Here’s what the New Jersey Professional Counselor Examiners Committee asks of licensed professional counselors and licensed associate counselors at renewal, and the courses I built around each requirement.
Renewal requirements
Who this covers
- Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC)
- Licensed Associate Counselors (LAC)
40 contact hours every 2 years
- At least 5 contact hours in ethical and legal standards.
- 3 contact hours in social and cultural competence.
- 1 contact hour on prescription opioid drugs (P.L. 2017, c.341).
- The rest in topics relevant to counseling (N.J.A.C. 13:34-15.1 and 13:34-15.2).
Rules for every license
- Online courses count. The Committee’s FAQ says continuing education may be completed online.
- The Committee doesn’t approve individual courses. It accepts courses from the sponsors listed in N.J.A.C. 13:34-15.4.
- NBCC courses count. NBCC is one of the approved sponsors in N.J.A.C. 13:34-15.4. I’m an NBCC Approved Continuing Education Provider.
- Carryover: up to 10 extra hours can move to the next period, but the opioid hour can’t (N.J.A.C. 13:34-15.2).
- Keep your certificates for 5 years. The Committee audits at random (N.J.A.C. 13:34-15.6).
- Waivers: the Committee can waive hours for illness, disability, military service, or other good cause, on written request (N.J.A.C. 13:34-15.7).
Courses for each requirement
Ethics and legal standards (5 contact hours)
New Jersey Ethics for Professional Counselors. Built on N.J.A.C. 13:34, privilege under N.J.R.E. 534, the duty to warn, minors’ consent at 16, the telehealth rules, and the Counseling Compact. Self-paced, 5 contact hours, $19.
See the courseSocial and cultural competence (3 contact hours)
Cultural Competency and Diversity in Behavioral Health for New Jersey counselors. Self-paced, 3 contact hours, $15.
See the coursePrescription opioids (1 contact hour)
Prescription Opioids for New Jersey Counselors: Risks, Misuse, Addiction, and Diversion. Covers signs of misuse and diversion, screening with the TAPS Tool, MOUD referral, and naloxone access. Self-paced, 1 contact hour, $5.
See the courseBundles
New Jersey Required Renewal Bundle
Ethics (5), Cultural Competency (3), and Prescription Opioids (1), all three New Jersey required topics. 9 contact hours, $29.
See the bundleNew Jersey 40-Hour Full Renewal Bundle
All three New Jersey required topics plus 31 clinical hours: Spiritually Integrated Practice, Couple and Family Therapy, Stress, Trauma, Forgiveness, AI in Behavioral Health, Chronic Pain, IPV, and Suicide Assessment. 40 contact hours, $59.
See the bundleCommon questions
How many CE hours do New Jersey LPCs need?
40 contact hours every 2-year renewal period, including at least 5 hours in ethical and legal standards, 3 hours in social and cultural competence, and 1 hour on prescription opioid drugs.
Do NBCC-approved courses count in New Jersey?
Yes. N.J.A.C. 13:34-15.4 lists NBCC among the approved sponsors.
Does the ethics course cover the cultural or opioid hours?
No. It covers the 5 ethics and legal standards hours only. The bundle covers all three required topics.
When do New Jersey counselor licenses renew?
November 30 of even-numbered years. The current period ends November 30, 2026, and your 40 contact hours are due by then.
Can New Jersey counselors complete CE online?
Yes. The Committee’s FAQ says continuing education may be completed online.
Is there one bundle for the whole renewal?
Yes. My New Jersey 40-Hour Full Renewal Bundle covers all 40 contact hours, including the three required topics, for $59. Bought one at a time, the same courses come to $166.
How fast do I get my certificate?
As soon as you pass the post test with a score of 80 percent or higher and complete the program evaluation, your certificate is ready to download from your account.
Last reviewed October 20, 2026.
My New Jersey courses are designed around the continuing education requirements of the New Jersey Professional Counselor Examiners Committee but are not approved or endorsed by the Committee.
Dr. Paulson Professional Counseling LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7987. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Dr. Paulson Professional Counseling LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.