A continuing education unit or CEU is essentially a measurement that is used by CE programs which allow professionals in various fields such as real estate, healthcare, social work, mental health, etc. so that they can keep practicing their profession. A CEU is having around 10 hours of participation in a specific CE program.
Like other mental health professionals, counselors and other professionals in the field, MFT (marriage and family therapists) in Maryland are also required to get CEUs to retain their certification or license to practice in the state. An MFT is essentially a mental health professional who offers psychotherapy and other change process services to couples, families, groups and individuals. MFT professionals are focused on the relational and interpersonal aspects of human behavior and the social context where issues occur.
MFT professionals are also regulated via professional licensure that is monitored by the Maryland state. In Maryland, the CE requirements for MFT or marriage and family therapists are as below:
- They must earn at least 40 CE hours every two years.
- A minimum of 30 of the 40 CE hours should be in Category A activities (which includes activities such as a seminar, course, workshop or symposium. Be an author, review or edit a juried publication) and Category B activities (which include activities such as presenting or attending informal courses, invited speaker sessions, in-house seminars or colloquia, case conferences for teaching, training, individualized learning and distance learning programs) must not comprise more than 10 CE hours.
If an MFT professional does not complete the mandated number of CE hours by the date when his/her license expires, the MFT will not be able to renew his/her license and the license with expire until the MFT completes the necessary CE hours. And, it is illegal to practice with an expired license in Maryland.