Creating a CE-approved online course is one of the highest-value things a therapist or counselor can do. Licensed professionals need continuing education credits to maintain their licenses — and they actively seek out quality CE content from credentialed experts.
CE/CEU accreditation is achievable for individual practitioners, not just institutions. The process involves applying to a board like NBCC, documenting learning objectives and assessment methods, and demonstrating instructor credentials. Kay Adams, LPC, secured NBCC ACEP approval as an individual practitioner. GERTI, a small nonprofit, earned Kansas Board of Nursing approval.
What CE/CEU Accreditation Means
Continuing Education credits are required by state licensing boards for therapists, counselors, social workers, psychologists, and other licensed practitioners to renew their licenses. When your course is CE-approved, students receive verifiable credits they can report to their licensing board. This is the difference between "nice to have" and essential.
The Major Accreditation Bodies
NBCC (National Board for Certified Counselors)
The NBCC is the largest national credentialing organization for counselors. Their Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP) program allows organizations and individuals to offer CE credits. Kay Adams secured NBCC ACEP status (#5782) as an individual practitioner.
The ACEP application requires:
- Documented learning objectives for each course
- Instructor credentials and qualifications
- Assessment methods (how you verify learning)
- A sample course for review
- Policies for recordkeeping, confidentiality, and grievance procedures
State Licensing Boards
Each state has its own licensing board with its own CE approval process. Start with NBCC (widely recognized), then add state-specific approvals based on where your students are licensed. You don't need every board at launch.
Specialty Boards
Some specialty certifications have their own CE requirements — EMDR International Association, Association for Play Therapy, and others. Check whether your target modality's certification body has its own CE approval process.
The Accreditation Process: Step by Step
1. Research Your Target Board's Requirements
Download their provider application, read their guidelines, and note specific documentation they expect before you build anything.
2. Document Your Learning Objectives
Accreditation bodies require specific, measurable learning objectives:
- Weak: "Understand journal therapy techniques"
- Strong: "Identify and apply three structured journal therapy interventions for use with trauma-affected populations"
3. Design Your Assessment
CE courses must verify that participants actually learned the material:
- Post-test quizzes: Multiple-choice or short-answer covering key learning objectives
- Reflection essays: Written responses demonstrating application to clinical practice
- Case analysis: Students identify appropriate interventions and justify reasoning
GERTI (run by Belinda Vierthaler, LMSW, LACHA) uses quiz completion tracking for employee HR files. Working to Recovery uses assignment-gated certificates.
4. Calculate CE Hours
CE hours are based on instructional time, not including breaks. A common formula: 1 CE hour = 50-60 minutes of instructional content. A 6-module course with 90 minutes of video, 30 minutes of exercises, and 30 minutes of assessment per module might qualify for 9-12 CE hours.
5. Submit Your Application
Applications typically require a fee ($200-$500), your provider information, instructor credentials, a sample course outline with learning objectives, your assessment plan, and your record-keeping policies. Review times vary from weeks to months.
6. Maintain Your Approval
CE provider status requires ongoing compliance: keeping records, providing certificates within specified timeframes, responding to inquiries, and renewing your status on schedule (typically every 1-3 years).
Pricing CE Courses
| CE Hours | Typical Price Range | Real Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 hours | $29-$79 | Kay Adams: 1.5-hr CE workshop at $47 |
| 6-12 hours | $149-$349 | Kay Adams: 9-hr CE program at $249 |
| 20-40 hours | $250-$850+ | GERTI: 30-hr CE bundle at $250 |
| Certification | $595-$5,000+ | Kay Adams: certification at $595 |
For detailed pricing strategies, see our therapy course pricing guide.
Common Mistakes in CE Course Creation
- Launching without accreditation. If your audience is licensed professionals, unaccredited content is a hard sell.
- Vague learning objectives. Accreditation bodies reject applications with objectives like "understand the topic." Be specific.
- No assessment plan. Design assessment from the start, not as an afterthought.
- Trying to get every board's approval at launch. Start with NBCC, expand later.
- Underpricing. A well-structured, accredited course from a credentialed expert is worth $40-60 per CE hour.