Idaho LCSW, LMSW & LBSW Continuing Education Requirements
Idaho clinical social workers must complete 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew their LCSW / LMSW / LBSW license, including 2 hours of professional ethics.
30
total hours / 2 years
2
professional ethics hours
Biennial · renewal date depends on the licensee's birth month.
Idaho LCSW, LMSW & LBSW requirements
| Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|
| Total continuing education | 30 hours every 2 years. |
| Renewal | Biennial cycle: renews at the end of your birth month. |
| Professional Ethics | 2 hours required each cycle. |
| Recordkeeping | Keep CE documentation for 4 years after each course's completion date. |
| 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
- Idaho does not impose a cap on self-study or home-study hours, nor a minimum number of in-person hours. Online courses germane to the practice of social work are explicitly allowed, and the Board does not pre-approve courses for credit.
- CE hours may be obtained for preparing and providing continuing education to other professionals. Idaho rules do not specify a numeric cap on instructor credit or restrict claiming credit for teaching the same course more than once in a renewal period.
- Repeat courses are not explicitly prohibited by rule. The Board's publications do not mention a ban on taking the same class twice, though obviously duplicative content would generally not be accepted.
- Excess CE hours do not carry forward to the next renewal cycle.
- Inactive status: A licensee on inactive status is not required to accumulate CE during inactivity. To return to active status, the licensee must meet the current 30-hour CE requirement and submit the fee difference (IDAPA 24.14.01.100.06). If inactive for five or more years, additional competence requirements (e.g., exam, supervised practice) may apply.
- Retired status: Idaho rules do not establish a formal retired license category for social workers; no CE waiver for retired status is defined.
- Conditional registration: Idaho social-work rules do not provide a conditional or provisional renewal pathway for licensees who have not completed CE. All CE must be completed prior to renewal.
- First renewal: No special first-renewal exception, proration, or waiver exists. The full 30-hour, 24-month CE requirement applies to every renewal including the first.
We turn every category, format limit, and one-time rule on this page into a live checklist on your Idaho LCSW / LMSW / LBSW record, and reapply board changes automatically as they happen.
Track Idaho LCSW / LMSW / LBSW CE free →Idaho LCSW, LMSW & LBSW CE: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do Idaho LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees need?
Idaho requires 30 continuing education hours every 2 years to renew a LCSW / LMSW / LBSW license. Biennial cycle: renews at the end of your birth month.
How many ethics hours are required for Idaho LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees?
Of the total, 2 hours must be in professional ethics.
How often do Idaho LCSW / LMSW / LBSW licensees renew?
Biennial cycle: renews at the end of your birth month.
Sources & verification
- State source
- Idaho board rule
- Profession source
- ASWB ACE continuing education guidance
- Last verified
- August 2026
- Ruleset version
- 2026.2
Reviewed against the Idaho 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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