Alabama LICSW Continuing Education Requirements
Alabama clinical social workers must complete 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LICSW license, including 3 hours of ethics, 6 hours of clinical social work, and 3 hours of dsm review.
30
total hours / 2 years
3
ethics hours
6
clinical social work hours
3
dsm review hours
10
live hours minimum
20
home study / self-study hours cap
Biennial · renewal date depends on the licensee's issue date.
Alabama LICSW requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 30 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: counted from your license anniversary. |
| Ethics | 3 hours required each cycle. |
| Clinical Social Work | 6 hours required each cycle. |
| DSM Review | 3 hours required each cycle. |
| Format limits | Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study. |
| Format limits | At least 10 hours must be earned live. |
| Approved providers | Qualifying CE may be offered or sponsored by alabama board approved sponsor, cswe accredited social work department, aswb ace provider, nasw approved provider, state social work board, nbcc approved provider, alabama board of nursing provider, and apa approved provider and recognized associations in social work, counseling, nursing, and psychology. |
| Other mandates | Alabama strongly recommends (but does not require) that all social work licensees and applicants complete the state's Mandated Child Abuse and Neglect Reporter Training, an online training provided by the Alabama Department of Human Resources, at least once. This is a one-time recommendation and is not required for license renewal. If completed through an approved provider, it may count toward CE hours. |
Total hours
30 hours every 2 years.
Renewal
Biennial cycle: counted from your license anniversary.
Ethics
3 hours required each cycle.
Clinical Social Work
6 hours required each cycle.
DSM Review
3 hours required each cycle.
Format limits
Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
At least 10 hours must be earned live.
Approved providers
Qualifying CE may be offered or sponsored by alabama board approved sponsor, cswe accredited social work department, aswb ace provider, nasw approved provider, state social work board, nbcc approved provider, alabama board of nursing provider, and apa approved provider and recognized associations in social work, counseling, nursing, and psychology.
Other mandates
Alabama strongly recommends (but does not require) that all social work licensees and applicants complete the state's Mandated Child Abuse and Neglect Reporter Training, an online training provided by the Alabama Department of Human Resources, at least once. This is a one-time recommendation and is not required for license renewal. If completed through an approved provider, it may count toward CE hours.
Full board policy details
- Provider approval: CE credit must come from a program or provider approved or accepted by the Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners. ASWB-ACE approval is one accepted provider pathway; Alabama does not limit admissible CE solely to ASWB-approved providers. Use the credit field is_asbswe_approved_provider for the Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners approval/acceptance gate. ASBSWE refers to the Alabama Board, not ASWB.
- At least 10 of the 30 required CE hours must be earned through live, in-person or real-time interactive events (classroom or equivalent). Live online webinars or virtual trainings count as live provided they are interactive and not pre-recorded. No more than 20 hours may be accrued through self-paced or non-interactive study.
- Self-directed learning projects are capped at 20 hours per project and require pre-approval from the Board (Rule 850-X-8-.01(5)(g)).
- Course repeat restrictions: Licensees may not claim duplicate credit for the same course within a single renewal period. Each distinct CE activity counts only one time per cycle. Instructors and presenters receive credit only for the first time content is delivered in a renewal period — initial publication of a paper is worth 20 hours and presenting a paper for the first time is worth 15 hours, but repeat performances of the same work are not credited.
- License status rules — Inactive status: Licensees on inactive status are exempt from CE requirements while inactive. They must still renew the license every 2 years and pay a $25 inactive renewal fee, but no CE hours need to be reported to maintain inactive status. Alabama does not have a separate retired license category; retired licensees use inactive status.
- License status rules — Reactivation from inactive: Returning to active practice requires make-up CE pro-rated by length of inactivity: 15 hours per year on inactive status, up to a maximum of 45 hours for 3+ years inactive. At least 35% of the make-up hours must be live, in-person training. Make-up hours must be completed before regaining active status and submitted with the reactivation request.
- License status rules - Renewal of expired license: Expired/lapsed licenses are distinct from inactive-status licenses. Under Rule 850-X-7-.03, the Board may renew an expired license upon payment of required renewal fees and proof of 15 continuing education hours if the license is renewed within the first year of expiration. If the license has been expired longer than 1 year but less than 5 years, an additional 15 continuing education hours are required for each year of expiration, up to a maximum of 90 continuing education hours.
- No conditional or grace period for CE: All required CE hours must be completed by the license expiration date. The 60-day late renewal window allows fee payment but does not extend the CE deadline. A one-time hardship waiver may be granted by the Board in extraordinary circumstances (e.g. serious illness), but cannot be granted in consecutive cycles.
- First renewal: Alabama does not reduce or waive CE for the first renewal. New licensees receive a full two-year term and must complete the standard 30 hours (including all required topics) before initial renewal. CE hours must be earned after the license is issued; hours earned pre-licensure do not count.
We turn all of this (every category, format limit, and one-time rule) into a live checklist on your Alabama LICSW record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Alabama LICSW CE free →Alabama LICSW CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Alabama LICSW licensees need?
Alabama requires 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LICSW license. Biennial cycle: counted from your license anniversary.
How many ethics hours are required for Alabama LICSW licensees?
Of the total, 3 hours must be in ethics.
How often do Alabama LICSW licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: counted from your license anniversary.
Are there subject-specific CE requirements for Alabama LICSW licensees?
Yes. In addition to ethics, Alabama requires 6 hours of clinical social work, 3 hours of dsm review.
Can Alabama LICSW licensees complete CE online or by home study?
Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study. At least 10 hours must be earned live.
Sources & verification
- State source
- Alabama board rule
- Profession source
- ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- May 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.2
Reviewed against the Alabama board source and refreshed from the compiled ruleset above. Methodology and disclaimer. Compliance data is informational only and not legal or board advice. Always verify requirements with your licensing board before you renew. See something wrong? Report it →
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