Illinois · LMFT Renewal
Illinois LMFT CEU Requirements (2026–2027)
Illinois LMFTs need 30 hours of continuing education every two years. The category mandates are lighter than social work or counseling, four one-hour buckets in total, and there is no standalone ethics requirement. First renewal is exempt. Here is the verified breakdown from 68 IAC §1283.110.
Last verified: April 2026 · Source: 225 ILCS 55; 68 Ill. Admin. Code §1283.110; 68 Ill. Admin. Code §1130 Subpart E
The short version
| Requirement | Hours | Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 30 | Every 2 years |
| Cultural Competency | 1 | Every 2 years (effective 2025) |
| Sexual Harassment Prevention | 1 | Every 2 years |
| Implicit Bias Awareness | 1 | Every 2 years |
| Alzheimer's & Other Dementias | 1 | Every 3rd renewal |
The remaining 26 hours can come from any course content relevant to marriage and family therapy, delivered by an approved CE sponsor. Graduate-level coursework counts too, at 15 CE hours per semester hour or 10 per quarter hour.
Every-cycle requirements
- 1 hour, Cultural Competency training. Effective January 1, 2025. First renewal cycle ending on or after that date must include it.
- 1 hour, Sexual Harassment Prevention training. Statewide mandate under 68 IAC §1130 Subpart E (PA 100-0762).
- 1 hour, Implicit Bias Awareness training. Statewide mandate under PA 101-0221.
Every-3rd-renewal: Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias
A 1-hour Alzheimer's and Other Dementias training (PA 102-0399) is required once every three renewal cycles. Still Licensed surfaces this as a recurring requirement because the data model does not yet distinguish every-cycle from every-Nth-cycle rules. Check your last two renewals before deciding whether it is due this cycle.
No standalone ethics mandate
Unlike IL social work and IL counseling, 68 IAC §1283.110 does not impose a specific ethics hour minimum on LMFTs. Ethics coverage still counts toward the 30-hour total as relevant marriage and family therapy content and remains good practice. It just is not a line item the board requires.
First renewal is exempt
No CE is required for the first renewal of an LMFT license. The 30-hour rule kicks in at second renewal and every renewal after that. Associate LMFT licenses cannot be renewed at all, so they do not carry a CE obligation.
Reporting to IDFPR
Illinois does not use CE Broker for marriage and family therapy. At renewal you certify a yes/no that you completed the required CE. Most licensees are never asked to submit proof, but IDFPR can request it during a random audit, a license restoration, or a disciplinary matter. Keep every certificate.
Approved sponsors
CE must come from a sponsor approved under 68 IAC §1283.110(c)(1) or an accepted equivalent, including AAMFT and affiliates, accredited colleges and universities, state agencies, and other IDFPR-approved sponsor categories. Approved Social Work, Professional Counselor, and Clinical Psychologist CE sponsors are accepted for MFT CE as well.
Out-of-state CE
In-person CE attended outside Illinois through an unapproved sponsor can be submitted for individual IDFPR approval. Remote, distance, or online courses must come from a sponsor already approved under 68 IAC §1283.110, even if the course is delivered live.
Carryover
Illinois does not allow CE hours to carry over between cycles. Extra hours completed beyond the 30-hour minimum do not bank toward the next biennium.
Board links
Track these requirements automatically.
Still Licensed keeps your Illinois ethics and total hours up to date as you log each CE. Multi-state support means one entry can count toward every state you're licensed in.
This page is informational. Rules change. Verify against the IDFPR — Marriage and Family Therapy Licensing and Disciplinary Board before acting on anything here.