Here’s what the Virginia Board of Counseling asks of licensed professional counselors, residents in counseling, and marriage and family therapists each year, and the courses I built around it.
Renewal requirements
Who this covers
- Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC)
- Residents in counseling
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT)
LPCs: 20 hours every year
- At least 2 hours in ethics, standards of practice, or laws governing behavioral science professions in Virginia (18VAC115-20-105).
- The rest in Board-approved continuing competency activities.
Residents and MFTs
- Residents in counseling: 3 hours in Virginia ethics, standards of practice, or law, attested at each annual renewal (18VAC115-20-100).
- Marriage and family therapists: a parallel 2-hour ethics and Virginia law requirement (18VAC115-50-95).
Rules for every license
- NBCC courses count. Courses from NBCC-approved organizations are listed among the Board-approved continuing competency activities (18VAC115-20-106). I’m an NBCC Approved Continuing Education Provider.
- Keep your documentation for 2 years after renewal in case of a Board audit (18VAC115-20-107).
Courses for each requirement
Ethics, standards, and Virginia law (3 hours)
Virginia Law, Ethics, and Standards of Practice for Professional Counselors. Built on 18VAC115-20 and the Code of Virginia: the duty to protect (§ 54.1-2400.1), mandated reporting, the duty to inform (§ 54.1-2400.4), records and minors’ consent, telehealth, and the five-year rule for former clients. Covers the LPC 2-hour and resident 3-hour requirements. Self-paced, 3 hours, $17.
See the courseBundles
Virginia 20-Hour Annual Renewal Bundle
Virginia Law, Ethics, and Standards (3) plus 17 clinical hours: Trauma, Forgiveness, AI in Behavioral Health, the Counseling Compact, and Chronic Pain. 20 hours, $39.
See the bundleCommon questions
How many CE hours do Virginia LPCs need?
20 hours of continuing competency every year, including at least 2 hours in ethics, standards of practice, or Virginia law.
Do NBCC-approved courses count in Virginia?
Yes. 18VAC115-20-106 lists courses offered by NBCC-approved organizations among the Board-approved activities.
Does the 3-hour course work for residents?
Yes. It is written for the 3 hours of Virginia ethics, standards, and law that residents attest to at each renewal.
Is there one bundle for the whole year?
Yes. My Virginia 20-Hour Annual Renewal Bundle covers all 20 hours, including 3 hours of Virginia law, ethics, and standards of practice, for $39. Bought one at a time, the same courses come to $88.
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 Virginia courses are designed around the continuing competency requirements of the Virginia Board of Counseling but are not approved or endorsed by the Board.
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.