Updated for 2026

Alaska LCSW, LMSW & LBSW Continuing Education Requirements

Alaska clinical social workers must complete 45 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LCSW / LMSW / LBSW license, including 3 hours of professional ethics, 6 hours of substance abuse education, 6 hours of cross cultural education, 3 hours of alaska native cross cultural, 3 hours of teletherapy practice, and 3 hours of suicide education.

45

total hours / 2 years

6

substance abuse education hours

6

cross cultural education hours

3

alaska native cross cultural hours

3

professional ethics hours

3

teletherapy practice hours

3

suicide education hours

Biennial renewal · calculating the next statewide deadline

Alaska LCSW, LMSW & LBSW requirements

RequirementNotes
Total continuing education45 hours every 2 years.
RenewalBiennial cycle: CE due by June 30 of even years.
Professional Ethics3 hours required each cycle.
Substance Abuse Education6 hours required each cycle.
Cross Cultural Education6 hours required each cycle.
Alaska Native Cross Cultural3 hours required each cycle.
Teletherapy Practice3 hours required each cycle.
Suicide Education3 hours required each cycle.
Format limitsAt least 10 hours must be earned live.
New licenseesFirst renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically.
RecordkeepingKeep CE documentation for 3 years after each course's completion date.
Board auditThe board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance.

Limits on how the hours are earned

Board caps and floors on where the 45 hours can come from.

  • livemin 10 hrs
  • other board preapproved coursemax 15 hrs
  • first time course preparation and presentationmax 10 hrs
  • first time article or book chaptermax 10 hrs
  • board meeting attendancemax 3 hrs

Keeping the proof in order: what to keep for a CE audit, with every state’s retention period and what the audit notice asks for.

Total hours
45 hours every 2 years.
Renewal
Biennial cycle: CE due by June 30 of even years.
Professional Ethics
3 hours required each cycle.
Substance Abuse Education
6 hours required each cycle.
Cross Cultural Education
6 hours required each cycle.
Alaska Native Cross Cultural
3 hours required each cycle.
Teletherapy Practice
3 hours required each cycle.
Suicide Education
3 hours required each cycle.
Format limits
At least 10 hours must be earned live.
New licensees
First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically.
Recordkeeping
Keep CE documentation for 3 years after each course's completion date.
Board audit
The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance.
Full board policy details
  • At least 10 of the required contact hours (45 for regular renewals; 21 for a first renewal after less than 12 months of licensure) must be earned through interactive (live, live online, or otherwise synchronous) training courses. The remaining hours may be earned through correspondence, prerecorded/audiovisual, or other asynchronous programs. "Live online" synchronous Internet courses count toward the 10-hour live minimum.
  • Acceptable CE activities are defined under 12 AAC 18.220 and include courses offered by ASWB, NASW, CSWE-accredited programs, and similar recognized providers. Courses outside the listed categories may count only if preapproved by the Board and only up to 15 hours per cycle.
  • Course repeat restrictions: Instructor/presenter credit is limited to first-time preparation and presentation of a social-work course or seminar, with a maximum of 10 hours allocated among all presenters. First-time presentation or publication of an article or book chapter has a separate 10-hour limit. The regulations do not prohibit an attendee from repeating a course as a general rule.
  • License status rules: 12 AAC 18.210 imposes CE only on a licensee applying for renewal, so inactive or retired licensees who are not renewing are not subject to CE during that status. To reactivate from inactive or retired status, the licensee must satisfy the current renewal CE requirements (45 hours covering all mandated topics) before the license can be reinstated. The regulations do not specify reduced reactivation hours; verification with the Board is advised.
  • No conditional or provisional renewal is provided for under Alaska regulations. All required CE must be completed before the renewal application is submitted; there is no extension or temporary license mechanism to finish CE after the renewal date.
  • No more than 12 CE contact hours may be earned in one day. The engine evaluates cycle totals rather than per-day earning windows, so this limit remains a manual review item.

We turn every category, format limit, and one-time rule on this page into a live checklist on your Alaska LCSW / LMSW / LBSW record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.

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Alaska LCSW, LMSW & LBSW CE: frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do Alaska LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees need?

Alaska requires 45 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LCSW / LMSW / LBSW license. Biennial cycle: CE due by June 30 of even years.

How many ethics hours are required for Alaska LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees?

Of the total, 3 hours must be in professional ethics.

How often do Alaska LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees renew?

Biennial cycle: CE due by June 30 of even years.

Are there subject-specific CE requirements for Alaska LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees?

Yes. In addition to ethics, Alaska requires 6 hours of substance abuse education, 6 hours of cross cultural education, 3 hours of alaska native cross cultural, 3 hours of teletherapy practice, 3 hours of suicide education.

Can Alaska LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees complete CE online or by home study?

At least 10 hours must be earned live.

Is the first renewal different for new Alaska LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees?

First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically.

Sources & verification

State source
Alaska board rule
Last verified
August 2026
Ruleset version
2026.3

Reviewed against the Alaska board source and refreshed from the compiled ruleset above. Methodology and disclaimer. Compliance data is for guidance only, not legal or board advice. Always confirm requirements with your licensing board before renewing. See something wrong? Report it →

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Alaskaguides & data

What to keep for a CE audit

What boards ask for in a CE audit, how long each state says to keep certificates, what the notice looks like, and a printable checklist.

Alaska mental health workforce data

6,945 active providers, or 942 per 100,000 residents, ranked 2 of 51. County density map and free CSV downloads.

Other Alaska CE requirement pages

Alaska LPCAlaska LMFTAlaska Psychologist

LCSW CE requirements in other states

AlabamaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming