Why Social Work CE Is Particularly Complicated

Social work CE is one of the more complicated setups among licensed professions. Hours requirements range from 20 to 48 per cycle depending on the state. Mandatory topics vary wildly. Some states distinguish between license levels (LSW, LCSW, LICSW) with different requirements for each. And the approved provider lists don’t always overlap, so a course that counts in one state may not count next door.

If you hold a social work license — or especially if you hold more than one — this post breaks down what you’re dealing with.

The Big Picture: What Most States Require

While the specifics differ, most state social work boards build their CE requirements around a similar structure:

Total hours per cycle: Ranges from 20 hours (on the low end) to 48 hours per two-year cycle. The most common requirement falls in the 30-40 hour range for a two-year renewal period.

Renewal cycle length: Most states use a two-year cycle, but a few operate on annual or three-year timelines.

Ethics requirement: Almost universal. The vast majority of states require 2-6 hours of ethics-specific CE per cycle. This is the one mandatory topic you can almost always count on.

Supervision hours: For clinical social workers (LCSW), some states require CE hours specifically related to clinical supervision, particularly if you supervise other social workers.

License-level distinctions: Many states have different hour requirements based on license level. A bachelor’s-level social worker (LSW/LBSW) might need fewer hours than a clinical social worker (LCSW/LICSW).

Mandatory Topics by State

This is where it gets messy. Beyond the near-universal ethics requirement, states have layered on their own mandatory topic areas. Some common ones:

Cultural Competency and Diversity

A growing number of states now require CE hours in cultural competency, diversity, equity, and inclusion. These requirements have expanded significantly in recent years, with some states mandating 2-4 hours per cycle. More states have been adding this requirement in recent years.

Suicide Prevention and Assessment

Several states have added mandatory suicide prevention training for social workers, particularly for clinical licensees. These laws often specify minimum hours and approved curricula.

Trauma-Informed Care

Some states require training in trauma-informed approaches, recognizing the prevalence of trauma in the populations social workers serve. Requirements range from one-time mandates for new licensees to recurring per-cycle requirements.

Telehealth and Technology

A newer addition post-2020, a few states now require CE related to telehealth practice, technology ethics, or digital service delivery.

Substance Use and Addiction

States with significant substance use challenges have sometimes added mandatory hours in addiction-related topics, either for all social workers or for those with clinical licenses.

Mandated Reporting

Several states require periodic training on mandated reporting obligations, child abuse recognition, and elder abuse identification.

State-Specific Law and Jurisprudence

Some states require hours specifically covering that state’s social work practice act, regulations, and legal requirements. These courses are, by definition, state-specific and can’t be applied to other licenses.

Approved Providers: Who Counts?

Social work CE providers generally fall into a few categories:

ASWB (Association of Social Work Boards) ACE Program: The most widely recognized approval. ASWB’s Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program is accepted in the majority of states. If a course is ASWB ACE-approved, it’ll count almost everywhere.

NASW (National Association of Social Workers): NASW-sponsored CE is widely accepted, though not universally. Most states recognize NASW as an approved provider.

State-specific approved providers: Some states maintain their own list of approved providers or accrediting bodies. A course might be approved in one state but not another if the provider only holds state-level approval.

University-based programs: Accredited social work programs (CSWE-accredited schools) are generally approved CE providers in most states, though the format of the offering matters.

Cross-profession providers: Some states accept CE from related profession accreditors (APA for psychology, NBCC for counseling) if the content is relevant to social work practice. Others don’t. Check before you assume.

The safest bet for multi-state compliance is ASWB ACE-approved courses. They have the broadest acceptance.

Hours by State: The Range

To give you a sense of the variation, here’s how hours break down across states:

Lower end (20-24 hours per cycle): A handful of states keep requirements relatively modest, particularly for bachelor’s-level licensees. Fewer mandatory topics too.

Middle range (30-36 hours per cycle): Most states land here. Expect 2-4 mandatory topic areas and a broad list of accepted providers.

Higher end (40-48 hours per cycle): If you’re in one of these states — especially with a clinical license — you need to plan your CE early. Higher hours plus more mandatory topics plus stricter provider standards means less room for error.

One catch: These numbers change. States periodically revise their CE requirements — usually upward. Always verify current requirements directly with your licensing board rather than relying on any third-party summary, including this one.

Online vs. In-Person: What Counts?

The pandemic changed the rules here for good. Before 2020, many states capped the number of CE hours social workers could earn through online or self-study courses. Most of those caps have been loosened or eliminated.

That said, some restrictions remain:

• A few states still limit self-study (read an article, take a quiz) hours to a percentage of your total requirement
• Live webinar/virtual courses are almost universally accepted now, but some states distinguish between “live interactive” and “pre-recorded” formats
• In-person requirements are rare now but haven’t disappeared entirely

If you prefer online CE (and most people do), you’re in good shape in the vast majority of states. Just confirm your specific state’s rules on format restrictions.

Planning Your CE Strategically

Given the complexity, a bit of planning goes a long way:

Start with Mandatory Topics

Knock out your required topics first. Ethics, cultural competency, suicide prevention — whatever your state mandates, do those early in your cycle. They’re non-negotiable, and you don’t want to be scrambling for a specific topic at the last minute.

Pick Courses That Serve Double Duty

If you hold licenses in multiple states, choose ASWB ACE-approved courses in topic areas that satisfy mandatory requirements in more than one state. One well-chosen course can check boxes on multiple lists.

Keep a Running Tally

Don’t wait until renewal to count your hours. Track as you go. A simple spreadsheet works, or use a CE tracking app that lets you categorize hours by topic area and map them against your requirements.

Verify Before You Pay

Before registering for any course, confirm:

• It’s from an approved provider in your state
• The format is accepted
• The topic counts toward any mandatory categories you still need
• The number of CE hours matches what’s advertised

Tracking Across License Levels

If you hold both a bachelor’s-level license and a clinical license (which happens during the supervised practice period in many states), pay attention to which CE requirements apply to which license. They may overlap, but they may not be identical.

Some states require additional clinical-specific CE for LCSW holders. Others apply the same requirements regardless of license level. And if you’re working toward your clinical license, the hours you complete for your current license may or may not count toward the clinical license once you get it.

Staying Current on Changes

Social work CE requirements have changed a lot since 2020. New mandatory topics get added, hour requirements shift, and provider approval standards change.

The best way to stay current:

• Check your board’s website at least once a year for regulatory updates
• Join your state NASW chapter — they typically send alerts when CE requirements change
• Follow ASWB for national trends and updates to the ACE program
• Talk to colleagues — word travels fast when requirements change, though always verify through official channels

Your licensing board’s website is the only authoritative source. Everything else — including this post — is a starting point, not a substitute for checking the current rules yourself.