Continuing Education Requirements for New York State Education Department Licensed Psychologists
What is Continuing Education for Psychologists?
Knowledge in the field of psychology is constantly advancing. It is important for psychologists to be
aware of the latest developments; continuing education (CE) is one way psychologists can keep abreast
of the latest advancements in the field.
After psychologists earn their graduate degree, complete their supervised post-doctoral work hours,
pass their licensing exam (i.e., EPPP
), and finish any remaining state-specific requirements they can work
as a licensed psychologist. Once licensed, psychologists must maintain certain standards to keep their
license active. Accrual of CE experiences and credits is a requirement for clinical license maintenance in
many states.
While there are state-specific content requirements (i.e., 3 CE Credits in professional ethics in NY),
psychologists can engage in any approved CE activity that interests them or is related to their area of
expertise. Any CE course you choose should be approved by your state licensing board, otherwise, the
hours will not count toward relicensing requirements.
Number of CEs required in New York (WCM Psychologists):
As of January 1, 2021, all psychologists licensed by the New York State Education Department (NYSED)
are required to complete 36 hours of approved continuing education (CE) courses for each registration
period, which is three years. This is the equivalent of 1 CE unit per month. Psychologists are required to
complete CE before they renew their registration and must attest to completing 36 CEs at the time of
renewal. While no proof of CEs is required, NYSED states that they may require proof of completion
later (see “Record Keeping” below), so it is advisable to save certificates of activity completion or
document activities as you complete them.
Psychologists that are newly licensed are not required to complete CEs during their initial three-year
registration period (even if you were previously licensed in another state). If you are renewing your
registration between January 1, 2021, and January 1, 2024, the number of CE credits required will vary
depending on when your registration expires. Note: registration renewals occur in the month of your
birth, so your next registration period will begin the month after your birthday.
If you are due to register for the period beginning:
Required CE credits:
January 1, 2021
0
February 1, 2021
1
March 1, 2021
2
April 1, 2021
3
May 1, 2021
4
June 1, 2021
5
July 1, 2021
6
August 1, 2021
7
September 1, 2021
8
October 1, 2021
9
November 1, 2021
10
December 1, 2021
11
January 1, 2022
12
February 1, 2022
13
March 1, 2022
14
April 1, 2022
15
May 1, 2022
16
June 1, 2022
17
July 1, 2022
18
August 1, 2022
19
September 1, 2022
20
October 1, 2022
21
November 1, 2022
22
December 1, 2022
23
January 1, 2023
24
February 1, 2023
25
March 1, 2023
26
April 1, 2023
27
May 1, 2023
28
June 1, 2023
29
July 1, 2023
30
August 1, 2023
31
September 1, 2023
32
October 1, 2023
33
November 1, 2023
34
December 1, 2023
35
January 1, 2024
36
There are no restrictions on how you distribute your 36 credits (i.e., you can complete all 36 credits at
once or spread them out over the course of the three-year period).
**Please note, in the state of New York, 3 of the 36 hours are required to be accrued in the area of
professional ethics, including the laws, rules and regulations for practice in New York State in any 36-
month period.
What are the ways that Psychologists can earn CE Credits in NY?
All courses must be taken from psychology providers that are approved by the State Education
Department. Only courses taken from approved providers on or after January 1, 2021, are accepted.
In addition to attending CE-eligible courses, the following activities are CE-eligible:
Acceptable Activities
Continuing Education (CE) Credits
1) Completing a formal educational course: Successful
completion of a credit- or non-credit bearing
course at a higher education institution that is
related to the practice of psychology and is offered
by a provider approved by the Department to offer
continuing education to licensed psychologists; and
in a subject area that is acceptable to the
Department.
15 CE hours per each semester course credit
hour, i.e., 3 credit course = 45 CE hours.
2) Teaching a higher education course: Preparing and
teaching a credit bearing course in a higher
education institution or psychotherapy institute
approved by the Department to offer licensed
psychology continuing education and is in an
approved subject area that is acceptable to the
Department; and meets the requirements of
regulations, i.e., the licensee is teaching the course
for the first time or is presenting new or revised
material.
CE hours may include the actual instruction time
plus up to two additional hours for preparation
time for each hour of presentation. This means
that a licensee could be credited with acceptable
CE hours for developing and presenting a three-
semester hour credit course, as follows: 45 + (45
x 2) = 135 hours for a three-semester hour
course. Calculations per semester, as above.
3) Giving CE lectures for Approved Providers:
Preparing and teaching a CE course for an
approved provider, in an approved subject matter
area; and meets the requirements of regulations,
i.e., the licensee is teaching the course for the first
time or is presenting new or revised material.
For every in-class CE hour, one hour of continuing
education credit may be awarded plus up to two
additional hours for preparation time for each
hour of presentation. A licensee could be
credited with 6 hours of acceptable continuing
education credit for a two-hour course, i.e., 2 + (2
x 2) = 6.
4) Presenting at a Professional Conference:
Making a technical presentation at a professional
conference sponsored by an organization that is an
approved provider of licensed psychology
continuing education. The presentation must be in
an approved subject matter area; and meets the
requirements of regulations, i.e., the licensee is
presenting the information for the first time or is
presenting new or revised material.
For every presentation contact hour, one hour of
continuing education credit may be awarded plus
up to two additional hours for preparation time
for each hour of presentation. i.e., 1 hour
presentation: 1 + 2= 3CE hours.
5) Manuscript Authorship: Authoring a first-time
article published in a peer-reviewed journal or a
chapter in a published book on the practice of
licensed psychology.
2 CE hours.
6) Book Authorship: Authoring a first-time book on
the practice of licensed psychology.
5 CE hours.
7) Taking a Self-study Course: Completing a
structured, self-study program offered by a licensed
psychology provider approved by the Department
that is based on audio, audio-visual, written, on-line
or other media; and does not include live instruction
that allows the licensee to interact with the
instructor and/or other students.
One CE hour for each 50-minute hour of
instruction, as determined by the approved
provider. Self-study may comprise no more
than 12 CE hours in any three-year registration
period, or one-third of the hours for a
registration period other than 36 months.
8) Independent Study: Completing independent study
that is self-initiated, goal-driven learning based on
reading and research in accordance with law and
regulations.
Three clock hours of independent study shall
equal 1 CE hour. See here for additional
information
9) Mentor/Mentee: Serving as a mentor or a mentee
in a professional relationship between two licensed
psychologists, in accordance with the requirements
in law and regulation.
Fifteen hours in a mentoring relationship = 1 CE
hour.
What are the CE record-keeping requirements?
CE Eligible Course Attendance
Psychologists should save CE provider issued Certificates of Completion delivered after completion of a
CE-eligible course and post-test evaluation. You and the certificate issuer are required to retain these
records for 6 years from the date of completion.
A Certificate of Completion should include the following information:
• name of licensee completing the course, licensed profession, and license number
• title of the course or program, subject area, and any identification number assigned to it by the
provider
• the educational method used (e.g., live in-person, live online, and/or self-study)
• number of contact hours completed
• the approved provider's name and any identifying number
• verification by the provider of the licensee’s attendance or participation
• the date and location (city/state) of the course or activity
• a statement indicating that the organization is approved by NYSED for licensed psychologist CEs
Other CE Eligible Activities
For other CE-eligible activities, the following records are required. This list is not exhaustive:
• Course descriptions, handouts and brochures that may document your preparation and teaching
of a course offered by a NYSED-approved CE provider to licensed psychologists.
• Syllabi, power point slides, and examinations that are part of a course that was prepared and
taught for the first time in a higher education institution or psychotherapy institute.
• Narrative account of what was learned and an overall written evaluation of an independent
study learning activity
• Documentation of participation in a mentorship relationship, as a mentor or mentee, that
includes the name of the mentor and mentee, mentee goals, the teaching plan of the mentor,
the evaluation of the mentee by the mentor, the narrative account of the mentee of what was
learned, and the evaluation of the mentorship by the mentee or mentor, as appropriate.
NYSED randomly audits a percentage of licensees each month. You must provide the Department with
your Certificates of Completion for each approved CE course or records for other educational activities,
when requested. In no cases will self-reporting forms be acceptable.
Continuing Education Requirements by State
Every state has its own requirements for psychology CE and many psychologists are licensed in multiple
states. Note you must satisfy CE hours requirements for each state that you are licensed in.
For more detailed information about your state specific CE requirements, check
your state’s psychology
board website.
California
• Required CE Hours: 36 hours every 2 years
• CE Topic Requirements: None
• CE Completion Deadline: By end of renewal period
• Psychology Board Website: California Board of Psychology
Colorado
• Required CE Hours: 40 hours every 2 years
• CE Topic Requirements: None
• CE Completion Deadline: August 31, odd-numbered years
• Psychology Board Website: Colorado State Board of Psychologist Examiners
Connecticut
• Required CE Hours: 10 hours every year
• CE Topic Requirements: None
• CE Completion Deadline: By end of renewal period
• Psychology Board Website: Connecticut Board of Examiners of Psychologists
Delaware
• Required CE Hours: 40 hours every 2 years
• CE Topic Requirements: 3 hours of ethics
• CE Completion Deadline: July 31, odd-numbered years
• Psychology Board Website: Delaware Board of Examiners of Psychologists
Florida
• Required CE Hours: 40 hours every 2 years
• CE Topic Requirements: 3 hours of ethics and Florida’s psychology laws, 2 hours of medical
errors, 2 hours of domestic violence (every 6 years)
• CE Completion Deadline: May 31, even-numbered years
• Psychology Board Website: Florida Board of Psychology
Georgia
• Required CE Hours: 40 hours every 2 years
• CE Topic Requirements: 3 hours of ethics, 3 hours of psychopharmacology, 3 hours of diversity
(for your first CE renewal)
• CE Completion Deadline: December 31, even-numbered years
• Psychology Board Website: Georgia Board of Examiners of Psychologists
Maryland
• Required CE Hours: 40 hours every 2 years
• CE Topic Requirements: 3 hours of ethics
• CE Completion Deadline: January 31
• Psychology Board Website: Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists
Massachusetts
• Required CE Hours: 20 hours every 2 years
• CE Topic Requirements: None
• CE Completion Deadline: June 30, even-numbered years
• Psychology Board Website: Massachusetts Board of Registration of Psychologists
New Hampshire
• Required CE Hours: 40 hours every 2 years
• CE Topic Requirements: 6 hours of ethics
• CE Completion Deadline: Year determined by year of licensure
• Psychology Board Website: New Hampshire Board of Psychology
New Jersey
• Required CE Hours: 40 hours every 2 years
• CE Topic Requirements: 4 hours of domestic violence
• CE Completion Deadline: June 30, odd-numbered years
• Psychology Board Website: New Jersey Board of Psychological Examiners
New York
• Required CE Hours: 36 hours every 3 years
• CE Topic Requirements: 3 hours of ethics
• CE Completion Deadline: Date based on year of licensure
• Psychology Board Website: New York State Office of the Professions: Psychology
Pennsylvania
• Required CE Hours: 30 hours every 2 years
• CE Topic Requirements: 3 hours of ethics
• CE Completion Deadline: November 30, odd-numbered years
• Psychology Board Website: Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology
Vermont
• Required CE Hours: 60 hours every 2 years
• CE Topic Requirements: 6 hours of ethics
• CE Completion Deadline: January 31
• Psychology Board Website: Vermont Board of Psychological Examiners
Useful links:
Frequently Asked Questions
CE-eligible providers
Criteria for obtaining approval as a CE provider
CE Requirements by state
Last updated: 12/15/2022
