North Carolina requires 20 hours of continuing education every year, including at least 3 hours of ethics training specific to Marriage & Family Therapy

Both live and online courses are accepted, as long as they focus on:

- MFT practice and therapeutic issues

- Ethics in professional mental health

- Supervision of marriage and family therapy

Supervision counts: up to 12 hours of CE can be client-case supervision provided by an AAMFT-approved supervisor—or candidate

Instructor credits: Teaching a CE course in MFT qualifies for up to 5 hours

Cannot count:

Staff meetings, administrative tasks, or independent self-study without structured oversight

Must ensure each CE hour includes:

Proof of attendance, number of credits, dates attended, your name, and the provider’s signature

You’re responsible for confirming content relevance; the Board doesn’t pre-approve courses

CE4Less – Unlimited MFT-focused CE packages for ~$90/year; includes both clinical and ethics content

AtHealth / HealthForum Online – Fully online CE with a robust ethics selection

Free-State Social Work – Offers affordable CE for therapists, including MFT-relevant content

Places to Consider:

PESI — In-person workshops and webinars specializing in trauma, ethics, and family therapy

Gottman Institute — Advanced training in couples therapy

AAMFT Webinars & Conferences — Authoritative source for ethics and systemic therapy training

If you are thinking of specializing, here are some options:

Gottman Levels 1–3 Certification — Deep expertise in evidence-based relationship therapy

EMDR Training — Processing trauma through recognized international standards

Military Family Life Counselor (MFLC) Training — To support military populations with culturally informed care

Cultural Competency Workshops — Often offered by organizations like MFTs of Color Network or NASW

Start your CE clock from your license date through June 30 renewal period—no carry-over of hours

Keep all CE certificates for at least 3–7 years—they may be requested in a Board audit

Need more time due to illness or military service? Submit a written extension request before renewal deadline