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 reporting hours
Biennial renewal · calculating the next statewide deadline
Delaware LCSW, LMSW & LBSW requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | See the board source for the total-hour requirement. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: CE due by January 31 of odd years. |
| Professional Ethics | 6 hours required each cycle. |
| Mandatory Reporting | 1 hour required each cycle. |
| New licensees | No CE is due when the initial license was issued from July 1 of the even-numbered year through January 31 of the renewal year. |
| Board audit | The board may audit licensees to verify CE compliance. |
Keeping the proof in order: what to keep for a CE audit, with every state’s retention period and what the audit notice asks for.
Full board policy details
- Full-period totals are 40 hours for LCSW, 30 for LMSW, and 20 for LBSW. Every nonexempt renewal includes 6 ethics hours and 1 mandatory-reporting hour.
- First-renewal totals are exact issue-date tiers. LCSW: 36/30/24/0; LMSW: 24/18/12/0; LBSW: 18/12/6/0 for offsets February-June odd, July odd-January even, February-June even, and July even-January odd respectively.
- Self-directed activity is capped at 10 hours for every license type. It is an activity category, not synonymous with internet, recorded, or self-study delivery. Internet and independent-study courses with a final exam or paper may be ordinary course CE.
- Self-directed sub-awards remain manual: a book or initial college course is capped at 10, an article or chapter at 5, initial CE-course preparation at 2 plus attendance, field instruction at 2, and clinical staffing at 5.
- Delaware does not universally preapprove courses. ASWB, NASW, CSWA, and APA-approved-provider courses are accepted, and other clinically relevant courses may qualify under the presenter and content criteria.
- A hardship extension may last no more than 120 days. If approval is not obtained before expiration, the license lapses and is reinstated after completion; this is not a conditional active renewal.
We turn every category, format limit, and one-time rule on this page 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: CE due by January 31 of odd years.
Are there subject-specific CE requirements for Delaware LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees?
Yes. In addition to ethics, Delaware requires 1 hour of mandatory reporting.
Is the first renewal different for new Delaware LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees?
No CE is due when the initial license was issued from July 1 of the even-numbered year through January 31 of the renewal year.
Sources & verification
- State source
- Delaware board rule
- Profession source
- ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- August 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.4
Reviewed against the Delaware board source and refreshed 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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