How to select CEU courses
Whether you are an LPC, LMFT, LMSW, LCSW, or equivalent license in your state, continuing education is a requirement for maintaining a current license to practice. But have you considered how to get the most out of your continuing education requirements? Here are a few questions to consider in approaching your continuing education requirements with intentionality and purpose.
What are the specific requirements for your license in your state?
This is the first and most important question to ask yourself and research. Each state and each license may have slightly different breakdowns for the specific CEU types and numbers needed for renewal. It is important to know at the beginning of the renewal time period. Various specifications may be required related to a certain number of ethics hours, cultural diversity hours, online therapy training, supervisory training, and other specified needs. Knowing these requirements at the beginning of the renewal time will help you be intentional in selecting continuing education learning options to meet your state regulations.
Do you have any additional certifications that you need CEUs to maintain?
Once you determine how many of your CEUs must be allocated to certain topics, like ethics, predetermined by your state licensing board, it can be helpful to consider if there are any certifications that you hope to maintain that require continuing education for maintaining that certification. For example, EMDR certification requires a specific amount of EMDRIA-approved continuing education hours. Similarly, for registered play therapists, brain spotting, TF-CBT, and LCDC and more may have specific training requirements to maintain credentials. Knowing how many hours you hope to allocate to a certain certification requirement can be helpful in making the most of your continuing education hours from a time and financial investment standpoint.
What CEUs may be offered to you through your employer or free through local organizations?
Have you searched for the CEUs offered in your area? Many nonprofits, hospitals, or community organizations will offer free or discounted CEU opportunities. While it may not be possible to account for all continuing education credits in the specified categories this way, it is possible to take advantage of these opportunities to help with working towards your licensing requirements. Some employers will also sponsor or offer compensation for training so ask about the benefits or assistance that may be available.
What is your budget for CEUs?
CEUs can be expensive, so cost and budget have to be considered. Using personal funds towards CEUs that you are most interested in can help optimize your learning while honoring the financial needs they may have. Remember, these personal investments in your professional development will hopefully pay off in expanding your practice and job satisfaction in the long run.
What are your professional goals?
The purpose of continuing education is to continue your professional development. Using your CEUs as a way to progress your professional goals and population of interest. Consider using your continuing education hours to learn a new therapy model, gain proficiency in a new age range, or develop a new niche in your therapy practice that you would like to serve. The purpose of CEUs is accountability in learning, so why not learn in a direction that will increase job satisfaction?
