Continuing Education (CE)

The Administrative Rules for social work require applicants for re-licensure, and licensees wishing to renew their licenses who had been licensed for the three-year period immediately prior to the expiration date of their license, to accumulate at least 45 continuing education contact hours (CECHs) approved by the Board of Social Work during the three years preceding their application for renewal or re-licensure.

At least five of the 45 hours in each renewal cycle must be in ethics and one hour must be in pain and pain symptom management.  CECHs in pain and pain symptom management may include, but are not limited to, courses in behavior management, psychology of pain, behavior modification, and stress management.

Submission of an application for renewal or re-licensure constitutes the applicant’s certification of compliance with the continuing education rule. LMSWs and LBSWs must retain documentation showing their compliance with the rule for four years from the date they apply for license renewal or re-licensure. Failure to comply with the rule is a violation of the Public Health Code – grounds on which the Disciplinary Subcommittee of the Board of Social Work may take action.