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.

45hours every 2 years
Topic minimums, counted within the 45
6substance abuse education
6cross cultural education
3professional ethics
3alaska native cross cultural
3teletherapy practice
3suicide education

Next deadline: June 30, 2028The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by June 30 of even years.

What the board saysAlaska board rule
(2) second or subsequent biennial renewal, the licensee shall complete 45 contact hours1. (b) To be eligible for renewal, a licensee shall complete the following minimum continuing education contact hours during each biennial licensing period: (1) six contact hours in substance abuse education2 … (2) six contact hours in cross-cultural education3; … (B) for the second or subsequent biennial renewal, at least three hours must include issues relating to Alaska Natives4; (3) three contact hours in professional ethics5; (4) three contact hours in teletherapy practice6; (5) three contact hours in suicide education7. … (d) A licensee applying for renewal shall complete at least 10 contact hours8 of the required continuing education contact hours under this section by attending live, live online, or synchronous training courses8.
What it means
  1. 45 hours every 2 years
  2. 6 hours of substance abuse education
  3. 6 hours of cross-cultural education
  4. 3 of those cross-cultural hours on Alaska Native issues
  5. 3 hours of professional ethics
  6. 3 hours of teletherapy practice
  7. 3 hours of suicide education
  8. At least 10 hours earned live
12 AAC 18.210Last verified August 2026Ruleset 2026.5How we verify
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Requirements

Alaska LCSW, LMSW & LBSW requirements

Total

45 hoursYou need 45 hours every 2 years. The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by June 30 of even years.

Topic minimums, counted within the 45

The remaining 21 hours are not tied to a topic minimum.
Substance Abuse Education
6
You need 6 hours each cycle.
Cross Cultural Education
6
You need 6 hours each cycle.
Professional Ethics
3
You need 3 hours each cycle.
Alaska Native Cross Cultural
3
You need 3 hours each cycle.
Teletherapy Practice
3
You need 3 hours each cycle.
Suicide Education
3
You need 3 hours each cycle.

Limits on how the hours are earned

Live
min 10 hrs
Other board preapproved course
max 15 hrs
First time course preparation and presentation
max 10 hrs
First time article or book chapter
max 10 hrs
Board meeting attendance
max 3 hrs

At least 10 hours must be earned live.

Cycle and record rules

Renewal
The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by June 30 of even years.
New licensees
The first renewal is different. New licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements, such as prorated hours or first-cycle-only rules, and we apply them 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.

To keep your proof in order, see what to keep for a CE audit, which covers every state’s retention period and what the audit notice asks for.

Your hours

Check where you stand

Enter the hours you have completed this cycle to see what is left before June 30, 2028.

Your result appears here as you enter hours.

Open the full LCSW CE hours calculator

Also hold a Alaska LPC or LMFT license? Each board runs its own CE cycle. See the Alaska LPC and Alaska LMFT requirements.

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.

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. The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is 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?

The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is 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?

The first renewal is different. New licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements, such as prorated hours or first-cycle-only rules, and we apply them automatically.

Sources and verification

State source
Alaska board rule
Profession source
ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
Last verified
August 2026
Ruleset version
2026.5

We reviewed this page against the Alaska board source, and we refresh it 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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Alaska guides & data

What to keep for a CE audit →Learn what boards ask for in a CE audit, how long each state says to keep certificates, and what the notice looks like, then use the printable checklist.Alaska mental health workforce data →6,945 active providers, or 942 per 100,000 residents, ranked 2 of 51. The page includes a county density map and free CSV downloads.

Other Alaska CE requirement pages

Alaska LPCAlaska LMFTAlaska PsychologistAlaska PMHNP

LCSW CE requirements in other states