California License Renewal Deadlines 2025-2026: CE Checklist for Therapists

As a therapist in California, managing your license renewal dates may seem like a burden due to having too little time. By balancing between attending to clients, documentation, and taking care of oneself, it is not always easy to remember when the continuing education (CE) credits are due. That is why we have put together this California license renewal checklist to make sure you remain compliant, stress-free, and confident in 2025 and 2026.

Regardless of whether you are an LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, or LEP, the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) will compel you to take a specified number of CE hours prior to your renewal date. Together, we will go through all the details of what you need to know, significant dates and CE requirements, and how Rouse Academy can help you accomplish your professional development process.

Learning Your Renewal Cycle

About the majority of behavioral health professionals in California, their licenses have to be renewed every two years. The renewal date normally depends on the date on which you obtained your license; hence, it is important to always verify your specific date of renewal using the BBS BreEZe Online Services portal. The following is a brief note of the general requirements:

• LMFTs (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists): 36 hours of continuing education in every two years.
• LCSWs (Licensed Clinical Social Workers): 36 hours every two years.
• LPCCs (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors): 35 hours twice in six years.
• LEPs (Licensed Educational Psychologists): 36 hours every two years.

At least six of such hours should be in ethics and law. In case you are a first time renewer, BBS does demand a particular seven hour course in law and ethics.

Why CE Compliance Matters

CE compliance is not simply a tick-box exercise, but a professional responsibility of keeping up with the current best practices, research, and ethical standards. Behavioral sciences are changing at a quick pace, particularly due to the increased consciousness regarding trauma-informed care, cultural competency, and inclusivity in therapy.

Making sure you renew your license using the right number of California CE credits will allow you to provide care that is consistent with the latest state regulations and beneficial to various neighborhoods.

In addition to compliance, continuing education can make you a better practitioner more generally, further developing your knowledge of inclusive, affirming, and ethical care with all the clients that you serve.

Key Renewal Dates for 2025–2026

It is prudent that you schedule your CE courses a long time before the actual event to prevent stress. The general guide to the future renewal cycles is as follows:

January 2025- June 2025: Begin wrapping up any outstanding CE hours to make mid-year renewals.

July 2025 -December 2025: Get ready to do late-year renewals, working on the necessary courses such as law and ethics.

January 2026- June 2026: Complete any other new CE regulations that are issued by the BBS.

July 2026- December 2026: Fill in your renewal application in the BreEZe portal before it expires.

Pro tip: Schedule at least 60 days before you are renewed. This will provide you with sufficient time to obtain documentation, ensure completion of CE, and overcome technical delays.

Therapist specific CE Checklist

To keep you organized, the following is a customized California license renewal checklist that you can make to suit your profession:

Use BreEZe to confirm your license renewal date.

The number of CE hours taking place — you must have 36 in total.

Verify course approval:  Restrict to BBS-approved providers of CE, such as Rouse Academy.

Whole full mandatory courses (law and ethics, supervision, and any new regulations).

Retain a copy of certificates of completion for not less than four years in the event of an audit.

Before the expiration date, apply and remit your renewal and pay the necessary fee.

After filing your license, always check whether it has been renewed or not.

Ongoing CE courses options are available only in the last minute.

We understand it, there are moments when the life is hectic and CE deadlines creep up on you. In case you are in a hurry, on-demand, self-paced CE courses are available at Rouse Academy, which is likely to become one of the places where you will be able to complete your renewal requirements without being in a hurry.

We have a California CE credit library comprising of:

• California Therapist Law and Ethics.
• Multicultural Counseling and Inclusive Practice.
• Postgraduate Clinical Supervision.
• Stress and Resilience among Marginalized groups.
• Telehealth Professional Boundaries.

All of them are approved by CAMFT and are course-specific to LMFTs, LCSWs, and LPCCs in California. You can do them on line, wherever you are, whenever you wish. The way Rouse Academy Promotes Inclusive and Ethical Practice.

At Rouse Academy, we feel the professional development must be based on the reality of the various aspects of the present day therapy environment. Our CE programs do not just meet the requirements — they enable therapists to act confidently and responsively with LGBTQ+, polyamorous, kinky, and marginalized clients.

You will obtain the knowledge that will aid in upholding

your practice and shaping cultural competence as well as inclusivity in all sessions through our online learning programs and workshops.

To build your career with a niche specialization or just be in line with BBS requirements, we come in to support your career objectives and goals as well as to enhance your knowledge of human connection and identity.

Top 5  Renewing Mistakes.

Even the senior therapists may make mistakes in renewing their licenses. These are some of the pitfalls that should be avoided:

Leaving things to the last moment: CE courses are not as fast to get through as expected.

Enrolling in courses that are not approved: It is always wise to ensure that you are enrolled in a provider who is approved.

Loss of documentation: It is advisable to store your certificates in both electronic and hard copy.

Failure to pay on time: Renewal is late, it can lead to the loss of the license or we will have to pay reactivation.

Failure to track the changes in CE requirements: The BBS periodically changes its CE policies - be sure you are using the most recent policies.

These problems are avoidable through prior planning so that you can sustain your license even after being caught.

Slips to a Successful Renewal Process.

The following are some of the methods that will help you in making the renewal easier:

• Set reminders 90, 60 and 30 days ahead of your expired license date.
• Plot on your needed courses as soon as you can during renewal.
• Record all completion dates, hours and course titles using a CE tracking tool or spreadsheet.
• Store your certificates in a cloud folder with a label of the year of renewal.
• Stay abreast with the policy changes through the BBS email updates.

These are simple organizational measures that can save you time, money, as well as unwarranted anxiety when your renewal comes near.

Conclusion

Your clients need you to be knowledgeable, upright and licensed in professional practice, and Rouse Academy is ready to take such a burden off your hands. Whether it is to keep up with California license renewal dates to the time to complete California CE credits, we have the tools, templates, and courses to help you remain in compliance and feel at ease.

Waiting until the last minute is not a good idea. You can study our law and ethics, supervision, and inclusivity-oriented CE course today, and be the next to continue your continuing education.

Get ahead of your 20252026 renewal dates. Get your free CE checklist, take last minute online courses, and make renewing your license easy and stress free at Visit Rouse Academy now.