Designed to help the counselor - therapist who is new to counseling or new to the State of Washington

Continuing Education (CE)
Credits (CECs) or Units (CEUs)
for Washington State Counselors

Counselor Question #14 :  Does CounselingSeattle.com approve classes for Continuing Education (CE) credit?  If so, what is the process?  I have a master’s degree (MA) in Psychology and I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC).  I teach classes in “(topic deleted)” and I would like participants to receive CE credit.  Any information, background or advice you can give me would be appreciated.
 

ABOUT CONTINUING
EDUCATION UNITS (CEUs)

CounselingSeattle.com does not approve individuals or organizations for CEU credits. Professional mental health groups or associations can authorize CE credits: ie: Seattle Counselors Association, Pierce County Counselors Association, Washington Counseling Association, Washington Mental Health Counselors Association, American Mental Health Counselors Association, American Counseling Association, etc.

There are also businesses that work with licensed professionals to organize counseling or therapy workshops.  They rent locations, advertise the workshops, collect fees, staff the presentations, get the credits pre-approved by various national organizations and pay the presenters (persons such as yourself with special knowledge to share).

Washington State has its own, fairly simple requirements for continuing education credits (see below).   Counselors attend presentations to improve their counseling knowledge and skills and to meet the basic state licensure requirements for continuing education units.

However, some counselors are looking for workshops approved by a particular organization. For example, social workers may watch for programs approved by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), or a National Certified Counselor (NCC) may look for workshops approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). This does not mean that all presentations must be pre-approved by any organization to count toward continuing education credit.
 

Floyd Else, MA, LMHC, NCC, MAC, Webmaster

See also: Schedule of Counselor Training Workshops in the Puget Sound Area

CONTINUING EDUCATION
WAC 246-809-600 (NEW SECTION)
Who is required to have continuing education?

Licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed mental health counselors, and licensed social workers are required to have continuing education.  The effective date for reporting the required continuing education shall begin with the 2004 renewal cycle.

WAC 246-809-610 (NEW SECTION)
What courses are acceptable?

The continuing education (CE) program or course shall contribute to the advancement, extension and enhancement of the professional competence of the licensed counselor. Courses or workshops primarily designed to increase practice income or office efficiency are specifically not eligible for CE credit. Counselors are encouraged to take CE relating to the various phases of their professional career.

Acceptable CE courses (including distance learning), seminars, workshops and postgraduate institutes are those which are:

a) Programs having a featured instructor, speaker(s) or panel approved by an industry-recognized local, state, national, international organization or institution of higher learning; or

b) Distance learning programs, approved by an industry-recognized local, state, national or international organization or institution of higher learning. These programs must require tests of comprehension upon completion.

Training programs sponsored by the agency where a counselor is employed are acceptable if:

a) The experience can be shown to contribute to the advancement, extension and enhancement of the professional competence of the licensed counselor; and

b) The training programs are limited to twenty-six hours per reporting period.

Other learning experience, such as serving on a panel, board or council, community service, or publishing articles for professional publications are acceptable if:

a) The experience can be shown to contribute to the advancement, extension and enhancement of the professional competence of the licensed counselor; and

b) The experience are limited to six hours per reporting period.
 

WAC 246-809-620 (NEW SECTION)
What are industry-recognized local, state,
national, international organizations or institutions of higher learning?

They are, but not limited to, the following organizations:

American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy;
Clinical Social Work Federation;
National Association of Social Workers;
American Mental Health Counselors Association;
National Board for Certified Counselors; or
Institutions of higher learning that are accredited by a national or regional accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation.
 

WAC 246-809-630 (NEW SECTION)
How many hours do I need
and in what time period?

Licensed counselors must complete thirty-six hours of continuing education every two years. At least six of the thirty-six hours must be in professional ethics and law.
 

WAC 246-809-640 (NEW SECTION)
How are credit hours determined
for preparation and presentation
of a lecture or an educational course?

The license holder who prepares and presents lectures or education that contributes to the professional competence of a licensed counselor may accumulate the same number of hours obtained for continuing education purposes by attendees as required in WAC 246-12-220. The hours for presenting a specific topic lecture or education may only be used for continuing education credit once during each reporting period.

WAC 246-809-650 (NEW SECTION)
How do I document my courses?

Acceptable documentation shall include transcripts, letters from course instructors, certificate of completion, or other formal certification, as required in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 7.

The above Washington Administrative Code information was obtained from the Washington State Website.

[ Special acknowledgement and thanks to Beth Oppliger Henriquez, MSW, (206) 300-6312, Business Consultant for Healthcare Professionals, Olympia Washington.  Email.]

See also: Schedule of Counselor Training Workshops in the Puget Sound Area

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