CE requirements › California LCSW
California Licensed Clinical Social Worker: CE & renewal requirements
36 CE contact hours every 2 years
Biennial, tied to your license expiration date.
Source: California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) · confirmed 2026-06. Requirements change — always verify with the board.
Required topics
- 6 hrs Law & Ethics — every renewal
- One-time 6 hrs Suicide Risk Assessment (renewals after Jan 2021)
- One-time 3 hrs Telehealth (renewals after July 2023)
First renewal & exemptions
The full 36 hours apply even for your first renewal; the one-time suicide/telehealth items are waived only if you submitted them with your original application.
If your license lapses
You can't practice on an expired license; late renewal carries delinquency fees, and the license is cancelled after about 3 years (requiring reapplication).
How CE is tracked
Self-attest at renewal — don't submit certificates; keep them at least 2 years for audit.
Watch out: The 6-hr suicide and 3-hr telehealth are ONE-TIME requirements (not recurring like the 6-hr Law & Ethics) — but they do count toward the 36 the cycle you take them.
Are you on track? Check free
Enter your license expiration and CE hours completed — see what you still owe, the pace to finish, and your reminder schedule. No signup.
Informational only, based on the numbers you enter — not legal or licensing advice, and not an official record. Confirm your exact requirement and current status with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS).