If you've ever considered sharing your specialized knowledge with other mental health professionals, becoming a continuing education (CE) provider could be your next career move. The good news for Texas-based professionals is simpler than you might expect: you're already qualified to become a CE provider.
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Understanding Texas Rules for CE Providers
The rules for becoming a CE provider in Texas underwent significant changes in recent years. Previously, providers needed to complete an application and pay a $50 fee to be placed on an approved list. Today, those requirements have been eliminated, opening the door for more professionals to offer continuing education. For LPCs, the relevant rules can be found in section 681.140, while LMFTs should reference section 801.261. These regulations outline acceptable topics but notably lack specific requirements for how to deliver CE content. Supervisors can deliver courses that count for the 50% rule in Texas (see more about that here).
How to Choose CE Topics That Meet Licensing Board Standards
When planning to offer continuing education, the first consideration should be your topic selection. The Texas rules provide guidelines on acceptable topics for various categories like ethics and cultural diversity. For ethics CEs, acceptable content includes state and federal laws, practice guidelines, professional responsibilities, and decision-making frameworks for licensees. The key is ensuring your topic relates directly to counseling and mental health practice. If your expertise lies in another field (like accounting), you can possibly make it CE-worthy by framing it specifically for mental health professionals—such as “Accounting for Counselors: Financial Decision-Making in Private Practice.”
How to Deliver, Host, and Sell Your CE Courses Online
The technical aspects of becoming a CE provider involve three main components: presenting, hosting, and selling your content. For presentation, platforms like Zoom provide accessible ways to deliver and record your content. Once recorded, you'll need a hosting platform where participants can access the content and a system for selling access and automatically delivering certificates of completion. Podia is one recommended platform that can handle both hosting and selling functions while integrating well with presentation tools like Zoom.
What to Include on Your CE Certificates
Certificate generation is one of the few specific requirements mentioned in the rules. While Texas doesn't dictate what must be included on CE certificates, best practices suggest clearly stating the CE topic, the number of hours the participant will earn, and your contact information. This becomes particularly important if you're pursuing national accreditation through organizations like NBCC, which have more stringent requirements including mandatory quizzes and assessments.
How to Market Your Continuing Education Content Effectively
Marketing your CE offerings presents another challenge. Conducting market research before creating content can save significant time and resources. Google similar topics to determine if there's demand—if you can't find similar CE offerings, it could mean either you've found an untapped niche or there's limited interest in the topic. Testing several different CE topics can help identify which ones resonate most with your target audience.
Recommended Tools for New CE Providers
For those concerned about technology, the upcoming webinar on using Podia will provide step-by-step guidance on setting up a digital storefront for your CE offerings. The platform integrates with email marketing services like ConvertKit, allowing you to communicate efficiently with participants before and after the event. For creating professional-looking marketing materials, Canva offers user-friendly design capabilities that can enhance your CE's visual appeal.
Budget-Friendly Options for Starting Your CE Business
When considering costs, starting with minimal investment is advisable. Many platforms offer affordable monthly plans that can accommodate beginners selling just a few CE programs. While corporate CE software exists with extensive features and higher pricing (often $80-300+ monthly), most individual providers can begin with a technology budget around $100 monthly, utilizing free versions of software when possible.
Turn Your Expertise into Passive Income with CE Courses
Whether you're presenting live webinars or creating asynchronous content, the process of becoming a CE provider offers a way to share your expertise while developing a potentially significant revenue stream. By focusing on topics where you have specialized knowledge and selecting the appropriate technology platforms, you can create valuable educational content for fellow professionals while expanding your practice's offerings beyond direct client service.
Action Items
- Ready to launch your first CE course? Check out our free webinar coming up in July where our expert walks you through how to become a NBCC provider!
- Want step-by-step help setting up your digital CE platform? Step it UP members have access to Teach. Train. Get Paid. included in their membership. Check it out here.
Blog post by Kate M. Walker Ph.D., LPC/LMFT Supervisor