Updated for 2026

Arizona LCSW, LMSW & LBSW Continuing Education Requirements

Arizona clinical social workers must complete 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LCSW / LMSW / LBSW license, including 3 hours of ethics or mental health law, 3 hours of cultural considerations in psychotherapy, and 3 hours of arizona statutes regulations tutorial.

30hours every 2 years
Topic minimums, counted within the 30
3ethics or mental health law
3cultural considerations in psychotherapy
3arizona statutes regulations tutorial

The renewal cycle is biennial and is tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.

What the board saysArizona board rule
a license issued by the Board under A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 33 and this Chapter is renewable every two years1. … A licensee holding an active license to practice behavioral health in this state shall complete 30 clock hours1 of continuing education as prescribed under R4-6-802 … For each license period, a licensee may report a maximum of: 1. Ten clock hours2 of continuing education for first-time presentations2 by the licensee … 2. Six clock hours3 of continuing education for attendance at a Board meeting … and 3. Ten clock hours4 of continuing education for service as a Board or ARC member. C. For each license period, a licensee shall report: 1. A minimum of three clock hours5 of continuing education sponsored, approved, or offered by an entity listed in subsection (D) in each of the following: a. Behavioral health ethics or mental health law5; b. Cultural considerations in psychotherapy6; … 2. Completion of the three clock hour Arizona Statutes/Regulations Tutorial7.
What it means
  1. 30 hours every 2 years
  2. No more than 10 hours for first-time presentations
  3. No more than 6 hours for attending a Board meeting
  4. No more than 10 hours for Board or ARC service
  5. 3 hours of behavioral health ethics or mental health law
  6. 3 hours on cultural considerations in psychotherapy
  7. The 3-hour Arizona Statutes/Regulations Tutorial
A.A.C. R4-6-801, R4-6-802Last verified August 2026Ruleset 2026.7How we verify
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Requirements

Arizona LCSW, LMSW & LBSW requirements

Total

30 hoursYou need 30 hours every 2 years. The renewal cycle is biennial and is tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.

Topic minimums, counted within the 30

The remaining 21 hours are not tied to a topic minimum.
Ethics or Mental Health Law
3
You need 3 hours each cycle.
Cultural Considerations in Psychotherapy
3
You need 3 hours each cycle.
Arizona Statutes Regulations Tutorial
3
You need 3 hours each cycle.

Limits on how the hours are earned

First time presentation
max 10 hrs
Board meeting attendance
max 6 hrs
Board or arc service
max 10 hrs

Cycle and record rules

Renewal
The renewal cycle is biennial and is tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
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 Arizona LPC or LMFT license? Each board runs its own CE cycle. See the Arizona LPC and Arizona LMFT requirements.

Full board policy details
  • Arizona BBHE rules do not impose any format cap on CE. Self-study, distance, and live courses are all acceptable provided the course is relevant to practice and offered by a qualifying sponsor under A.A.C. R4-6-802(D) (e.g., accredited schools, professional associations, governmental agencies).
  • Provider approval: BBHE does not maintain a proprietary approved-provider list. CE must come from sponsor categories enumerated in R4-6-802(D). No minimum percentage of hours from any specific provider type is required.
  • Course repeat restrictions: The regulations do not generally prohibit repeating a course for CE credit within a renewal period. However, under R4-6-802(B)(1), a licensee may claim up to 10 hours for first-time presentations of their own instructional material; a repeat presentation of the same course by the licensee as instructor does not qualify for additional CE credit.
  • License status rules, Inactive: Licensees on inactive status (R4-6-305) are not practicing and are effectively exempt from CE while inactive. Inactive status does not extend the license expiration date. To return to active status, the licensee must comply with all renewal requirements under R4-6-801, including completion of the full 30 CE hours and the Arizona Statutes/Regulations Tutorial. If inactive status is extended beyond the original 24 months, an additional 30 CE hours must be completed during the extension period to reactivate.
  • License status rules, Retired/lapsed: Arizona does not establish a separate retired status for social workers. A licensee who permanently leaves practice simply allows the license to lapse.
  • Conditional registration: Arizona does not provide a conditional or provisional renewal status for licensees who have not completed CE. Per R4-6-801(E), a licensee may re-apply for renewal with fees and CE documentation within 90 days after expiration to avoid a lapse in licensure.
  • First renewal: There is no reduced or prorated CE requirement for the first renewal. Even first-time renewers must complete the full 30 hours including the required ethics, cultural competency, and Arizona Statutes/Regulations Tutorial topics.
  • Recordkeeping/documentation retention: Licensees must retain documentation of CE completion, including a copy of the Arizona Statutes/Regulations Tutorial completion certificate, and report such documentation at renewal as required by R4-6-802 and BBHE renewal guidance.
  • Beginning January 1, 2027, each renewal cycle must include three hours addressing behavioral health technology, including telehealth, electronic communication, and artificial intelligence.
  • A.R.S. § 13-3620 designates behavioral health professionals as mandatory reporters, but does not prescribe a separate social-worker training course, hour count, or recurrence interval.

Arizona LCSW, LMSW & LBSW CE: frequently asked questions

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

Arizona requires 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LCSW / LMSW / LBSW license. The renewal cycle is biennial and is tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.

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

Of the total, 3 hours must be in ethics or mental health law.

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

The renewal cycle is biennial and is tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.

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

Yes. In addition to ethics, Arizona requires 3 hours of cultural considerations in psychotherapy, 3 hours of arizona statutes regulations tutorial.

Sources and verification

State source
Arizona board rule
Profession source
ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
Last verified
August 2026
Ruleset version
2026.7

We reviewed this page against the Arizona 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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Arizona 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.Arizona mental health workforce data →20,199 active providers, or 264.9 per 100,000 residents, ranked 48 of 51. The page includes a county density map and free CSV downloads.

Other Arizona CE requirement pages

Arizona LPCArizona LMFTArizona PsychologistArizona Addiction CounselorArizona PMHNP

LCSW CE requirements in other states