California Social Work CE Requirements

California social workers (LCSW) are required to complete 36 hours of approved continuing education every 2 years.

Yes! There are no restrictions on the number of hours California social workers can complete through CE4Less – all 36 hours may be earned through CE4Less.

California accepts courses from any provider approved by the Association of State Social Worker Boards (“ASWB”), the National Board for Certified Counselors (“NBCC”), or the American Psychological Association (“APA”). CE4Less is approved by all three. See our Accreditations page for more detail on all of our approvals and accreditations. California accepts our courses for CE credit.

Our Unlimited Plan is a great option for social workers who want to satisfy all their continuing education requirements for one low price!  Check out our options here.

All 36 hours of continuing education for LCSWs can be completed through CE4Less.

California LCSWs are regulated by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS).

Effective July 1st, 2023:

• 36 hours of continuing education (CE) is required for the initial renewal period.
• A new one-time requirement for applicants for licensure AND licensees to complete a minimum of three (3) hours of training or coursework in the provision of mental health services via telehealth, which must include law and ethics related to telehealth. This is a one-time requirement.

One-Time Requirements

• Licensees who renew after January 1, 2021 must complete six (6) hours of Suicide Risk Assessment and Intervention  as a one-time requirement.

Required for a New Licensee’s First Renewal Only

• Licensees must complete seven (7) hours of HIV/AIDs

Required for EVERY Renewal

• Licensees must complete six (6) hours of Law and Ethics

For more information, please contact the California Board of Behavioral Sciences at (916) 574-7830, see their website (available here) for additional information about your license or renewal requirements, or see California’s rules and regulations relating to social work licensure and continuing education.

• Full details for the requirements for California LCSW pre-licensure education can be found here.  California LCSW applicants can take all of their required pre-licensure education through CE4Less, with the exception of the Alcoholism and Chemical Substance Abuse & Dependency requirement.  We are currently working on a new course to meet this requirement.  All other requirements may be satisfied with courses offered by CE4Less, because CE4Less is approved by several approval agencies for CE recognized by the BBS including: APA, ASWB and NBCC. LCSW (In State) applicants must complete:
  • 6 hours in Suicide Risk Assessment and Intervention (This course will meet your requirement if not already satisficed per the sub-bullets below)
    • If this content was included already within your supervised experience, and you can obtain a written certification from the program’s director of training, or from your primary supervisor stating that the training was included within your supervised experience, it may be accepted in lieu of a course.
    • If this content was included within your qualifying degree program, you will need to obtain a written certification from the registrar or training director of your school or program stating that this coursework was included within the curriculum required for graduation, or within the coursework that was completed by you.
  • 7 hours in Child Abuse Assessment and Reporting in California
  • 10 hours in Human Sexuality
    • Human Sexuality: Across the Lifespan (3 hours)
    • Fertility and Sexual Health Interviews (3 hours)
    • Sexuality in Context and Sexually Transmitted Infections (3 hours)
    • Sexual Disorders and Sex Therapy (1 hour)
  • 15 hours in Alcoholism and Chemical Substance Abuse & Dependency (This course is being created; is not yet available through CE4Less)
  • 10 hours in Aging, Long Term Care and Elder/Dependent Adult Abuse
  • 3 hours in Provision of Mental Health Services via Telehealth
  • 15 hours in Spousal/Partner Abuse Assessment, Detection, and Intervention

  LCSW (Out-of-State) applicants must complete:

  • 12 hours of CA Law and Ethics
  • 15 hours of CA Cultures and Social/Psychological Implications
    • CA Cultures and Psychosocial Implications of Socioeconomic Position Part 1 (5 hours)
    • CA Cultures and Psychosocial Implications of Socioeconomic Position Part 2 (5 hours)
    • CA Cultures and Psychosocial Implications of Socioeconomic Position Part 3 (5 hours)
  • 3 hours in Provision of Mental Health Services via Telehealth
  • 7 hours in Child Abuse Assessment and Reporting in California
  • 10 hours in Human Sexuality
    • Human Sexuality Across the Lifespan (3 hours)
    • Fertility and Sexual Health Interviews (3 hours)
    • Sexuality in Context and Sexually Transmitted Infections (3 hours)
    • Sexual Disorders and Sex Therapy (1 hour)
  • 15 hours in Alcoholism and Chemical Substance Abuse & Dependency (This course is being created to meet this requirement and is currently not available through CE4Less)
  • 10 hours in Aging, Long Term Care and Elder/Dependent Adult Abuse
  • 15 hours in Spousal/Partner Abuse Assessment, Detection, and Intervention
  • 6 hours in Suicide Risk Assessment and Intervention (This course will meet your requirement if not already satisficed per the sub-bullets below)
    • If this content was included already within your supervised experience, and you can obtain a written certification from the program’s director of training, or from your primary supervisor stating that the training was included within your supervised experience, it may be accepted in lieu of a course.
    • If this content was included within your qualifying degree program, you will need to obtain a written certification from the registrar or training director of your school or program stating that this coursework was included within the curriculum required for graduation, or within the coursework that was completed by you.