Continuing Education Questions MFT

Similar to continuing education, an approved human trafficking course must be completed every renewal cycle.

The Council does not approve continuing education courses. Instead, the Council has adopted rules that outline what is considered appropriate continuing education. This means a licensee can receive continuing education from any person or organization that provides the education in accordance with the Council’s rules. No approval by the Council is needed for the individual or organization to engage in the delivery of continuing education and no approval of specific courses are required. Licensees are still audited for continuing education compliance and during those reviews, staff evaluate the continuing education documentation submitted. The rules on continuing education course requirements can be found in each profession's consolidated rule book found here.

The Council does not approve continuing education providers. Instead, the Council has adopted rules that outline what is considered appropriate continuing education. This means a licensee can receive continuing education from any person or organization that provides the education in accordance with the Council’s rules. No approval by the Council is needed for the individual or organization to engage in the delivery of continuing education. Licensees are still audited for continuing education compliance and during those reviews, staff evaluate the continuing education documentation submitted. If you were an “approved provider” with HHSC, you may continue to provide continuing education without having to renew. The rules on continuing education course requirements can be found in each profession's consolidated rule book found here.

Licensees under CE audit receive a renewal notification letter while those not under audit receive a renewal notification postcard.

Self-study refers to activities undertaken by a licensee that are informal and do not involve a CE provider. Reading professional journal articles is an example of self-study. A good rule of thumb is, “If you get a certificate at the completion of the endeavor, it’s NOT self-study.”

Licensees must get at least 50 percent of their required CE hours from providers (one or multiple) that each meet one of the criteria below. The other half of the required CE hours may be obtained from any CE provider regardless of whether they meet a criteria below. A licensee may receive all the required CE hours from a single provider, as long as that provider meets one of the criteria below. CE provider criteria: (1) an international, national, regional, state, or local association of medical, mental, or behavioral health professionals; (2) public school districts, charter schools, or education service centers; (3) city, county, state, or federal governmental entities; (4) an institution of higher education accredited by a regional accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, or the United States Department of Education; (5) religious or charitable organizations devoted to improving the mental or behavioral health of individuals; (6) A graduate-level licensee with supervisor status; (7) a hospital or hospital system, including any clinic, division, or department within a hospital or hospital system; or (8) any provider approved or endorsed by a provider listed herein.

The Council no longer approves specific providers. Instead, the Council has adopted rules that outline types of providers a licensee must receive continuing education from. Fifty percent of a licensee’s CE hours may come from any continuing education provider the licensee chooses. The remaining fifty percent must come from a provider that meets one of the following criteria. CE provider criteria: (1) an international, national, regional, state, or local association of medical, mental, or behavioral health professionals; (2) public school districts, charter schools, or education service centers; (3) city, county, state, or federal governmental entities; (4) an institution of higher education accredited by a regional accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, or the United States Department of Education; (5) religious or charitable organizations devoted to improving the mental or behavioral health of individuals; (6) A graduate-level licensee with supervisor status; (7) a hospital or hospital system, including any clinic, division, or department within a hospital or hospital system; or (8) any provider approved or endorsed by a provider listed herein.

Yes. Fifty percent of a licensee’s CE hours may come from any continuing education provider the licensee chooses. The remaining fifty percent must come from a provider that meets one of the following criteria, some of which can include international sources. CE provider criteria: (1) an international, national, regional, state, or local association of medical, mental, or behavioral health professionals; (2) public school districts, charter schools, or education service centers; (3) city, county, state, or federal governmental entities; (4) an institution of higher education accredited by a regional accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, or the United States Department of Education; (5) religious or charitable organizations devoted to improving the mental or behavioral health of individuals; (6) A graduate-level licensee with supervisor status; (7) a hospital or hospital system, including any clinic, division, or department within a hospital or hospital system; or (8) any provider approved or endorsed by a provider listed herein.

Council rules state that “all continuing education hours obtained must be designated by the provider in a letter, email, certificate, or transcript that displays the licensee's name, topic covered, date(s) of training, and hours of credit earned.”