Home/CE Requirements/Pennsylvania/LCSW
Continuing Education

LCSW CE Requirements in Pennsylvania

This page summarizes the current CE requirements for the LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) license in Pennsylvania — 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
3 hethics required
Full Pennsylvania LCSW requirements
Verified

LCSW

LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker)
30hours / 2-year renewal cycle
No live / interactive hours required — all hours may be self-study
Mandated topics
  • Ethics — 3 h
  • Child Abuse Recognition & Reporting (Act 31) — 2 h3 hours required before initial licensure; 2 hours each renewal thereafter
  • Suicide Prevention/Assessment — 1 h

Home study: No cap - the Board eliminated its live-CE requirement on 11/19/2019, so all 30 hours may be completed online/home study.

Board notes: Regulated by the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors (49 Pa. Code Ch. 47). Biennial renewal Feb 28 (even years). New licensees are exempt from the full 30-hour requirement for their first renewal but must still complete the 2-hour Act 31 child abuse training. Board randomly audits; retain CE documentation at least 4 years. Same 30/3/2/1 standard applies to LSW.

pa.gov ↗pa.gov ↗pa.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 Pennsylvania licenses
Frequently asked questions
How many CE hours does an LCSW need in Pennsylvania?

An LCSW must complete 30 CE / continuing-education hours every 2 years in Pennsylvania. That total includes 3 hours of ethics.

Are there required CE topics for LCSW in Pennsylvania?

Yes. Pennsylvania requires the following CE topics for LCSW: Ethics (3 h); Child Abuse Recognition & Reporting (Act 31) (2 h); Suicide Prevention/Assessment (1 h).

Can LCSW CE be completed online in Pennsylvania?

Generally yes — Pennsylvania does not require live or interactive hours for LCSW, so approved online / home-study CE can typically satisfy the requirement. Home-study note: No cap - the Board eliminated its live-CE requirement on 11/19/2019, so all 30 hours may be completed online/home study..

What else should LCSW renewals know in Pennsylvania?

Regulated by the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors (49 Pa. Code Ch. 47). Biennial renewal Feb 28 (even years). New licensees are exempt from the full 30-hour requirement for their first renewal but must still complete the 2-hour Act 31 child abuse training. Board randomly audits; retain CE documentation at least 4 years. Same 30/3/2/1 standard applies to LSW.

Other Pennsylvania licenses
LPC in Pennsylvania30 CE hours every 2 yearsLicensed Psychologist in Pennsylvania30 CE hours every 2 yearsLMFT in Pennsylvania30 CE hours every 2 yearsBCBA in Pennsylvania32 CE hours every 2 years
LCSW CE requirements in other states
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonRhode 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.