Continuing Education

LISW CE Requirements in New Mexico

This page summarizes the current CE requirements for the LISW (Licensed Independent Social Worker; New Mexico's independent clinical tier — NM does not use an 'LCSW' designation) license in New Mexico — renewal model, mandated topics, live/interactive rules, and home-study limits — with links to the official regulator.

30CE hours / cycle

2 yrrenewal cycle

0 hlive / interactive required

—ethics required

Full New Mexico LISW requirements

Verified

LISW

LISW (Licensed Independent Social Worker; New Mexico's independent clinical tier — NM does not use an 'LCSW' designation)

30hours / 2-year renewal cycle

No live / interactive hours required — all hours may be self-study

Mandated topics

Cultural awareness/competency — 6 h

Home study: Of the 30 hrs, at least 20 must be board-approved (approved by NASW, ASWB, NBCC, the NM Counseling & Therapy Practice Board, or the NM Psychology Board); up to 10 may be non-board-approved but must still be within the profession of social work. No live/in-person minimum and no separate self-study cap stated by the board.

Board notes: Biennial renewal cycle (July 1-June 30). Governing rule NMAC 16.63.12. Requirement (30 hrs, 20 board-approved/10 non-board-approved, 6 hrs cultural awareness) applies across the three practice levels (LBSW, LMSW, LISW). No board-mandated ethics-hour requirement at any tier; the only mandated topic is 6 hrs cultural awareness/competency. Some provider sites reframe the 20/10 board-approved split as a live-vs-self-study split, but the official board describes it as board-approved vs non-board-approved, not a live/interactive mandate.

rld.nm.gov ↗rld.nm.gov ↗srca.nm.gov ↗onlinececredits.com ↗

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Frequently asked questions

How many CE hours does an LISW need in New Mexico?

An LISW must complete 30 CE / continuing-education hours every 2 years in New Mexico.

Are there required CE topics for LISW in New Mexico?

Yes. New Mexico requires the following CE topics for LISW: Cultural awareness/competency (6 h).

Can LISW CE be completed online in New Mexico?

Generally yes — New Mexico does not require live or interactive hours for LISW, so approved online / home-study CE can typically satisfy the requirement. Home-study note: Of the 30 hrs, at least 20 must be board-approved (approved by NASW, ASWB, NBCC, the NM Counseling & Therapy Practice Board, or the NM Psychology Board); up to 10 may be non-board-approved but must still be within the profession of social work. No live/in-person minimum and no separate self-study cap stated by the board..

What else should LISW renewals know in New Mexico?

Biennial renewal cycle (July 1-June 30). Governing rule NMAC 16.63.12. Requirement (30 hrs, 20 board-approved/10 non-board-approved, 6 hrs cultural awareness) applies across the three practice levels (LBSW, LMSW, LISW). No board-mandated ethics-hour requirement at any tier; the only mandated topic is 6 hrs cultural awareness/competency. Some provider sites reframe the 20/10 board-approved split as a live-vs-self-study split, but the official board describes it as board-approved vs non-board-approved, not a live/interactive mandate.

Other New Mexico licenses

LPCC in New Mexico40 CE hours every 2 years Licensed Psychologist in New Mexico40 CE hours every 2 years LMFT in New Mexico40 CE hours every 2 years BCBA in New Mexico32 CE hours every 2 years

LISW CE requirements in other states

Updated July 2026 from official licensing-board, regulatory-college, and government sources. CE / CPD requirements change often — always confirm current rules directly with your licensing board or regulator before you renew. Informational only, not legal advice.