What Counts for CEUs in 2024?
New year, new rules? Between the expiration of COVID-19 emergency regulations and recent changes in some permanent rules, it can be challenging to keep up-to-date for what will and will not count for continuing education in 2024. So, here is a guide on how to make sure your CEUs will be accepted for license renewal!
Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure
In 2021, the BBHL discontinued the approval of individual continuing education courses for Oklahoma Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists and moved to approving individuals and organizations to be continuing education providers. The BBHL website lists numerous national and state organizations that are pre-approved continuing education providers for Oklahoma LPC and LMFT clinicians, including the American Counseling Association and the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. A list of individuals and organizations who have also been approved to provide continuing education, including the Oklahoma Counseling Institute, can also be found on the BBHL website.
Prior to 2020, Oklahoma LPC and LMFT clinicians were required to accrue at least 10 hours of in-person CEUs each renewal period. In August, the BBHL permanently removed the in-person CEU requirement for Oklahoma LPC and LMFT clinicians. This allows LPC and LMFT clinicians to earn all continuing education, including ethics and supervision hours, online. There is also no live training requirement, so CEUs can be earned from either live or on-demand courses. Continuing education can still be accrued in a live or in-person training, but there is no requirement to do so.
Licensed Behavioral Practitioners may only receive continuing education credit from courses pre-approved by the American Association of Masters in Psychology (TAAMP). The BBHL Permanent Rules for LBP clinicians list no requirement for in-person or face-to-face CEUs.
Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers
The OBLSW recognizes continuing education trainings facilitated by the National Association of Social Workers and its state chapters, the Association of Social Work Boards, and other providers approved by the OBLSW. A list of individuals and organizations who have also been approved to provide continuing education, including the Oklahoma Counseling Institute, can also be found on the OBLSW website here.
Oklahoma Licensed Clinical Social Workers are required to obtain at least 16 hours of continuing education each year. Up to 8 hours may be accrued through on-demand or pre-recorded courses, which fall under Category III education activities. LCSW clinicians must accrue at least 8 hours from Category 1 continuing education activities, which include in-person events or live, interactive webinars. The rest of the CEUs can be accrued through Category 1 activities, Category II Professional Meetings, or Category III Individual Professional Activities, such as pre-recorded CEU videos for self-study, teaching, research, or professional presentations. For more information on the three categories, refer to the OSBLSW Administrative Code.
Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors
The OBLADC requires all continuing education courses to either be pre-approved by the OBLADC or facilitated by a board-approved provider. A list of individuals and organizations who have been approved to provide continuing education, including the Oklahoma Counseling Institute, as well as a list of individually approved courses, can be found on the OBLADC website here.
Oklahoma Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors must receive 20 hours of continuing education hours every year, 10 of which must be specific to drug and alcohol counseling. According to the Permanent Rules, no more than half of the continuing education hours accrued may be through pre-recorded online training. At least 10 hours or half of CEUs earned must be through an in-person training or live webinar. According to the Office of the Executive Director, live webinars would count towards the live or in-person requirement. Up to 10 or half of CEUs earned may be through on-demand or prerecorded trainings. For more information, visit the OBLADC website.
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The information provided in this article is not meant to replace information provided by licensing boards in the State of Oklahoma. Contact the Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure, the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers, or the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors for questions about continuing education and licensure.
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Therapists from New York to New Mexico, from Oklahoma to Florida need continuing education. Check out counselinginstitute.org to learn more about live webinars, recording trainings, and our upcoming conference!