Connecticut LCSW & LMSW Continuing Education Requirements
Connecticut clinical social workers must complete 15 continuing education hours per year to renew their LCSW / LMSW license, including 1 hour of cultural competency.
15
total hours / year
1
cultural competency hours
5
live hours minimum
10
home study / self-study hours cap
Annual · renewal date depends on the licensee's birth month.
Connecticut LCSW & LMSW requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 15 hours per year. |
| Renewal | Annual cycle: renews at the end of your birth month. |
| Cultural Competency | 1 hour required each cycle. |
| Format limits | Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study. |
| Format limits | At least 5 hours must be earned live. |
| New licensees | First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically. |
| Approved providers | CE must be earned from a board-approved provider. |
Full board policy details
- Of the 15 contact hours required per registration period, at least 5 hours must be earned through in-person or synchronous (live, real-time interactive) instruction. No more than 10 hours may be earned through asynchronous/home study (self-paced with no live interaction).
- Synchronous online courses (real-time interactive) count as live hours toward the 5-hour live minimum, not toward the 10-hour asynchronous cap.
- Acceptable CE must be offered or approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), or a school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The Connecticut Department of Public Health does not review or approve CE courses; the licensee is responsible for ensuring each course meets these criteria.
- Course repeat / instructor credit: As of 2023, Connecticut no longer allows CE credit for teaching or presenting a course (the prior provision granting up to 5 hours for an original lecture or presentation was repealed). The statute does not explicitly prohibit claiming the same course content twice within a single renewal period, but licensees should not count duplicate content toward the 15-hour requirement.
- License status — inactive/retired/waiver: A licensee not engaged in social work practice during a registration period may apply for a waiver of CE requirements (request must be filed before the renewal date). On returning to active practice after a waiver, the licensee must complete 7 hours of CE within 6 months of returning to practice.
- Reinstatement of a lapsed (void) license: Requires completion of 7 hours of CE within the one-year period immediately preceding the date of application for reinstatement, in addition to other reinstatement requirements under CGS 19a-88.
- Disability extension: The Department may grant a one-year extension of time to complete CE in cases of medical disability or similar special circumstances. This is not a routine conditional renewal for general CE shortfall.
- First renewal exemption: Pursuant to CGS § 20-195u(e), a licensee applying for the first time for license renewal is exempt from the CE requirements. The full 15-hour requirement (including cultural competency and veterans' mental health topics) applies beginning with the second renewal.
- Veterans' mental health topic: At least 2 hours on mental health conditions common to veterans and family members of veterans must be completed during the first renewal period in which CE is required, and at least once every six years thereafter. These hours count toward the 15-hour total.
- Self-attestation and record-keeping: Connecticut does not administer a CE tracking system. Licensees self-attest to their CE compliance at renewal and must retain their own CE certificates of completion as records, pursuant to CGS § 20-195u(c).
We turn all of this (every category, format limit, and one-time rule) into a live checklist on your Connecticut LCSW / LMSW record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Connecticut LCSW / LMSW CE free →Connecticut LCSW & LMSW CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Connecticut LCSW / LMSW licensees need?
Connecticut requires 15 continuing education hours per year to renew a LCSW / LMSW license. Annual cycle: renews at the end of your birth month.
How often do Connecticut LCSW / LMSW licensees renew?
Annual cycle: renews at the end of your birth month.
Are there subject-specific CE requirements for Connecticut LCSW / LMSW licensees?
Yes. In addition to ethics, Connecticut requires 1 hour of cultural competency.
Can Connecticut LCSW / LMSW licensees complete CE online or by home study?
Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study. At least 5 hours must be earned live.
Is the first renewal different for new Connecticut LCSW / LMSW licensees?
First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically.
Sources & verification
- State source
- Connecticut board rule
- Profession source
- ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- May 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.2
Reviewed against the Connecticut 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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