CEU requirements by State › California › LCSW
California · Clinical Social Work
California LCSW continuing education requirements
A California LCSW needs 36 hours of continuing education every 2 years to renew. This page is our summary of the continuing education rules for a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in California, as we read them from the published rules of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences on September 25, 2026.
- Hours
- 36
- Renewal
- Every 2 years
- Last checked
- September 25, 2026
A reference, not legal or licensing advice. Confirm is not affiliated with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and does not speak for it. We summarize the published rules as a convenience and they can change or be read differently, so this page may be incomplete or out of date. Your board has the final say: always confirm your requirements with your board before you renew. Use this page at your own risk. See the Terms.
Total hours
- 36 hoursSince July 1, 2023 the first renewal after initial licensure also needs the full 36 hours.
Licenses expire every two years on the last day of the month they were issued.
Hours that must be included
- California law and ethics: 6 hoursSix hours every renewal period.
One-time and recurring courses
- Suicide risk assessment and intervention: 6 hours, one timeOne-time six-hour course, required since January 1, 2021.
- Telehealth: 3 hours, one timeOne-time three-hour course, required for renewals on or after July 1, 2023.
Limits
- Teaching a course: at most 18 hoursA maximum of 18 hours each renewal period for teaching a course (since July 1, 2023).
- Same course counted once per cycleThe same course may not be claimed more than once during a single renewal period.
If you hold two licenses from this board
One course counts toward each license it fits. The Board's continuing education guidelines: dual licensees may apply CE hours to both licenses if the course meets all CE requirements and the subject matter relates to both scopes of practice.
Paperwork and other items
- Keep certificates from approved providersKeep each certificate for at least two years after renewal; the BBS audits a sample of licensees.
Approved providers
Courses must come from a provider the board approves or recognizes. Recognized: CAMFT, NASW, APA, NBCC, AAMFT, CPA, ASWB, AMA, ANCC, State board.
Source
California Board of Behavioral Sciences — Continuing Education, read on September 25, 2026.
Board: California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
This summary may be incomplete or out of date. The board’s own rules are the only authority; confirm your requirements with the board before you renew.