Iowa LISW, LMSW & LBSW Continuing Education Requirements
Iowa clinical social workers must complete 27 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LISW / LMSW / LBSW license, including 3 hours of social work ethics.
27
total hours / 2 years
3
social work ethics hours
Biennial · renewal date varies by licensee.
Iowa LISW, LMSW & LBSW requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 27 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date. |
| Social Work Ethics | 3 hours required each cycle. |
| New licensees | First renewal is different: new licensees have adjusted first-cycle requirements (proration and/or first-cycle-only rules), which we apply automatically. |
| Other mandates | Social workers who regularly examine, attend, counsel, or treat children must complete an initial 2-hour child abuse mandatory reporter training (within 6 months of hire or by first license expiration) and a 1-hour refresher every three years thereafter. Required by Iowa Code ch. 232 and 235A; does not count toward the 27-hour CE total. |
| Other mandates | Social workers who treat or counsel adults must complete an initial 2-hour dependent adult (elder) abuse mandatory reporter training and a 1-hour refresher every three years thereafter. Required by Iowa Code ch. 235B; does not count toward the 27-hour CE total. |
Full board policy details
- Iowa imposes no percentage cap on home-study or online courses. By statute, the board shall not limit the number of CE credits that may be obtained online. Live-interactive online courses are treated the same as live classroom courses.
- Course repeat restrictions: Instructor/teaching credit is allowed on a one-time basis only. A licensee who teaches a college-level social work course may claim a maximum of 3 hours of CE credit per biennium for that activity. A licensee who serves as instructor or presenter of an approved CE program may claim credit only once per program, with a maximum of 3 hours of CE credit per biennium. Repeating the same CE course in a single renewal cycle does not produce additional credit.
- Course repeat restrictions: The rules are silent on licensees retaking the same CE course as a participant within a single biennium, but duplicate course content should not be claimed twice for credit.
- License status rules — Inactive/Retired: Licensees on inactive or retired status are exempt from CE requirements while in that status. Inactive licensees do not need to earn CE until they reactivate the license.
- License status rules — Reactivation: To reactivate a lapsed or inactive license, the licensee must complete 27 hours of CE for the next renewal. CE earned during the current compliance period (since reactivation) may be applied toward the first full renewal following reactivation. There is no separate make-up CE requirement beyond the normal renewal requirement.
- Conditional/provisional renewal: Iowa does not provide a conditional or provisional registration to allow completion of CE after renewal. All continuing education requirements must be completed prior to submitting the renewal application.
- Provider approval: Iowa does not maintain a board-approved provider list. Any CE activity meeting the board's content and instructor criteria is acceptable. Programs approved by ASWB ACE or NASW, and qualifying academic social work courses at accredited colleges or universities, are explicitly recognized as valid CE.
We turn all of this (every category, format limit, and one-time rule) into a live checklist on your Iowa LISW / LMSW / LBSW record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Iowa LISW / LMSW / LBSW CE free →Iowa LISW, LMSW & LBSW CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Iowa LISW / LMSW / LBSW licensees need?
Iowa requires 27 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LISW / LMSW / LBSW license. Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
How many ethics hours are required for Iowa LISW / LMSW / LBSW licensees?
Of the total, 3 hours must be in social work ethics.
How often do Iowa LISW / LMSW / LBSW licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: tied to your license's renewal (expiration) date.
Is the first renewal different for new Iowa LISW / 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
- Iowa board rule
- Profession source
- ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- May 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.1
Reviewed against the Iowa 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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