Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Continuing Education and CEUCafe

1. Can I earn all 36 units--including BBS required courses--through CEUCafe?

Yes. Per the Board of Behavioral Sciences, effective July 1, 2015, licensees may gain ALL of their required CE hours online, and through self-study if the course is offered by an acceptable CE provider. For additional information about continuing education requirements visit the BBS website: www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/licensee_ce_faqs_102014.pdf

2. How do I know if the material I want to use is acceptable for CE credit?

You should choose non-fiction material related to the LMFT/LCSW/LPCC/LEP scope of practice, and geared toward a Master's level of learning. Courses can relate to direct patient/client care (theoretical frameworks, intervention techniques, etc.) or indirect patient/client care (legal issues, consultation, record keeping, office management, insurance matters, supervision, etc.).

According to the California BBS guidelines, course work needs to be related to the LMFT's/LCSW's/LPCC's/LEP's scope of practice, and incorporate at least one of the following:

  • Aspects of counseling or social work that are fundamental to the understanding or practice of counseling or social work;
  • Aspects of counseling or social work in which significant recent developments have occurred; and
  • Aspects of other related disciplines that enhance the understanding or practice of counseling or social work.

THE MATERIAL YOU CHOOSE CANNOT BE DESIGNED FOR LAY PEOPLE (SELF-HELP, PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL GAIN, TIME MANAGEMENT, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, COMPUTERS/SOFTWARE, ETC.) AS THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED ACCEPTABLE FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION ACCORDING TO THE BBS. See the BBS website for more information:  www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/licensee_ce_faqs_102014.pdf

If you have any questions about the material you would like to use, send us an email including the title, author, publisher, and date of publication, and we will review your selection and let you know if it qualifies for CE credit. IF YOU SUBMIT A COURSE THAT DOES NOT MEET THE ABOVE CRITERIA FOR CE CREDIT, WE WILL CONTACT YOU TO LET YOU KNOW AND ISSUE A REFUND.

3. What is the definition of "scope of practice" for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs?

Scope of Practice for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists:

It is that service performed with individuals, couples, or groups wherein interpersonal relationships are examined for the purpose of achieving more adequate, satisfying, and productive marriage and family adjustments. This practice includes relationship and pre-marriage counseling. The applications of marriage, family, and child counseling principles and methods includes, but is not limited to, the use of applied psychotherapeutic techniques, to enable individuals to mature and grow within marriage and the family, and the provision of explanations and interpretations of the psychosexual and psychosocial aspects of relationships. (B&P 4980.02)

Scope of Practice for Licensed Clinical Social Workers:

It is a service in which a special knowledge of social resources, human capabilities, and the part that unconscious motivation plays in determining behavior, is directed a helping people to achieve more adequate, satisfying, and productive social adjustments. The application of social work principles and methods includes, but is not restricted to, counseling and using applied psychotherapy of a non-medical nature with individuals, families, or groups; providing information and referral services; providing or arranging for the provision of social services; explaining or interpreting the psychosocial aspects in the situations of individuals, families, or groups; helping communities to organize, to provide, or to improve social or health services; or doing research related to social work.

Psychotherapy, within the meaning of this chapter, is the use of psychosocial methods within a professional relationship, to assist the person or persons to achieve a better psychosocial adaptation, to acquire greater human realization of psychosocial potential and adaptation, to modify internal and external conditions which affect individuals, groups, or communities in respect to behavior, emotions, and thinking, in respect to their intrapersonal and interpersonal processes. (B&P 4996.9)

Scope of Practice for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors:

(1) "Professional clinical counseling" means the application of counseling interventions and psychotherapeutic techniques to identify and remediate cognitive, mental, and emotional issues, including personal growth, adjustment to disability, crisis intervention, and psychosocial and environmental problems.  "Professional clinical counseling" includes conducting assessments for the purpose of establishing counseling goals and objectives to empower individuals to deal adequately with life situations, reduce stress, experience growth, change behavior, and make well-informed, rational decisions. 

(2) "Professional clinical counseling" is focused exclusively on the application of counseling interventions and psychotherapeutic techniques for the purposes of improving mental health, and is not intended to capture other, nonclinical forms of counseling for the purposes of licensure. For purposes of this paragraph, "nonclinical" means nonmental health.

(3) "Professional clinical counseling" does not include the assessment or treatment of couples or families unless the professional clinical counselor has completed all of the following additional training and education, beyond the minimum training and education required for licensure. (B&P 4999.20)

Scope of Practice for Licensed Educational Psychologists:

The practice of educational psychology is the performace of any of the following professional functions pertaining to academic learning processes or the educaiton system or both:

(a) Educational evaluation. (b) Diagnosis of psychological disorders related to academic learning processes. (c) Administration of diagnostic tests related to academic learning processes including tests of academic ability, learning patterns, achievement, motivation, and personality factors. (d) Interpretation of diagnostic tests related to academic learning processes including tests of academic ability, learning patterns, achievement, motivation, and personality factors. (e) Providing psychological counseling for individuals, groups, and families. (f) Consultation with other educators and parents on issues of social development and behavioral academic difficulties. (g) Conducting psychoeducational assessments for the purposes of identifying special needs. (h) Developing treatment programs and strategies to address problems of adjustment. (i) Coordinating intervention strategies for management of individual crises. (B&P 4989.14)

4. The BBS requires additional coursework before I can be licensed as a LMFT, LCSW, or LPCC. Can I complete this coursework through CEUCafe.com?

The BBS allows some of the coursework required prior to licensure to be obtained from an approved continuing education provider, such as CEUCafe.com. Please note: there are differences between the LMFT, LCSW, and LPCC requirements in terms of courses that are approved for credit through continuing education providers. Please visit the BBS website for specific information regarding your license.

LCSW applicant information: www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lcsw.html

LMFT applicant information: www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lmft.html

LPCC applicant information: www.bbs.ca.gov/applicants/lpcc.html

5. What are the CE requirements for licensed professionals?

LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs each need to complete 36 CE contact hours during each 2 year renewal cycle. 6 of these CE hours need to be completed in the area of Law & Ethics during each renewal cycle. First time renewals only require 18 CE hours to renew. See the BBS website for additional information: www.bbs.ca.gov/pdf/forms/cechart.pdf

6. How do I calculate the number of CE hours I will receive for the material I choose?

The number of CE hours is automatically calculated on self-submitted material based on the information you provide. You can enter the type of material and the page count into our online submission form, and the number of CEs will be automatically calulated and shown next to the purchase price at the bottom of the submission form. You can receive credit for books, journal articles, or audio/video materials that you have read, listened to, and/or viewed during your current 2-year renewal period. For self-selected material, CE credit is offered at the following rates:

  • Books -- 24 pages = 1 CE hour (6 pages for each .25 CE hour, minimum 1 CE hour)
  • Journal Articles -- 8 pages = 1 CE hour (2 pages for each .25 CE hour, minimum 1 CE hour)
  • Audio/Video Tape, CD, DVD -- 1 hour = 1 CE hour (15 minutes for each .25 CE hour, minimum 1 CE hour)

7. How are self-selected courses evaluated?

After you select and purchase your course, log into your account and click on the "take test" button that corresponds with your selected course to complete and submit your essay test and evaluation. Once your post-test is submitted, a qualified evaluator will check for relevance, accuracy, and content. When it is determined that it is acceptable for CE credit, you will receive an email letting you know that your certificate is available to view and/or print from your CEUCafe account homepage. We process submitted tests within 24 hours, and often sooner. If you have submitted your test and have not received your certificate within this time frame, please email us at info@ceucafe.com for additional assistance.

8. What kinds of questions are asked on the essay test for a self-selected course?

The post-test questions are as follows:

1. Identify what you consider to be the main theme in this course material, and/or the main question or problem that was addressed in this course.
2. Summarize the points you found most significant in this course.
3. Discuss how you would apply your learning in this course to the practice of your profession, or critically discuss why it would not apply.
4. How did this course meet, or fail to meet, your learning goals and objectives?

You will write 1-2 paragraphs in response to each question to demonstrate familiarity with the subject matter. You must also agree to the following statement: I certify that the material I have chosen for continuing education credit was read, listened to, or viewed in its entirety within my current license renewal period. I further certify that I personally and solely completed the post-test and course evaluation honestly and accurately.

Your certificate will not be available until you complete the post-test, and it is evaluated for content.

9. What kinds of questions are on the post-test for a CEUCafe course?

For CEUCafe courses (including preselected books), you must complete an online post-test that includes true/false and/or multiple choice questions. There is no limit on the number of times that you may take the post-test in order to receive a passing score of 70%. You will not be charged if you take the test again.

After you select and purchase your course, read the course materials. Then, login to your CEUCafe account and click on the "take test" button that corresponds with your course in order to complete the post-test. As soon as you pass the post-test, your certificate of completion will be available to view and print immediately.

10. How will I obtain my certificate of completion?

For self-selected material, when your post-test has been approved you will be notified by email that your certificate is available. For CEUCafe courses and preselected books, your certificate of completion will be available on your member home page as soon as you pass the post-test and complete the course evaluation. If you passed the post test but did not click the button at the bottom of the post test to complete the course evaluation, your certificate will not show up. If this happens, go to your member homepage, look in the "Action" column, and click the "Evaluation" button. Once you complete the evaluation, your certificate will show up on the submission page, and also as an icon in the "Action" column on your home page next to your course title. If you are still having difficulty after completing both the post test and evaluation, please contact us at info@ceucafe.com.

11. It's been over 24 hours since I submitted my post-test on a self-selected course. I've checked my email, but haven't received any messages from CEUCafe.com.

We send an email as soon as we review and approve your post-test. Try checking your junk or spam email folders, and make sure CEUCafe.com is on your safe senders list.  You can also login to your CEUCafe.com home page and see if your certificate is available. Also, check to make sure your email address is updated to the account you want us to email on your account home page. E-mail us at info@ceucafe.com if you are still having trouble accessing your certificate.

12. I never received a receipt for my purchase.

We automatically email a reciept when you purchase a course. Check you e-mail account preferences and make sure CEUCafe.com is on your safe-senders list. Also, check your junk or spam folder to see if your receipt ended up there. If you are still having trouble accessing your receipt, e-mail us at info@ceucafe.com and we can help you.

13. What if I need additional copies of my CE certificate?

Log in to your CEUCafe account anytime to see a list of your completed courses and print additional copies of your certificate at any time. Click the certificate icon under the Actions menu.

14. Is my credit card and other personal information secure?

Yes, your credit card information is submitted using a Secure Socket Layer (SSL). On your URL address bar you will notice the "https://". This indicates that the payment information you are submitting is encrypted and secure. We do not keep your credit card information on file, nor do we ever share any of your personal information with anyone.

15. I entered a valid credit card number, but it was denied.

Our credit card processing service matches the zip code on your credit card billing statement with the zip code you use when you registered at CEUCafe as an additional security measure. If you entered your business address when you registered, it might not match your credit card billing information. You can update your CEUCafe account information by logging on to your account, and then clicking “My Profile” on the menu bar.

16. When will my credit card be billed?

Your credit card will be processed electronically after you have chosen your course. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express through our secure online payment process with Authorize.net.

17. What if I am not satisfied with the course, or I have another grievance?

We want you to be satisfied with your CEUCafe learning experience. If the course materials do not meet your learning objectives, please contact us in writing at info@ceucafe.com and we will gladly offer a refund within 30 days of purchase. Sorry, we cannot offer refunds on self-selected courses. If you have any other grievance, please send it in writing by email to info@ceucafe.com. We usually respond to email within 24 hours.

18. I've tried to register several times, but I keep getting an error message when I try to login.

After you register, you should get an email with a link to click and confirm that your email address is correct and that you can receive emails from us about your account. If you didn't receive an email after you registered, please let us know at info@ceucafe.com. Some email servers have their spam filters set to reject automatic emails from shared servers such as ours. Comcast, Yahoo, and SBCGlobal are a few of the email servers that have rejected our automatic emails. If you contact us and let us know you didn't receive our email, we can manually verify your email address so that you can log in. Please also add CEUCafe to your safe senders list on your email account so that you can receive emails from us pertaining to your account and your courses.

19. I'm trying to reset my password, but I didn't get an email link. 

It can sometimes take 20 minutes or more for an email to come through. If you don't receive an email, check your spam folder, and reach out to us at info@ceucafe for further support.

20. I'm a licensed professional in a state other than California. Can I still get credit for courses I take at CEUCafe.com?

Check with your licensing board and ask if they accept CE credit from a California BBS Approved Provider. Some Boards do, and others do not. We don't have the latest, updated information about states other than California, so always check with your state board first.

21. I need accommodation for a disability.

CEUCafe.com offers courses that are accessible to persons with disabilities. If you want to use self-selected materials that are not readily available for us to verify due to a disability, or if you have any other questions about accomodation for a disability, contact us to discuss your needs at info@ceucafe.com. Please allow as much advance notice as is possible to ensure we have ample opportunity to meet your needs.


Education is an ongoing pursuit, and we believe that the learning process is most relevant when you have the freedom to explore and develop your unique interests and passions. Whatever your learning goals, you can choose CE that is relevant at CEUCafe.com. We hope you join us!