As a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) in the state of Hawaii, it is your responsibility to adhere to continuing education requirements each period in order to renew your license. Beyond license renewal being key to you maintaining your practice, continuing education is essential to stay abreast of what is happening in your field – something your clients will always appreciate you taking seriously. Education is how we all continue to learn and further hone our skills and expertise, so it’s certainly something to be celebrated. Though education is fantastic, keeping on track with the many hours you need to fulfill can be a challenge. Thankfully, there is a fantastic resource available to help you with that. Before we dive into the resource, let’s start by outlining what is required of Hawaii LMFTs in order to renew their license every cycle.
Licensee Requirements for Hawaii Marriage & Family Therapists
As of the triennium that began on 1/1/2017, all licensed marriage and family therapists in Hawaii are now required to complete 45 hours of continuing education in each licensing cycle. Licensing cycles are three years in length, ending on December 31 (which is when all continuing education should be completed). Within the required 45 hours for licensees, there is an additional requirement that at least six hours on MFT ethics be completed.
All of the continuing education a licensee obtains must be considered approved in order to be accepted with a renewal application. Continuing education will be accepted if it is offered/approved by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the American Psychological Association, the Hawaiian Islands Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (previously the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy: Hawaii Division), the Hawaii Psychological Association, the National Association of Social Workers, or the National Board for Certified Counselors and Affiliate, Inc.
Note: Proof of continuing education credits is not due with renewal applications, but should a licensee be selected for an audit by the DCCA, they will be expected to present their documentation, so it must be maintained.
Key Takeaways:
- LMFTs in Hawaii must earn 45 hours of continuing education every three years
- Licenses expire on December 31 in a licensee’s renewal year
- At least six hours of continuing education need to be on ethics
Given marriage and family therapists are likely to achieve their continuing education certificates in increments, from various workshops, conventions, agencies, and institutions, there is a lot of documentation to keep track of (potentially 45 or more certificates throughout the course of three years). As proof is required if you are selected for an audit, and should be maintained in the event that happens, it’s imperative you keep all of those certificates in a safe place – easily accessible and easy to track your progress. CE Hub is the safe place you need to work through your continuing education with ease.
What is CE Hub?
CE Hub is an app built specifically for therapists. Recognizing the difficulty that is storing continuing education certificates and keeping track of your hours, CE Hub was created to take the stress out of continuing education requirements. Instead of worrying throughout the period that you may not be on track, or perhaps that you may have lost a document or two, CE Hub provides you the peace of mind you need to enjoy the learning process. Using the platform is simple: you sign up, upload your continuing education certificates as you obtain them, then CE Hub handles the rest. All of your continuing education credits are tracked for you, and you even receive a reminder when it’s time to renew your license. Alleviate the stress of continuing education requirements by taking advantage of CE Hub today!
Disclaimer: this content is for informational purposes only. Licensees should always confirm their continuing education requirements with their respective governing agency. In the state of Hawaii, MFTs can clarify anything about their license by contacting the Marriage and Family Therapist Program’s office by phone at (808) 586- 2692.
Reference Link:
https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/files/2019/07/MFT-CE-MEMO-7-15-19.pdf
