Continuing Education (CE) Requirements in Tennessee for Mental Health Professionals
Stay compliant with Tennessee's CE requirements. Find your profession below for specific hour requirements, ethics mandates, and renewal deadlines.
This page is part of our 50-state CE requirements library. View CE requirements for all states.
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Professional Counselors (LPC / LMFT / CPT)
Professional Counselors, Marital and Family Therapists, and Clinical Pastoral Therapists in Tennessee are required to complete 10 clock hours of CE annually. Those holding multiple licenses have increased requirements.
Therapy Trainings CE is accepted by the Tennessee Board of Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists, and Licensed Pastoral Therapists based on NBCC approval.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Total CE Hours (Single License) | 10 hours annually |
| Total CE Hours (Two Licenses) | 30 hours every 2 years |
| Total CE Hours (Three Licenses) | 40 hours every 2 years |
| Ethics & Jurisprudence | 3 hours per 2-year cycle |
| TN Code & Rules Requirement | Included in 3-hour ethics requirement |
| Renewal Cycle | Annual / Biennial (based on license count) |
Important Notes:
- 3 clock hours of the 2-year requirement must cover: professional ethics, Tennessee Code Annotated Title 63 Chapter 22, and Official Compilation Rules and Regulations Chapter 0450-2.
- Individuals holding two certificates/licenses (e.g., professional counselor and MFT) must complete 30 hours every 2 years.
- Those holding three certificates/licenses must complete 40 hours every 2 years.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid:
- If you hold multiple licenses, you have higher CE requirements - plan accordingly.
- The ethics requirement must specifically cover Tennessee laws and regulations.
Marriage & Family Therapists (LMFT)
Marriage and Family Therapists in Tennessee require 10 clock hours of CE annually. Those holding multiple licenses have increased requirements up to 40 hours every two years.
Therapy Trainings CE is accepted by the Tennessee Board of Licensed Professional Counselors, Marital and Family Therapists, and Clinical Pastoral Therapists based on NBCC approval.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Total CE Hours (Single License) | 10 hours annually |
| Total CE Hours (Two Licenses) | 30 hours every 2 years |
| Total CE Hours (Three Licenses) | 40 hours every 2 years |
| Ethics & Jurisprudence | 3 hours annually |
| Direct Practice Requirement | 5 hours related to licensed profession |
| Multimedia Limit | Maximum 5 hours per calendar year |
Important Notes:
- 3 clock hours of the annual requirement pertain to ethics and jurisprudence.
- 5 clock hours shall be directly related to the practice of each profession for which the person is licensed or certified.
- A maximum of 5 clock hours may be received for multimedia courses during each calendar year.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid:
- Only 5 hours can be multimedia - most hours must be live or synchronous.
- Dual or triple license holders have significantly higher requirements.
Psychologists
Psychologists in Tennessee need 40 hours of continuing education every 2 years with specific requirements for ethics, cultural diversity, and live interaction.
Therapy Trainings CE is accepted by the Tennessee Board of Examiners in Psychology. Our offerings meet board criteria for "Other Sponsor Approved Continuing Education," which includes formal psychological activities with documented attendance and preassigned CE credits.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Total CE Hours | 40 hours every 2 years |
| TN Statutes/Rules & APA Ethics | 3 hours required |
| Cultural Diversity | 3 hours required |
| APA-Approved Sponsor | Minimum 9 hours required |
| Real-Time Interaction | Minimum 20 hours required |
| Internet/Online Limit | Maximum 20 hours |
| Renewal Cycle | Every 2 years |
Important Notes:
- 3 hours must pertain to TN Statutes and Rules and APA Ethics Code.
- 3 hours must be on cultural diversity.
- At least 9 of the 40 required CE hours must be obtained from an APA-approved sponsor.
- A minimum of 20 hours must involve the opportunity for real-time interaction.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid:
- Only 20 hours can be via the internet - plan for live/interactive training.
- At least 9 hours must come from an APA-approved sponsor specifically.
Addiction Counselors (LADAC / LADAC-II)
Addiction Counselors in Tennessee need 15 hours of approved continuing education annually with specific requirements for face-to-face and ethics training.
Therapy Trainings CE is accepted by the Tennessee Board of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors based on NAADAC approval.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Total CE Hours | 15 hours annually |
| Face-to-Face Requirement | 9 hours minimum |
| Multimedia Allowed | 6 hours maximum |
| Ethics Requirement | 3 hours (within multimedia allowance) |
| Renewal Cycle | Annual |
Important Notes:
- 9 hours must be face to face training.
- 6 hours may be multi-media with at least 3 hours relating to ethics.
- Therapy Trainings CE is approved by NBCC, NAADAC, ASWB ACE, and more.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid:
- Only 6 hours can be multimedia - the majority must be face-to-face.
- Ethics hours can count toward your multimedia allowance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are online CE courses accepted in Tennessee?
Yes, but with significant limitations. Addiction counselors can only take 6 hours online (out of 15). MFTs are limited to 5 multimedia hours annually. Psychologists can take up to 20 hours online but need 20 hours of real-time interaction. Social workers can take up to 2/3 of their hours via multimedia. Check your specific profession's requirements carefully.
What if I hold multiple licenses in Tennessee?
If you hold two certificates or licenses (e.g., professional counselor and MFT), you must complete 30 clock hours every 2 calendar years. Those holding three certificates/licenses are required to complete 40 clock hours every 2 years. Social workers with multiple licensure levels must separately satisfy CE requirements for each level.
What are the ethics requirements in Tennessee?
Ethics requirements vary by profession. Counselors and MFTs need 3 hours covering professional ethics and Tennessee regulations. Social workers need 6 hours in Ethics per 2-year cycle plus 1 hour specific to Tennessee Code. Psychologists need 3 hours on TN Statutes and APA Ethics Code. Addiction counselors need 3 hours of ethics (can be within multimedia hours).
Is suicide prevention training required?
For social workers, yes - all licensees must complete a minimum 2-hour Board-approved training program relative to suicide prevention at least once every 4 years. The suicide prevention CE must be provided by an approved professional association, a social worker related credentialing association, or any other acceptable CE course concerning suicide prevention.
What is the cultural diversity requirement for psychologists?
Tennessee psychologists must complete 3 hours of continuing education on cultural diversity as part of their 40-hour biennial requirement. This is in addition to the 3 hours required on TN Statutes/Rules and APA Ethics Code.
Official Tennessee Licensing Board Resources
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Last updated: January 2026
Social Workers (LBSW / LMSW / LAPSW / LCSW)
Social workers in Tennessee are required to complete 9 hours for Licensed Baccalaureate Social Workers, 12 hours for Licensed Master Social Workers, and 15 hours for Licensed Advanced Practice Social Workers and Licensed Clinical Social Workers every year.
Important Notes:
Common Pitfalls to Avoid:
-
! Only 2/3 of your hours can be multimedia - plan for some live training.
-
! Suicide prevention CE must be from a Board-approved provider.
Browse CE Courses for Social Workers