary by state but typically range from 20 to 40 hours per renewal cycle, which is usually every one to two years. Most states also require a portion of those hours in specific topics like ethics, suicide prevention, or cultural competency. Check with your state licensing board for exact requirements.
Can I complete MFT CEUs online?
Yes, most states accept online CEUs as long as the provider is approved by a recognized accrediting body such as AAMFT, NBCC, or your state licensing board. Online CEUs offer flexibility for working therapists who need to fit continuing education around client schedules.
What happens if I don’t complete my MFT CEUs on time?
Failing to complete required CEUs before your license renewal date can result in your license lapsing or being placed on inactive status. Some states offer a grace period or allow late completion with a fee, but practicing without a current license can lead to disciplinary action. It’s best to track deadlines early and spread CEU coursework throughout the renewal period.
How much do MFT CEUs cost?
Costs vary widely depending on the provider and format. Individual courses may run anywhere from free to $50 or more per credit hour, while bundled subscription packages from providers like PESI, SimplePractice Learning, or NetCE can offer unlimited access for a flat annual fee. Professional associations like AAMFT also offer discounted CEUs to members.
