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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 Washington State
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. ]
See also:
Schedule of Counselor Training Workshops in Washington State
Still Paying on Your
Student Loans? (July 2009):
National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program
Now Accepting Applications
"The National Health
Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program is now accepting
applications for loan repayment awards. The announcement is the
first step in implementing $200 million in new funding devoted to
the program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
stimulus legislation enacted earlier this year.
"The NHSC is a
competitive program that recruits health professionals--including
licensed professional counselors--to serve in areas with inadequate
access to health care, referred to as Health Professional Shortage
Areas (HPSAs). In return for their service, the corps assists
clinicians in their payment of qualifying education loans. To be
eligible, counselors must be fully trained, licensed, and working at
(or in the final stages of employment negotiations with) an NHSC-eligible
facility. For more information, or to apply online, go to http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/.
Applications will be accepted until funds run out, or September 30,
2010, whichever comes first.
"The "opportunities
list" of facilities seeking a NHSC provider is available online at
http://nhscjobs.hrsa.gov/.
[Information thanks to American Counseling Association "enews" June
16, 2009, Volume XI, Number 12.]
Return to counselors questions page.
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State
Continuing Education Units / Credits Page
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