Which states allow online or distance CE credits for psychologists and are there limits in 2025?
Executive summary
Most U.S. states accept online or distance continuing education (CE) for licensed psychologists, but acceptance and caps vary: many boards accept APA‑approved online programs or state‑approved providers while some states impose limits on independent/home‑study or remote hours (examples: California allows up to 27 “independent learning” credits per renewal cycle in some summaries; Massachusetts requires 20 CEs over two years and the Board does not independently approve programs) [1][2]. National providers and aggregators advertise broad acceptance of online CEs and APA approval, but specifics must be verified with each state board because rules differ and are periodically updated [3][4][5].
1. Most states accept online CE — but the devil is in the details
State licensing boards commonly accept online CE when the provider is approved (often via APA, state board recognition, or other accrediting bodies). Industry aggregators and CE vendors routinely advertise that their APA or state approvals make courses acceptable across many jurisdictions [4][6]. National organizations such as the National Register and APA are recognized by some state boards as approved providers, creating broad pathways for online CE acceptance [3][5].
2. Some states limit how many credits can be “independent” or distance
Several summaries and vendor pages warn that states cap the percentage or number of independent/home‑study credits that may count toward renewal. For example, a long‑running summary indicates that independent learning cannot exceed 75% (27 hours) in some contexts and specifically notes California psychologists can apply up to 27 CE credits from custom/independent CE each renewal year — illustrating how limits are expressed as hours or percentages in different states [1]. These limits matter for psychologists who plan to meet most of their requirement via recorded courses.
3. State rule variation is wide — frequency, topics, and reporting differ
CE obligations differ not only by format but by quantity and subject requirements: some states set annual totals, others require multi‑year totals, and many mandate certain topics (ethics, cultural competence, telehealth). New York requires 36 hours per three‑year registration cycle with at least specified ethics credits, while Massachusetts requires 20 CE credits in the two years preceding renewal and the Board says it does not independently review/approve programs — placing onus on licensees to choose acceptable providers [7][2]. These differences explain why a single national list cannot wholly replace checking the state board.
4. Vendors and “unlimited CE” services claim broad acceptability — but verify
Commercial services (e.g., CE4Less, CE aggregators) market unlimited subscriptions and APA/state approvals, suggesting broad utility for distance learning; they cite multi‑state and national accreditations to support claims [4]. However, state boards sometimes require specific provider recognition or have caps on formats; therefore vendor approval does not guarantee universal acceptance — licensees must confirm acceptance with their state board [4][8].
5. Where public board guidance exists, it’s the authoritative source
State board pages and official guidance remain the definitive reference: the Florida Board site points users to profession‑specific CE requirement pages; Massachusetts’ FAQ spells out CE counts and the Board’s non‑approval stance; New York’s education department defines hours and required content per registration cycle [9][2][7]. Use board websites for final validation before relying on online CE for renewal.
6. Practical next steps for psychologists in 2025
First, check your state board’s CE page for: total hours per cycle, required topics, whether the board recognizes APA/other sponsorship, and any cap on independent/home‑study or remote hours [2][7]. Second, confirm the chosen provider’s approvals (APA, National Register, state provider numbers) and request documented certificates that list provider, hours, and content [3][6]. Third, when vendors advertise “accepted by all states,” treat that as a marketing claim and cross‑check against your board’s rules [4].
Limitations and open questions: available sources summarize state practice and vendor claims but do not provide a complete state‑by‑state chart in this dataset; I relied on vendor summaries and select state board pages which show the pattern but do not list every state’s limit [10][1][2]. For an exact, up‑to‑date list of which states cap online/distance CE and the precise limits for 2025, consult your state board’s CE/renewal page or the APA/state board compendia directly [5][9].