Does Texas Accept NBCC CE Credits for LPC License Renewal? (2026 Guide)

If you’re a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S) in Texas, you may have encountered courses advertised as NBCC-approved continuing education.

But does Texas actually accept those credits for LPC license renewal?

The short answer is yes—NBCC-related continuing education can qualify for Texas LPC renewal, provided the specific activity meets Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) requirements.

However, NBCC approval and Texas license renewal compliance are not exactly the same thing. Counselors must consider the course content, credit hours, provider qualifications, required subject areas, and documentation.

This guide explains what NBCC approval means, how Texas evaluates continuing education, and what to check before purchasing an online CE course or renewal bundle.

What Is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider?

The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) administers the Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP) program.

Organizations that hold ACEP status are authorized to offer qualifying continuing education under NBCC’s provider requirements.

For counselors, this designation can be a useful indicator that a training organization participates in an established professional continuing education program.

However, it is important to understand the distinction between:

• An organization holding NBCC ACEP status
• A specific educational activity being offered for NBCC credit
• A state licensing board accepting that activity toward license renewal

These are related concepts, but they are not interchangeable.

An ACEP designation does not mean every activity offered by an organization automatically satisfies every state’s continuing education rules.

Does the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council Accept NBCC CE?

Texas allows LPCs to earn continuing education from providers offering qualifying professional training.

BHEC does not maintain a system of individually pre-approving every CE course or provider.

Instead, the Board evaluates continuing education under the applicable rules, including 22 Texas Administrative Code §681.140.

NBCC-approved continuing education may qualify when the activity meets the applicable requirements.

This means counselors should not rely solely on an NBCC logo when deciding whether a course will count.

Before enrolling, review the course description, credit hours, provider qualifications, and the requirements for your particular renewal cycle.

For official guidance, visit the BHEC Continuing Education FAQs.

How Many CE Hours Do Texas LPCs Need?

Texas LPCs generally must complete 24 hours of qualifying continuing education during each license renewal period.

Those hours include specific subject requirements.

CE Requirement	Hours
Total qualifying continuing education	24
Ethics	6
Distinct-population competency	3
Supervision CE for LPC-S	6

The subject-specific hours generally count within the 24-hour total rather than being added to it.

Counselors must also complete the Texas jurisprudence examination during each renewal period. Under applicable rules, successful completion may count for one hour of ethics CE.

Texas also has a separate human trafficking prevention training requirement. Counselors should complete an approved training and follow BHEC’s rules for reporting the applicable credit.

Always review the current renewal requirements rather than assuming that completing any combination of 24 hours will be sufficient.

Understanding Texas’s 50% CE Provider Rule

One of the most important requirements for Texas LPC continuing education is the 50% provider rule.

BHEC requires at least half of the required CE hours to come from providers meeting one of the recognized provider categories.

These categories include certain professional associations, government entities, accredited higher education institutions, qualifying nonprofit or religious organizations, and licensees with applicable supervisor status.

For a standard 24-hour renewal period, this generally means at least 12 hours must come from qualifying provider categories.

The remaining hours may come from other providers offering appropriate education consistent with the rules.

Does NBCC ACEP Status Automatically Satisfy the 50% Rule?

Not necessarily.

NBCC ACEP status is an external provider credential. The Texas 50% rule identifies particular types of providers.

An organization may satisfy one of those categories, but its NBCC ACEP designation alone should not be treated as a substitute for checking the Texas criteria.

Before purchasing a large CE bundle, verify how the provider qualifies under the Texas rules.

This is particularly important when you plan to obtain all 24 renewal hours from one organization.

Can Online and Self-Paced NBCC CE Courses Count?

Yes. Online and self-paced continuing education can qualify for Texas LPC renewal when the activities satisfy the applicable rules.

Online learning is particularly convenient for counselors balancing clinical appointments, supervision, administrative work, and personal responsibilities.

A structured online course may include recorded lessons, assigned readings, assessments, and a completion certificate.

However, counselors should distinguish organized provider-led education from informal independent self-study.

BHEC explains that informal self-study generally involves learning activities without a CE provider, such as independently reading a professional journal article.

A structured course that issues a certificate is typically evaluated differently from informal self-study.

The fact that a course is online does not automatically make it unacceptable.

The key questions are whether it is qualifying professional education, whether the hours are properly documented, and whether it satisfies the applicable content and provider requirements.

How to Verify an NBCC CE Course Before Purchasing

Before paying for an online continuing education course, consider these six questions.

1. Is the Provider’s NBCC ACEP Status Current?

Check whether the organization currently holds the designation it advertises.

The provider should clearly identify its continuing education credentials.

2. Does the Course Address Professional Counseling?

The educational content should be relevant to the professional practice of counseling.

A course may be interesting or personally enriching without qualifying as professional continuing education.

3. Does It Meet a Required Subject Area?

If you need ethics, supervision, or distinct-population competency hours, confirm that the actual course content supports that category.

A general clinical training course should not automatically be counted toward a specialty requirement.

4. How Many Credit Hours Will You Earn?

Confirm the number of continuing education hours awarded upon successful completion.

Avoid assuming that the number of videos or modules equals the number of CE hours.

5. Will You Receive a Proper Certificate?

Texas requires documentation identifying the participant, training date, subject matter, and number of credit hours earned.

Save the certificate after completing the course.

6. How Does the Provider Qualify Under Texas’s 50% Rule?

If you are relying on the course to satisfy the qualifying-provider portion of your renewal, verify the provider’s applicable category.

This step is especially important when purchasing a complete renewal bundle.

Texas LPC vs. LPC-S: Does NBCC CE Work for Both?

Both Texas LPCs and LPC Supervisors may use qualifying continuing education from NBCC ACEPs.

However, the required content differs.

Texas LPC Renewal

An independently licensed LPC must complete the applicable total CE hours and required subject areas.

A well-designed CE bundle can help organize ethics, competency, and general clinical training into one learning plan.

Texas LPC-S Renewal

An LPC Supervisor must also complete the required supervision-specific continuing education.

For that reason, a standard LPC renewal bundle may not contain everything a supervisor needs.

If you hold LPC-S status, check that your selected courses include sufficient qualifying supervision content.

The initial 40-hour LPC Supervisor Training Course is different from the ongoing LPC-S renewal CE requirement.

Counselors applying for supervisor designation should review the separate training and eligibility requirements.

How Do Texas LPCs Report CE Credits in 2026?

Beginning January 1, 2026, BHEC requires licensees to use CE Broker for continuing education tracking and reporting.

Counselors must activate an account and report the required completed CE before renewing.

A free CE Broker Basic Account is available.

Importantly, Texas counselors are not required to purchase courses through CE Broker. They may complete qualifying courses through other providers and report the credits.

A practical process is:

1. Complete the qualifying CE course.
2. Download the completion certificate.
3. Review the course hours and subject category.
4. Report the activity through CE Broker.
5. Keep a personal copy of the certificate.
6. Check your reported hours before beginning license renewal.

Visit the official BHEC CE Reporting Guide for current instructions.

Common Mistakes When Using NBCC CE for Texas Renewal

Mistake 1: Assuming NBCC Approval Guarantees Acceptance

NBCC ACEP status is valuable, but Texas requirements still govern whether an activity qualifies.

Mistake 2: Completing 24 General CE Hours Without Checking Required Topics

Texas requires specific content areas. A total of 24 hours alone may not satisfy every requirement.

Mistake 3: Ignoring the 50% Provider Rule

Even when the course content is relevant, the qualifying-provider requirement must be considered.

Mistake 4: Forgetting Supervision CE

LPC Supervisors need supervision-related education as part of their renewal requirements.

Mistake 5: Not Reporting Credits to CE Broker

For 2026 renewals, CE Broker reporting is part of the required process.

Mistake 6: Losing Completion Certificates

Payment receipts and enrollment confirmations are not substitutes for adequate proof of completed continuing education.

Download and retain the required documentation.

Why Choose a CE Bundle Instead of Individual Courses?

Purchasing individual courses can be useful when you need only a few remaining hours.

However, a thoughtfully assembled CE bundle may be more convenient for counselors who need most or all of their renewal education.

Potential advantages include:

• One purchase instead of multiple transactions
• Courses organized around relevant professional topics
• Easier planning for a renewal period
• Self-paced learning
• Individual completion certificates
• A potentially lower combined price

Before purchasing, review the specific courses included rather than relying on the bundle’s total number of hours.

A bundle is most useful when its content aligns with your actual renewal requirements.

Online Texas LPC CE Bundles at MindLift Alliance Academy

MindLift Alliance Academy offers online continuing education for licensed mental health professionals.

MindLift Alliance identifies itself as an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP) and offers self-paced CE courses covering ethics, clinical practice, cultural competency, and supervision.

For Texas counselors, the Academy currently lists two renewal bundles.

Texas LPC 24-Hour CE Bundle — $99

Designed for independently licensed Texas LPCs completing their continuing education.

The bundle provides 24 hours of online CE through a selection of professional training courses.

Texas LPC-S 24-Hour Supervisor Renewal Bundle — $109

Designed for counselors who already hold LPC Supervisor status.

The bundle includes supervision-specific continuing education along with other professional training topics.

Courses are completed online, and individual completion certificates are available through the student dashboard.

Explore Texas LPC and LPC-S Continuing Education Bundles

Before enrolling, review the course descriptions and confirm that the included training meets your individual renewal requirements, including the qualifying-provider rule.

MindLift Alliance is responsible for the continuing education programs it offers. BHEC retains authority over Texas licensure and compliance determinations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Texas accept NBCC-approved continuing education?

NBCC-approved CE may qualify for Texas LPC renewal when the specific activity meets applicable BHEC requirements. NBCC approval alone does not guarantee compliance with every Texas rule.

Does BHEC pre-approve NBCC providers?

No. BHEC does not individually pre-approve continuing education providers or courses. Licensees must evaluate activities under the applicable rules.

Can I complete all 24 Texas LPC CE hours online?

Potentially, yes, if the activities meet the relevant content, provider, and documentation requirements.

Can I use one CE provider for all 24 hours?

Yes, provided the provider and activities satisfy the applicable rules, including the qualifying-provider requirement.

Do Texas LPC Supervisors need additional CE?

LPC Supervisors must complete six hours of supervision-specific continuing education as part of their renewal requirements.

Do I need to upload NBCC CE credits to CE Broker?

Texas BHEC requires licensees to use CE Broker for reporting completed continuing education beginning in 2026.

Is NBCC national certification required to take NBCC-approved CE?

No. A counselor does not generally need to hold the National Certified Counselor credential simply to enroll in a course offered by an NBCC ACEP.

Can I use MindLift Alliance CE courses for Texas renewal?

MindLift Alliance offers NBCC-approved continuing education designed for licensed counselors. Whether particular courses satisfy your renewal requirements depends on the course content, provider qualification, documentation, and applicable BHEC rules.

Final Thoughts: Choose CE Courses With Confidence

NBCC-approved continuing education can be a useful option for Texas LPCs and LPC Supervisors.

But successful license renewal requires more than selecting a provider with a recognized credential.

Counselors must complete the required hours, meet specialty content requirements, follow the qualifying-provider rule, retain proper documentation, and report completed education through CE Broker.

Taking a few minutes to verify these details before purchasing can help avoid unnecessary problems later.

Ready to Complete Your Texas LPC Continuing Education?

MindLift Alliance Academy

Texas LPC 24-Hour CE Bundle — $99

Texas LPC-S 24-Hour Supervisor Renewal Bundle — $109

Self-paced online learning | Individual completion certificates | NBCC ACEP provider

View Texas LPC CE Bundles and Enroll Online

MindLift Alliance Counseling, Assessment & Education Services
McKinney, Texas
www.mindliftalliance.com

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal or licensing advice. CE acceptance and license renewal compliance are determined under applicable Texas rules. Verify current BHEC requirements before relying on any course for renewal.