Arizona LCSW Continuing Education Requirements
Arizona clinical social workers must complete 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LCSW license, including 3 hours of ethics or mental health law, 3 hours of cultural competency and diversity, and 3 hours of arizona statutes regulations tutorial.
30
total hours / 2 years
3
ethics or mental health law hours
3
cultural competency and diversity hours
3
arizona statutes regulations tutorial hours
Biennial · renewal date varies by licensee.
Arizona LCSW requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 30 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date. |
| Ethics OR Mental Health Law | 3 hours required each cycle. |
| Cultural Competency and Diversity | 3 hours required each cycle. |
| Arizona Statutes Regulations Tutorial | 3 hours required each cycle. |
| Other mandates | Licensed social workers are designated as "behavioral health professionals" under A.R.S. §13-3620 and are mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect. State law requires mandated reporter training, which is a separate statutory obligation and does NOT count toward the 30-hour CE total. |
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.
We turn all of this (every category, format limit, and one-time rule) into a live checklist on your Arizona LCSW record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Arizona LCSW CE free →Arizona LCSW CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Arizona LCSW licensees need?
Arizona requires 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LCSW license. Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
How many ethics hours are required for Arizona LCSW licensees?
Of the total, 3 hours must be in ethics or mental health law.
How often do Arizona LCSW licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
Are there subject-specific CE requirements for Arizona LCSW licensees?
Yes. In addition to ethics, Arizona requires 3 hours of cultural competency and diversity, 3 hours of arizona statutes regulations tutorial.
Sources & verification
- State source
- Arizona board rule
- Profession source
- ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- May 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.2
Reviewed against the Arizona 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 →
Track your Arizona LCSW CE the easy way.
Log hours, watch every category pace toward biennial renewal, and keep your certificates in one record. Free to start, no card required.
Create your free record