As a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in the state of Maine, 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 Maine LPCs in order to renew their license every cycle.
Licensee Requirements for Maine Licensed Professional Counselors
Professional counselors licensed in Maine share the same continuing education requirements as their MFT colleagues. They must complete 55 hours of continuing education every two years, with four hours in ethics. Though the 55-hour requirement is relatively high when compared to other states, all of the hours can be earned online, which allows room for added flexibility. Note: as of January 2020, licensees have a one-time requirement to complete 12 hours of intimate partner or family violence training.
Licensees can expect to receive a renewal reminder 30 days before their license expiration, but it’s advised they keep track of their date themselves to ensure they are progressing toward the continuing education requirement. Proof of completion is not required with renewal applications, but it will be required if you are selected for an audit, so licensees should maintain their own personal records.
Key Takeaways:
- Maine LPCs must earn 55 hours of continuing education every two years
- All 55 hours can be earned online
- Four hours must be in ethics
Given licensed professional counselors 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 55 or more certificates throughout the two years). As proof is required if you are selected for an audit, 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 counselors. 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 Maine, LPCs can clarify anything about their license by contacting the Department of Professional & Financial Regulation at the number (207) 624-8500.
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