Tips for speaking at mental health conferences
Summary
Create a continuing education planning process to track licensing requirements, choose relevant courses, and stay prepared for renewal deadlines.
Build a professional development strategy that aligns your training choices with your clinical interests, career goals, and the needs of your clients.
Learn how to evaluate certifications, specialized trainings, and evidence-based approaches that can expand your skills and services.
Develop a budget and tracking system to manage continuing education costs, documentation, and long-term professional growth.
Continuing education planning can often be a last-minute scramble before renewal, not because we don’t love to learn, but rather, clinical work and documentation are already more than a full-time job, especially if you also handle your own billing.
However, getting clear on your professional development strategy early could help you budget for training, pick certifications that add value, and ensure that you’re on track when you need to submit continuing education units to your board.
A thoughtful continuing education plan can help you choose training opportunities that align with your career goals rather than simply completing requirements before renewal.
How to choose relevant CEUs
Effective continuing education planning starts with understanding your licensing requirements and identifying training opportunities that support your long-term goals.
Continuing education units (CEUs) help you stay up to date with the latest developments in our field, meet licensing requirements, and maintain ethical standards of practice. However, the requirements vary depending on your licensure and the state in which you practice.
For example, an LPC, LCSW, or LMFT in Oregon must complete at least 40 CE hours every two years. In California, LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs must complete 36 CE hours every two years. In comparison, LCSWs in New York must complete 36 CE hours every three years.
CE requirements vary by state and licensure type and change over time. Confirm current requirements with your state licensing board.
The steps to choosing relevant CEUs are:
Check state licensing websites:
Review your state and board to determine the CEU hour requirements and renewal cycle.
Determine which CEs are required. For example, many licensing boards require coursework in topics such as ethics, suicide prevention, cultural competence, telehealth, or mandated reporting, though requirements vary by profession and state.
Check format restrictions. Some states limit the number of self-study hours you are allowed to count.
Find a CEU provider: Search for online and in-person training providers like PESI or eCare Behavioral Health Institute. Your state may also have specific CEU providers for mental health clinicians.
Ensure your CEUs are approved: Check that the CEU training providers meet your specific requirements.
Become a member of a professional organization: Consider joining the National Association of Social Workers or the American Counseling Association.
Sign up for email lists: Stay on top of the latest research, free trainings, helpful resources, and professional development information by signing up for emails from:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Free courses, research, and literature related to substance use disorders.
Science Daily: The latest research news.
Recovery Research Institute: The latest research on recovery from substance use disorders and pathways to recovery.
National Institutes of Mental Health: Research and information on mental health.
Brain and Behavior Research Foundation: Information on breakthroughs in mental health research.
Find a mentor: Meet with them regularly for support, guidance, and training development.
Attend networking events and conferences: Meet and learn from other counselors and therapists in your field.
Professional trainings and certifications that add value
Part of continuing education planning is identifying trainings and certifications that support your clinical interests, strengthen your skills, and add value to your services.
Several types of trainings and certifications add value to your services, such as:
Training that provides a certification and a focus area, allowing you to work with a broader population, such as people with PTSD. Examples of these certifications include:
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), especially if approved by EMDRIA
Somatic experiencing practitioner training
Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Continuing education that is grounded in evidence-based practice, such as CBT.
Training that allows you to offer a new intervention or tool and improve your effectiveness as a clinician.
Certifications that enable you to work with a specialized population, such as couples, people with substance use disorders, or children and adolescents.
Becoming a board-approved clinical supervisor allows you to consult with and supervise associates and other clinicians individually, on a consultative basis, or in groups, generating additional streams of revenue outside of clinical work.
When to pursue specialization
Continuing education planning is not just about meeting licensing requirements—it is also an opportunity to intentionally build your skills and shape your career. Your specialization goals should be part of your larger professional development strategy, helping you decide which trainings are worth the time and financial investment.
Clinicians may consider pursuing a specialization after gaining experience in the field, identifying populations they enjoy working with, or noticing areas where they want to deepen their expertise.
Before investing in an advanced training program, consider how it aligns with your long-term goals, current caseload, professional interests, and capacity. For example, a therapist who frequently works with trauma survivors may benefit from trauma-focused training, while someone interested in expanding their practice may consider training in couples therapy, child and adolescent therapy, or substance use treatment.
Some clinicians also pursue additional credentials, such as clinical supervision training, to mentor other professionals and expand their career opportunities. Ultimately, the most valuable continuing education is training that supports both your professional growth and the needs of the clients you want to serve.
How to budget for training
Continuing education planning should include not only choosing relevant courses but also preparing financially for the cost of maintaining and expanding your skills. Creating a training budget can help you avoid last-minute expenses when renewal deadlines approach and make it easier to pursue advanced certifications that support your career goals.
Including education expenses in your professional development strategy can make it easier to pursue advanced training without unexpected financial stress. Start by identifying the continuing education requirements you need to complete during each renewal cycle, including any required courses such as ethics, suicide prevention, or other mandated topics. These courses are sometimes available at a lower cost or even for free through approved providers, professional organizations, or licensing boards.
For more specialized training, consider setting aside a portion of your annual income specifically for professional development. Advanced trainings can involve more than registration fees, so include costs like travel, accommodations, meals, time away from clients, and lost income if you need to reduce your caseload to attend.
If you plan to pursue a certification or specialized training every few years, consider making it part of your long-term financial plan rather than treating it as an unexpected expense. Some clinicians choose to set aside a small percentage of their earnings each year for continuing education, depending on their career goals and budget.
If you are employed, ask whether your organization offers a professional development budget or reimbursement for trainings that support your role. Some employers may help cover costs for specialized training, supervision, or certifications that benefit both the clinician and the practice.
Clinicians pursuing supervision credentials may also be able to find grants, employer support, or other funding opportunities to offset training and supervision costs.
What about online vs. in-person training?
When creating a continuing education plan, clinicians should consider different training and certification options. Training in-person vs. online is ultimately a matter of personal preference. Some people like the convenience of training from home, whereas others may learn more effectively by attending in-person training.
Another important consideration is the self-study element of any training you attend. Some boards limit the number of self-study hours you can count.
How to track requirements
There are several ways to track your progress towards meeting CEU requirements when planning continuing education:
Set reminders in your planner or calendar to review the board requirements every 6 to 12 months.
Sign up for email updates to stay informed about changes to requirements.
Make a tracker document or spreadsheet, noting:
CEUs required
Mandatory trainings
Renewal cycle dates
Acceptable providers
Self-study limits
Create a training log: Note the date and time attended, course title, training provider, accrediting body (if applicable), number of CEUs, cost, and where the certificate/proof of attendance is stored.
Sources
Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists. (n.d.). Continuing education.
Board of Licensed Social Workers. (n.d.). Continuing education general information.
California Board of Behavioral Sciences. (2026). Licensee continuing education requirements and frequently asked questions.
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