Updated for 2026

Colorado LCSW & LSW Continuing Education Requirements

Colorado clinical social workers must complete 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LCSW / LSW license.

40hours every 2 years

Next deadline: August 31, 2027The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by August 31 of odd years.

What the board saysColorado board rule

Licensed social workers and licensed clinical social workers shall complete forty PDH each renewal cycle¹ in order to renew their license or certification … Other than course work as defined in section E(2) of this rule, no more than twenty PDH in a single Professional Development Activity² shall be credited and recognized each renewal cycle … A maximum of five PDH³ may be carried from the last renewal cycle to the next renewal cycle if the PDH were earned within six months of license expiration and are in excess of the forty PDH required for the current renewal cycle.

What it means

40 hours each renewal cycle
No more than 20 hours from any one activity type, other than coursework
Up to 5 extra hours earned within 6 months of expiration carry into the next cycle

4 CCR 726-1, Rule 1.18Last verified August 2026Ruleset 2026.4How we verify

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Requirements

Colorado LCSW & LSW requirements

Total

40 hoursYou need 40 hours every 2 years. The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by August 31 of odd years.

Limits on how the hours are earned

Volunteer service: max 20 hrs per activity
Consultation: max 20 hrs per activity
Supervision: max 20 hrs per activity
Presenting: max 20 hrs per activity
Publication: max 20 hrs per activity
Independent learning: max 20 hrs per activity
Carryover: max 5 hrs

Up to 5 unused hours can carry into the next cycle.

Cycle and record rules

Renewal: The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by August 31 of odd 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 5 years after the end of each cycle.
Board audit: The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance.
Late renewal: The board allows a 60-day grace period after expiration. A late renewal adds a late fee.

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 August 31, 2027.

Total hours completedof 40

Your result appears here as you enter hours.

Open the full LCSW CE hours calculator

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

Full board policy details

Other than qualifying coursework, no more than 20 PDH may be credited from any single Professional Development Activity. The structured per-activity caps require credits to carry the Board's volunteer service, consultation, supervision, presenting, publication, or independent learning category.
A single qualifying coursework activity may count for the full 40-hour requirement.
Up to five excess PDH earned during the final six months before expiration may be carried into the next cycle. The engine enforces the five-hour amount; the six-month earning condition remains a documentation check.
Colorado does not maintain a CE-provider approval list. Licensees complete a Professional Practice Rubric, Learning Plan, allowed PDAs, and documentation under the CPD program.
The rule does not impose a live-delivery minimum or a general repeat-course ban.
Reactivation requires CPC compliance. After more than two inactive years, the jurisprudence examination and an additional competency demonstration also apply.
First-cycle PDH accrue at 1.66 hours for each month or portion of a month licensed. The displayed total approximates this as 40 hours multiplied by licensed calendar months divided by 24, rounded to the nearest whole hour. The partial issuance month counts because this cycle ends September 1. Whole-hour rounding can understate the Board formula: eight months displays 13 hours versus 13.28 PDH. Complete at least 1.66 times the number of months or partial months licensed, even when the displayed total is lower.

Colorado LCSW & LSW CE: frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do Colorado LCSW / LSW licensees need?

Colorado requires 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LCSW / LSW license. The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by August 31 of odd years.

How often do Colorado LCSW / LSW licensees renew?

The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is due by August 31 of odd years.

Is the first renewal different for new Colorado LCSW / LSW 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: Colorado board rule
Profession source: ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
Last verified: August 2026
Ruleset version: 2026.4

We reviewed this page against the Colorado 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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Colorado 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.Colorado mental health workforce data →36,559 active providers, or 608 per 100,000 residents, ranked 11 of 51. The page includes a county density map and free CSV downloads.

Other Colorado CE requirement pages

Colorado LPC Colorado LMFT Colorado Psychologist Colorado Addiction Counselor Colorado PMHNP