States with Fewest Continuing Education Hours for Social Worker (2026)

The state with the lowest requirement is Connecticut at 15 hours. The highest is Arkansas at 48 hours. The national average is 33 hours.

Lowest

15 hours

Connecticut

Average

33 hours

across 43 states

Median

30 hours

25 states at or below

Range

33 hours

spread across states

#	State	CE Hours / Cycle	Renewal Fee	Renewal Cycle
#1	Connecticut	15 hours	$LMSW: $125; LCSW: $200	1 year (annually during licensee's birth month)
#2	Oklahoma	16 hours	$100	1 year (expires December 31 annually)
#3	Louisiana	20 hours	$RSW: $25; CSW/LMSW: $50; LCSW/LCSW-BACS: $75 (annually)	Annual renewal; credentials lapse August 31 if not renewed; cancelled if not renewed by February 28
#3	Montana	20 hours	$100 (annual)	1 year (annually by December 31)
#3	Vermont	20 hours	$240	2 years
#6	Maine	25 hours	$70 (all license levels)	2 years (biennial)
#7	Iowa	27 hours	$LBSW: $72; LMSW: $120; LISW: $144	2 years (expires December 31 of even-numbered years)
#8	Arizona	30 hours	$LBSW: $130; LMSW: $130; LCSW: $180	2 years
#8	Florida	30 hours	$LCSW: $130; CMSW: $130	2 years; current licenses expire March 31, 2027 (odd year confirmed)
#8	Idaho	30 hours	$LSW/LMSW: $80; LCSW: $90	Biennial licensure transition confirmed as of October 14, 2025.
#8	Illinois	30 hours	$60	2 years
#8	Indiana	30 hours	$50	2 years; all licenses expire April 1st on even years
#8	Massachusetts	30 hours	$LSWA: $42; LSW: $68; LCSW/LICSW: $120	Biennial renewal on licensee's birthday
#8	Missouri	30 hours	$70	Biennial; renewal by September 30 of odd-numbered years
#8	New Hampshire	30 hours	$275-$298	Annual renewal, but 36 CE hours every 2 years (despite annual renewal)
#8	New Mexico	30 hours	$300 (biennial, LISW/LCSW)	Biennial; all permanent licenses expire on July 1
#8	North Dakota	30 hours	$75 (all levels)	2 years
#8	Ohio	30 hours	$Biennial (paid through Ohio eLicense system)	2 years (on license issuance date)
#8	Pennsylvania	30 hours	$95	Current cycle: March 1, 2025 – February 28, 2027; next cycle: March 1, 2027 – February 28, 2029
#8	Rhode Island	30 hours	$120	Biennial renewal; renewal notices sent 60 days before expiration date
#8	South Dakota	30 hours	$SWA $90, SW $130, CSW $170, CSW-PIP $210 (biennial)	2 years
#8	Texas	30 hours	$LBSW/LMSW $86; LMSW-AP/LCSW $106; penalty fees if license expires	2 years
#8	Virginia	30 hours	$130 (biennial)	2 years
#8	West Virginia	30 hours	$100 (biennial)	2 years (September 30 of odd-numbered years)
#8	Wisconsin	30 hours	$90 (LCSW)	02/28 of each odd-numbered year (biennial)
#26	Nebraska	32 hours	$Biennial renewal (amount varies by credential)	Biennial; expiration date is September 1 of even-numbered years
#27	Georgia	35 hours	$100	2 years; expires September 30 of even-numbered years
#28	California	36 hours	$220 (includes $20 Mental Health Practitioner Education Fund)	LCSW: 2-year renewal period; ASW: 1-year renewal period (confirmed via CE page language referencing 'one-year period' for registrants and 'two-year period' for licensees)
#28	Nevada	36 hours	$150	Annual — last day of birth month; CE requirements on 2-year cycle despite annual renewal
#28	New York	36 hours	$65 (triennial)	3 years (triennial registration)
#31	District of Columbia	40 hours	$85	2 years (expires July 31 of odd-numbered years)
#31	Kansas	40 hours	$LBSW: $100; LMSW: $125; LSCSW: $150	2 years
#31	Minnesota	40 hours	$263.25 (LICSW)	2 years (biennial; renewal in birth month, two calendar years from license issue)
#31	Mississippi	40 hours	$LSW: $75; LMSW/LCSW: $110	2 years (LSW by September 30; LMSW/LCSW by April 30)
#31	North Carolina	40 hours	$CSW/CMSW/CSWM: $90; LCSWA: $140; LCSW: $150	2-year cycle; each credential issued for a period not to exceed 2 years
#31	Oregon	40 hours	$120 (LCSW)	2 years (by last day of birth month); CSWA renewed annually
#31	South Carolina	40 hours	$90	2 years (by December 31 of even-numbered years)
#31	Utah	40 hours	$103 (biennial)	2 years (by October 1 of even-numbered years)
#39	Alaska	45 hours	$300	2 years
#39	Hawaii	45 hours	$LBSW: $177; LSW: $222; LCSW: $270	Triennial; all licenses expire June 30 every 3 years (2025, 2028, 2031)
#39	Michigan	45 hours	$117.20 (triennial)	Confirmed: triennial (3-year) for full license; 1-year for limited license (LLBSW/LLMSW), renewable up to 6 times
#39	Wyoming	45 hours	$75	2 years (expires on holder's date of birth every two years)
#43	Arkansas	48 hours	$80 (cashier's check or money order only — no personal checks)	2 years
—	Alabama	Varies — see details	$85	2 years
—	Colorado	Varies — see details	$70	All Social Worker and Provisional licenses expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years. Renewal fee not shown on fetched pages.
—	Delaware	Varies — see details	$115	2 years; expires January 31 of odd-numbered years (e.g., 2023, 2025)
—	Kentucky	Varies — see details	$LSW $75 / CSW $125 / LCSW $200	3 years (triennial)
—	Maryland	Varies — see details	$LBSW: $100; LGSW: $226; LCSW-C: $301	2 years
—	New Jersey	Varies — see details	$Biennial (varies by credential)	2 years (in even-numbered years)
—	Tennessee	Varies — see details	$100 (biennial)	2 years (biennial)
—	Washington	Varies — see details	$216 (LICSW)	Annual — renew every year on or before birthday

CE hours are per renewal cycle as reported by state licensing boards. States showing 0 hours may not require continuing education or may have alternative requirements. Click any state for full details.

Key Takeaways

•25 states come in at or below the median of 30 hours
•The range spans from 15 hours to 48 hours — a 33 hours spread
•States in the Northeast tend to have lower values (avg 27 hours), while West states average 36 hours
•8 states did not have data available for this metric

Frequently Asked Questions

Which state requires the fewest continuing education hours for social workers?

Connecticut requires the fewest CE hours at 15 hours per renewal cycle. The national average is 33 hours.

How much do social worker licensing requirements vary between states?

There is significant variation across the 43 states with data. Values range from 15 hours to 48 hours, with a median of 30 hours.

Get licensing updates

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States with Fewest Continuing Education Hours for Social Worker (2026)

The state with the lowest requirement is Connecticut at 15 hours. The highest is Arkansas at 48 hours. The national average is 33 hours.

Lowest

15 hours

Connecticut

Average

33 hours

across 43 states

Median

30 hours

25 states at or below

Range

33 hours

spread across states

#	State	CE Hours / Cycle	Renewal Fee	Renewal Cycle
#1	Connecticut	15 hours	$LMSW: $125; LCSW: $200	1 year (annually during licensee's birth month)
#2	Oklahoma	16 hours	$100	1 year (expires December 31 annually)
#3	Louisiana	20 hours	$RSW: $25; CSW/LMSW: $50; LCSW/LCSW-BACS: $75 (annually)	Annual renewal; credentials lapse August 31 if not renewed; cancelled if not renewed by February 28
#3	Montana	20 hours	$100 (annual)	1 year (annually by December 31)
#3	Vermont	20 hours	$240	2 years
#6	Maine	25 hours	$70 (all license levels)	2 years (biennial)
#7	Iowa	27 hours	$LBSW: $72; LMSW: $120; LISW: $144	2 years (expires December 31 of even-numbered years)
#8	Arizona	30 hours	$LBSW: $130; LMSW: $130; LCSW: $180	2 years
#8	Florida	30 hours	$LCSW: $130; CMSW: $130	2 years; current licenses expire March 31, 2027 (odd year confirmed)
#8	Idaho	30 hours	$LSW/LMSW: $80; LCSW: $90	Biennial licensure transition confirmed as of October 14, 2025.
#8	Illinois	30 hours	$60	2 years
#8	Indiana	30 hours	$50	2 years; all licenses expire April 1st on even years
#8	Massachusetts	30 hours	$LSWA: $42; LSW: $68; LCSW/LICSW: $120	Biennial renewal on licensee's birthday
#8	Missouri	30 hours	$70	Biennial; renewal by September 30 of odd-numbered years
#8	New Hampshire	30 hours	$275-$298	Annual renewal, but 36 CE hours every 2 years (despite annual renewal)
#8	New Mexico	30 hours	$300 (biennial, LISW/LCSW)	Biennial; all permanent licenses expire on July 1
#8	North Dakota	30 hours	$75 (all levels)	2 years
#8	Ohio	30 hours	$Biennial (paid through Ohio eLicense system)	2 years (on license issuance date)
#8	Pennsylvania	30 hours	$95	Current cycle: March 1, 2025 – February 28, 2027; next cycle: March 1, 2027 – February 28, 2029
#8	Rhode Island	30 hours	$120	Biennial renewal; renewal notices sent 60 days before expiration date
#8	South Dakota	30 hours	$SWA $90, SW $130, CSW $170, CSW-PIP $210 (biennial)	2 years
#8	Texas	30 hours	$LBSW/LMSW $86; LMSW-AP/LCSW $106; penalty fees if license expires	2 years
#8	Virginia	30 hours	$130 (biennial)	2 years
#8	West Virginia	30 hours	$100 (biennial)	2 years (September 30 of odd-numbered years)
#8	Wisconsin	30 hours	$90 (LCSW)	02/28 of each odd-numbered year (biennial)
#26	Nebraska	32 hours	$Biennial renewal (amount varies by credential)	Biennial; expiration date is September 1 of even-numbered years
#27	Georgia	35 hours	$100	2 years; expires September 30 of even-numbered years
#28	California	36 hours	$220 (includes $20 Mental Health Practitioner Education Fund)	LCSW: 2-year renewal period; ASW: 1-year renewal period (confirmed via CE page language referencing 'one-year period' for registrants and 'two-year period' for licensees)
#28	Nevada	36 hours	$150	Annual — last day of birth month; CE requirements on 2-year cycle despite annual renewal
#28	New York	36 hours	$65 (triennial)	3 years (triennial registration)
#31	District of Columbia	40 hours	$85	2 years (expires July 31 of odd-numbered years)
#31	Kansas	40 hours	$LBSW: $100; LMSW: $125; LSCSW: $150	2 years
#31	Minnesota	40 hours	$263.25 (LICSW)	2 years (biennial; renewal in birth month, two calendar years from license issue)
#31	Mississippi	40 hours	$LSW: $75; LMSW/LCSW: $110	2 years (LSW by September 30; LMSW/LCSW by April 30)
#31	North Carolina	40 hours	$CSW/CMSW/CSWM: $90; LCSWA: $140; LCSW: $150	2-year cycle; each credential issued for a period not to exceed 2 years
#31	Oregon	40 hours	$120 (LCSW)	2 years (by last day of birth month); CSWA renewed annually
#31	South Carolina	40 hours	$90	2 years (by December 31 of even-numbered years)
#31	Utah	40 hours	$103 (biennial)	2 years (by October 1 of even-numbered years)
#39	Alaska	45 hours	$300	2 years
#39	Hawaii	45 hours	$LBSW: $177; LSW: $222; LCSW: $270	Triennial; all licenses expire June 30 every 3 years (2025, 2028, 2031)
#39	Michigan	45 hours	$117.20 (triennial)	Confirmed: triennial (3-year) for full license; 1-year for limited license (LLBSW/LLMSW), renewable up to 6 times
#39	Wyoming	45 hours	$75	2 years (expires on holder's date of birth every two years)
#43	Arkansas	48 hours	$80 (cashier's check or money order only — no personal checks)	2 years
—	Alabama	Varies — see details	$85	2 years
—	Colorado	Varies — see details	$70	All Social Worker and Provisional licenses expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years. Renewal fee not shown on fetched pages.
—	Delaware	Varies — see details	$115	2 years; expires January 31 of odd-numbered years (e.g., 2023, 2025)
—	Kentucky	Varies — see details	$LSW $75 / CSW $125 / LCSW $200	3 years (triennial)
—	Maryland	Varies — see details	$LBSW: $100; LGSW: $226; LCSW-C: $301	2 years
—	New Jersey	Varies — see details	$Biennial (varies by credential)	2 years (in even-numbered years)
—	Tennessee	Varies — see details	$100 (biennial)	2 years (biennial)
—	Washington	Varies — see details	$216 (LICSW)	Annual — renew every year on or before birthday

Key Takeaways

•25 states come in at or below the median of 30 hours
•The range spans from 15 hours to 48 hours — a 33 hours spread
•States in the Northeast tend to have lower values (avg 27 hours), while West states average 36 hours
•8 states did not have data available for this metric

Frequently Asked Questions

Which state requires the fewest continuing education hours for social workers?

Connecticut requires the fewest CE hours at 15 hours per renewal cycle. The national average is 33 hours.

How much do social worker licensing requirements vary between states?

There is significant variation across the 43 states with data. Values range from 15 hours to 48 hours, with a median of 30 hours.

Get licensing updates