Home/CE Requirements/New York/LCSW / LMSW
Continuing Education

LCSW / LMSW CE Requirements in New York

This page summarizes the current CE requirements for the LCSW / LMSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker / Licensed Master Social Worker) license in New York — renewal model, mandated topics, live/interactive rules, and home-study limits — with links to the official regulator.

36CE hours / cycle
3 yrrenewal cycle
0 hlive / interactive required
—ethics required
Full New York LCSW / LMSW requirements
Verified

LCSW / LMSW

LCSW / LMSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker / Licensed Master Social Worker)
36hours / 3-year renewal cycle
No live / interactive hours required — all hours may be self-study
Mandated topics
  • Appropriate Professional Boundaries — 3 hRegulation (8 NYCRR 59.14): must complete 3 hours of coursework in appropriate professional boundaries in each 3-year registration period starting on/after April 1, 2023; counts toward the 36 and may satisfy ethics content

Home study: No more than 12 hours in any 36-month period (or one-third of the total in a period of other length) may be self-study; the remainder must be from other approved formats (live or interactive online with instructor interaction count as non-self-study).

Board notes: 36 hours per triennial registration period from NYSED-approved providers. Both LCSW and LMSW are subject to the same CE rule. Not required to complete CE during the initial three-year registration period after licensure. No mandatory live/in-person hours; interactive online courses are unlimited.

op.nysed.gov ↗op.nysed.gov ↗

Complete your social work CE with Triad

AATBS and CE4Less offer board-approved continuing education for social work professionals — ethics, cultural competency, clinical topics, and more.

Browse CE coursesAll New York licenses
Frequently asked questions
How many CE hours does an LCSW / LMSW need in New York?

An LCSW / LMSW must complete 36 CE / continuing-education hours every 3 years in New York.

Are there required CE topics for LCSW / LMSW in New York?

Yes. New York requires the following CE topics for LCSW / LMSW: Appropriate Professional Boundaries (3 h).

Can LCSW / LMSW CE be completed online in New York?

Generally yes — New York does not require live or interactive hours for LCSW / LMSW, so approved online / home-study CE can typically satisfy the requirement. Home-study note: No more than 12 hours in any 36-month period (or one-third of the total in a period of other length) may be self-study; the remainder must be from other approved formats (live or interactive online with instructor interaction count as non-self-study)..

What else should LCSW / LMSW renewals know in New York?

36 hours per triennial registration period from NYSED-approved providers. Both LCSW and LMSW are subject to the same CE rule. Not required to complete CE during the initial three-year registration period after licensure. No mandatory live/in-person hours; interactive online courses are unlimited.

Other New York licenses
LMHC in New York36 CE hours every 3 yearsLicensed Psychologist in New York36 CE hours every 3 yearsLMFT in New York36 CE hours every 3 yearsLicensed Behavior Analyst in New Yorkno set number of general CE hours
LCSW / LMSW CE requirements in other states
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
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.