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 required pre-licensure education for LCSWs can be home study because CE4Less posttests are required and are submitted electronically.

Effective July 1, 2023, the Board will begin requiring both applicants for licensure and licensees to have completed a minimum of three 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. CE4Less has a course coming soon that will meet this requirement!

California (CA BBS) Mandatory Continuing Education Courses

Spousal or Partner Abuse

All licensees are required to complete a seven-hour one-time course in spousal/partner abuse assessment, detection, and intervention strategies Spousal or Partner Abuse including community resources, cultural factors, and same-gender abuse dynamics. This is a one-time requirement.

The course which meets the CA Spousal or Partner abuse requirements is:

Spousal or Partner Abuse

Law & Ethics

All licensees are required to complete at least six hours of CE in the area of Law and Ethics as a condition of each renewal. The six hours shall be considered part of the 36 hour CE requirement. Law and ethics must be taken for each license renewal.

Course which meets the CE requirements for the CA Law and Ethics:

California Law and Professional Ethics (6 hours)

Aging and Long-Term Care

All licensees are required to complete a three-hour continuing education course in aging and long-term care. The course could include, but is not limited to, the biological, social, and psychological aspects of aging. This is a one-time requirement.

Course which meets the CE requirements for CA Aging and Long Term Care:

Aging and Long-Term Care

HIV/AIDS

All licensees are required to complete a course at least seven hours in length and cover the characteristics and method of assessment and treatment of people who live with HIV/AIDS. This is a one time requirement.

Courses that meet the CA HIV/AIDS CE requirement:

HIV/AIDS: A Comprehensive Review (No Book to Buy)

Suicide Risk Assessment and Intervention Requirements

6 hours suicide risk assessment and intervention. This course must be taken before your first renewal after January 1, 2021. This course meets the requirement:

Suicide Assessment Treatment and Management – Revised

Supervision Requirements

To provide supervision to Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT) Interns and Trainees…

You must complete a 6-hour supervision training within the two-year period immediately preceding supervision and every renewal period when supervising. NOTE: If the supervisor has never taken this course, it must be taken within 60 days of the commencement of supervision

This 6-hour No Book to Buy course meets the CA BBS requirements to supervise MFT Interns and Trainees:

Supervision: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals

To provide supervision to Associate Clinical Social Workers (ASW)…

You must complete a minimum of 15 contact hours in supervision training prior to the commencement of supervision. Once completed, you do not need to complete it again before supervising future ASWs.

Click here for a list of our supervision courses.

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, which must be taken through an educational institution.  All other requirements may be satisfied with courses offered by CE4Less because CE4Less is an APA-approved provider.

LCSW applicants must complete:

• 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 (must be taken through an educational institution)
• 10 hours in Aging, Long Term Care, and Elder/Dependent Adult Abuse
• 15 hours in Spousal/Partner Abuse Assessment, Detection, and Intervention