In California, licensed mental health professionals are required by law to stay up-to-date on law and ethics continuing education units (CEUs) in order to keep their licenses in good standing and maintain the ethical integrity of their practices. To comply with these requirements, mental health professionals must complete a law and ethics CEU in California, for example, required for their respective licensing boards.
Who Needs Law and Ethics CEUs in California?
In California, several mental health licensing boards mandate law and ethics continuing education as part of license renewal. This includes Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), and Licensed Educational Psychologists (LEPs). The specific requirements vary by board, so it is essential to verify the current requirements directly with your licensing board, such as the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS).
Understanding the Requirements
Most California state mental health licenses will require a minimum number of hours for continuing education units (CEU) in legislative and ethical issues per renewal cycle or license. Generally, this will include content covering the laws and regulations of the California State Board of Behavioral Sciences related to: the Law and Ethics of Conducting Professional Services; Scope of Practice; Reporting of Child and Elder Abuse; Confidentiality and Privacy as mandated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and applicable California Statutes; and ethical guidelines related to the profession.
In addition, certain license types may require completion of specific mandated courses pertaining to the prevention of suicide, awareness of human trafficking, and telehealth laws and regulations.
Approved Providers and Course Formats
All courses approved for law and ethics CEU’s in California must be taken from a provider approved by the regulatory agency for license which administers your license. A current list of CEU providers approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences can be found on their website.
The courses are available in various delivery formats including: live webinars; self-paced; traditional in-classroom; and hybrid (combination of in-classroom and self-paced). Due to the increased availability of online courses, their use has become increasingly popular because they are flexible and are able to accommodate the practitioner’s schedule.
Choosing Quality CEU Courses
Not all CEU classes provide the same amount of educational value. When assessing courses for law and ethics, choose those created and taught by people who have experience in California’s mental health laws (like attorneys, members of the licensing boards, or senior clinical educators). Well-designed courses teach complex legal and ethical issues in a way that is applicable to actual clinical decision-making and have practical examples related to laws related to ethics and law. A well-designed course has well written learning objectives, clinical case studies, and has some interactive component(s).
Tracking and Documentation
You should keep track of all your completed CEU classes, including a certificate for the completed course. This documentation is required to show your compliance with CEU requirements if you are selected for a license audit. Most online CEU providers will maintain electronic copies of your records, but you should keep your own organized copies also.
Renewing Your License
You must complete the CEU requirements during the renewal period that your licensing board specifies. If you don’t complete your CEU requirements by your license renewal deadline, you will be charged a late fee or may have a lapse in your license. By developing a schedule to complete your California law and ethics CEU requirements throughout the renewal period, you can avoid last-minute stress when you renew your license.
By remaining current with your law and ethics education, you protect your clients, your practice, and you continue to maintain your status as a professional member of the mental health community. Make continuing education a priority during each renewal cycle!
