Delaware LCSW, LMSW & LBSW Continuing Education Requirements
What a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW / LMSW / LBSW) must complete to renew in Delaware.
6
professional ethics hours
1
mandatory child abuse reporting hours
10
home study / self-study hours cap
Biennial · renewal date varies by licensee.
Delaware LCSW, LMSW & LBSW requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | See the board source for the total-hour requirement. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date. |
| Professional Ethics | 6 hours required each cycle. |
| Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting | 1 hour required each cycle. |
| Format limits | Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study. |
| New licensees | First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically. |
| Provisional renewal | The board allows a provisional/conditional renewal for up to 4 months before full compliance is required. Delaware permits a hardship extension of up to 120 days past the renewal deadline for licensees unable to complete CE on time. The license is reinstated upon completion of the required CE within that window. The extension is not renewable beyond 120 days, and Delaware does not otherwise issue conditional or temporary renewals to bridge CE deficiencies. |
Total hours
See the board source for the total-hour requirement.
Renewal
Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
Professional Ethics
6 hours required each cycle.
Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting
1 hour required each cycle.
Format limits
Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
New licensees
First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically.
Provisional renewal
The board allows a provisional/conditional renewal for up to 4 months before full compliance is required. Delaware permits a hardship extension of up to 120 days past the renewal deadline for licensees unable to complete CE on time. The license is reinstated upon completion of the required CE within that window. The extension is not renewable beyond 120 days, and Delaware does not otherwise issue conditional or temporary renewals to bridge CE deficiencies.
Full board policy details
- A maximum of 10 hours of self-directed CE (e.g., independent study, teaching, scholarship, or other self-directed activities) may be applied toward the 40-hour biennial CE requirement. The remaining hours must come from standard courses, seminars, or conferences.
- Internet courses that include a final exam or paper are explicitly permitted as standard CE credit (not self-study). Live, interactive online courses count as standard CE credit.
- First renewal CE is prorated based on the date the initial license was issued. Depending on the issue date within the biennial cycle, required hours are reduced to 36, 30, 24, or 0. Licensees issued between July 1 of an even year and January 31 of the odd year owe 0 CE hours at first renewal. At least 6 hours of professional ethics are required for any prorated first renewal that has a nonzero hour requirement.
- COURSE REPEAT RESTRICTIONS — Credit for the initial preparation and presentation of a clinical social work course is limited to 2 hours and will be accepted only one time for any specific program. Instructors who teach the same course again in the same renewal period may not earn additional preparation/presentation credit for the repeat. There is no blanket prohibition on a licensee retaking the same course as a participant within a single renewal period, but excess hours may not be carried over to the next renewal period.
- LICENSE STATUS RULES — Licensees on Board-approved inactive status are exempt from CE requirements while inactive. Delaware does not have a separate "retired" status; failure to renew simply lapses the license. To reactivate from inactive status, the licensee must complete all CE hours required for a full renewal period and pay the applicable fee. A licensee who is short on CE at the renewal deadline may request a hardship extension of up to 120 days past the renewal deadline upon a showing of good cause; the license is reinstated upon completion of the required CE within that 120-day window. The hardship extension is not renewable beyond 120 days.
- Provider approval — Delaware does not require pre-approval of CE providers. The Board accepts courses offered by ASWB, NASW, CSWA, APA, or providers approved by those bodies, and will also accept other courses that meet the content criteria in the regulations.
- LCSWs who serve as clinical supervisors must separately meet credentialing CE requirements (3 hours supervision, 3 hours cultural competence/diversity, and 6 hours ethics within 4 years). These are credentialing prerequisites for supervisor designation and are not additional renewal CE hours required of all LCSWs.
- Total CE hours per full biennial renewal period differ by license type: LCSWs must complete 40 hours, LMSWs must complete 30 hours, and LBSWs must complete 20 hours. The 6-hour professional ethics and 1-hour mandatory child-abuse reporting requirements apply to all license types and count toward each type's total.
We turn all of this (every category, format limit, and one-time rule) into a live checklist on your Delaware LCSW / LMSW / LBSW record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Delaware LCSW / LMSW / LBSW CE free →Delaware LCSW, LMSW & LBSW CE: frequently asked questions
How many ethics hours are required for Delaware LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees?
Of the total, 6 hours must be in professional ethics.
How often do Delaware LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
Are there subject-specific CE requirements for Delaware LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees?
Yes. In addition to ethics, Delaware requires 1 hour of mandatory child abuse reporting.
Can Delaware LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees complete CE online or by home study?
Up to 10 hours may be completed through home study / self-study.
Is the first renewal different for new Delaware LCSW / LMSW / LBSW 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
- Delaware board rule
- Profession source
- ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- May 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.2
Reviewed against the Delaware 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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