Library · Domain 1. Professional Development & Counselor Self-Awareness · 1A. Professional Development
Task 1A.3
Completing continuing education
“Complete continuing education” (NBCC, 2027 task 1A.3)
Continuing education keeps counselors current with research, law, ethics and practice after graduate training. Licensed counselors must complete continuing education to renew a license, and certified counselors must meet the certifying body's own requirements. The exam tests that counselors treat continuing education as an ethical duty to maintain competence, not just a box to check.
Key points
- The ACA Code of Ethics (C.2.f) asks counselors to pursue continuing education to stay current with scientific and professional information in their fields.
- Each state board sets its own number of hours, renewal cycle, and required topics (often ethics, sometimes suicide prevention, jurisprudence, or cultural competence); always check your own state's rules.
- Certifications such as the NCC carry their own continuing education requirements, separate from state licensure.
- Choose continuing education from reputable providers, such as those approved by a state board or by a recognized approval body, and confirm that your board accepts the provider before you rely on it.
- Match continuing education to real needs: gaps identified in supervision, new populations on your caseload, or changes in law and technology.
- Keep certificates and records of completed hours, because boards audit renewals and may ask for proof.
- Completing a short workshop does not by itself make a counselor competent in a new specialty; that usually also requires supervised practice.
In practice
A counselor notices that more of her clients are asking about gambling problems. Instead of filling her renewal hours with general topics, she enrolls in a board-approved course on gambling disorder and arranges consultation for her first few cases.
Three months before his license renews, a counselor reviews his state board's rules, finds that two of his planned hours must be in ethics, and confirms the provider is on the board's accepted list before registering.
Check yourself
Who sets the number of continuing education hours a licensed counselor needs?
The state licensing board, because licensure is regulated by each state and requirements vary.
Does a weekend workshop make a counselor competent to treat a new population?
Not by itself, because competence in a new area generally requires education, training and supervised experience.
Why keep records of completed continuing education?
Boards may audit license renewals and require proof that the hours were completed.
NBCC's knowledge and skills for 1A. Professional Development
Knowledge of: Cross-cultural fairness; Continuing education requirements; Levels of advocacy and social justice.
Skill in: Engaging in clinical consultation; Engaging in clinical supervision; Selecting appropriate continuing education resources.
A study guide written by ExamDragon from NBCC's published task; not NBCC material and not part of the exam.