What are the Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) Requirements in Iowa?

100% Online. NBCC & ASWB Approved. Access to 200+ CE Resources for just $45/month.

You’re probably here for one of two reasons: either your license renewal deadline’s creeping up, or you’re just trying to stay ahead of it without turning CE into another headache. Either way, we’ve built this page to help you sort through it - quickly and clearly.

We’ve pulled together what Iowa requires, how our platform fits into that, and the options available.

Show me the requirements Browse all courses for LPC

CE That Meets Iowa Requirements

If you’re a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Iowa, the requirements are:

40 hours every 2 years required for renewal. All CE may be independent (self-study) — no requirement for live instruction.

3 hours of ethics are required each 2-year cycle. 2 hours of mandatory reporting training bringing up-to-date: 1 hr on child abuse (if working with minors), and/or 1 hr on dependent adult abuse — must be completed through Iowa DHS. These are required every 3 years, starting July 1, 2024.

Beginning with the 2024 renewal cycle (licensing period Sept 1, 2022–Sept 30, 2024), licensees in supervisory roles must complete 3 hours of continuing education in clinical supervision.

Our CE certificates meet Iowa's Board of Behavioral Health licensing renewal requirements and are widely accepted based on our status as an NBCC and ASWB approved CE provider.

Online CE Credits “Essentials CE Plan” – $45/month for 12 months.

Unlimited Access

Extensive On-Demand Home Study Library
Unlimited Live CE Webinars
All Live Consultation Events
First Access to Newly Released Courses

Unlike most CE providers who advertise a “monthly rate” but require full payment up front, the Essentials CE Plan let’s you choose. This membership offers:

A true monthly payment option (spread your costs)
No long-term obligation beyond your 12-month term
No auto-renewal (you don’t have to remember any dates)

Start my "Essential CE Plan" bundle subscription now – $45/month

Certificate Programs: Specialize, Certify, and Signal Your Expertise

If you’re looking to go beyond CE checkboxes and build true clinical expertise, our Certificate Programs are designed for exactly that.

Each Cert Program is built to deepen your skillset in a targeted area of therapy delivery - while also granting a nationally recognized post-nominal credential upon completion.

Every Certificate Program Includes:

Lifetime access to all course content
A nationally recognized certification credential upon completion
4 free one-hour clinical consultations
No time limits and no due dates to complete
Self-paced, flexible learning designed by real clinicians

Man holding his CE requirements certificate.

Just Need One or Two Courses?

Not everyone wants or needs a full subscription. Below are a few of our most commonly completed CE courses for Iowa counselors:

Live CE Webinars That Feel Like a Real Training Room

Get the best of both worlds: world-class, expert-led live instruction with a truly interactive, virtual in-person experience built to help you meet licensure board “live CE” requirements from anywhere.

Why clinicians choose our Live CE Webinars

Interactive Q&A, in real time - ask questions and get clarity during the training
Live, engaging instruction led by experienced faculty
Instant CE credits after completion, so you can move on with your day
Accepted for CE credit in all 50 states
New webinars added frequently, so there’s always something relevant to your caseload

Want unlimited access?

Get unlimited access to ALL live CE webinars for a full year with our Essentials CE Plan at just $45/month for 12 months. You’ll also get access to a growing on-demand library, plus live expert sessions so you’re covered whether you need live hours, home study, or both.

Explore Live CE Webinars Get the Essentials Plan ($45/mo)

Online CE Credits offers online CE webinars.

A Quick Note About Approvals —
Because That Matters

We're a nationally recognized CE provider—approved by both the NBCC and the ASWB, which means our courses are accepted by licensing boards in all 50 states, including Iowa.

You don’t need to double-check every course or email someone for confirmation. We’ve done that work already. Your certificates are valid. They’re immediate. And they’re formatted exactly as your board expects them to be.

View CE Approvals

Quick Approvals

What Makes This Worth Your Time
(and Probably Some Relief)

We built Online CE Credits to feel less like a corporate portal and more like something made by
people who’ve actually done clinical work. Because we have.

One flat rate for 200+ CE hours – $45/month, no
obligation to renew at the end of your 12 month term.

Certificates available instantly after course completion

Every required CE topic is included – Ethics, suicide prevention, supervision, and more

Lifetime access to any course, webinar, or cert program you purchase individually (even if you purchase a membership later and elect not to renew it)

No timers, no need to plan around someone else’s schedule

Frequently Asked Questions

24/7 Customer Support

If you can’t find your answer here please contact us

Yes, our courses are accepted by the Iowa Board of Behavioral Health for a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC).

Once you complete a course (and associated quiz and evaluation), your certificate is instantly available for download. It includes everything your board needs.

You can take as few or as many courses as you need—it's flexible!

Iowa LMHC applicants generally need a qualifying master’s degree of at least 60 semester hours in counseling with an emphasis in mental health counseling, or a content-equivalent graduate program, plus the required supervised clinical experience and licensing examination. Graduates of non-CACREP programs must obtain a content-equivalency evaluation through the Center for Credentialing & Education.

Iowa requires at least 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience over a minimum of two years. That experience must include at least 1,500 hours of direct client contact and 110 hours of direct supervision, with no more than 50 supervision hours completed in a group format.

Applicants for a full Iowa mental health counselor license must pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE). A temporary mental health counselor applicant may qualify using either the NCMHCE or NCE, but the full LMHC license requires the NCMHCE.

Iowa LMHC licenses follow a biennial renewal cycle ending September 30 of each even-numbered year. Licensees can generally renew up to 60 days before expiration and must complete the applicable CE requirements before submitting renewal.

No. A mental health counselor licensed for the first time is not required to complete CE as a prerequisite for the first renewal. CE earned from initial licensure through the second renewal may be applied toward that later renewal, after which the standard 40-hour biennial requirement applies.

Ready to Finish Your CE Requirements?

Whether you’re just checking this off your list—or looking to go deeper than the usual bare-minimum CE—we’ve got everything ready.

No timers. No long waits. No “surprise” terms.

Start Premium Membership Access – $45/month

Or choose individual courses

NBCC & ASWB Approved | Therapist-Owned | CE Accepted in All 50 States

Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

Mind Works Professional Education, Inc. DBA Online CE Credits, #1974, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: July 23, 2025 - July 23, 2028.

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

Online CE Credits has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6795. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Online CE Credits is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Questions About Our CE Approvals

Our courses are approved by major licensing boards and organizations nationwide. Trust in our accredited continuing education programs.

See All National CE Approvals