Updated for 2026

Delaware LCSW, LMSW & LBSW Continuing Education Requirements

Delaware clinical social workers must complete 40 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LCSW / LMSW / LBSW license, including 6 hours of professional ethics and 1 hour of mandatory reporting.

40hours every 2 years
Topic minimums, counted within the 40
6professional ethics
1mandatory reporting

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

What the board saysDelaware board rule
7.1.3 Requirements for LCSWs: 7.1.3.1 For each renewal period, 40 hours are required. 7.1.3.2 At least 6 of the hours shall be in the area of professional ethics1. 7.1.3.3 At least 1 of the hours shall be in the area of mandatory reporting2.
What it means
  1. 6 hours of professional ethics
  2. 1 hour on mandatory reporting
24 Del. Admin. Code 3900-7.1Last verified August 2026Ruleset 2026.4How we verify
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Requirements

Delaware LCSW, LMSW & LBSW requirements

Total

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

Topic minimums, counted within the 40

The remaining 33 hours are not tied to a topic minimum.
Professional Ethics
6
You need 6 hours each cycle.
Mandatory Reporting
1
You need 1 hour each cycle.

Limits on how the hours are earned

Self directed activity
max 10 hrs

Cycle and record rules

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

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 January 31, 2027.

Your result appears here as you enter hours.

Open the full LCSW CE hours calculator

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

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.

Delaware LCSW, LMSW & LBSW CE: frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do Delaware LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees need?

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

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?

The renewal cycle is biennial, and CE is 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 and verification

State source
Delaware board rule
Profession source
ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
Last verified
August 2026
Ruleset version
2026.4

We reviewed this page against the Delaware 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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Delaware 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.Delaware mental health workforce data →4,511 active providers, or 425.6 per 100,000 residents, ranked 27 of 51. The page includes a county density map and free CSV downloads.

Other Delaware CE requirement pages

Delaware LPCDelaware LMFTDelaware PsychologistDelaware Addiction CounselorDelaware PMHNP

LCSW CE requirements in other states