Updated for 2026

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.

30hours every 2 years
Topic minimums, counted within the 30
6clinical social work
3ethics
3DSM review

The renewal cycle is biennial and is counted from your license anniversary.

What the board saysAlabama board rule
A licensed independent clinical social worker must submit proof of thirty (30) contact hours1 of continuing education, of which 10 hours must be a live classroom event2, 3 hours in ethics3 and 6 hours in clinical4, 3 of which must be a comprehensive review of the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual5. … Publication of a professional social work paper. The initial publication shall be acceptable for twenty contact hours.6 Presentation of a professional social work paper for the first time at a Board approved professional conference shall be acceptable for fifteen contact hours.7 … Self-directed learning project (maximum twenty contact hours)8.
What it means
  1. 30 hours each renewal
  2. At least 10 hours live, so no more than 20 by home study
  3. 3 hours of ethics
  4. 6 hours of clinical social work
  5. 3 of the clinical hours on a DSM review
  6. Up to 20 hours for a first publication
  7. Up to 15 hours for a first-time conference presentation
  8. No more than 20 hours of self-directed learning
Ala. Admin. Code r. 850-X-8-.01Last verified August 2026Ruleset 2026.3How we verify
Start free trialExplore the demo →

It's free for 30 days, and you don't need a card.

Requirements

Alabama LICSW requirements

Total

30 hoursYou need 30 hours every 2 years. The renewal cycle is biennial and is counted from your license anniversary.

Topic minimums, counted within the 30

The remaining 18 hours are not tied to a topic minimum.
Clinical Social Work
6
You need 6 hours each cycle.
Ethics
3
You need 3 hours each cycle.
DSM Review
3
You need 3 hours each cycle.

Limits on how the hours are earned

Live
min 10 hrs
Home study / self-study
max 20 hrs
Publication
max 20 hrs per activity
First time presentation
max 15 hrs per activity
Self directed learning
max 20 hrs

Up to 20 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.

At least 10 hours must be earned live.

Cycle and record rules

Renewal
The renewal cycle is biennial and is counted from your license anniversary.
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.
Your hours

Check where you stand

Enter the hours you have completed this cycle to see what is left before your renewal.

Your result appears here as you enter hours.

Open the full LCSW CE hours calculator

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

Alabama LICSW required trainings and mandates

Beyond the 30-hour CE total, Alabama requires specific trainings. Some are due once around initial licensure, and others run on their own recurring schedule.

Recurring mandates outside the 2-year cycle

  • 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)).
  • The rule does not impose a general attendee repeat-course ban. Initial publication of a professional paper earns 20 hours, first presentation of a paper at a Board-approved conference earns 15 hours, and a pre-approved self-directed learning project is capped at 20 hours.
  • 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.

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. The renewal cycle is biennial and is 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?

The renewal cycle is biennial and is 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 and verification

State source
Alabama board rule
Profession source
ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
Last verified
August 2026
Ruleset version
2026.3

We reviewed this page against the Alabama 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

Make your next renewal easier.

Add your Alabama LICSW license and every requirement on this page becomes a checklist on your record.

Start free trialExplore the demo

30 days free, no credit card.

Alabama 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.Alabama mental health workforce data →9,968 active providers, or 191.9 per 100,000 residents, ranked 51 of 51. The page includes a county density map and free CSV downloads.

Other Alabama CE requirement pages

Alabama LPCAlabama LMFTAlabama PsychologistAlabama PMHNP

LCSW CE requirements in other states