1. (a)

   1. (1) No license will be renewed without evidence of satisfactory completion of a minimum of twenty-four (24) clock hours of continued professional education (CE) and/or training in the twenty-four (24) months prior to renewal.
   2. (2) Evidence must also be submitted of a minimum of three (3) clock hours obtained in ethics relevant to the license being renewed.
   3. (3) Remaining hours must be counseling in nature and support the licensee’s statement of intent.
2. (b) LACs, LPCs, LAMFTs, and LMFTs are responsible for maintaining all appropriate documentation of their continuing education hours completed during the previous twenty-four (24) months.

3. (c)

   1. (1) A percentage of all renewal notices may be audited and each licensee must submit proper documentation of CE credit.
   2. (2) One-third (1/3) of the file numbers each year may be selected for audit.
4. (d) If the licensee has not accumulated the required continuing education hours, the licensee may take the NCE, NCMHCE, or the AMFTRB examination and meet the national pass score as a substitute for continuing education clock hours.

5. (e) The Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling recognizes the following activities/experiences, which demonstrate professional benefit to the licensee, as acceptable CE:

   1. (1)

      1. (A) Attending workshops provided by a qualified professional from state and/or nationally recognized training programs.
      2. (B) Workshops presented by a professional with an NBCC provider number are acceptable;

   2. (2)

      1. (A) Presenting at workshops provided by a qualified professional from state and/or nationally recognized training programs.
      2. (B) Presenters will receive two (2) hours per one (1) hour of the initial presentation;

   3. (3)

      1. (A) Formal academic coursework related to the development or maintenance of skills related to the practice of counseling.
      2. (B) These must be offered by regionally accredited academic institutions.
      3. (C) Both undergraduate and graduate coursework will be acceptable.
      4. (D) Fifteen (15) hours of CE credit may be counted for every one (1) hour of coursework;

   4. (4)

      1. (A) Documentation of teaching a new course or publishing a journal article or book in an area of counseling or marriage and family therapy.
      2. (B) Ten (10) hours of CE credit may be counted;

   5. (5)

      1. (A) Relevant professional service in leadership positions such as officers of the state, regional, or national professional associations or members of the board.
      2. (B) Ten (10) hours of CE credit may be counted; and

   6. (6)

      1. (A) Volunteer services provided under the Volunteer Health Care Act, Arkansas Code § 20-8-801 et seq.
      2. (B) One (1) hour of CE credit may be counted for every eight (8) hours of volunteer services.

6. (f)

   1. (1) For licensees who possess both the LAC/LPC and LAMFT/LMFT, the continuing education requirement will be twenty-four (24) hours, with three (3) hours minimum in ethics.
   2. (2) The remaining twenty-one (21) hours must indicate a balance between counseling and marriage and family therapy content.

7. (g)

   1. (1) Six (6) continuing education hours in supervision content are required each renewal period for board-approved supervisors.

   2. (2) Three (3) of the six (6) clock hours must be from:

      1. (A) Board-recognized state associations; or
      2. (B) An Arkansas university-associated workshop or program.
8. (h) Any licensee with a specialization claimed on the statement of intent must have CE hours specific to that specialization.

Codification Notes: “NCE” means National Counselor Examination. "AMFTRB" means Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards. "NBCC" means National Board for Certified Counselors.